Getting back in

[lcasey7635]

I am thinking about getting back into this hobby. I have previously had only fresh water tanks. I broke my last one down when I thought we were about to move. The plan was to convert to a reef tank once we were settled in a new house. Based on multiple factors we have decided it is probably a better idea to stay put. So now I want to put together a "basic" reef setup using as much of the existing equipment I already own. The existing equipment consists of a 30 gallon tall tank with a stand and hood. The rest of the equipment is not appropriate for a reef tank.

The tank is not drilled and I would not have space for a sump under the existing stand so I would like to use a good HOB skimmer. I plan to keep my bio-load very light since I am basically going to be running a nano. Actually planning for only a couple of fish and will go with mostly coral.

The tank is 24 inches wide and I was thinking of going with T5 lighting since the existing canopy has a low profile.

Some of you know me since I have been sporadically involved in the club for the past 4+ years. I know enough about reef tanks to know that I really do not know anything.

Following are some of my initial questions that I am hoping you can answer.

1) Are there HOB skimmers that will do the job and which one would you recommend.

2) Will a 24" T5 lights work on a 30 tall. I think the tank is 20 inches deep, but will have to get it out of storage to confirm.

3) How do I establish and maintain water quality in such a small system. Basically is it even possible.

4) What livestock would you recommend for such a small system. Fish, coral, etc. I know that 15 fish will not work in this system and in a great number of cases a single specimen of most species will not work either.

5) And finally the most important question. Am I nuts for even trying this.

As is the case with most everyone these days, funds are limited. As much as I would love to set up a 90+ gallon system that includes all the bells and whistles, that is not practical.

I know the most important thing in this hobby is to be patient. I am not in a huge rush so I have time to make the correct decisions.

Thanks in advance for your input.

Larry

 

[Mako Shark II]

Re: Getting back in

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13696265#post13696265 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by lcasey7635
1) Are there HOB skimmers that will do the job and which one would you recommend.

2) Will a 24" T5 lights work on a 30 tall. I think the tank is 20 inches deep, but will have to get it out of storage to confirm.

3) How do I establish and maintain water quality in such a small system. Basically is it even possible.

4) What livestock would you recommend for such a small system.

5) And finally the most important question. Am I nuts for even trying this.

My 2-cents worth:
1) My 20g Nano had a CPR Bak Pak 2R and it was pretty good, but if I would have kept it, I would Have upgraded it to have the Surface skimming optional Overflow. You’ll want that. The new Octopus looks good too.

HOB CPR Bac-Pak
http://www.cpraquatic.com/products/bakpaks.html

HOB Octopus Skimmers
http://www.coralvue.com/Hang-On-The-BackSkimmers.html

also: HOB Deltec
http://www.deltecusa.us/proteinskimmers/mce300.php


2) Lights: How Many will you have??? Need to look at the Qty of lamps. Basically, wattage per gallon.

3) Just BUY some potable water (5-7 gallon) blue drinking water containers. Then, buy your Water from the LFS’s: Kermits or Memfish. I did that for over a year, before I broke down and bought an RO/DI System & RO/Salt Vats. Buy a test kit and do water changes as needed.

4) Yellow Clown Gobies, Neon Gobies, Catalina Gobies, False Percula & Damsels

5) YES!!!!!!! What kind of Question is that????

This Hobby is like feeding Catnip to a Kitty… Caffeine to an 8-year old....... Money to a Bookie...... Drugs to a Junkie..... Cash to my wife’s husband..... Er..... Well, you get the idea.

Sure. Go For it!

Seriously…. Do it!
:thumbsup:

 

[lcasey7635]

What I listed is all I currenlty own. I would have to buy everything else either new or used. I would need to buy lights, skimmer, live-rock, etc. All I have is the tank and stand.

I was expecting to buy water for at least the beginning of the process. As things progress I would consider an RO/RI unit of some flavor or type.

Thanks for the input.

Larry

 

[crpeck]

Hi Larry,
Good to see you back. I'm keeping a 24 gallon and find the easiest way to keep water quality up is water changes. With such a small tank, it's easy.

There's lots of cool little gobies that are fun in a smaller tank.

You're no more nuts than the rest of us in this hobby.

 

[Mako Shark II]

Cool Larry,

Keep your eye's on Craig's List & the forum for deals. As you know, folks change out equipment all the time, so you can likely pick up a deal on all the "goes-in-to" (Pronounced: "gesintah"

Let any of us know if we can help.

Best,

 

[Blindside]

best way iMHO, small surface skimming skimmer, red sea, bak-pak or the like, muy importante! a uv sterilizer running through a fluval cannister filter or the like. Seen several people try no UV but in my opinion one of your best allies as a reefer, and easy to set up. Your sps will need to be few and hardy but possible.

GL

 

[just dave]

You have a lot of choices for hang-on / in tank skimmers. The Precision Marine HOT1, Bermuda Rouge, Warner Marine H series, Tunze DOC and ReefPack lines,...etc.

Before you buy any equipment you should try to come to a determination of what you want ( for the most part) the tank to contain and base subsequent purchases on that. That way you get just what you need and not too little or too much.


As a side note the whole watts-per-gallon rule is a bunch of monkey spunk. It does not take into account tank height, light coverage, or the type of light and it's ability to penetrate. Most of those rules like that fall into the MS category (inches of fish per gallon, pounds of rock per gallon,.....etc.) they are guide lines and or starting points at best.

 

[Reefdiver77]

I keep a 3 gallon with no skimmmer and have LR, lots of softies and zoas, xenia, leathers, mushrooms, button polyps,a sexy shrimp, , a peppermint shrimp and 2 tiny yellow tail damsels. I have a hob filtration system(Red Sea Nano) with a fuge mod full of chaeto. I have 56 w pc lighting a koralia nano ph, small heater. It is my favorite tank, so it can be done. For the first year, I could keep nothing alive in it, but for the last few months things to have stabilized and are thriving. I also keep a 12 nano with the pc lighting that came with it. It has no skimmer on it. I keep phosban and charcoal in the back chambers, a koralia ph, LR, zoas, toadstool leather, mushrooms, button polyps, etc. My largest tank, a 37 does have sump as does my 20L frag tank. Both also have protein skimmers. The larger tanks do have MH lighting. Good luck and it is good to have you back in the hobby. This is very addicting!!