Newbie:8 Gal Nano w/ Clam, Pipefish, & 14 Corals (LPS,SPS,Polys,Zoas)

[soulpatch]

to answer the fish specific question the clowns would need a slightly larger footprint as I am in their min range. The goby itself even in the wild tends to have a specific area that it stays in and cleans. The real fish that needs more room is the 6 line as they tend to have a larger swimming range then the others.

That said I am at their min and understand that they need more space AND don't state otherwise like in this thread. Both the OP and I have a 93 in the works which is sufficient like I said in last post.

But unlike the OP I am at least in a range for the fish...nor am I trying to house a fish like a pipefish (though kudos for the op to have a pod factory to keep them fed and buying pods as needed).

Yes an arguement can be made that having fish period in a tank is cruel as we can never mimic the wild but there are degrees of seperation between being in a tank close to needed size and one roughly 27% of the smallest recomendation...

 

[swiftvision]

...nor am I trying to house a fish like a pipefish...

The only reason people would badmouth a pipefish in a 12x12 cube is because they can't see being able to feed one without the massive volume of water/space for pod growth. A pipefish doesn't move very much, just like a seahorse.

 

[soulpatch]

The only reason people would badmouth a pipefish in a 12x12 cube is because they can't see being able to feed one without the massive volume of water/space for pod growth. A pipefish doesn't move very much, just like a seahorse.

I agree with that hence the "(though kudos for the op to have a pod factory to keep them fed and buying pods as needed). "

 

[swiftvision]

I agree with that hence the "(though kudos for the op to have a pod factory to keep them fed and buying pods as needed). "

You could be right on the space issues....the clam and starfish seem pretty crammed:

 

[soulpatch]

Off this topic but to the 93 gallon which tank are you going with? The Marineland frameless 93 gallon?

 

[rjkrejci]

When the "min" as established by the collective of prison wardens are a fraction of what they would be in nature, I'm not sure being 27% of what's already 1% of their natural volume of range is a big deal. Even individual fish of the same species have different personalities and needs. Some act stressed in something larger than the min. Some act totally chill in something smaller than the min.

These are all just guidelines based on the collective experience, but we all know this changes over time. I started in this hobby in the late 70s and when I look back, the collective wasn't doing so well back then. Everyone had a hippo tang in their 55 gallon and thought it was more than large enough. People had their bleached white anemones that lasted 6 months and thought nothing of it. Aquaculture? What's that.

I successfully ran a softie reef tank 10 years ago that went 5 years without a single water change with zero deaths or crashes and perfect parameters. That's not supposed to work, but it did.

In 30 years, we'll look back to today and smack our head's with a "what were we thinking". Without a few people pushing the boundaries of what is currently accepted, as long as they are doing it responsibly keeping a close eye on their inhabitants, this hobby would not have progressed and would continue to not progress. Much more respect than the bleached coral "decorator" hobbyist that view fish deaths and an opportunity to get that other colorful fish that they wanted.

Again, everyone participating in this thread I view as a responsible hobbyist, so certainly no disrespect to anyone here. Just a healthy discussion.

 

[swiftvision]

Off this topic but to the 93 gallon which tank are you going with? The Marineland frameless 93 gallon?

Thinking the Marineland 93 frameless undrilled (I'll do the drilling).

Center overflow.

Heres the design to date:

 

[soulpatch]

I am going same tank and using the synergy overflow. That way I can easily do a bean drain but have limited footprint taken in tank.

Are you building a stand or buying theirs? I am having trouble finding if the bottom plane of glass is floated a bit higher then the sides or not. Their stands are now all open top so if the bottom is floated up a bit I can simply use a solid top stand. If it is not floated then I have to get some foam for it as well.

Ordering the tank this week so wont have it in hand for a bit while I plan it out. I need to build my own stand to accommodate the 30" life reef sump I am getting.

 

[swiftvision]

Custom stand; only way I found to do a 30" sump.

 

[soulpatch]

I am contemplating going 32x32 for the stand to give more room and edge out the top for the tank

 

[swiftvision]

Hanging out in a GSP frag....

Hello

 

[sde1500]

Short term success proves nothing. I don't get why you decide to go and attack people that suggest you are putting too much into such a small tank. Because they speak the truth, learned by years of experience.

Edit: Yes it looks great now, but things can change EXTREMELY quickly in a nano tank, especially one as over stocked as that.

 

[swiftvision]

Short term success proves nothing. I don't get why you decide to go and attack people that suggest you are putting too much into such a small tank. Because they speak the truth, learned by years of experience.

Edit: Yes it looks great now, but things can change EXTREMELY quickly in a nano tank, especially one as over stocked as that.

:debi:

Yes, I know they change fast. I don't see how I am attacking anyone. Sure, I'm going to defend myself when people just spout out garbage because they read that the minimum tank size for whatever fish on http://www.liveaquaria.com Funny, but the only ones badmouthing have zero constructive input and only subjective ones based on nothing really.

I know it's a lot in a small tank and I'm trying to show it CAN be done. I'd say so far so good; 7 months is a good run with this much stuff and literally ZERO deaths.

In fact, I'd say that is a great success. :spin1:

But haters be hatin and I'll keep posting pictures to p!ss you off ;-)

 

[_r_]

You are doing great buddy. Subscribed since I am planning to get the same tank next weekend

 

[aadams22]

Swiftvision you are doing just fine, I think your tank looks great and i think its awesome that you saved it and learned so much stuff in such little time

Eventually with that many fish your paremeters will be hard to control and you will want a bigger tank. But for right now i wouldnt sweat it, id say the fish are much happier now than they would be thrown off a balcony, and it will be a while before they all get significantly any bigger