Some basic questions, please help

[ascarlis]

Please lend a hand …

I have spent hours researching on the internet, read countless forums, purchased and read The Conscientious Marine Aquarist, and The New Marine Aquarium, visited a number of LFS and am still stuck in the same place, namely without a tank and without a plan. Hopefully someone here can help me.

What I want:

A small saltwater tank that will house live rock, live sand, a small clean-up crew, and possibly some easy to take care of corals.

The focus of the tank will be a leaf fish. I may add a second fish later, but am content with just the leaf fish.

I was hoping to purchase some type of all-in-one system (possibly the jbj 24g nanocube).

My questions:

What do you suggest as the best set up to meet these needs? I will be moving in 18 months and so want to keep it as simply as possible.

Will I need a protein skimmer? If so, is there an all-in-one system that has a protein skimmer or will I have to modify one?

Thank you very much for any help.

Adam

 

[melosu58]

Size I would say the bigger the better. Not familar with a leaf fish. All you need for filtration is LR and skimmer.

 

[steve-s]

The biggest issue with these guys is not the swimming room but the waste created. Although their needs are minimal, the need for a large tank is still necessary to to the large amount of waste these fish will produce. They will not tolerate/stay healthy unless water quality stays top notch. So don't look at the fish size when choosing the tank size. Larger is definately better. A skimmer would help immensely. Which one will depend on the tank size you choose and if a sump will be incorporated. Be sure you get them (it?) onto dead foods as soon as possible and do not feed any kind of FW feeders.

Melosu... see <<here>>

 

[jasno999]

YOu could jsut purchase a 10 gallon tank for cheap and get all the stuff to make that itno a nano cube type setup. Not goign to be cheap no matter how you look at it. YOu will eventually need a cleanup crew, RO or RO/DI water purifier (Unless you buy RO water). Protine shimmer will be very helpfull and I suggest doign your research and buying a good one. (Good ones are nto cheap).

 

[steve-s]

I wouldn't put one of these fish into a tank as small as 10 gallon. It is far too small to properly accomodate their waste output and still maintain reasonable water quality. Minimum would be one fish per 25-30 gal but larger preferabley. Two would need a 75ish sized tank.

Cheers
Steve

 

[jasno999]

I have a damsel in my 10 gallon.