Barebones sps tank?

S

sparky5785

New member
So lets say someone has a 20g high tank and wanted to do an sps only tank with maybe one or two small fish to keep the bioload down what are some recommendations some of you sps experts would have as far as equipment techniques routines and livestock choices for this kind of budget type build.

For example I hear a lot of you use a dosing setup or calcium reactors etc. Can one achieve similar results manually?

What would be the absolute essentials as far as equipment is concerned?

How long should the tank age before the first stick goes in?

Would it be beneficial and a little quicker if established liverock was used right out of another system?

Is a protein skimmer necessary on such a small tank especially with a very small bioload?

Can weekly or even smaller semi weekly water changes make up for dosing and skimming?

What are good starter sps choices?

What would be one or two good small fish choices that will be attractive not mind the intense lighting and keep the bioload down?

Any and all comments are appreciated.

Thank you.


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I run a heavily stocked 75g with all sps in it and only use kalkwasser in my top off . I dont dose any thing else and do water changes 1 every 2 weeks all my sps do fine. I have a skimmer but thats cause i probably have around 20 fish in the whole system. The main thing is stability keeping #s constant they sont tolerate huge swings well. Ive seen people just run a bak pak skimmer and nothing else with the good live rock as there filtration and keep sps besides some power heads of course. It be lot easier with established rock and bare bottom. I havent found much difference in sps besides flow and light requirements so basically where u position em. Id make sure tank is completely cycled before adding any and start with any sps that u can get cheap to test with. Weekly water changes then u can try bi weekly and see how they do or just keep doing 5gal weekly since its not really a whole lot if work and use a good salt your levels should stay fine
 
madjoe said:
I run a heavily stocked 75g with all sps in it and only use kalkwasser in my top off . I dont dose any thing else and do water changes 1 every 2 weeks all my sps do fine. I have a skimmer but thats cause i probably have around 20 fish in the whole system. The main thing is stability keeping #s constant they sont tolerate huge swings well. Ive seen people just run a bak pak skimmer and nothing else with the good live rock as there filtration and keep sps besides some power heads of course. It be lot easier with established rock and bare bottom. I havent found much difference in sps besides flow and light requirements so basically where u position em. Id make sure tank is completely cycled before adding any and start with any sps that u can get cheap to test with. Weekly water changes then u can try bi weekly and see how they do or just keep doing 5gal weekly since its not really a whole lot if work and use a good salt your levels should stay fine
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Thank you for the info.

Anyone have anything else to add. Is there something I'm overlooking. Any fish suggestions? Or would no fish be better? Is there some part of this whole sps equation I haven't thought through?

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sparky5785 said:
So lets say someone has a 20g high tank and wanted to do an sps only tank with maybe one or two small fish to keep the bioload down what are some recommendations some of you sps experts would have as far as equipment techniques routines and livestock choices for this kind of budget type build.

For example I hear a lot of you use a dosing setup or calcium reactors etc. Can one achieve similar results manually?

Manual is fine, the main thing is to be consistent. The reason many switch to automated setups. Kalk and 2 part dosing will be fine for a nano setup.

What would be the absolute essentials as far as equipment is concerned?

Good lighting, flow, and filtration. I would recommend personally some LED's, an mp10, and a high performance skimmer.

How long should the tank age before the first stick goes in?

This varies between tank to tank but from my experience, once your levels start stablizing on the test kits, it time to test some easier care SPS.

Would it be beneficial and a little quicker if established liverock was used right out of another system?

I rushed and shortcutted my nano and started mine using those bacteria additives, while i did okay the first month, my tank crashed shortly after.

Is a protein skimmer necessary on such a small tank especially with a very small bioload?

No, but it gives me leg room with my water change schedule as im inconsistent.

Can weekly or even smaller semi weekly water changes make up for dosing and skimming?

This depends on your SPS load but if you have a few and are just starting off, weekly water changes with quality salt will do just fine.

What are good starter sps choices?

Montis, pocci's, digi's, birdnests to name a few.

What would be one or two good small fish choices that will be attractive not mind the intense lighting and keep the bioload down?

If you keep up with the maintenance, dont sweat two fish.
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To give you an idea, i run a mixed (mostly SPS) reef. Its a 29 gallon biocube with LED's, an mp10, tunze 9002 skimmer, and apex controller. I try to do waterchanges every week (have been slacking lately) and have 4 fish. Ill get a pic soon.

Keep asking questions, ill be glad to help as much as i can.

Wiz.
 
Fish_wiz2 said:
To give you an idea, i run a mixed (mostly SPS) reef. Its a 29 gallon biocube with LED's, an mp10, tunze 9002 skimmer, and apex controller. I try to do waterchanges every week (have been slacking lately) and have 4 fish. Ill get a pic soon.

Keep asking questions, ill be glad to help as much as i can.

Wiz.
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Okay so what is a high performance HOB skimmer?

What are some good choices for fish then? Ive heard clown gobies nip SPS firefish dont like bright light most other fish get too big.
 
Clowns would do fine in a small tank like that, especially if they are hosted by a nem since they won't stray far from it.
 
sparky5785 said:
Okay so what is a high performance HOB skimmer?

What are some good choices for fish then? Ive heard clown gobies nip SPS firefish dont like bright light most other fish get too big.
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the red fire fish did fine in my tank until they got eaten purple did hide more dont think was a light issue though. clowns would be nice and dont need to host a nem mine host a corner lol. honestly i would do a yellow corris i know they get big but very helpful in a sps tank trust me on that
 
i was thinking maybe a red firefish and a blue neon goby?? what do you think? as for skimmer would a red sea prizm be sufficient or should i look at a reef octopus hob model?
 
sparky5785 said:
Okay so what is a high performance HOB skimmer?


What are some good choices for fish then? Ive heard clown gobies nip SPS firefish dont like bright light most other fish get too big.
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I would say along the lines of an aquamaxx, deltec, tunze, swc, reef octopus. I would avoid CPR, Coralife, seaclone...

Clowns, firefish, jawfish, blennies, cardinalfish are my choices.

I would worry about the firefish jumping or getting beat then about light. Ive never been successful with them as my other fish were brutal to them.
 
Fish_wiz2 said:
I would say along the lines of an aquamaxx, deltec, tunze, swc, reef octopus. I would avoid CPR, Coralife, seaclone...

Clowns, firefish, jawfish, blennies, cardinalfish are my choices.

I would worry about the firefish jumping or getting beat then about light. Ive never been successful with them as my other fish were brutal to them.
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How about this skimmer i like that i can place some chemipure in the last section there?

http://coralvue.com/bh100f/

i was thinking a firefish and a blue neon goby they are small non aggressive and dont make a huge mess or cause lots of waste since i want this to be an sps tank ya know and it is only 20 gallons. and i plan on having a screen top on the tank so im not worried about the jumping.
 
In my opinion and i know nobody will agree but no need to spend a ton on a skimmer with a plan of 2 little fish. Im gonna catch some slack for this but my system which consist of 75g reef ready 20 fuge and 6 gallon edge drilled and top took off all connected to a marineland tide pool sump and a super skimmer. Sps dominated ebay led lite. Contains a total of 9 clown fish yellow corris 5 in a half inch xmas wrasse a labouti wrasse some cheap fairy wrasse a blonde naso male a fox face a cling fish two clams to scallopes and way more different sps then fish. Tank is about 10years old very stable and i will admit way way overstocked. And i have what everyone calls a crap skimmer but did little mod and works for me. And i dont dose nothing but kalk in my top off and usually to lazy to measure water changes at least once a month 15gal . Every system is different what works for me might not for some. But i c no need unless u find killer deal for a expensive skimmer for the set up u talking about
 
sparky5785 said:
How about this skimmer i like that i can place some chemipure in the last section there?

http://coralvue.com/bh100f/

i was thinking a firefish and a blue neon goby they are small non aggressive and dont make a huge mess or cause lots of waste since i want this to be an sps tank ya know and it is only 20 gallons. and i plan on having a screen top on the tank so im not worried about the jumping.
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Ive used one of those before and have to admit, its a great skimmer. And yes, you can add media to the end chamber (keep it clean though!).

And those two fish are fine, i would reconsider the goby though as in my experience they die after a few years, due to life expectancy. Ive never been able to keep one past 2 years (no disease, territorial, eating issues).
 
madjoe said:
Every system is different what works for me might not for some.
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I have to agree with you 100% on this and applaud you on your success.

Unfortunately, I have had terrible luck with no/cheap skimmers. Back on my 125 i used a really cheap reef octopus and my SPS did alright, then, when i finally decided to put fourth money into something decent (an SRO XP-2000), the changes were night and day. I even had to throw a tiny skimmer on my 29gallon from fear. I guess im a skimmer fan. Haha
 
Fish_wiz2 said:
Ive used one of those before and have to admit, its a great skimmer. And yes, you can add media to the end chamber (keep it clean though!).

And those two fish are fine, i would reconsider the goby though as in my experience they die after a few years, due to life expectancy. Ive never been able to keep one past 2 years (no disease, territorial, eating issues).
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I see do you have a recommendation for a different second fish to go with the firefish in a 20g tank?

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Thanks wiz ishould say im going by the size of the tank and bioload he is considering. I dont knock the good skimmers but think with a small tank and ease of waterchanges on it there is no need for something expensive thats all. As long as hes commited to the waterchanges he be fine it will replenish enough of the calcium and what not to not have to really dose or a need for heavy skimming. Just though i should clarify. His question was what the minimum was so guessing he is looking for a budget build
 
madjoe said:
Thanks wiz ishould say im going by the size of the tank and bioload he is considering. I dont knock the good skimmers but think with a small tank and ease of waterchanges on it there is no need for something expensive thats all. As long as hes commited to the waterchanges he be fine it will replenish enough of the calcium and what not to not have to really dose or a need for heavy skimming. Just though i should clarify. His question was what the minimum was so guessing he is looking for a budget build
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Correct Joe I've always wanted sps and have heard its easier to have an sps only tank than a full blown mixed reef and my biocube is zoas and lps so I'd like to have an sps only tank but can't afford a large extravagant setup so I know it means I have to be super dedicated but I just need a good place to start and have a plan to stick with.

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Yea mixed is tough since lps an zoas do better in dirty water i do keep some zoas in my sps though
 
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