Started my first Nano aquarium!

[Evo8]

Ok so ive officaly made the dive into saltwater!

Evolve 8 stock lights/ filtration.

Ok so I plan to make the back into a mini refugium to help with filtration.
Its cycling now with 6 lbs of live rock ( I plan to add more probly 8 more pounds)
My plans are a pair of clown fish ( the mainstream ones)
Turbo snail
Peppermint shrimp
Anemones ( maybe) im reading they can be quite the challenge and hand raised clowns wont take to them.

Now will the stock lighting br enough for coral? They are really bright..problem is there is no information about thr lighting unit itself so I do not know wattage and all. Can I get a few low light corals in there?

Any suggestions? How much harder/more work is a reef tank than a LRFO tank?
Im a noob lol.

Any suggestions on a mini reef light under 100 bucks?

 

[Evo8]

Also what about suggestions for some good base rock. I get really nice rock down by the beach for my 60 g cichlid tank and just clean is really well. Can I do the same for my nano?

 

[Phranque]

Well, first, welcome to AA.


Hate to be the one to say it, but that tank is way too small for even a single clown, let alone a pair of them....... As a matter of fact, there are very few marine fish that I'm aware of that are even compatible with a tank of that size.

And, not sure myself what kind of light that comes with, but I can almost guarantee that it's not powerful enough for an anemone..... most require extremely high light, on the same level or higher than many SPS corals. As far as a cheaper lighting option, you may be able to go with a Par38 bulb.

As far as ease, reefs require more maintenance & diligence than a fish-only tank, and a reef that small is going to be exceptionally difficult to take care of, particularly for a beginner. Not saying it's impossible, but you'll have a very steep learning curve ahead of you...
The typical mantra for learning reef is to go as large as you can reasonably afford to go right off the bat....... More water volume means things happen slower and allow some time to catch & correct potential issues, whereas bad things can happen very quickly in a "pico" system.

 

[Bectan01]

Agree with all of the above, some will tell you a single clown will be ok but really there are no fish suitable for that size tank. Most do awesome mini reefs in 10g or less and some cool inverts to liven it up. I use a 54w led par38 globe and it works a treat on my 10g. I keep a rainsfords goby and a firefish with a small clean up crew, it's new so no corals yet but that's my plan...

 

[okapizebra]

I agree with the above posters. However, I disagree that there aren't any fish options at all. You could easily do a neon goby or clown goby. Both stay under one inch and would be suitable for your tank, IMO.

Welcome to AA, your tank is lookin good!

 

[Evo8]

Thanks guys! Saltwater is just filled with misinformational people! Of I ask 10 people the same question they'll tell me 10 different things! Lol. But you guys seem to know your stuff! See my LFS told me when I was getting live rock that I could easily fit 3 fish in there..2 clowns and a goby specifically..even though I wouldn't even consider a third fish in such a tiny tank, I thought for sure that sounded a little off..but I'll look into maybe a single goby. Mainly I'd like to have some beginner softies.. I'm just confused (not saying any of you are wrong) but how come I see lots of nano tanks with clowns, etc. My LFS has 7.5 gallon nano reef with a pair of clowns? Just curious
So this morning I woke up..tested my water and my hydrometer tested low salt! How does that happen over night? Is possible it gave me higher than normal reading yesterday because I didn't "season" the needle for a full 24 hr?

 

[Darylb]

hydrometers are always a bit off you have to do multiple tests and average it out ud invest in a refractometer they are a bit more expensive but worth it i reckon tanks looking great btw

 

[Big Tex]

Thanks guys! Saltwater is just filled with misinformational people! Of I ask 10 people the same question they'll tell me 10 different things! Lol. But you guys seem to know your stuff! See my LFS told me when I was getting live rock that I could easily fit 3 fish in there..2 clowns and a goby specifically..even though I wouldn't even consider a third fish in such a tiny tank, I thought for sure that sounded a little off..but I'll look into maybe a single goby. Mainly I'd like to have some beginner softies.. I'm just confused (not saying any of you are wrong) but how come I see lots of nano tanks with clowns, etc. My LFS has 7.5 gallon nano reef with a pair of clowns? Just curious
So this morning I woke up..tested my water and my hydrometer tested low salt! How does that happen over night? Is possible it gave me higher than normal reading yesterday because I didn't "season" the needle for a full 24 hr?

i dont know where your from nor do i know your lfs or how they run it, but ive seen plenty of lfs give horrible advice to people and ive over heard and corrected as much as i can, and that 7.5g and a pair of clowns at your lfs just proves IMO theyre just being very very very ignorant about it or are just trying to make a sale, just because a fish is small doesnt mean theyre going to stay small, especially clowns, theyre extremely active fish during the day they need alot of swimming room, minimum tank size for a pair is 20g, and for a single maybe a 15g and a 10g but thats pushing my comfort level, its the same as throwing you and a friend in a walk-in closet the rest of your lives it would really suck. i would stay with either a few banded shrimp and corals, or maybe 2 skunk cleaner shrimp or 2 red fire shrimp, just to catch the eye plus your corals, maybe you could get away with a pigmy wrasse or a small goby, heres a few links to help you out

Saltwater Aquarium Shrimps for Marine Reef Aquariums: Scarlet Skunk Cleaner Shrimp

Saltwater Aquarium Shrimp for Marine Reef Aquariums: Blood Red Fire Shrimp

Saltwater Aquarium Shrimp for Marine Reef Aquariums: Banded Coral Shrimp

Saltwater Aquarium Fish for Marine Aquariums: Hi Fin Red Banded Goby

Saltwater Aquarium Fish for Marine Aquariums: Tanaka's Pygmy Wrasse, Wetmorella tanakai

 

[Evo8]

Thanks guys I kind of suspected there just trying to make a sale when they told me I could fit three fish in there I thought there was no way.. I'm also suspecting that they told me the wrong way to cycle my tank they sold me a a pair of blue damsels to get my tank cycleing. I will no longer go to them for advice I'll just ask you guys cause you're know you're doing. And they obviously just want to make a sale. I'll see if I can find a new fish store as well. By the way guys I'm in Fort Myers Florida

 

[Big Tex]

Thanks guys I kind of suspected there just trying to make a sale when they told me I could fit three fish in there I thought there was no way.. I'm also suspecting that they told me the wrong way to cycle my tank they sold me a a pair of blue damsels to get my tank cycleing. I will no longer go to them for advice I'll just ask you guys cause you're know you're doing. And they obviously just want to make a sale. I'll see if I can find a new fish store as well. By the way guys I'm in Fort Myers Florida

dont get me wrong, some lfs owners and employees are pretty knowledgable BUT for every 1 that has good advice theres always 2 other idiots that will talk out of their arse.

i would recommend a fish-less cycle, for a tank that small it wouldnt tank long, just keep on top of your water tests and watch for the ammonia spike

 

[Evo8]

The fish are already in should I just leave them or return them you guys think? If I leave them should I do water changes during the cycle?

 

[Chefjcrane]

Tske them to a safe place. No water changes at all. Let it cycle

 

[FrankoQ]

What's the latest?
I'm thinking on doing a 10g reef in my home office.
Was there a guide to set up such small reef tank?

 

[Evo8]

It was quite easy..I used all live sand and live rock and there was relatively no. Cycle..although I since set up a bio cube 29 reef. Its still running perfect. Its really not as hard as people say..

 

[Evo8]

And I didn't find a guide.. just make sure you research research research before doing or adding anything..also make sure you use only rodi water and have capable lighting

 

[FrankoQ]

Alright. Thanks. I'll look into it.

 

[Tmar]

hydrometers are always a bit off you have to do multiple tests and average it out ud invest in a refractometer they are a bit more expensive but worth it i reckon tanks looking great btw

hmmm.... a bit more expensive? I can't find a decent refractometer for less than 5 full times what I paid for my hydrometer! Not even on used sites such as craigslist....
Gratz on your new nano Evo8!

 

[Evo8]

hmmm.... a bit more expensive? I can't find a decent refractometer for less than 5 full times what I paid for my hydrometer! Not even on used sites such as craigslist....
Gratz on your new nano Evo8!

they have refrctometers on amazon for like 20-25 bucks

 

[Darylb]

i think i paid $70 AUD for mine

 

[carey]

I paid $30 for my refractometer from eBay, they still have the same one listed in fact. I got mine about 3 years ago or 4 and it still works as good as the day it was first adjusted. I have calibration fluid and check it every month or two and it has never needed any adjustments.

The fluid is like $6 and worth it.