Is it possible to keep SPS in a 40 gallons tank?

[GSMclowns]

Hello Everyone,

I have many tanks from 10 to 120 gallons tanks over the last 10 years. However I never keep SPS in a small tank before. I got a big SPS tank now but somehow the idea got stuck in my head that I want a nano sps tank. Anyway, I have been looking at the IM Nuno Fusion 40 gallons. This link here: http://www.marinedepot.com/Innovati...-Innovative_Marine-0I10444-FIAQNCNTOF-vi.html

So is it possible to have SPS growing and COLORING UP in a small AIO tank like that?
These are the equipments that I am thinking of using.
Light: ATI 4 x 24Watts.
Flow: 2 x MP10s
Water Change: 1 gallons a day
GFO and Carbon as needed.
No Skimmer and no sump.
Dosing: Cal and Alk by BRS dosing pumps

What do you guys think?
Idea and suggestions are appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[JB NY]

One of my friends keeps SPS in a AGA 40 gallon breeder. Some fantastic SPS come out of that tank. It absolutely cane be done.

 

[tang daddy]

I started a tank in early October from the same manufacture as the one you're thinking of setting up, it's a nuvo 38. I added 2 sets of cheap coralife fixtures basically 4x24w and also 2 12" strips of ecoexotic panorama blue led.

Over the last few months I've been slowly adding sps and they're all encrusting and growing well. Don't have a doser as I sold off most of the equiptment when I shut down my 75g. I am however running a tunze 9004 which fits in the back overflow compartment with 3mm of space. Currently doing 5g WC per week and dosing manually 3x a week.

So to answer your question it's definitely possible, although I would strongly suggest running it barebottom as it's a lot easier to suck out the detritous and fish poop and have minimum waste build up. Good luck!

 

[tmantaylor18]

One of the most epic SPS tanks I've seen here was a 40 gallon breeder. Wish I could remember the guys name. Think he was running really powerful metal halides over it. All I remember is his profile picture was a green skull or something. :lolspin:

Maybe someone with better memory can chime in with a name or some pics. The thing was packed to the brim with big colonies.

 

[tmantaylor18]

Found it! Guess my memory isn't so bad after all. Therman was the name I was looking for.

https://web.archive.org/web/20040413050805/http://www.reefcentral.com/totm/2001-10/index.php

 

[Piper27]

His tank was nice, I have a 40 breeder with pics in the thread called I love wild acros, but I have a lot of water volume behind it. You should be fine with the basic easy sps as long as the tank is mature.

 

[GSMclowns]

Thanks for all the replies.
I am more worry about the small volume. I won't have any sump or any other tanks tie to it. Just the AIO tank only. I know that the SPS will live and will grow well. But would the 40 gallons provide enough stability for them to thrive and color up?.
Another point is not having any skimmer. Not having a skimmer and only rely on water change. Not sure how good the water quality will be.

 

[larcat]

AIO's are a pain in the butt, IMHO. If possible, try and go sumped. The dual-40b setups look really easy to work with and nice

Thanks for all the replies.
I am more worry about the small volume. I won't have any sump or any other tanks tie to it. Just the AIO tank only. I know that the SPS will live and will grow well. But would the 40 gallons provide enough stability for them to thrive and color up?.
Another point is not having any skimmer. Not having a skimmer and only rely on water change. Not sure how good the water quality will be.

 

[itche_scratche]

I had a 10 & 28 gallon nano SPS dominate before. Change water regularly small amount at a time should do it .

 

[twon8]

It's possible but it would be much easier with a sump. You really will need am auto topoff/ alk supplement with an full tank of sps.

 

[larcat]

This. Our "upgrade" didn't add much display, but it did let us add dosers and, importantly, a bigger skimmer and a fuge. Since the upgrade, SPS has been *much* easier.

It's possible but it would be much easier with a sump. You really will need am auto topoff/ alk supplement with an full tank of sps.

 

[Reefvet]

37 gal, 25 actual water volume. No sump, HOB skimmer, no GAC or GFO. 1 MP10, Kessil LED. GHL dosing pump is the key. Alk is stable, SPS growing like weeds.

 

[rovster]

Absolutely!

 

[Bobf216]

This is my 40 breeder I run just a 20 gallon sump and an oversized skimmer.

 

[jedheuer]

I ran a 40 SPS breeder for a while. The SPS did very well. The two problems that come witht the smaller volume, were stable temps and dosing. Temps were a problem in summer when it would easily heat up to 86 with the lights on. For the hottest days I left the lights off. Never lost any SPS though, nothing i was keeping was super sensitive. And dosign CA and alk amounts were so small they had to be done by hand. So not really a problem just more maintenance.

 

[tang daddy]

I hope this person doesn't mind but I was reading in the led thread and found his tank, quite nice for a simple tank running skimmerless!

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2287628

 

[knukles55]

Here's my 30 rimless

 

[Wazzel]

40 should be no problem. My tank is a 60.

 

[YoungREEFA]

This is my 40 breeder I run just a 20 gallon sump and an oversized skimmer.

I know you have a build thread right. right?:bounce1:

 

[jhowerton]

Following, I have a 40b that just finished cycling about two weeks ago. Going to pick up the first coral for it today.