How do I get this right??

[Gordi]

Hi again, I have just started up a 12 gallon tank as a bit of a side interest to the main one. Currently has a live rock in there. I started the tank with 4 gallons of water from the main tank, topped up with freshly mixed RO water.
There are 3 corals , a sand sifter starfish and 4 snails. Without a skimmer, how do I maintain the water parameters (which are okay ATM)?
I would like to add a pair of Springer damsels and a bottom dwelling fish of some sort.
Any thoughts?

 

[ying yang]

My thoughts are just test parameters and do water changes and feed your inhabitants accordingly and just keep testing and adjust things as nessacary .
Good luck with your tank.
More experienced reefers can give you more advice but imo treat your side tank like you do your dt with due care

 

[Gordi]

My thoughts are just test parameters and do water changes and feed your inhabitants accordingly and just keep testing and adjust things as nessacary .
Good luck with your tank.
More experienced reefers can give you more advice but imo treat your side tank like you do your dt with due care

So just water changes and testing, with a bit of food thrown in for the inhabitants?

 

[Nano sapiens]

Hi again, I have just started up a 12 gallon tank as a bit of a side interest to the main one. Currently has a live rock in there. I started the tank with 4 gallons of water from the main tank, topped up with freshly mixed RO water.
There are 3 corals , a sand sifter starfish and 4 snails. Without a skimmer, how do I maintain the water parameters (which are okay ATM)?
I would like to add a pair of Springer damsels and a bottom dwelling fish of some sort.
Any thoughts?

With these smaller nanos it's a bit of a juggling act depending on how it's set up. If dosing is necessary, what to dose and how much is dependent on the livestock, your water changes and maintenance routine.

If you just keep a few soft corals, zoas, mushies, then you can probably get away with just water changes alone to maintain Alk, Ca and Mg. Add a hard coral or three and that can change in a hurry! I use Kalkwasser to maintain Alk and Ca for my well stocked 12g mixed reef and add Mg separately.

As for PO4 and NO3 ('nutrients'), water changes can help dilute concentrations, but depending on livestock/feeding, may not be sufficient to prevent buildup. On the other hand, some people have difficulty keeping testable levels, so it really is a system dependent thing.

Many nano owners, myself included, have found that keeping detritus under control is helpful for long term health, especially in a well stocked system. I vacuum the sand bed every week and the rear chambers at least monthly. Some use filter floss continuously, I use a filter sock temporarily when I do my WC.

So in closing, you can go 'easy-breasy' with just softies and a small fish or two. Or full on hardcore with a packed mixed or even SPS dominant tank and 2-3 fish (but you'll need to attend to it regularly to be successful).

 

[ying yang]

So just water changes and testing, with a bit of food thrown in for the inhabitants?

Good advice from nano sapiens and agree with him,depends what and how the system is/ develops to what's needed or not needed ( I
e dosing or not dosing

 

[Gordi]

Good advice from nano sapiens and agree with him,depends what and how the system is/ develops to what's needed or not needed ( I
e dosing or not dosing

 

[Gordi]

Thanks to you both. I'll look into getting a vacuum at weekend and do a10% water change while I'm doing the same on the main tank. I'll keep an eye on the water parameters for a week or so before I add any other living things.

 

[Gordi]

Thanks to you both. I'll look into getting a vacuum at weekend and do a10% water change while I'm doing the same on the main tank. I'll keep an eye on the water parameters for a week or so before I add any other living things.

Or can I buy a small skimmer which might sit on the outside of the tank somehow??

 

[ying yang]

Or can I buy a small skimmer which might sit on the outside of the tank somehow??

Yes you can get hob skimmers ( hang on back = hob)

 

[Nano sapiens]

Or can I buy a small skimmer which might sit on the outside of the tank somehow??

You can certainly run a small nano skimmer, but most nano keepers don't. Small skimmers are often not be very efficient, so there's less benefit for the added cost/complexity.

Since water changes on small systems are relatively small and so easy to do regularly, my suggestion would be to just stick with them.

 

[Gordi]

You can certainly run a small nano skimmer, but most nano keepers don't. Small skimmers are typically not be very efficient, so there's less benefit for the added cost/complexity.

Since water changes on small systems are relatively small and so easy to do regularly, my suggestion is to just stick with them

You can certainly run a small nano skimmer, but most nano keepers don't. Small skimmers are often not be very efficient, so there's less benefit for the added cost/complexity.

Since water changes on small systems are relatively small and so easy to do regularly, my suggestion would be to just stick with them.

There's always options in this hobby!!! Why can't it be cheap and easy???
Water changes it is on this tank. Then I have to try and find the fish. I resent paying more for postage than the cost of the livestock!!!

 

[Nano sapiens]

The reality is that this hobby can be relatively inexpensive with a bit of planning, knowledge and active husbandry.

My 12g mixed reef is 13 years old and runs with nothing but the basics (live rock, live sand, single return pump, heater, thermometer, lighting, simple gravity-fed ATOs). Costs are basically salt, RO/DI water, electricity, occasional kalk powder, test kits and food purchases (in a 12g, purchased products tend to last a long time). No fancy media or chemicals, just sound husbandry to maintain parameters/conditions.

Just about everybody starting a nano will tend to overstock with fish; either too many or too large and too early. If I were starting one up today, I'd start with something like a small chunky not-so-aggressive species (Azure or Springer Damsels, Pink-Streaked Wrasse, Firefish Goby, as examples), or a pair of the smaller bodied gobies (Green Banded, Red Headed, etc.) or even a 5-6 piece grouping of micro-gobies (Eviota, Trimma species) and stock up on corals as they will, in sufficient numbers, help filter the water, assimilate the ammonia produced by the fish and certain bacteria in the system (reduces nitrate production) and reduces the desirable area available for algae to get a foothold.

 

[Gordi]

That's great advice. Maybe now I will look for some micro gobies instead.
But I don't know what the ATO refers to???

 

[Garf]

That's great advice. Maybe now I will look for some micro gobies instead.
But I don't know what the ATO refers to???

Automatic Top Off, to replace any evaporated water with freshwater to keep the salinity steady. You can just do it by hand though if your gonna be around it at least once a day.

 

[Gordi]

Thanks for that. I've learnt something else today!!!