Im thinking about starting a nano reef but i dont know where to start. I dont want any fish in it or do i need to have fish? Would a 10 gallon tank be ok to use? What kind of filter and lighting do i need? Do i need a heater in it? Are they high maintenance? Are they expensive? Do you have to let it run for a couple days or can you put stuff in it right away? What all do i need to keep it up and running? Lol i think thats all the questions i have! If i left anything out like something i need plz tell me.
New Nano Reef Tank
- Thread starter maddi09
- Start date
SaltWaterNewb
Member
Im thinking about starting a nano reef but i dont know where to start. I dont want any fish in it or do i need to have fish? No, you do not have to have fish. Would a 10 gallon tank be ok to use? Yes, keep in mind that the smaller the tank the less stable it is. What kind of filter and lighting do i need? You can do anything from a complicated under tank sump or as simple as a HOB power filter. Lighting depends on what you are wanting to keep. You can use PC, T5, or even MH lighting. Do i need a heater in it? Yes, unless you are doing a cold water tank then you need a chiller. Are they high maintenance? Slightly more than an equivalent sized freshwater tank. Are they expensive? They are not cheap. Again, costs will depend on what you plan to keep in the tank.Do you have to let it run for a couple days or can you put stuff in it right away? Generally you have to let the tank cycle which can take as little as a week or as long as two months or even more. What all do i need to keep it up and running? Once the tank is up and going then you will need water, salt mix, food for fish/inverts/corals, testing supplies, and stuff for general maintenance. There is a lot more as well, this is just the very very basics. Lol i think thats all the questions i have! If i left anything out like something i need plz tell me. Yeah, you need to do lots and lots of reading and research. Keeping a SW tank is not hard but it is far from being straight forward. If you do not do things correctly and just jump in without doing your homework you stand to loose a lot of money.
Take a gander at the link I provided in this thread...
http://www.nanotank.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5314
This should answer a lot of your questions and pretty much give you a blow by blow as I dont think I left out too many details. Please read the WHOLE THREAD before you make move one. You can probably save a little "jingle" should you decide to keep some of the corals I have chose to keep. The skimmer I have on this tank aint required but if you have the room to spare you might want to consider it. This particular tank set up is suitable for just about everything except SPS corals, crocea and maxima clams for the most part. I wouldnt recommend Anemones either except for some of the very small ones like Flower Anemones, Waratah Anemones or Mini carpet Anemone due to the size cosntraints of the tank. None of these are host Anemones to Clownfish. All are best left to the more advanced aquarist as well due to their husbandry needs.
http://www.nanotank.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5314
This should answer a lot of your questions and pretty much give you a blow by blow as I dont think I left out too many details. Please read the WHOLE THREAD before you make move one. You can probably save a little "jingle" should you decide to keep some of the corals I have chose to keep. The skimmer I have on this tank aint required but if you have the room to spare you might want to consider it. This particular tank set up is suitable for just about everything except SPS corals, crocea and maxima clams for the most part. I wouldnt recommend Anemones either except for some of the very small ones like Flower Anemones, Waratah Anemones or Mini carpet Anemone due to the size cosntraints of the tank. None of these are host Anemones to Clownfish. All are best left to the more advanced aquarist as well due to their husbandry needs.