Ideas/advice for my brothers nano (new to nano tanks)

[Str8baller]

For Christmas I got my brother a 12g nano-cube tank, he has been obsessing about my 55gal, and thought it would be nice to give him something he would really love.

I did some research and nano tanks are very different from bigger tanks. So I am asking for some help and ideas for what to stock it with. At the moment all we have is the tank (comes with the two 24watt compact florescent lights). I am told that a heater is not needed, and the filter is ‘good enough’. when I asked him what he wanted he said a lion fish, but I don’t exactly know if that’s possible (they need more than 12 gallons, around 30 gallons if I recall). And that would mean he couldn’t do reef or many of the small fish that work best in a nano tank. So I was thinking that a reef tank would be best.

I am looking for idea on live stock and types of corals that work well in nano-cubes. Also any advice that you wish someone told you before you set up your nano tank. Or any advice that you think is helpful.

Any advice or response would be greatly appreciated, and thanks to everyone that has helped us with this great hobby!

 

[saltycreefer]

There would be no problem doing a reef with a small dwarf lionfish as well. Put about 10-15 lbs of live rock with 5-10 lbs of live aragonite sand. Go with softies like mushrooms ,zoos, xenia, for coral. A few hermits and snails for clean up. Thats just an idea. There's many ways you can set it up.

 

[Hopeful Reefer]

First of all, don't run the filter...get rid of the biobals, media etc...change that compartment to live rock rubble and some macro algae (chaeto)...get one of the small refugium lights (sold on places like Drs Foster & Smith)...put it in like this guy did Click Here...next, a heater IS needed...you don't want your tank getting below about 72 degrees...winter time, especially at night this could be an issue...I'm not sure about even a dwarf lionfish, I would go with something that is more reef safe anyway if you/he want corals...the tank can definitely accomodate corals...this is but one of several threads that prove it (same guy as before, and it is the same 12g nano Click Here...next, get the lighting upgraded, Nanotuners.com is a good place to get the lights you need...while you are at it, don't forget a fan upgrade when you upgrade the lights...also, surf through the Nano DIY thread that is stickied at the top of this forum...LOTS of good stuff and ideas in there...live sand and live rock as stated by saltycreefer...if you see "live sand" on the shelf of your LFS (local fish store) don't get it...how can something sitting on a shelf for so long still be alive? And, before doing anything else get a quality test kit and test regularly and often...do 1 water change weekly, about 10-20%...don't use tap water, use RO/DI only...even if this means you can't mix it yourself right now get from the LFS...chemistry/parameters are so much more important in a nano than a normal tank...

Nano's are a different animal all together than a regular size tank...so...all-in-all, search the forums, ask tons of questions, have even more patience and above all...HAVE FUN! (advice for you/your brother )

 

[Str8baller]

Ok well thanks for the advice and im going to get started right away!

 

[BiggySmalls]

why should he not run the filter?

 

[Hopeful Reefer]

It is better to go with a biological filter (live rock / live sand) than with a mechanical filter (bio wheel, power filter, canister filter, etc.)...if he is doing FOWLR then I guess it doesn't matter quite as much...but, if there is ANY hope of doing corals of any kind it is best to go with a biological filter...yes, I know there are people doing it with mechanical filtration but it is better for the animals to do a natural type biological filter...

 

[Str8baller]

I heard that you should not do live sand in a nano tank, because the animals/fish needed to maintain the live sand require much more space, than a nano can offer. Resulting in an un-healthy sand bed, is that true?

also i think the live rock rubble is a good idea, but i should not have any other types of filtration? (activated carbon, Chemi-pure, Phosban?)

 

[Illuminati]

Un-healthy sandbed? Never heard that. You can have Nassarius snails and maybe a little goby that will keep your sandbed turned and will prevent detrius from accumilating. Whoever told you that must have been thinking of bigger sand sifters that would not thrive in a nano tank (like diamond watchman gobies or sleeper gobies). In a 12 you could have something like a Yellow Watchman Goby. I have one plus 25 Nassarius snails (kinda overkill but they do a great job).

I am of the group that feels if you have enough live rock in your display the little pieces that you put in the back won't really do much. Purigen is a great water polisher and helps keep nitrates in check as does chemi-pure. IMO Chemi-pure is similar to activated carbon, I'd pick one or the other, not both or they may take out to many nutrients. Ditto with the phosban, I use it but I have a huge bioload, I would start without it and cross that bridge if you need to (cyano outbreak is why I started using it).

 

[Hopeful Reefer]

I agree with colinadam...another approach you can use is one of the hang-on refugiums (either DIY or commercially bought)...you can put some macro algae in it with some live rock rubble (chaeto is best macro algae at present)...the macro will help to take a bunch of nutrients out of the water for you and also act as a water polisher this way (just make sure the flow through the fuge is low to give the chaeto as much contact time as possible with the water)...if you want to run carbon, do it on alternating days...don't do it all the time...this should work well for you in a nano with a bioload that isn't overkill (like colinadams )...

 

[Str8baller]

sounds great, thanks