Advice to starting a ULM AIO tank in small apartment

atfactor · Jul 8, 2020

Hi everyone! This is my first post in the community and I'm really excited to explore this hobby and go on this journey with many of you.

I’m looking to upgrade my freshwater tank to a ultra-low maintenance (ULM) AIO reef tank for a small one bedroom apartment and would like to seek the collective guidance of the forum for purchasing considerations that will not be budget breaking. The goal is to have a ULM tank with the appropriate automation accessories that will not take up too much time from my busy work schedule (currently working 70-80 hour weeks) and will be okay for the rare occurrence when I am away 2-3 weeks. While I wish to automate as much as possible, I will of course do the occasional manual water change and even hire a reef sitter when away for extensive long trips. I also have no issue buying used and being patient as I understand this will be a long process

I am considering a nano AIO tank between 20-40g such as IM Lagoon 25/30. Depending on size, I’m exploring the options of keeping a pair of clowns, possibily a mandarin goby/dragonet, inverts (shrimp/snail), some hardy corals softies/LPS (zoas, frogspawn, green star polyps, etc), and maybe an anemone (depending on how the tank goes after a substantial amount of time).

Any suggestions for tanks and other necessary gear? After watching BRS videos (52 weeks + ULM series), I believe an ATO/AWC will be a must and am thinking of just getting the AutoAqua ATO/AWC (is there something better there). I’ve read a couple people do similar builds while lurking around but never saw more concrete info on this. Is it possible to fit two 5 gallon jugs and a third 2.5 or 5 gallon in a stand for one of those tanks? In general, how well does that AWC work? Is it to the point that even when I am around I can have it do 2% daily changes and just empty the waste, fill the new salt water, and top off the ATO tank? That would definitely be a winner doing that every two weeks in general…

Ultimately, I’d just like to make a tank that I can enjoy while being time poor and space limited in a temporary living place. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Ron Reefman · Jul 9, 2020

IMHO, if you are working 70 to 80 hours a week, this probably isn't the time to start a new tank. And looking for a Ultra Low Maintenance tank is going into the hobby looking the wrong direction. This hobby requires time and dedication. Sorry for being negative here, but I'd rather you understand the situation than buy stuff, kill it, get frustrated and quit.

Also, mandarins can be very fussy eaters and 80% of them will not eat anything but live copepods which requires a bigger tank and maturity (like a year old) to cultivate the population that the fish won't run through in a short time frame.

New&no clue · Jul 9, 2020

Hi and Welcome. I have an ULM AIO 30 gallon tank that I love. It is at my office which means I am not there on weekends, at night, or over holidays, and I don't have a ton of time to do maintenance things. It has been up and running for 7 months and here is what I've found.

First off the easiest thing to do it go FOWLR(Fish Only With Live Rock), but if you want corals I would suggest sticking to Sofites and possible some easy LPS. I have all softies and 1 LPS (Zoas, Mushroom, Toadstool, Cloves, Gorgonian, Sinularia, and Duncan). The reason softies are good is because they don't need a crazy expensive light and they also don't need pristine clean water. They don't use up ALk, Cal, and Mag at the rate LPS or SPS do so there shouldn't be a need to dose.

ATO is not a recommendation it is a must.

Get a good CUC (Clean Up Crew), a good amount and a good variety. This will help with algae control. reefcleaners.org has a great selection, and good pricing.

Pick fish and inverts that help. For example I have clowns that pick at my rocks all the time, I also have a pistol shrimp and goby pair who keep the sand bed nice and clean.

I personally really like the auto feeder. I had it feed every day at 9:00am when I'm here so I can monitor that it is feeding a good amount, I also feed frozen a couple times a week, but maybe 1 cube over the entire week.

I added chaeto to one of my back chambers as it has really helped drop nutrients down.

For my ATO I have a 7 gallon jug under the tank, I could easily fit two 7 gallons, possible even three, so I think fitting two 5 gallons and a 2.5 gallon could be done. Depending on the dimensions.

Lastly I would say you can do this if you want, HOWEVER, take it slow. As your first tank I would really recommend going at a snails pace. Don't try to rush your cycle, let it do its thing. Don't rush to stock your tank. Start with inverts, make sure the tank is going well, then add a fish or two, wait some time to make sure things are going well, then add in corals. Reefing is a marathon not a sprint.

Here is a link to my build thread if you want to check it out. It list all my equipment and some of the ups and downs.

Build Thread - My ULM Office Tank- Nuvo 30L

Corals have been in for almost a week. Everything is looking good, but my Elegance Coral has really opened up and looks amazing. This is one of my favorite corals in both my tanks

www.reef2reef.com