Nano Reef

[JacoboWM]

So I was talking to a friend last night and he was telling me that he wants to start a nano reef but he wants a 10 gal tank or smaller if possible. i tried to look some stuff up online but I kinda lost myself. I own a 55 gallon and working on a bigger tank. The only reason i am confused is because i dont have any experience on the care for a tank so small.

is it even possible to have coral in lets say maybe a 5 gallon? what lighting is recommended and what filtration. i dont want to point him in the wrong direction and everything go to waste.

would he even be able to have fish?

rumor has it they are so much harder to maintain.

 

[ganjero]

Yes it is possible, check out the nano section. I wouldn't say they are harder to maintain but rather it is easier to mess up things in smaller tanks.

He could keep nano fish in there, nice looking inverts would be a better option. Almost any coral can be kept and the light would depend on the type of corals kept.

 

[JacoboWM]

That's what I figured. I just hope he doesn't say something like "I want a 2.5g". Once he knows more about it ill post the thins he wants or is looking at.

 

[FlameA450]

I started with a 20 gallon as my first reef tank, its a great way to learn. and now i just stepped up to a larger tank so hopefully that will make things easier. just make sure he does lots of water tests because things can get hairy quick

 

[JacoboWM]

I'm not sure if he's gonna do a 20. But I'll run the idea by him.

Thank you!!

 

[LeslieP]

I got a nice CADlights 12g nano with built in refugium for work. It's awesome, and I put a BoostLED Par30 bulb over it. I have hammers, frogspawn, torch, open brain, acans, monticap, zoas and all are growing well

 

[dc]

[moved]...

 

[wlyon]

I have a half gallon tank that has been up and running for a little over two years now. With frequent small water changes its not to bad. I have a bunch of mushrooms in it, and a sexy shrimp.

 

[jcarey]

Nano's are pretty simple, just go slow and easy on adding fish and be patient, let time work out the algae and stuff, i think the first mistake people make is chemical fixes for a quick fix for a problem, often causes as much harm as good. I have a oceanic 29g biocube HQI and it's been running without fault since the 3rd of january, this year. i've added a lot of different corals and all are doing great. i received a 4 mouthed acan about a month back, little less, it has 4 or 5 new mouths on it and even my birds nest has tremendous growth bumps all over it. i wouldnt go less than 14 gallon all in one system if you are inexperienced, too easy to crash the system. the bigger the system, the less of an impact a small mistake will make. so it makes sense it's the opposite as well.

 

[codyreed29]

biocubes are always a good tank and well If youve got the money get the bigger one and well if you don't buy a little one.

 

[JacoboWM]

he got a 5 gallon cube. but he didnt get a light. any recommendations? he wants to do corals

 

[jcarey]

Little space equals go big or go home. lol. i think for a great nano you carefully plan ehat you intend to get. make sure no corals with long sweeper tentacles... everything grows too big for a nano so by getting decently valued corals you can frag off to cover small expense nano requires. how bout a sweet zoanthid garden with around five different species covering the rocks. there are sweet pics out there of zoa gardens. or if you like lps... and I do... Check out encrusting leptastrea... acans are awesome... i just got a sweet blastomussa merletti! interested to hear your picks...

 

[jcarey]

Leds should work for anything beginner wise. sps are needy but lps and zoas do fine in moderate lighting. lot of nano white and blue leds available. leds are also low heat. so you wont have to worry like with halides... lot to consider with nanos. google will give you great results... check this out
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?aid=2998

 

[JacoboWM]

he looked at some pictures of zoa gardens and told me he wants to do that. sounds easy to me but is there anything i should know about owning a zoa garden besides that they can kill us lol.

any recommended nano fish that he can put in there?

 

[JacoboWM]

what do you guys think about the site reefs2go.com

 

[jcarey]

Do beware of the toxins. Use precaution when handling. Nothing real special for care. They aren't a stony coral, they will just spread out with flesh like tissue. Very easy to have and if you buy selectively, you can create an amazing garden. Medium light and medium flow to low flow is good. Some react different to different conditions.

 

[JacoboWM]

thanks