Keeping nano tanks with minimal water changes?

[LordJoshaeus]

Hi everyone! I am thinking of secretly setting up a ten gallon nano saltwater tank as a gift for my mum - a kinda bare bones ten gallon; a pump, sand, dry rock, a relatively dim light (to reduce algae issues...maybe around 50-75 PAR?), maybe a few easy corals, and one fish (which would be fed a little bit every other day...she really wants a shrimp goby/pistol shrimp pair like what we had in the past in a different ten gallon, though that's not my first inclination). Could I get away with once a month water changes on it? Thanks

 

[JoJosReef]

Hi everyone! I am thinking of secretly setting up a ten gallon nano saltwater tank as a gift for my mum - a kinda bare bones ten gallon; a pump, sand, dry rock, a relatively dim light (to reduce algae issues...maybe around 50-75 PAR?), maybe a few easy corals, and one fish (which would be fed a little bit every other day...she really wants a shrimp goby/pistol shrimp pair like what we had in the past in a different ten gallon, though that's not my first inclination). Could I get away with once a month water changes on it? Thanks

Did that with mine. I used a good amount of display macroalgae to help with nutrients. I don't think low par will necessarily help you avoid algae issues. Nuisance algae will grow in anything--I have a holding tank for just acclimating new fish and it gets scuzzy with lights at 10%. A beautiful live rock and ocean sand would keep the algae at bay better, I would bet. Can sometimes find good deals on a used IM Nuvo 10g, which is a beautiful tank with easy maintenance.