How does this sound? Many Qs

[willyboy]

I ordered the 130w PCs (w/ lunar light) from coralife and the Fission nano skimmer. What is the importance of the lunar light? Can I keep a Frogspawan, 2 varieties of mushrooms, and Zoas in this 20g setup? W/ this skimmer and 20lbs LR do I need to run activated carbon w/ three fish? Which fish should I add first? How long should I wait before I add any corals? Which coral should go in first? Could I have an Ocellaris clown, a yellow clown goby, and a bicolor blenny in this set up? Do you have any objections about my coral choices for a SW noob?

 

[cyenna]

Sounds pretty good for what you want. i personally would skip the skimmer (I don't think this particular one has good reviews) and just keep up in water changes. the light will indeed support those types of corals and they are very easy to take care of. I don't think you need to run carbon all the time just keep up with water changes! IMO, water changes are key to keeping a successful nano reef. You also might want to try a xenia frag if you want the risk of it overtaking your tank or just plain croaking...good luck. Ooh, ya, what are you going to do about flow? might i recommend two MJ 900's?

 

[nmprisons]

apparently the fission skimmer sucks ... give it a try though, a few folks have found theirs useful. as for the lighting, it is absolutely plenty for pretty much anything (except clams and some sps) imo.

 

[BAILEY464]

good lighting choice, but return the skimmer, I have been there and done it already. I bought one for the wifes nano last year and all it was ,was a $30 microbubble maker, save your money for a remora or a css 65

 

[willyboy]

I have two "powerheads" that I got out of old fountains. They have suction cups. I think they are around 80gph. Also, would It be a bad idea to wait about 2 months to add any fish after I add an ocellaris? Should I add the bicolor last? What order should I add them in relation to territorialness (Is that a word?)? I have posted this thread on other sites and I got no feedback, thanks!!

 

[Drewpdog]

i HATE the fussion nano skimmer its such a POS seriusly dump it
i have a red sea prizum DLX i know super over kill but i like the thin form factor

 

[willyboy]

OK, I got it! The fission nano skimmer sucks. I want some serious answers and no more bashing my apparently crappy skimmer choice. I will try to make it work for me. Thanks again.

 

[kass03]

I have always ran chemi-pure (carbon) in my tanks. Not sure why people don't use carbon.

Lunar lights arent necessary but besides cool looking lets you look in the tank at night and allow the fish to see a little so it does'nt go totally dark.

You need to first put in the live rock and sand if your using some and then let the tank cycle then add your first fish or coral after it cycles and wait to make sure water pars are still ok and then add another. Each time you add something the bacteria need to catch up to the load.
I would prolly start with zoa's or shrooms. Corals don't take up as much as far as bioload as fish do. Fish you have to feed which adds to the load also.

Clowns can get very territorial and so can the blenny. I'd start with the goby. The Blenny might fight with the goby so not to sure about compatible. Clown would prolly be ok if added last.
Usually clowns are ok at first when small but get territorial the more they mature.
In a bigger tank I'd say they would prolly all be ok but 20 gal not so sure. I love blennys myself especially the bicolor.

kass

 

[Kyle6357]

I see you have the idea on the skimmer. Down the road look into the Remora Nano. Its GREAT! As for fish I woudl get 2 clowns that were in a tank together. You may want to even wait a month and get a pair of clown w/ an anemonmie if you can find it. I dont use carbob in my Nano, I forgot what I use but is come filter media in a bag............Chemi Pure.......it does really well. At first you coudl add some chromis fish to start. Unlike damsels you could keep then w/ a reef. I would wait like a month before you add corals. For a nano stick w/ frags. They grow quick is you use Ca. I personally use Purple Up. See if your store has like $10 frags of some pollops and leathers. Hope this heps a little.

 

[manse]

130w PCs should be good for the frogspawn.

I've had frogspawn in my 12 dx cube for almost a year now under an upgraded 96w setup.

The frogspawn are doing great, both branching and budding. Keep them "up" in the tank if you can, and keep an eye on your Calcium levels.

 

[willyboy]

I have read that clown gobys can be difficult to feed and I want something that is easy to feed and excepts a wide variety of food. What would you recommend that would not be too close to size, shape, and color to a bicolor blenny so they wouldn't fight? I had considered a royal gramma but I am picky about my fish and thought they are too bland. I was thinking some other goby, maybe a dart goby. If it comes down to it I want the blenny over the goby. I don't want the challenge of anemones right now, especially in a nano.

 

[Radioheed]

Don't think anyone answered this yet...the lunar lights are not necessary, but they're cool. they give some light in the tank at night, and the ripples on the surface really make it look like moonlight. I have heard no true function other than to mimic mother nature.

have the same amount of light on my 20g, but i went with current instead of coralife (lfs guy said it was better, and it was cheaper so i doubt he was lying), anyway I want to keep a very similar tank and from what I've read/heard this should enough light

 

[JotaDe]

I have the same light setup (back when it was CustomSeaLife or something like that) on my 29 Gallon. You'll be fine with it.

SPS:
Purple Acro
Orange Monti Digi
Brown Monti Cap

LPS:
Frogspawn
Torch
Hammer
GSP
Plate Coral
Basto Micro
Lace Coral
Open Brain

Softy:
Xenia

All of my corals are doing great, with good color and growth. Except for the Purple Acro... it has good growth but is more dull brownish probably because of my weaker light system. Still for the price I love it because the rest of my corals look and grow wonderfully. The nighttime LEDs are really cool because the tank looks AWESOME with the lights off and just the moonshine glimmer hitting your reef... worth it just for that.

I haven't used your skimmer but I have the Remora and wouldn't want to be without it. I tried a canister, then a CPR Bakpak and nothing compares to my Remora. If you can somehow pull it, credit card even, I say get it because my tank + corals + water quality really sprang to life once I got it and I didn't have to do h2o changes as often.