Refugium. Copepods. Extra flow for softies only tank??

[Hao Yen Lim]

Hey everyone. Newbie to the hobby here.

Quick facts:

Fluvial Evo 13.5g tank
2 clowns
2 cleaner shrimp
2 turbo snails
1 sand sifting goby (diamond back I think)
1 firefish
1 red tuxedo urchin
4 zoanthids
1 GSP
1 Green palua nepthea

Questions:

1)I've been trying to figure out if it's necessary or ideal to have some extra flow in the tank. I plan to only have soft corals for the entire tank. So is this even necessary?

2) for what I have in the tank now, is a refugium with live copepods a good idea?

Thanks for your time everyone!

 

[Quietman]

So to answer your question, no. You don't need to have flow to have a successful softie tank. You can add flow to help when corals shed outer layer of cells but not necessary. Seen many low flow tanks with softies doing just fine.

I am going to say that your tank is over crowded. That sand sifting goby is likely not going to do well in that small of tank and two clowns are two too many. Firefish is fine as would other nano fish - if you like goby get a yasha.

Anything you can do to increase water volume and nutrient removal will help - like selling off some of your fish.

 

[DeniseAndy]

Softies do like flow. There are some you can get away with having little flow. Depends on what types you want to keep. Such a huge category.

The sand sifter will not survive long term. These guys need large tanks with tons of sand and space to sift. Unless you have one that is eating frozen or dry food (which still usually they will starve). Just so you are aware and can make a good decision.

The urchin may also have issues with a newer tank. They need lots of algae to feed on.

The two clowns may outgrow the tank, but if they are juveniles, you have a few years before that happens.

Depending on the type of turbos you have, they will also starve. They need a lot of algae and a fairly dirty tank to stay fed. I am referring to Mexican Turbos. The smaller ones will do fine generally.

The zoas will not need tons of flow, the gsp likes a bit more, but the Palua will want quite a bit of flow to be happy.
Good luck!