New 30g reef tank

mike1024

mike1024

New member
Hi. I'm brand new to all this. Trying a smaller tank to keep the budget manageable while I learn. I'm well aware that a small tank is more difficult. Very open to suggestions and positive criticism. Everything is dry, waiting to collect equipment. I have (or UPS has :)) the following things so far:

  • IM 30g Nuvo Micro tank
  • Maxspect Razor R420R Nano LED light
  • MP10 propeller pump (kinda splurged on this, probably overkill)
  • 100W heater
  • Refractometer, ammonia/nitrite/nitrate/alkalinity test kits

Still need a skimmer (probably IM SkimMate midsize), ATO system (probably Tunze Osmolator nano). I'm planning to use aragonite sand, and water/salt/live rock from the local store, to be purchased this week when everything else is ready. Hoping I end up with more than some expensive wet rock when all is said and done ;)
 
jmstevano said:
Can I ask what that setup cost you so far?
Click to expand...

IM Nuvo 30 Micro Tank 318
Refractometer 40
60W Maxspect Nano LED 261
Red Sea Marine Care Test Kit 31
JBJ Digi-Temp Thermometer and Probe 11
TDS Meter 25
Vortech MP10 Pump 235
Flipper Magnetic Cleaner 40
100W Neo-Therm Submersible Heater 63
Total 1024

I'm trying not to think about it. I initially tried to cap my budget at $1300, but yeah, that's not happening.
 
System sounds nice, I had a rsm 130 and tried to keep it reasonable too a couple of years ago. One thing I would suggest is getting a nice ro water system, I went cheap and regretted it. Since it's on smaller tank I was always doing water changes - better investment to start with agood one that can produce fast I was always tied up making water. Also try and keep it in a room that stays cool, I had to buy a chiller and when that 500 bucks came up put a dent in the fish coral budget.

I love the LEDs on our size tanks, wish I had them. I had 2 mp10s and I will say they are a great piece of equipment. You won't be disappointed. Good luck!
 
PSBoston said:
System sounds nice, I had a rsm 130 and tried to keep it reasonable too a couple of years ago. One thing I would suggest is getting a nice ro water system, I went cheap and regretted it. Since it's on smaller tank I was always doing water changes - better investment to start with agood one that can produce fast I was always tied up making water. Also try and keep it in a room that stays cool, I had to buy a chiller and when that 500 bucks came up put a dent in the fish coral budget.

I love the LEDs on our size tanks, wish I had them. I had 2 mp10s and I will say they are a great piece of equipment. You won't be disappointed. Good luck!
Click to expand...

Thanks! Good advice. We have an RO system for our drinking water. It'll at least keep up with water changes. TDS tool say 15ppm for it, which is hopefully sufficient. I'll very likely get a dedicated one for the tank at some point. We keep the house pretty cool, so hopefully won't need a chiller. Still considering one.
 
Yesterday was the big day. Got all my components. Water, live rock, sand came from LFS, and went right in the tank. Still messing with the rock layout.

yOmqJ1j.jpg


Tank has some ammonia, nitrate, and nitrite, so I guess this is going to sit idle for a while while they stabilize.
 
Lessons learned so far:

  • Don't let air get into a running pump
  • It'll look bluer than you think
  • Water evaporates FAST
  • It'll cost more than your best estimate

Am I getting the hang of it yet?
 
Noah 123 said:
What are you thinking for livestock? I've got some ideas...
Click to expand...

Going for "easy" since it's my first saltwater tank. Green star polyps and a few mushrooms for starters. A clown and maybe a blenny for fish. I want leave room for expansion once I feel more confident. I'd love to hear your ideas.
 
OK. For fish, I was thinking you could try:
- 1 or 2 ocellaris clowns
- 1 lawnmower blenny
- 1 neon goby
- 1 yellow clown goby

And for inverts:
- 10 blue leg hermit crabs
- 10 red tipped hermit crabs
- 1 fancy brittle star
- 5 nassarius snails
- 5 cerith snails
- 5 astrea snails
- 1 emerald/mithrax crab

Everything here is easy to care for and generally inexpensive. I have some more ideas too but they're pretty wacky animals. Just ask if you want to know them.
 
Noah 123 said:
OK. For fish, I was thinking you could try:
- 1 or 2 ocellaris clowns
- 1 lawnmower blenny
- 1 neon goby
- 1 yellow clown goby
Click to expand...
Sounds good. I was thinking along those lines. Definitely a blenny of some kind and a clown. I'd love to have 2 different clown types, but from what I understand they aren't likely to get along. Still thinking about the remaining choices. Luckily there's plenty of time - I have a feeling the tank will take its sweet time cycling.

And for inverts:
- 10 blue leg hermit crabs
- 10 red tipped hermit crabs
- 1 fancy brittle star
- 5 nassarius snails
- 5 cerith snails
- 5 astrea snails
- 1 emerald/mithrax crab
Click to expand...
I'm on the fence about hermit crabs. They're fun to watch, but I don't want snails being killed. Does that realistically happen? I've been reading about the danger of keeping starfish in small tanks, but again, that may be textbook warnings, don't really know. Lots of people seem to have some luck with them. Definitely would like a healthy mix of snails.

I have some more ideas too but they're pretty wacky animals. Just ask if you want to know them.
Click to expand...

Bring 'em on! My dream fish is a mandarin. If I could only keep one fish, that would be it. Probably not going to happen in a small tank. Saw one in the LFS, and had to restrain myself :bounce1:. Maybe a year down the road, if I add a HOB fuge. Too early to think that far ahead.
 
New 30g reef tank

Just so you know, blennys can be boring to watch. A majority of them don't do much they like to sit in their fav spot most of the time.
You can have two different species but only two in that tank. For example , one ocellaris and a platinum or snowflake and a percula. But I recommend getting them while juveniles so they can then distinguish themselves as to which one is the female once they pair up.


On regards to the CUC. I haven't had any hermits kill my snails. But I do have the Mexican turbo snails which i recommend. I believe the hermits kill the smaller type snails like the cerith and it's to take their shells.
I have a sand sifting star right now. Just got it today. Follow my thread to see how mine goes and you can make a decision based on my experience.
 
G_Sanab922 said:
Just so you know, blennys can be boring to watch. A majority of them don't do much they like to sit in their fav spot most of the time.
Click to expand...

Good to know, thanks. We have lots of reef tanks at work (for decoration, my work is as far as you can get from anything to do with the ocean), and there's some blennies, but I haven't spent that much time watching them.

You can have two different species but only two in that tank. For example , one ocellaris and a platinum or snowflake and a percula. But I recommend getting them while juveniles so they can then distinguish themselves as to which one is the female once they pair up.
Click to expand...
Would black and white and an ocellaris work, or is that asking for trouble?

I have a sand sifting star right now. Just got it today. Follow my thread to see how mine goes and you can make a decision based on my experience.
Click to expand...
Subscribed!
 
I think they should be fine together. Before I read this I saw another thread that just started and put those exact clowns your described lol
y6uge6e3.jpg

Someone quote me if needed
 
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