Pics of my 20G nano - 9 months old

[bushwick]

Well here is an update on the tank which is around 9 months old. Tank has only 80L (20G) net of water. I water change twice a week at 25% each. IMO large water changes are the best way to keep the water quality up in such a small volume.

Tank has come a long way since the pics in the begining. Hope you enjoy.

Full tank pictures

Left side tank view

Right side tank view

Deltec MCE 600 skimmer

Equipment under the tank

Tank is basically complete. Will grow out a bit. So hopefully i can now sit back and enjoy. May add a few cleaner shrimps again in the months to come.

Cheers
Che

 

[Jim Z.]

Nice job with the 20 gallon Nano . It amazes me on how many corals one can get into a small piece of real estate......Jim Z.

 

[kaserpick]

Wow, amazing tank! What kind of light and what kind of clams?
Thanks for sharing!

Thumbs up!
Kaserpick

 

[gfk]

looks good.

you sure thats a 20 high and not a 25 high, or 15? my goH seems to bee longer then yours, maybe im just crazy lol

 

[bushwick]

Water volume is definetly 20G. Tank length is 24 inches, width is 12 inches and height is 16 inches from memory (at work at the moment so can't check).

My ligfhting is 1 x 70W astralux 14K (as in pic) and i also run 1 x150W Ushio 10K globe as the main light.

Clams 2 x maximas and 1 x squamosa.

 

[Rhinecanthus]

24x12x16 = 4608

4608/231.55 = 19.9 US gallons

 

[winetasting247]

Very pretty!! I like your setup a lot. I just recently got a 24g Aquapod and i hope in time it looks that nice.

 

[gfk]

ya same dimensions as mine, just looks funny in the pics i guess lol

im not sure why it came up at goH i swear i typed 20 lol

 

[highland135]

Very Nice...is that a purple firefish? If so how long have u had it and any problems. I have been trying to locate one.

 

[bushwick]

Yep,

Sure is a purple fire fish.

have had him for 5 months or more. Been a great fish. Was shy at the start but now is out all the time. Will dart for cover once in a while. He will now eat from my hand. Very tame.

 

[bushwick]

Hi All,

Here is an update on my nano that is now running Lee Chin Eng’s system (Natural System). Basically it has no protein skimmer, no refuge, no deep sand bed, nothing. The filter is the live rock and minimal sand. Water changes are 25% a week (20L). Nothing is added to the tank at all.

Since going simple the tank looks a lot healthier. Coralline algae has exploded (no idea why as I don’t dose Calcium). Maybe the other Ions / elements like chloride etc are in direct balance with natural sea water and not being removed by carbon / skimmers etc.

Some corals are missing from before as I sold a lot (this tank was being sold). Half the reason why all the equipment has gone and why some corals / clams walked out of the door. I will add more corals once I find something special. I will add a few SPS frags to see how they respond to this system.

I have never in 16 years kept a natural reef, but the results are amazing. Proof is in the pudding that you don’t need a skimmer on a nano tank. The tank was running on an airlift skimmer after selling the Deltec but since removing it the results are a whole lot better.

Cheers

 

[soldier1911]

Nice tank.

 

[herostar]

Very nice indeed! I'm about to set up a 20H and am trying do decide if I want to get all fancy with equipment... (sump, skimmer, fuge, etc...) or just keep it really simple and see what happens. It's hard to keep it simple and clean, but your tank looks good and is making me think I should go that direction.

 

[wea747]

Those are some pretty crazy macro shots, very nice.

 

[gotboostedvr6]

wow very nice

 

[golf4lyfe]

is that an anemome in the back left?

 

[bushwick]

Thanks all for the positive talk. It's what sometimes keeps this tank going.

The back left hand corner is just morphs only.

I'm liking the fact that this system is maintenance free (no cleaning skimmers etc). Just a water change once a week that takes less than 10 minutes and then only 5 minutes max every 2 weeks to clean the glass.

I do love gadjets, but IMO you can create an awesome nano reef without spending $$$. Just keep fish levels low. I only feed the tank a small amount every other day.

 

[golf4lyfe]

I ment was anenome in back right corner, where did you buy your light at?

 

[FLricordia]

Awesome tank.
I have been doing the same method only a DSB for my Tiger pistol, but only few small fish in this 20gl. No skimmer or other equipment, though I do have a sump with chaeto. I do 25% every couple weeks. It is amazing how clean the tank stays.

 

[bushwick]

Lovely tank FLricordia.

in the back right hand side of the tank is a cat coral, not an anemone.

Lighting is from a local shop in Australia.

Cheers