I read the intro thread I decided to do a seperate thread so things didn't go off topic. Anyways hello, my name is Charles I have not had a sw before. I have kept many many planted tanks and still have three. I'm pretty well known amongst other plated tank keepers. Well I want to get my sleeves wet and salty. I have a rimless 20L just begging for some sps. I know everyone says bigger is better, I don't really care much about that I will do it in a 20 anyways. I tinker with leds and arduino for other projects. I want to dive right into the controversy and get chewed out right off the bat, so here we go I have every intention of setting up not only a small tank but a canister filter with a external skimmer. What's everyone's thoughts?
Introduction
- Thread starter charlest
- Start date
cloak
New member
The external skimmer is fine, but I think you'll find that as the canister filter accumulates more and more detritus it becomes more trouble than it's worth. (nitrates) Unless you plan on cleaning the media on a regular basis, (weekly, if not sooner) it's best to just pass on the canister filter. The live rock you have in the tank will be your primary biological filter.
Welcome to RC btw.
Welcome to RC btw.
Teenreefer15
New member
Out of curiosity what canister filter are you using?
ReefsandGeeks
New member
I use a sunsun canister on my 40 gallon reef. If the canister is the only thing running it's completely silent. It does become a hasstle cleaning every week or two. How often you have to clean it depends on the bioload. If you're planning on SPS you're going to need the cleanest water possible, so a good skimmer will help alot. I can say first hand my evaporation was very low with the canister. A 2L bottle of RODI lasted me about 5 days for topoff. One thing to keep in mind, especialy for SPS is that they like stable water even more than pristean water. If you have a large canister filter on a 20L tank, you're water changes wll basicaly consist of just the water you lose from emptying the canister. I have the smaller sunsun canister and still have to mix up 8L to fill it back up. That's already a 50% water change, which is pretty large for keeping peramiters stable. You'd just have to very closely match salinity and temp and it should be okay.
If quiet is the goal, and you don't mind the work of cleaning a canister than that's a good way to go. Otherwise I'd sugest a sump to hold your equipment and filtration. maybe you could reduce evaporation by covering the sump? not sure about that one.
If quiet is the goal, and you don't mind the work of cleaning a canister than that's a good way to go. Otherwise I'd sugest a sump to hold your equipment and filtration. maybe you could reduce evaporation by covering the sump? not sure about that one.
ReefsandGeeks
New member
One more point, if you're only planning on keeping SPS or a couple other coral, and very few or no fish, than your bioload will be very small, shich would allow you to clean your canister alot less often. What you're planning can be done with some close observation. I say go for it if that's what you want.
ReefsandGeeks
New member
I don't think you will have a problem with the canister filter then. With just coral and a CUC you could probly get away with only cleaning your canister every couple weeks, which isn't bad. You can also look into vodka/vinegar dosing if you get a decent skimmer to further reduce nitrates. It's a great way to get them down to undetectable in a reef tank, which is great for SPS. very cheap too. Don't need to worry about that right now though, but after the tank is cycled it can help alot.
ReefsandGeeks
New member
ohh and i have a sand sifting goby to keep the sand sifted. i wouldnt recomend gobies for a reef tank, especialy a small one because they quickly cover rocks and coral with sand. I'm constantly blowing my rocks off. Maybe a fighting conch? I have ne of them and he is awsome. Not sure how big of a tank they realy need. They can be suplimented with seaweed if the tank doesn't have much algea, and they don't stir uf the sand too bad. Nasarius snails are good for the sandbed, but pretty boring. most of the time they just sit still under the sand with a little antenna poking out waiting for food.
