Nano Aquarium Questions

revhtree · Oct 18, 2013

Got this question via email from someone and I want them to come and join us here on the forums. So I am going to invite her here to this thread.

Is it possible to have a small (5-10 gallon) coral tank? No fish, just coral. Or are fish necessary? Sorry for what probably seems like stupid questions but when I search the Internet, there are so many conflicting answers/stories.

Can you please offer me some advise? I have many more questions, but wont waste your time unless you respond.

Reefing Madness · Oct 19, 2013

Very workable thing to do. I'd truly go with the 10g if you really want to start one. You can do a 5g, but you gotta watch these tanks like a hawk, the slightest water change is huge with this small a volume of water.
Lighting, which won't cost much because of the size, and I would recommend LEDs for this one.
10-15lbs of Live Rock or Macro Rock, your choice. The dry rock would be great if you don't want any suprises in the tank.
Watch your water parameters, and you should change out 10% a week, this should keep youi in good shape.
No, you don't need to have fish if you don't want them. Maybe a shrimp?

glb · Oct 19, 2013

I think it's very doable. You'll have less of a problem with nitrates and could feed the corals more heavily without a problem.

mrs.nanoreef · Oct 19, 2013

If you go to my page all I have is shrimp and snails so I'd say yes it's doable! ^-^

Tahoe61 · Oct 19, 2013

With the accessibility of foods specific to corals today, you can provide enough nutrients in the absence of fish. A healthy stable tank includes a vast spectrum of bio-diversity, bio-films, sponges, zooplanktons (amphipods, copepods, isopods) to promote this you do have to provide some nutrients to the tank. The challenge comes with making sure you're not starving tank while at the same time maintaining the water quality needed to sustain corals. Testing, routine water changes and choosing those corals that fit into the thyme of your tank are all consideration. Do you want a soft coral tank, a mixture? In my experience sometimes it's easier to forgo the challenges of fish (quarantines, disease, aggression...).