Office Tank

[Chaotech]

Recently i got the idea that i want to put a fish tank in my office at work, unfortunately i do not have an water source really close so it will have to be 10g - 20g at the most so i can still easily do water partials...I want a hex or 1/4 circle to put in the corner. I have a few questions i need help answering...

1.) Is a 20g large enough to accomodate 1-2 clown fish w/ anemone?

2.) I really like polyps and i would like a small colony of them can the lighting required to maintain polyps be found in the sizes for these tanks? and how much should i expect to spend?

3.) Do i really need a sump + skimmer? or can i get away with a decent backpack filter...

4.) I had algea problems with my first SW tank and i dont want that in my office environment what can i do to prevent it?

 

[cdangel0]

My first tank was a 29g - I did not have a sump and used a HOB filter (Penguin Bio-Wheel_ without any issues at all. You can get 30" T5 lights to fit. You COULD keep an anemone and some corals but you have to keep in mind that nems can and will get rather large very quickly and you may run out of room, or it can begin stinging and killing any other corals you put in there with it.

 

[mr.maroonsalty]

1.depends on the animal; maybe a nice bubble tip.

2.we're really no longer restricted to the amount of light we can put in small tanks, there are small hqi bulbs of decent quality like AB and mini size pendents like lumenarc mini.

3.sump is a nice way to clean up the visual feild, tank+stand+pendent; no heaters, filters, maybe even no phs.
Search out the higher quality nano skimmers like the Tunze 9002

4. Don't mess around get a good skimmer and don't slack off on water changes, but most important find a way to qt everything "live."

Evaporation and heat are issues a top off system will be a real plus.

For a K there is a zeroedge nano stand sump included??? What a conversation peice that would be!

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

1) I don't recommend it. One in a 20g isn't bad. Two in about a 29g or 30g. 36" tank would be good.

2) What do you mean by "polyps". I assume Zoanthidae species. With a smaller tank you can use a few good quality normal output lights with the correct color temperature and do fine. You might not have spectacular growth or color, but they'll live and grow.

3) No, you don't. They really do help though. I definitely recommend some form of mechanical filtration and a good amount of live rock for biological filtration. You'll have to do your chemical filtration in some type of mechanical filter.

4) Do your tank maintenance like you're supposed to Low feeding, water changes, don't overstock, take it slow, etc.

 

[Chaotech]

mistype.

 

[Chaotech]

Well my intent is to set up the tank and put like 1 or 2 damsels in it until the water cycles... then trade them in and drop a couple large pieces of live rock in the tank and let all the critters come out for about 2 months... who knows maybe ill get something cool ... after that i will add the anomene, let him pick his location in the tank before adding the polpy frags / Clown

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

Just put the live rock in it and let it cycle. You don't need the damsels. I would avoid the anemone, too. it will grow big quickly under the right conditions, and you'll have to have a fair amount of light to keep it.

 

[cdangel0]

Don't use damsels to cycle the tank. The ammonia spike burns their gills. Just put the LR in and let it cycle the tank.

You probably do not want to add an anemone after only 2 months - the water chemistry is not stable enough and you could risk losing it. General rule of thumb is to wait a year before adding an anemone - personally I think 4-6 months should be enough if you already know what you're doing.

 

[Chaotech]

I just like the relationship between clowns and anomene, thats why i wanted to put one in there... maybe ill look at a different type of small fish to put in there.

Isnt there some type of Wrasse that works with some type of shrimp?

 

[kevin2000]

My 02

Tanks in the office are not always appreciated by fellow employees, employers, or landlords. Water changes and tank maintenance is much harder when you don't have ready water/sinks ... and maintenance is often messy/smelly chore which can create problems. Something to consider.

 

[JC_UF_ITK]

You could do a goby/pistol shrimp pair. I just set up a 29 gallon Bio Cube in my office about a month ago. I let it cycle and added a cleaning crew (snails, hermit, and a skunk shrimp). I'm going to add a coral next week.

 

[blu iz]

I had a 12gal nano on my desk here at work for 4 months with no problems. I just got a new 14gal biocube and love it. I know people have had problems with them, but so far I have nothing bad to say. I have GSP growning, different mushrooms / ricorida / Zoanthids and Pulsing Xenia. I took the fish I had in the 12 gal home to enjoy my 120. So right now I only have 4 snails and 1 crab, until I can get to my LFS on Sunday to get my new fish.