looking for advice, down sizing!

[k8]

Hello

I am so pleased to find the site!

I am in the uk and have had a 400L marine reef for just over 2 yrs. :loveface

I want to down size, quite a considerable down size and need alot of help and advice!

I want to set up a small as possible tank to house my 2 tomato clowns and their anemone (riterie) a clean uo crew and a couple of corals (softies)

I have no idea where to start for this project, the nenny has been under t5s so as long as i can have that form of lighting, it should be ok.

as i am in the uk, i am confused with the conversions to uk and us gallons!
so could some one give me some sizes in inches for suitable tanks? I would like to use my external filter that i have had on my large reef, but not sure if that would work!

HELP!!

loads of thanks in advance

Kate

 

[skipm]

:welcome to nanotank Kate.
I think a 24" tank would be a good size because you can still use T-5 lights and have adequate room for the clowns, their anenome, and other corals provided they are not huge or have long sweeper tentacles. Give us an idea what the other corals you have are and describe the equipment you want to move to the new tank and we can probably give better answers. If you have to you can give links to an on-line vendor for your filter if you don't think we would be familiar with it.

 

[k8]

hello

thanks for the reply!

I have a small medusa coral and a few small mushroom rocks that would be nice to move over also a medium toadstool but think he would be too big!!! i also have 60kg lr in the main tank at the moment so would have loads spare to move over along with sand and numerous clean up crew members! snails, hermits and a sand sifting star.

the filter is a Rena XP3 i also have some spare mini jets with hydor's, heater and could possible keep the Deltec skimmer (MCE600) I also have a spare small tank of about 20L that i could put to use if need be.

the clowns are fully grown and spawn every 15 days so i really would like to keep them alone with no other fish what so ever. its just the nenny i am eally worries about.

you say a 24" tank, how deep / high would that need to be? i would think as shallow as possible so the more light can move through the water collum? I have seen that alot of people talk about the nanocube, is it a US product or anyone know if it is stocked in the UK?

thanks so much for your help!

(people on the big tank forums think i am mad wanting to do this so i am very glad to find you all!!)

 

[Anonymous]

two very common small tanks are the 20 T and 20L. the 20T is 24x12x16 i believe and the 20 L is 30x12x12. The Tall is a nice tank cause 24 is a common lighting size but the Long has the advantage of being shallower as you suggested. Either choice is good. There are a ton of people on this site who love their Nanocubes but IMO they are not worth the trouble. They generally need mods to the lighting, filtration,surface skimming, and to stop overheating. A 20 gallon with your own choosen lighting option and HOB filter is just less trouble in the long run. I have a 20 T and love it for my nano frag tank but again this is my opinion - just check out what reefman has done with his 20L and i think you'll be convinced.

 

[Anonymous]

two very common small tanks are the 20 T and 20L. the 20T is 24x12x16 i believe and the 20 L is 30x12x12. The Tall is a nice tank cause 24 is a common lighting size but the Long has the advantage of being shallower as you suggested. Either choice is good. There are a ton of people on this site who love their Nanocubes but IMO they are not worth the trouble. They generally need mods to the lighting, filtration,surface skimming, and to stop overheating. A 20 gallon with your own choosen lighting option and HOB filter is just less trouble in the long run. I have a 20 T and love it for my nano frag tank but again this is my opinion - just check out what reefman has done with his 20L and i think you'll be convinced.