Planning a nano shallow reef - Some questions

Anfsurfer · May 23, 2022

Hello all! This is my first post here on reef2reef. As the thread title stated, I'm planning a nano shallow reef at the moment and have some questions for those of you who, unlike me, actually have experince with some of the equipment.

I purchased an Aquamaxx 22 Gal. long aquarium a few years back to do a German Ram Cichlid tank, but I never set it up. A little over a year ago I decided I would use it for a Saltwater tank instead. I've been watching millions of videos, and reading posts since then, and am now planning the tank out, and it's stock list. The tank dimensions are 36"L x 12"W x 12"H, and I'm not really planning to get too crazy with corals. After the tank is stocked with the fish and inverts, and all is going well I would like to add a toadstool, a few photosynthetic gorgonians, and then I will see from there.
Ok, so here I am planning the tank out now... and I want to keep it VERY simple. Where I'm struggling is with the following 2 areas:

1) Do I need a protein skimmer? I'm hearing "NO", but every once in a while there's someone that says "YES".

2) I'm completely lost on what to do with powerheads!!! Originally the plan was to get a single Red Sea Reefwave 25, but since the tank is so shallow, I'm not sure the flow would make it fully around the tank. Plus the reefwave doesn't really have great reviews on BRS. I prefer going with two powerheads, and would like to go with Tunze, as the reviews are stellar, and the price is better than the EcoTech VorTech mp10s. I just don't which model I would need to move the water around this tank as it's shallow and long. I have NO experience with powerheads, and don't want to buy them only to not be able to dial in the right amount of flow needed. Any powerhead recommendations, advice is much appreciated.

Thanks,
Tim

blaxsun · May 23, 2022

1. Depends on the bio load. I have one, but I also have 42 fish, so... What's more important than the skimmer is what you plan for filtration. Since this is is basically a box, you need to decide if you're going to plan for an external overflow like an Eshopps to a sump or a hang-on back filtration (do not go the canister route).

2. I have Red Sea ReefWave45s and they're great. I also have a smaller pair of Maxspect XF330s, a small Sicce Nano Voyager in my sump and I've used several types of Tunzes in the past on my IM 25-gallon Nuvo lagoon tanks. A ReefWave25 will probably be too powerful (IMHO), so if you want something with controllability a Nero 3 might be another option.

3. You will want to plan for a lid. Fish jump - and even more so in lagoon tanks (trust me on this). In conjunction with the lid, you'll need to account for things like the overflow, HOB filtration or skimmer, feeder, light mounts, cords, etc.

Anfsurfer · May 24, 2022

I have been planning this tank for over a year and watching a billion reefing videos, everything outside of what I asked is already planned. Filtration will be an HOB. (Aquamaxx HOB-PF) As for the lid, yes I will definitely have one. It will have to be a custom made lid either by me or a professional, but I can't deal with that until all the hardware and it's placement is solidified.

Thank you for your positive feedback on the Reefwave, this is exactly what I need. So you feel the Reefwave25 even set at it's lowest flow would be too powerful?
Regarding the Nero 3, are you saying just one, or a pair? I will go back and relook at those.

Thank you Blaxsunfrom the Abyss