Small miniature tank

**aquanaut** · 16th Mar 2004, 15:46

To all pros out there.

I am thinking of changing my present guppy tank into a marine tank.

Dimensions: 20cm x 18 x 25.

Its a small tank, but i hope i can keep 2 small clownfishes with a small piece of live rock and some sand.

Is it possible?,i have an hang on filter, what other basic equipment must i have for such a small tank, and how often to change water, buy salt water or otherwise??

Cheers
Newbie

**BFG** · 16th Mar 2004, 21:11

Smaller tank need more attention than say a 4footer. Temperature fluctuation occurs faster in a small tank than a bigger tank. You need to monitor very closely for that size of tank.

**aquanaut** · 16th Mar 2004, 22:42

but are there are must have equipments for such a small tank?

r clownfishes hardy??

**Aeon** · 17th Mar 2004, 00:36

I suggest you do some research on clowns and then plan your tank accordingly.

I don't have marine tank experience so cannot help much. But have your clownfish tell us a joke some day...

**kelstorm** · 17th Mar 2004, 14:30

[quote:3b7e701d61="aquanaut"]but are there are must have equipments for such a small tank?

r clownfishes hardy??[/quote:3b7e701d61]

U need to have skimmer and the smallest skimmer like Orca will take up lots of space in that tank of yours. I think i saw a skimmer caller Sander. A bit on the high side considering it uses air pump.

I suggest u read up on the sticky thread on keeping marine at the beginning of the marine section. This will minimise your heartache. Remember the most impt thing is its nitrogen cycle. Once it is established, u can start loading up on Livestock.

Your type of tank is what we called Nano tank.

Need to consider what is flow rate of your filter. How many times per hr are the water being filtered?

Clownfishes are generally hardy but not as hardy as damsels. Clownfishes aka anemonefishes, are vulnerable to ick and velvet diseases.

Thus, at the size of your tank, u need to monitor the water parameters more closely than those who has 3x2x2 and above coz the margin of error is more delicate.

U also need to change water weekly.

**aquanaut** · 18th Mar 2004, 02:05

i think the hand on jebao filter is efficient enough.

are there any ways to replace a protein-skimmer? Is it possible that i dun have a protein skimmer and i just change water every week?

i saw some shops in marine parade that has a similar small tank with no skimmer. with some LR and 2 clownfishes.

**Aeon** · 21st Mar 2004, 13:30

http://animal-world.com/encyclo/reef...ation/reef.htm

**anzai** · 21st Mar 2004, 15:13

u dun need a skimmer!

check out www.nano-reef.com for more information

**kelstorm** · 24th Mar 2004, 15:55

there are different schools of thoughts here. IMO, skimmers is a must coz filters can only remove the waste that it is able to trap but the dissolved minerals, the filters are not able to do so. It is your call on this.. like i mentioned, your mileage might varies.

**Biotypical** · 12th Aug 2004, 01:58

It's entirely possible to do a reef in a 10g aquarium. Here's a picture of mine at just over two months:

It currently contains ~18 US lbs of Live Rock, 20 lbs Live Sand, various coral frags. Lighting is a 175w MH supplimented by 2x 28w Actinic bulbs on for 6hrs a day.

Current inhabitants are 1 Royal Gramma, 1 Skunk Cleaner Shrimp, 1 Emerald Crab, various small hermits and an assortment of snails.

I also suggest using a refugium for extra natural biological waste removal _along with a skimmer_. The skimmer to the right is a Coralife Super Skimmer 1 inside an AquaClear 500 converted into a refugium.

Best,
Phil Edwards
Charlotte, NC, USA

**fishfry** · 12th Aug 2004, 08:22

a good place to read up on some information about reef tanks is on www.reefcentral.com

I don't know if they sell JBJ nanocubes in SG, but a lot of people use those in america. I would recommend a small skimmer and if not a refugium or little area where you can grow algae undisturbed. Good luck!

**kelstorm** · 18th Aug 2004, 19:56

[quote:bc04939e93="fishfry"]a good place to read up on some information about reef tanks is on www.reefcentral.com

I don't know if they sell JBJ nanocubes in SG, but a lot of people use those in america. I would recommend a small skimmer and if not a refugium or little area where you can grow algae undisturbed. Good luck![/quote:bc04939e93]

refugium will be the best.. help to reduce the Nitrate too.. excess macro algae, can feed fishes like tangs..

**rocketshrimp** · 19th Aug 2004, 00:41

Hi,
Think the poor guy only want to keep 2 clowns, rocks and sand....if he keeps to that, it is possible as clowns are very hardy. Need to frequently change the water though (quite troublesome, as you will need to mix the salt and get the sg correct.). But it is doable...from my experience....but also from my experience, don't think you will stop there...would probably be tempted to buy corals and stuff...and then you will run into problems, as they would not be able to survive in such a small tank.

My 2 cents...

**kelstorm** · 19th Aug 2004, 08:50

[quote:43bf3734d9="rocketshrimp"]Hi,
Think the poor guy only want to keep 2 clowns, rocks and sand....if he keeps to that, it is possible as clowns are very hardy. Need to frequently change the water though (quite troublesome, as you will need to mix the salt and get the sg correct.). But it is doable...from my experience....but also from my experience, don't think you will stop there...would probably be tempted to buy corals and stuff...and then you will run into problems, as they would not be able to survive in such a small tank.

My 2 cents...[/quote:43bf3734d9]

very true...

**Biotypical** · 20th Aug 2004, 21:35

I'm sorry, but I would have to disagree with the idea that corals won't do well in small tanks. Since I took the picture above the corals in there have grown some and the ones I've added since are doing just fine. For really good examples of small reef tanks check out www.nano-reef.com although don't mind the people there, they tend to be rude.

Regards,
Phil