Planning first Nano Please help

[ekim8160]

This will be my first attempt at a Nano Reef. I've got 3 set-ups in mind, so I'll be as breif as possible in describing them.

First of all, I'm looking to keep this system as basic as possible. I'm only wanting to house hardy low light corals such as shrooms, zoos, star polyps etc. My budget will limit me to Power Compact Lighting, so MH is not an option.

Here's my plan:

20 High AGA
24" Coralife 50/50 130 watt

or

20 Long AGA
30" Coralife 50/50 130 watt

or

40 Breeder AGA
36" Coralife 50/50 192 watt

All three to be equipped with the appropriate amount of LR and LS, Aquaclear 110 modded into a fuge, Seaclone 100 Protein Skimmer, heater and various powerheads.

The least likely is the 40 Breeder, because I would have to blow the whole budget just on hardware. I guess I could cycle it with damsels and add one piece of live rock every payday for the next year, but I'm not that patient.

Please let me know what you guys think.

 

[aaron229]

I would go for the largest tank. Just because I know that in the long run you are going to wish you did .... if you don't. I have a 30 gallon reef tank and i wish I had a bigger one, but because of money I can't. Any way my 30 gallon runs with what you have in mind for your 40 breeder. I however don't have a refugium, but looking to get one very soon. Anyway go for it and show us your progress. Good luck

 

[ekim8160]

If I do go with the 40 Gal tank, is it doable to add the live rock little at a time rather than all at once like all the other Nano set ups?

 

[ekim8160]

Hey Aaron:

Do you run your skimmer 24/7 or do you turn it on and off when needed. I was worried about that skimmer being too big for a 20 gallon tank, or is it even possible to skim too much?