Non-reef nano setup...

[ccaragol]

I imagine this has been covered many many times before so don't feel bad about sending me a link to another topic or FAQ. Or, maybe it hasn't since this is a reef forum but I figure the experts are here.

Basically, I've had my 75 gallon saltwater tank running for a few years now, I'm not entirely new to saltwater tanks but yet I'd still call myself a beginner. Now, I also want a smaller non-reef nano tank. I'm thinking a 2.5 gallon minibow with some aragonite sand on the bottom, a piece of decoration, and very basic heating/filtration. I'm thinking of using the lighting it comes with and all I'm really looking for in this tank is a single clown fish. I know they're generally hearty as can be.

Now on to the questions:
1) I've only really had false perculas in my tank because I didn't want to mix clowns. Are all clowns generally hearty, would a tomato clown be a good choice? Please don't recommend damsels instead, anything but a damsel. They're cute but I don't want one in this tank.

2) I mentioned basic filtration, but I hate the filter that comes with the mini bow, it takes up too much room in the tank. Any recomendations on a nice little external filter that would work well enough for my one fish? What should I be looking for in filtration for this situation?

3) How often and how much of a water change should I do without coral and only a single fish? Recommendations on how to accomplish this?

4) Am I asking for trouble with what I'm thinking so far?

-Anthony

 

[Anonymous]

i personally think a tomato is too big for a 2.5 gal tank
any HOB filter will work
once a week - get water from your LFS
can be done, decide what you want and plan well it'll save you frustration later

 

[ccaragol]

Thanks for the reply!

>i personally think a tomato is too big for a 2.5 gal tank

Yeah, I've seen them get pretty big. I was hoping for a clown and perhaps something other than a false percula. Any recommendations on any other fish which might be ok?

>any HOB filter will work
>once a week - get water from your LFS

How much? If it's 2.5 gallons total should it be a .5g or 1g change?

>can be done, decide what you want and plan well it'll save you frustration later

Thanks!

 

[TimSchmidt]

Don't ask me about fish, but an aquaclear HOB filter can be modified nicely to hold a heater, carbon, and make a small refuge for chaeto. Weekly water changes. about 10% of your water. HTH.

Tim

 

[Anonymous]

how about a psuedochromis they are way to mean to be kept with other fish in a small tank but if this is to be the only fish there are many beauties to choose from
.5 should be good

 

[sadielynn]

I would recommend in that size tank about 1 gallon or so a week for the change be sure to rinse your filter pads at least weekly . For the light I would recommend a small screw in type pc light for your tank....nicer color in my opinion like these
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/P ... 004+113346
For the clowns I would recommend perhaps a small saddleback clown perhaps you might find a misbarred one that could be intresting . HTH and Welcome :welcome

 

[ccaragol]

>Don't ask me about fish, but an aquaclear HOB filter can be modified nicely to hold a heater, carbon, and make a small refuge for chaeto. Weekly water changes. about 10% of your water. HTH.

Great! I'm familiar with aquaclear, I've got one on my golfish tank.

 

[ccaragol]

>how about a psuedochromis

I was thinking that also...

>.5 should be good

Ok...

 

[skipm]

:welcome to the board.
If you are not set on a clown take a look at clown, yase hashe, green barred, hi-fin red banded, red head, or trimma gobies, all of these stay pretty small and have alot of personality. You could also try things like porcelin crabs, sexy shrimp, or even a harlequin shrimp (you have to feed these starfish so they may or may not be for you). If you don't want to see the filter take a look at some of the Eclipse tanks, an Eclipse 6 would make a great little tank for a system like you are descibing.
As already stated weekly water changes and rinsing out or changing filter media is a must.

 

[ccaragol]

>I would recommend in that size tank about 1 gallon or so a week for the change be sure to rinse your filter pads at least weekly .

A gallon or so, rinse pads with water change, got it.

>For the light I would recommend a small screw in type pc light for your tank....nicer color in my opinion like these
>http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=9870&N=2004+113346

If that'll fit it'd be worth it, I also don't like the color in the minibow.

>For the clowns I would recommend perhaps a small saddleback clown perhaps you might find a misbarred one that could be intresting .

I'll have to check my LFS, I like the saddleback if it'll be ok in the tank.

 

[skipm]

BTW, after seeing my post I noticed that I should have also pointed out that the Hi fin red banded goby and the yase hashe goby will both pair up with a randalls pistol shrimp (alpheus randalli) and are quite interesting to observe the way they live together in the same burrow.

 

[sadielynn]

I have a saddle in a 2.5 however try to get the smallest you can find as they are a bit slower to grow .....his next tank will be a 7 gallon should he need moved as of now he is fine and those bulbs will fit (almost 100% sure ) the mini bow I just have a aga 2.5 and a seprate light all told cost about 50 bucks for everything filter heater thermometer light and the set up :mrgreen:

 

[ccaragol]

>If you are not set on a clown take a look at clown, yase hashe, green barred, hi-fin red banded, red head, or trimma gobies, all of these stay pretty small and have alot of personality. You could also try things like porcelin crabs, sexy shrimp, or even a harlequin shrimp (you have to feed these starfish so they may or may not be for you).

Small gobies, I'll see what my options are there too.

I was afraid of crabs or snails or anything being that there wouldn't be much for them to eat in a small non-reef, no live rock tank. Not sure how I could keep them.

>If you don't want to see the filter take a look at some of the Eclipse tanks, an Eclipse 6 would make a great little tank for a system like you are descibing.
As already stated weekly water changes and rinsing out or changing filter media is a must.

I've also been considering larger tanks, but am hoping to keep it as small as possible without being harmful to the fish. 5-6 gallons is probably the max so that Eclipse might work...

 

[ccaragol]

You're all amazing by the way, I wasn't expecting such quick friendly responses!

Ok... here's something I'm second guessing myself on as well so I figure I'd rather throw it out there then mess it up. When I set up the tank, if I use live sand, do I have to wait for anything to cycle? There really wouldn't be much to cycle I suppose, since I'm using a small hob filter and the sand is already live. If I set it up and get the temp right with the bulb I'm going to replace, I'm pretty much ready for the fish right?

 

[TimSchmidt]

You should still get a cycle and I would throw in some LR at least in the HOB filter for some bio filtration. You don't have to get coral with the LR but the LR will be a home/hiding place for the smaller fish. (I'd be a little off if I was in a box with no place to hide so I imagine a fish would be too). No one has suggested one so I will (please don't flame me, I've never had one of these but I think they can be small), How about a mantis shrimp?

Tim

 

[skipm]

If you are going that way then only a small fish should be added at first. IMO it would be better to set the tank up and cycle it with a pinch of flake food. I would also probably recommend a filtration system that utilizes a bio-wheel. The Eclipse tank I mentioned earlier fits in this category. You can still ad a few snails later for algae control, make sure the ones you get will graze off of the tanks walls. A couple of nassarious snails for the sandbed wouold alos be fine to stir the sandbed and help keep detritous under control.

 

[ccaragol]

>You should still get a cycle and I would throw in some LR at least in the HOB filter for some bio filtration.

I was thinking no live rock just because of protein skimmers and whatnot, I don't know how it all works yet at this scale... I could get a few tiny chucks of LR and put it in the HOB if it's recommended. A piece of LR would also be nice, but would I need to then add anything else to my list?
I wouldn't mind a live rock for some algae to grow on and have a small crab to pick at or a snail to clean, but what about protein and cleaning? Would I have to change much to allow this? Or would the water changes and simple HOB be enough?

>(I'd be a little off if I was in a box with no place to hide so I imagine a fish would be too).

I was going to give them a regular piece of rock for hiding, so they'd have something to hid in/behind.

> No one has suggested one so I will (please don't flame me, I've never had one of these but I think they can be small), How about a mantis shrimp?

I like that, how would I feed it?

 

[ccaragol]

>IMO it would be better to set the tank up and cycle it with a pinch of flake food.

You mean vs live sand?

>I would also probably recommend a filtration system that utilizes a bio-wheel. The Eclipse tank I mentioned earlier fits in this category. You can still ad a few snails later for algae control, make sure the ones you get will graze off of the tanks walls. A couple of nassarious snails for the sandbed wouold alos be fine to stir the sandbed and help keep detritous under control.

Bio-wheel, I'll do some research and look at the Eclipse tank some more.

 

[skipm]

A mantis would have to be kept alone in a species tank.
You could add LR without having to add anything else. A protein skimmer is not necessary, you can control nutrient build-up by doing weekly partial water changes.

 

[ccaragol]

>A mantis would have to be kept alone in a species tank.
You could add LR without having to add anything else. A protein skimmer is not necessary, you can control nutrient build-up by doing weekly partial water changes.

Ok, live rock it is then.