I'm a long term freshwater aquarist, and I would like to try out a reef tank.
I want the tank to be on the smaller side. I don't have that much capital and I move a lot. It just doesn't make sense to go with a big tank. I think ~20 gallons would be a perfect size.
For simplicities sake, I think I want an AIO tank. I may want to build a sump sometime in the future, but it seems like it'll be easier/cheaper to start with an AIO. Do you agree or should I look into building a sump?
I really like the look of peninsula type aquariums, I think the tank shape can make for some really interesting aquascaping. I have quite a few options. Theres the IM Nuvo Fusion 20 Peninsula, the Waterbox Peninsula Mini 25, and the Fiji Cube 20 Gallon Peninsula. I like how long the Nuvo Fusion 20 Peninsula is, but it seems like the most over-priced. Which of these three options do you think is the best?
The thing attracting me most to saltwater is the sheer variety of fauna and flora compared to freshwater. I plan on really getting a variety of different organisms. I'll have some fish, a wide variety of inverts (shrimp, snails, crabs, maybe a sea slug?), macroalgae, and corals (start with zoas and soft corals, move to LPS and easy SPS). I'll be getting some live rock and I'm going to encourage hitchhikers. Building a diverse ecosystem with lots of microfauna is my goal. For fish, I'm thinking a pair of clowns and one or two other fish (royal gramma, hawkfish, a goby, or yellow banded possum wrasse). My office mate had an office tank with a pair of clowns and I found I really liked their look and behavior (especially how they swim). Will these fish work in a 20 gallon?
I'm definitely going to get an ATO system. It seems really useful for an open-top rimless tank. The Tunze Osmolator Nano seems perfect.
I think I'm going to get a skimmer? I might not get one to start (I'm going to be stocking this tank very slowly) and to see how things go. Coming from freshwater, it's interesting how skimmers are ubiquitous in saltwater but completely unused in freshwater. I think the difference is the size and number of water changes typically done with freshwater tanks and the heavy planting in some freshwater tanks. I usually do >50% water changes weekly on my tanks, but it seems like a lot of saltwater tanks get much fewer and smaller water changes. A skimmer allows you to get away with this. With the complication of adding salt and maintaining good salinity, it makes sense that you would want to do fewer water changes on reef tanks. I'll definitely have to be sure to find one that fits the tank I choose if I do get one.
For lighting, I really want to cheap out. Honestly, the Nicrew and Lominie lights seem pretty nice and they are way way cheaper than some of the other options. I found a few PAR readings for these lights and they seem like they'd be sufficient. If I need more light I could always purchase another one. I'm OK with having some low PAR areas in the tank as I think this will be beneficial for macroalgae and some of the softer corals. I'll just focus the SPS directly under the lights. Do you think these lights will work?
I want the tank to be on the smaller side. I don't have that much capital and I move a lot. It just doesn't make sense to go with a big tank. I think ~20 gallons would be a perfect size.
For simplicities sake, I think I want an AIO tank. I may want to build a sump sometime in the future, but it seems like it'll be easier/cheaper to start with an AIO. Do you agree or should I look into building a sump?
I really like the look of peninsula type aquariums, I think the tank shape can make for some really interesting aquascaping. I have quite a few options. Theres the IM Nuvo Fusion 20 Peninsula, the Waterbox Peninsula Mini 25, and the Fiji Cube 20 Gallon Peninsula. I like how long the Nuvo Fusion 20 Peninsula is, but it seems like the most over-priced. Which of these three options do you think is the best?
The thing attracting me most to saltwater is the sheer variety of fauna and flora compared to freshwater. I plan on really getting a variety of different organisms. I'll have some fish, a wide variety of inverts (shrimp, snails, crabs, maybe a sea slug?), macroalgae, and corals (start with zoas and soft corals, move to LPS and easy SPS). I'll be getting some live rock and I'm going to encourage hitchhikers. Building a diverse ecosystem with lots of microfauna is my goal. For fish, I'm thinking a pair of clowns and one or two other fish (royal gramma, hawkfish, a goby, or yellow banded possum wrasse). My office mate had an office tank with a pair of clowns and I found I really liked their look and behavior (especially how they swim). Will these fish work in a 20 gallon?
I'm definitely going to get an ATO system. It seems really useful for an open-top rimless tank. The Tunze Osmolator Nano seems perfect.
I think I'm going to get a skimmer? I might not get one to start (I'm going to be stocking this tank very slowly) and to see how things go. Coming from freshwater, it's interesting how skimmers are ubiquitous in saltwater but completely unused in freshwater. I think the difference is the size and number of water changes typically done with freshwater tanks and the heavy planting in some freshwater tanks. I usually do >50% water changes weekly on my tanks, but it seems like a lot of saltwater tanks get much fewer and smaller water changes. A skimmer allows you to get away with this. With the complication of adding salt and maintaining good salinity, it makes sense that you would want to do fewer water changes on reef tanks. I'll definitely have to be sure to find one that fits the tank I choose if I do get one.
For lighting, I really want to cheap out. Honestly, the Nicrew and Lominie lights seem pretty nice and they are way way cheaper than some of the other options. I found a few PAR readings for these lights and they seem like they'd be sufficient. If I need more light I could always purchase another one. I'm OK with having some low PAR areas in the tank as I think this will be beneficial for macroalgae and some of the softer corals. I'll just focus the SPS directly under the lights. Do you think these lights will work?
theres whole groups on fb dedicated to this tank with lots of very nice people. Stores up here sell evo packages with everything you need some kits include the upgrades and some even include some fish and clean up crew for after your cycle. Bonus… its not that expensive so you can invest the extra $ into other things. I eventually chose to upgrade my lighting. The light that came with it is ok, then I went with a nicrew, then got an AI prime 16 HD. I honestly really wish I had just got the ai prime when I got the tank. You can pm me if you have any questions or want to join one evo groups if you go that way. Theres tons of 3d print things for the evo too.
