Choose a theme for my low tech/budget nano

[DiaTom]

I'm about to get my hands on a 16g biocube via trade. I'm planning to do a very low budget tank (as much as possible) with rock and coral that I have access to. It's going to be a softie tank with no dosing and as few water changes as possible. It will house a couple small fish also.

I'm really considering doing a single coral or type of coral and letting it take over the tank. Let me know what you think. If you have done something like this, I'd love to know about your experience.

 

[Indytraveler83]

Not exactly sure what you have access to, but I've always wanted to do a small tank with 'nems and sexy shrimp. That with a couple of small, friendly fish would be a neat little system.

 

[DiaTom]

Not exactly sure what you have access to, but I've always wanted to do a small tank with 'nems and sexy shrimp. That with a couple of small, friendly fish would be a neat little system.

That's a cool idea - what type of nems?

 

[TriggersAmuck]

That's a cool idea - what type of nems?

If you want to go low maintenance, you will want a lower (i.e. moderate) light intensity loving 'nem, like rock anemones. Carpets (which you mentioned) will not do well in such a small tank, unless you are talking a mini-max, which still like higher light intensity. Take a look at this sweet nano and you will get the idea (this is not my tank!).

I do a combination of bubble tips and rocks in my 14 gallon cube, and the light intensity needed to really let the BTAs thrive means I really have to stay on top of the nutrients. (So far the long hair algae is winning).

 

[Cell]

That is such a wide range of options whose fit really depends on skill/experience level...well at least the carpet nem tank. I'd avoid that one.

 

[samnaz]

Strange the carpet nems have the most votes. I believe they are too large for nanos. Unless you mean mini maxi which I think is a type of “carpet” nem?

 

[DiaTom]

If you want to go low maintenance, you will want a lower (i.e. moderate) light intensity loving 'nem, like rock anemones. Carpets (which you mentioned) will not do well in such a small tank, unless you are talking a mini-max, which still like higher light intensity. Take a look at this sweet nano and you will get the idea (this is not my tank!).

I do a combination of bubble tips and rocks in my 14 gallon cube, and the light intensity needed to really let the BTAs thrive means I really have to stay on top of the nutrients. (So far the long hair algae is winning).

I was really asking what type of nem the sexy shrimp prefer. I probably shouldn't have put carpet nem as they get too big. I have three different types of nems that I could put in the tank (without buying something else) - bornamen, mini maxi, rock flower. I don't want to do bubble tip or similar, because I want low maintenance.

 

[jesspal]

Rock flower nem tank

 

[DiaTom]

Strange the carpet nems have the most votes. I believe they are too large for nanos. Unless you mean mini maxi which I think is a type of “carpet” nem?

Yea - I didn't realize how big they get. I have a couple of mini maxi, so that is an option, but I'm not sure that they would reproduce quickly enough.

 

[DiaTom]

Rock flower nem tank

Those tanks do look great, but that would require that I spend some money as I only have one. It is my understanding that rock flowers only reproduce sexually - is that correct?

 

[DiaTom]

That is such a wide range of options whose fit really depends on skill/experience level...well at least the carpet nem tank. I'd avoid that one.

What do you mean that they require different skill/experience level? These softies are all pretty basic. I actually have all of these already, so that is why I listed them...

 

[TriggersAmuck]

What do you mean that they require different skill/experience level? These softies are all pretty basic. I actually have all of these already, so that is why I listed them...

Agreed, all of the softies/polyps mentioned are suitable for all levels of skill. Only the anemones notch it up in terms of requirements for higher water quality, suitable equipment (especially lighting), and stability. Though I think that is what Cell was saying when he/she said "at least the Carpet nem tank."

 

[Cell]

I kind of glanced at the list at first and saw xenia and carpet nem, which is like from 0-60 in terms of experience required. But you are right, the rest are more or less beginner coral.

 

[TriggersAmuck]

@DiaTom - Sexy shrimp do just fine in rock 'nems. Here is a video from my 14g cube with the one sole shrimp in his pair of 'nems:

 

[DiaTom]

I decided to go with Shrooms. So far, the stock is 2 Ricordia and 3 Rhodactis. I'm also housing a Neon Dottyback.

 

[Fishyj]

I found the red and blue mushrooms will grow like weeds. I have a rock dedicated to them. Need to see a picture of your tank.

 

[TriggersAmuck]

If you are looking for low maintenance that ('shrooms) seems like a great idea.

 

[DiaTom]

I found the red and blue mushrooms will grow like weeds. I have a rock dedicated to them. Need to see a picture of your tank.

Yea, I don't think that I'm going to add any discosoma to the tank. Here are a couple bad pics of the tank. Really just empty rock at this point.

 

[DiaTom]

Well, I decided to do a mushroom and nem tank. My stock list so far - orange/green ricordea florida, orange ricordea yuma, blue/red rhodactis, purple/yellow discosoma, red/yellow mini maxi, yellow/gray mini maxi, orange rock flower, and a borneman.

Also a neon dottyback, five snails, a scarlet hermit, and a couple micro brittle stars.

I also turned the back input compartment in the Biocube into a mini refugium with chaeto, a light, and lots of pods. The center compartments are ceramic bio media and live rock.

All good so far, just need to wait for things to grow and split. I'm sure I'll add more stuff over time (this is why "very low budget" just isn't going to happen).

Here's a morning pic under the blues.