What would you do...

24gnanonewbie

24gnanonewbie

New member
I am trying to decide between adding a skimmer OR a minimax media reactor(by innovative marine) to my 16g IM tank.

What would you do? What will be more beneficial to my tank?

I have a clown, bi-color blenny and a Peppermint Shrimp.

What's ya'lls thoughts?
 
Just checked out that nano -- very cool looking. Are you having nutrient issues currently?

If it were me, I would keep it simple and stick with water changes on a tank that size. Based on your current stocking list, I don't see any reason why water changes couldn't keep up with nutrient expert but, if they can't, then I'd go with a skimmer. Skimmer might also help with oxygen exchange. My 2-cents.
 
zibba said:
Just checked out that nano -- very cool looking. Are you having nutrient issues currently?

If it were me, I would keep it simple and stick with water changes on a tank that size. Based on your current stocking list, I don't see any reason why water changes couldn't keep up with nutrient expert but, if they can't, then I'd go with a skimmer. Skimmer might also help with oxygen exchange. My 2-cents.
Click to expand...

I dont think I am having nutrient issues. All corals look happy and healthy. I have a little bit bubble algea. Other than that... I do 2 gallon water changes every other week.
 
24gnanonewbie said:
I dont think I am having nutrient issues. All corals look happy and healthy. I have a little bit bubble algea. Other than that... I do 2 gallon water changes every other week.
Click to expand...

If that's the case, I'd just save my money or -- more likely -- spend it on something else. :)
 
I have a few questions which might shed some light on what to do...

1) What are your goals with the tank? SPS? LPS? Softies? Z and Ps? Mushrooms?
2) What are you current tank parameters right now? Alk? Ca? PO4? NO3?

It really depends. On what your goals with the tank are. You are doing great with the water changes doing 2gals every 2 weeks. Thats more than 25% of your actual water (due to rocks, sand, fish, stuff in the back)changed every month. Which is excellent! A skimmer is never a bad thing because you will remove more fish poop and therefor some bad gunk. But you're not heavily over stocks with fish so its not really needed on a nano system. A media reactor would be nice.

I really like the new IM reactors I have 3 BRS ones... I hate the living **** outta them. Only nice thing once I take the tank down in the move is that I have 3 more sediment filter canisters for my RO/DI system after some good cleaning! To preserve my booster pump and membrane and filters even more!). But if your corals and everything are doing excellent now. A reactor isn't needed. it really depends on your nutrient levels.

I have a 5 gal Fluval Spec... I had a link to my build thread in my sig but they removed it (oh well). I actually plan on going full blown SPS having atleast 1 fish in there. I really want this tank to be super clean and stuff to grow like a champ! So I drilled it and modded the heck outta it! Gave it a 10 gal DIY sump with a Skimmer rated for a 65gal system (which I modded as well), a refugium in the middle, a UV sterilizer (cause I hate nasty disease and algae), an ATO, heater, and I am thinking of a set of reactors for it (probably going to go with 2 IM ones cause i like carbon and gfo.

But answer those first two questions and you will get more answers from people on this forum we need to know what your wanting to do...
 
24gnanonewbie said:
Would the minimax media reactor be usefull?
Click to expand...

Maybe, maybe not. Running media of any kind "just because" is kind of a waste of money and time in my opinion. Keep it simple if you can -- especially on a nano where you can't really hide bulky equipment that will hang off the tank. Aesthetics matter! :)

Answering the second question that lostmyz posed might help determine whether additional equipment should be purchased. Personally, I would try my best to get by with biological filtration (i.e., live rock/sand) and regular water changes. And, I'd spend money on automating things like top-off and dosing calcium/alkalinity to maintain stability rather than worry about nutrient export on a system that doesn't have very many nutrients to begin with. If you've already done that and you're experiencing issues with algae and poor growth/color, then look at other options.
 
Levels are: Ph 8.0, Ammonia 0, NO2 0, NO3 0, KH 10 dKH(179 ppm), Phosphate 0, Ca2 340 ppm

Salinity: 1.024

Temp: 79.6 to 80.2
 
I have good growth. One coral frag has a small amount of bubble algae on it. Nothing crazy planned in the future. Maybe some more zoas/polys and a piece or two of sps.
 
you need to get your Ca up a little its best to have it around 440-460. I kept mine at 460 when I kept SPS in my tank. At 460 you will see a little more growth
 
Ur spending more money as opposed to make you own water from your ro/di probably if you hav an ro/di. You have to factor in cost driving and stuff. But for dosing... and two part is fine.
 
lostmyz said:
Ur spending more money as opposed to make you own water from your ro/di probably if you hav an ro/di. You have to factor in cost driving and stuff. But for dosing... and two part is fine.
Click to expand...

OK... that is a great idea. I will get a RO/DI unit!

So besides buying a unit, what else will I need? I am new to the RO/DI side of things.
 
An ro/di system
Salt
Some form of a container to fill woth water than salt
A pump to mix.

It depends on what you have sitting around the house and what you'd have to get.
 
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