JBJ 12G Nano Cube For Beginner? Ideas? Limits?

[PinkFloydEffect]

I have never had a saltwater aquarium but I maintain freshwater planted aquariums. I wanted to give a reef tank a shot just as something small next to my bed to watch as I fall asleep, I want a cube and my available space maxes out at the dimensions of a JBJ 12 gallon nano cube they are about $200.

I want live rock and colorful corals, probably species that do not compete/sting each other so I can have a dense display. I would like a clown fish, not sure if I have room for a second clown or another type of fish I do not want to push it even with the single clown. I think saltwater snails are cool, so are shrimp. Can I have a snail with a shrimp? I am trying to figure out what is practical based around this tank, I am not sure if the OEM lights will cut it I may have to retrofit the hood with something better?

Just the movement of corals are enough for me but I obviously want a cleaner crew, and need some input one a fish or two.

Thank you!

 

[thegrun]

Small tanks are difficult to keep, especially if this is your first saltwater tank. Most of us would suggest at least a 30 gallon tank to start with. That said, if you want to try your hand at a 12 gallon tank the clown is not a great choice, they do much better in a tank of at least 20 gallons. Some possibilities:
Firefish
Possum Wrasse
There are numerous Gobies that would work
Swiss Guard Basslet.
Check out Live Aquaria, they have a Nano fish section with a lot of fish listed that would do fine in a 12 gallon tank.
And yes the snails and skunk shrimp would be fine together.

 

[PinkFloydEffect]

Thank you for your advice! Unfortunately the 12G is my only choice, I understand it is more prone to swings with less volume.

It seems like with a nano tank the protein skimmer is not necessary? I do not think the JBJ-12G comes with one but there should be room for one.

Would all star fish be off limits?

 

[aznflyfisherman]

Nano tanks are not that hard to keep, best thing is once it is cycle and establish, try not to mess with it too much And it will be fine. Also do not over feed. Just do a regular water change. I run a 6g cube and i might do a 2g water change once or twice a year if that.. Its been running for 4years. I had hermits snails 2 damsels and to clown fish. For now i move the fish to my 110g. I will have rbtas and clowns in it later this week.

 

[PinkFloydEffect]

Wow you do water changes farr less frequently than in freshwater tanks!

I will keep doing my research and give this a shot!

 

[heathlindner25]

Wow you do water changes farr less frequently than in freshwater tanks!

I will keep doing my research and give this a shot!

Most people with nanos do water changes a lot more frequently than that

 

[aznflyfisherman]

I should do more but im lazy, but it worked for me..it has coraline growing on it so it was a good sign and i had no green hair algea out break or cyano. Fish were healthy. I did not over feed my tank though so that helped a lot and i had good water flow. Every few months manually dose some calcium, alk and mag. To replenish it.

 

[PinkFloydEffect]

Someone really simpled it down for me by showing me a "reef bowl" in a vase...nice concept but kind of ugly. Sent me into looking at pico reefs, I have changed my mind on a tank I would rather jump from a pico directly to a 20+ gallon tank someday if I like this. I have the time to test my water daily and such to learn this correctly but using a pico, and I will spend several months just cycling with minimal things to slowly play with water stability. Good thing is I'm determined to learn but limited on money to play with so I will buy things very slowly as I learn.

I am set on this Marineland Portrait/Contour 5 gallon tank for $55, it was between this or a Fluval Spec 2.6/3 gallon for the same price. The factory light actually grows coralline algae according to one person so I can at least cycle the tank for a few months with it as is. There is no room for a powerhead in one of these BUT I can always get a stronger pump and attach it to the built-in nozzle.

https://youtu.be/ozX2SKOPgpc

 

[micgloth18]

Most people with nanos do water changes a lot more frequently than that

ha that is true I do 5 gallons on my 14 every weekend and five gallons on my 29 every two weeks.

 

[PinkFloydEffect]

I just ordered the Marineland 5 gallon tank, choice has been made.

Why don't people have ANY plants in their reef tanks?? I know people grow algae in their sumps/refugium but aren't there plants that naturally grow on reefs? If so, some plants in a reef tank would be not only beneficial but more natural looking too?

Why don't people use an air pump with reef tanks? Or do they? I see another opposite is carbon is absolutely necessary with reefing as where I do not use it at all in my FW planted tanks?

 

[roostertech]

The only green "plant" that I can think of is kelp. There are some "tank" that grow kelp.

 

[g_langley]

Check out the Marine Plants & Macroalgae sub forum, plenty of great planted tanks.