What would you do with this tank - setup?

[Linina]

Ok I have a 26 gal bowfront (24" wide) that's been a freshwater tank for 1.5 years. I gave all my fish to my dad and his fresh tanks.

Now. What to do with it? I could use it just for a QT tank however this is a pretty decent tank (and I could pick up a 10/20 gal QT for super cheap).

I was thinking of making it a saltwater setup. However there's not much room in the stand - don't think a sump is even remotely feasible. I'm afraid I've been spoiled by my 90 gal setup so far and I don't know how much success I would have without a sump/cheato chamber/etc.

I thought it might be just big enough to house an anenome and a pair of clowns, or maybe just some different corals, or whatever I might want that won't work in my 90. But what do you think?

Assume about a $1,000 equipment budget (not including rock/sand/livestock/etc). Could I make a decent setup out of this or should I just use it for a QT?

Any advice appreciated as always!

 

[Zooid]

Save the money....use it to raise snails!!!

 

[jaw969]

For long term sake I think you need a sump/fuge/skimmer. So the only way this tank would work with one is to have is plumbed to the side and set in the floor or on a cabinet. (Did a tank plumbed that way once and din't like it much). I think it would make a great refugium.......it is a beautiful bow.

 

[soyadrink]

you could fit a nice HOB octopus skimmer(has the pump inside the skimmer so barely anything visible inside the tank) on the back, small MH kit and I dont think you would really need a sump. You could turn it into a macro algae and LPS tank

 

[spleify]

Neat little tank, you could look into one of these;
http://www.cpraquatic.com/products/aquafugeps.html
It would fit perfectly. Not exactly the IDEAL set up, but IMO a descent alternative. I think you can put more in there than you think. It's not a 90, but you can have a pretty cool tank.

Don't know if it is even possible, but is there any way to plumb it into your 90? I have no idea how your living space is set up, or how much room you have. But it's another alternative. Next to it, upstairs, downstairs??

Just some ideas, but I'm sure what ever you decide you will like it.
Good luck and have fun.

Spleify

 

[Linina]

Ooh, now that's an interesting idea. I used to actually have this tank set up in the entryway, right around a corner from the 90:

It's currently sitting to the right of the brown chair, but I could put it back in the entryway if I could figure out a way to plumb around that one small corner....

 

[68RUSTANG]

Linina,

Do you have access to the underneath room? Maybe a Basement sump for both tanks?

After running two reef tanks for a year (150 & 12gal aquapod) I'm converting a 22gal to a fish only with no skimmer or fuge.
I'll be shutting down the aquapod, trying to reduce the upkeep time.

I've been running a 20gal long fish only tank with two maxi jets and a HOB filter for four years. I just do H2O changes once a month, a really easy tank to maintain. The tank is stocked with a Bi-color Blenny, Pink Skunk Clown, Sexy Shrimp, and a clean up crew.

You could always make it a home, for wayward non reefsafe fish.
Yeah, a no-kill shelter for unwanted fish!

 

[fhazie]

Linina,

Plumbing might be a little difficult around the corner. Or at least i would imagine so. A sump in between the two tanks might make it easier to plumb.

Have you thought about running the tank as a small reef. I run a 20h with a seahorse and a spotted mandarin, my only filtration is a hob filter. You could also modify another hob for a refugium for food. My tank only needs a water change every few weeks and a little top off water when it gets too loud.

Good luck to you,
Ryan

 

[weluvfish54]

dont know what a grand will do into a 29 gallon, havent spent that much on my 210 haha. get something bigger that will benefit you.

 

[Linina]

Alright, thanks guys....I decided to give it a shot sumpless, I can always change it later I suppose.

Ordered 2 tunze 6025 powerheads, 2 bags of sugar size sand, and we'll see what I can make out of this!

 

[holdorf333]

Pretty heavy into nanos, let me know what you have in mind. Zoa/Ric garden maybe? 150w 14K MH retro, CPR AF-MED-PS and a small canister for mech/chem would be all you need. Also, a sixline would be a pretty good idea along with a cleaner shrimp to keep things tidy. PM me if you like.

 

[G.SMITHII]

you could go out of the box and do a cold water system...

 

[Linina]

Ok I set it up. Moved my 2 zoa's (rock and frag) into here after the very minimal cycle. Things are good so far. I also acquired those frags on the back wall from a denver reefer in exchange for Mr. Evil Crab who had been living in my sump and I finally posted him on craigslist to unload him. surprising number of interested parties.

zoa closeup. They already seem happier I think.

 

[freddie40]

Nice. Good trade for the crab

Dave

 

[Linina]

Yeah very happy to unload the crab as I actually had 2 of the aquamart cerith snails wander into the Mr Evil Crab section of the sump and get munched (they survived but sheesh).

I am starting to worry about the turbos in my MT. there are 5 and with them and the foxface now there is not a SPEC of green algae left in the display. In fact this afternoon when I put some nori on a clip for the foxface, I found 3 turbos in it within an hour.
Starting to think I better give a couple away.

 

[freddie40]

Don't, they will be fine. I have 5 or so turbos in my tank, have had them for years. They are doing just fine.

Dave

 

[holdorf333]

By the looksof the sandbed, you could do a goby/pistol combo. I have some Kenya tree you can have, if you want it. It will do fine in that system, but look out, they grow quick!

 

[Linina]

I was thinking of a jawfish when I set this up, but not sure if I'd be setting myself for a nightmare of nitrate maintenance.

My nitrates right now are about 2.5 in this tank but there's no fish, only the zoas and the frags on the back wall who I'm not even sure what they are. The person mentioned tree so I wonder if these are a Kenya tree in fact. Crappy pic:

By the way I'm not sure what to do about feeding now that they are in a tank without fish to feed - should I feed the zoas? they don't really seem to do much if I squirt food at them.

 

[holdorf333]

Feed 'em light. They will do fine with a bit of nitrate as well, as will the Kenyas you have there. Just let that nano sit and stew for a month or 2 and see where you are. Things happen a lot quicker in the smaller tanks, so make sure you are paying attention to the tank daily. If you get a diatom or other algae bloom, let it go. Your nano will be so much more stable. If you are still using the BioWheel, ditch it.

edit: addition

 

[Linina]

Awww,busted. I knew someone would notice the biowheel. I was hoping to skip a skimmer for a while and see how it goes without. Therefore I thought I would need to keep the wheel going and just be religious about changing the filter every 2 weeks. Think I should dump it even without a skimmer? Or keep it until I do get a skimmer?

Thanks the the advice btw!