Topless Fluval Edge 12G

[nyr13f]

Starting a new project. Recently removed the top of my Fluval Edge 12g, which seems to be the popular decision among Edge owners. Tank seemed to maintain it's structural integrity just fine, and looks 100x better as a rimless tank!

I'm still pretty new to the hobby and I am open to any successful opinions on how to run the tank.

Lighting - I'm leaning towards PAR38 bulbs from RapidLED. 1 bulb or 2? I like the look of a hanging light as opposed to a fixture. With these bulbs, I'm assuming there is only one setting(on/off). What do you do at night? Leave it off or find a lower intensity night bulb?

Filter - Read many, many opposing opinions and I am open to any ideas that work and are relatively easy to a new reefer. I would like the option to keep advanced corals in the tank if I choose. I'd rather not use a sump and a bit confused as to how a refuge works. Again, I'm open to all ideas as long as they have proven successful.

Power heads - I currently own a Koralis Nano and was thinking of purchasing another to go on the opposite side to create more turbulence.

My goal is to be able to keep more advanced corals if I choose, however will stock with easy corals to start. I have read that nanos do not require skimmers and refugiums and have read that they do.

Any info to help get me started buying supplies would be greatly appreciated. Look forward to being around on the site.

Thanks!

 

[pkirby]

I would skip out on the skimmer, instead I'd do weekly water changes of 3-4 gallons. I'd also add an ATO to help with water stability... But with no overflow/sump section it may not work well since your display will have to exaporate quite a bit before the level drops enough for a float switch...

 

[BlindZide]

You would probably get better answers in the nano reef section of the forum. They specialize on the smaller tanks. I haven't ran a tank smaller than 30g before so I can't really comment on this but then again a 30g is still considered nano. When I had my nano I did not have a refug or sump. I did weekly 5% water changes and topped off everyday. I did not use an ATO. I kept various corals: Alveopora, Duncan, Frogspawn, Birdsnest, Hydnophora, and others in there with noticeable growth and no issues. This was with 2 Koralia Nano 425s on a controller and a dual T5 fixture. No sump or skimmer or refuge.

 

[nyr13f]

I think I'm going to run two Koralia Nanos, either a canister or HOB for carbon and filter floss and use the LR for biological filtration. Is a HOB better because of agitating the surface or is a canister better? I'll also be buying a PAR38 bulb from a good company.

 

[shiftline]

Any pics of your topless edge? I took the top off a 6g. But my 12 is still stock