SPS for a Nano questions

[hig789]

I have been doing a lot of research on what I want to stock my 15g nano with. Not jumping into anything right now though just had a few questions. I want to be very picky on what I put in there since space is limited so it will likely take a long time for me to stock it. I have had a few systems in the past and have kept a few SPS, I'm returning to the hobby after quit a few years off.

The tank right now only has a few zoa frags in the sand bed. But in the future I would eventually like to have a few SPS at the top/middle and some of the more colorful zoas and a LPS or two at the middle bottom.

I really like the more stubby looking SPS such as the porites, stylophora and something like the bushy acros that live aquaria carries. I realize they need lots of flow.

LIGHTING - Small LED retro fit from NanoBox at about 4" off the water running on a bluefish mini controller. Right now I only run it at 25% blues and 12% whites. It's way more light than I need for the tank but I figured I'd go big in the beginning to keep my options open.

FLOW - return is a Tunze Silence(210gph) and a Tunze 6040 mounted upside down and output goes at a 45* angle across the tank. I can easily run it at 50% main power without disturbing the sand bed on the wave setting.

FILTRATION - right now I only use 20lbs of live rock, 20lbs of live sand and filter floss under the overflow. I plan on adding a Tunze 9001 in the near future as well as a drop in media basket.

I only plan on having one clown in the tank so the bio load will be light.

QUESTIONS -

Would the one fish be enough nutrients in the water?

Would the combination of corals I listed be possible? Or is it just too wide of a range of need differences?

Picture of my setup right now. Need to get another rock to raise the other end of the flat one on top up so the flow goes all the way across it.

 

[underwood]

I set up a similar 10 gal tank for my daughters. The tank has a mix of Zoos/LPS/SPS and everything is doing fine.

Coral Inventory:

• 6 different types of Zoos
• 2 different types of Cyphastrea
• 2 different types of Montipora
• 2 different types of Favia
• Psammacora
• Lithophyllon
• Alveopora
• Acan Echinata
• Leptoseris
• Hammer
• Duncan

There is a clownfish and a clown goby in the tank, and no issues with the bio load so far. We are not running a protein skimmer, so I change about 2 gal a week.

 

[hig789]

I also forgot to mention this is a newly setup tank but all the live rock came for a established tank so it already has a good bacteria base. I have changed 2 gallons of water a week using IO salt if that matters.

I have read the calcium numbers in IO are a little low. So I will be monitoring the levels and dosing if/when needed.

 

[hig789]

I set up a similar 10 gal tank for my daughters. The tank has a mix of Zoos/LPS/SPS and everything is doing fine.

Coral Inventory:

• 6 different types of Zoos
• 2 different types of Cyphastrea
• 2 different types of Montipora
• 2 different types of Favia
• Psammacora
• Lithophyllon
• Alveopora
• Acan Echinata
• Leptoseris
• Hammer
• Duncan

There is a clownfish and a clown goby in the tank, and no issues with the bio load so far. We are not running a protein skimmer, so I change about 2 gal a week.

That's great to know. I guess it's all about getting the flow going in the right directions also no matter how much you have.

I had debated on adding a Goby of some sort too but with only two fish I'd rather have something a little more active in the water column.

 

[SCMatt]

Here is mine, similar. I have all sorts of SPS in there. Smoothskin species, millis, torts, tenuis, montis....just a wide range. Also have a few Zoa frags and some LPS around the base of the rock. To be honest the Zoas aren't doing as well as my SPS but they are more of my test subjects and free-$5 frags. They seem to react quickly to things going wrong. The LPS are doing outstanding, more than I expected with a tank of real high flow. My MP10 is 75-100% on reef crest all the time and no one seems to mind. I only have 2 clowns currently, did have a blenny as well before he jumped but that's it for fish. I think the plan sounds pretty good. You can always add another clown or similar and/or feed the coral.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/15gal-sps-dominated-nano.161673/

 

[hig789]

Here is mine, similar. I have all sorts of SPS in there. Smoothskin species, millis, torts, tenuis, montis....just a wide range. Also have a few Zoa frags and some LPS around the base of the rock. To be honest the Zoas aren't doing as well as my SPS but they are more of my test subjects and free-$5 frags. They seem to react quickly to things going wrong. The LPS are doing outstanding, more than I expected with a tank of real high flow. My MP10 is 75-100% on reef crest all the time and no one seems to mind. I only have 2 clowns currently, did have a blenny as well before he jumped but that's it for fish. I think the plan sounds pretty good. You can always add another clown or similar and/or feed the coral.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/15gal-sps-dominated-nano.161673/

Wow man. That's a amazing tank. Very nice work.

Hopefully I can fit everything I need to in the back compartment of mine eventually. It's not like a bio cube with baffles in it. It's a wide open space, so it should be fairly easy to customize it to my needs.

I saw you upgraded your lights because your DIY wasn't cutting it. You think my lights are enough? I assumed they were and went with the best retro option since I wanted to keep my black acrylic hood.

 

[glb]

I've successfully grown panope birdsnest, Hollywood stunner chalice, Zoas, ricordea mushrooms and acans in my 12g nano. I'm not target feeding right now because there are enough nitrates in the water to feed the corals. Good luck!!

 

[underwood]

I saw you mentioned using IO salt. I use the same salt. Keep an eye on your Mg levels too... mine usually reads in the low 1200s on freshly mixed salt.

 

[Tahoe61]

I have a 20 gallon with 8 Acropora types, 4 other sps types, 5 LPS and a mix of mini carpets and a large carpet.

Since your tank in not large enough to house multiple fish, you should consider the addition of foods specifically designed for corals ie: Reefroids, Acropower, Rod'sFoods.....when the time comes.

You tank over looks very nice, the scape will be fine. Just remember to leave room for growth.

I use I/O salt, have for a very long time. Running a Tunze 9001 as well.

Long story short, yeah your plan is sound.

 

[hig789]

I have a 20 gallon with 8 Acropora types, 4 other sps types, 5 LPS and a mix of mini carpets and a large carpet.

Since your tank in not large enough to house multiple fish, you should consider the addition of foods specifically designed for corals ie: Reefroids, Acropower, Rod'sFoods.....when the time comes.

You tank over looks very nice, the scape will be fine. Just remember to leave room for growth.

I use I/O salt, have for a very long time. Running a Tunze 9001 as well.

Long story short, yeah your plan is sound.

On my previous tanks I enjoyed target feeding the corals a few times a week with Reef Snow and a big bulb syringe. So I had planned on feeding the ones I get too. Don't know that the target feeding really helps some corals but you are right it will add some nutrients.

Speaking of nutrients what's a good range to keep them for SPS? I thought they liked perfect water? But I have been reading about people's tanks not doing good because they didn't have enough nutrients in the water column.

 

[SCMatt]

On my DIY lights I just didn't feel like they gave me enough flexibility. Something like a Radion is much easier to tweak for spectrum, brightness, etc than my DIY one. It worked, the Radion just works better type of situation. A nano box will probably work fine.

 

[Tahoe61]

I rarely test for phosphates and nitrates personally. If I see an algae issue arising then I test and address the issue other wise I just do the routine monthly water changes, feed appropriately. When I do test my phosphates are .02 and nitrates 10. Maintain the big 3 and watch for the development of algae and or cyano.

This is my last nano, no skimmer no nutrient reduction.



I do run the Tunze 9001 on my new tank though.

 

[hig789]

On my DIY lights I just didn't feel like they gave me enough flexibility. Something like a Radion is much easier to tweak for spectrum, brightness, etc than my DIY one. It worked, the Radion just works better type of situation.

Ah. Got ya. So far I love the ease of use of my NanoBox. Control everything from anywhere on the app. Just wish I had a webcam so I could look at the tank while I'm at work. Haha.

 

[hig789]

I rarely test for phosphates and nitrates personally. If I see an algae issue arising then I test and address the issue other wise I just do the routine monthly water changes, feed appropriately. When I do test my phosphates are .02 and nitrates 10. Maintain the big 3 and watch for the development of algae and or cyano.

This is my last nano, no skimmer no nutrient reduction.



I do run the Tunze 9001 on my new tank though.

Sweet. I had planned on just going with pretty much a full biological filter with the sand and rock and a small piece of filter floss to catch the big stuff in the back. I think since I am only going to have one fish and doing my 2 gallon weekly water changes I'll try that route for now. But if I need to I am going to get a 9001.

I don't want to make it anymore complicated than I need to if I don't have to.

 

[underwood]

One last thing I wanted to add... I would highly recommend getting an auto top-off system for your tank if you don't have one already.

I am using a Tunze Osmolator Nano (~$100) on the girl's tank and it works great.

 

[hig789]

One last thing I wanted to add... I would highly recommend getting an auto top-off system for your tank if you don't have one already.

I am using a Tunze Osmolator Nano (~$100) on the girl's tank and it works great.

I've planned on this too, just haven't placed the order for it yet. Have a guy that's going to make me a custom acrylic ATO container to fit in my small stand.

 

[hart24601]

I had a 100% SPS biocube 14 and hopefully some of my experiences are valid. I started as LPS, but since space is such a premium in a nano I moved/sold them because they grew fast and either took up too much space or attacked other coral too much. 3" sweepers are not fun in a nano. I don't recommend sand as eventually the SPS grow large in that small volume and you can't reach the bottom to clean or do maintenance. The sand bed eventually got nasty on me and I had to remove all the coral and rock. Bare bottom or a very light amount of sand I could just use a turkey baster to stir it up for WC easier. Flow flow flow. I ran mp10 at 100% on reefcrest mode in that little biocube! I had panorama pros and sold them for steves LED kit, but I liked the pros better. Steves was too strong for that size, didn't give good spread and had bad disco. Amazing to me that I recommend the pros over that steves kit, but that was my experience. Things like ATO are pretty much required, but think hard about dosing. For a while limewater in the ATO is fine, but my little tank dropped over 5dkh/day when the colonies were large so I had to put in a cheap doser too.

 

[hig789]

I had a 100% SPS biocube 14 and hopefully some of my experiences are valid. I started as LPS, but since space is such a premium in a nano I moved/sold them because they grew fast and either took up too much space or attacked other coral too much. 3" sweepers are not fun in a nano. I don't recommend sand as eventually the SPS grow large in that small volume and you can't reach the bottom to clean or do maintenance. The sand bed eventually got nasty on me and I had to remove all the coral and rock. Bare bottom or a very light amount of sand I could just use a turkey baster to stir it up for WC easier. Flow flow flow. I ran mp10 at 100% on reefcrest mode in that little biocube! I had panorama pros and sold them for steves LED kit, but I liked the pros better. Steves was too strong for that size, didn't give good spread and had bad disco. Amazing to me that I recommend the pros over that steves kit, but that was my experience. Things like ATO are pretty much required, but think hard about dosing. For a while limewater in the ATO is fine, but my little tank dropped over 5dkh/day when the colonies were large so I had to put in a cheap doser too.

Just bought a ATO last night along with a Tunze 9001.

The fact that StevesLEDS are in a row vs a clustered puck is the main reason I went with a NanoBox retro over one of his. Figured with two single rows of multi colored lights would be very easy to have a disco effect.

I am debating removing the sand but it is a acrylic tank and I didn't bother sanding the bottom out so there are some nice scratches left from someone stacking rock. Really wouldn't want to look at those till it get covered in coraline. I'll just let the sand blow where it may till it settles down and then I'll vacuum the rocks off and leave the piles the flow leaves.

I also took the deflector off the Tunze 6040 and man I really like that flow vs when it was on. I can kick it up a lot more and it is very dispersed now but still strong.

 

[hart24601]

Sounds like a good plan, keep us updated!

 

[Fishf00d]

How is your tank doing with the nanobox lights. My BC14 has been running since oct with a retro from Dave(nanobox). I'm wanting to add some sps to it here shortly. Zoas and Acans are doing great so far. Also have a monti setosa that just glows and is growing well just on weekly water changes.