Nano Reef

[Markster]

I have a small All Glass tank (16X8X10) which I am thinking of setting up as a nano. Is that a 5 or 10 gallon?

Besides 2 inches of substrate, PCs, a small powerhead, and some live rock, what else might I need to make it sucessful?

I haven't done a reef less than 29 gallons.

At this point, I am thinking of a BTA with two small true perculas with some low light soft corals and mushrooms.

[Nano_Steve]

thats a 5.5 gallon if my memory is right(dont much like math :P) thats what i started out with and for awhile did just fine. i used an hob for the filtration and a little powerhead too. i had about 7 lbs of live rock and i was able to keep some zoos and small leathers just fine in it. just remember to keep a very very close eye on ur salinity. i had to add water about twice a day just so it wouldnt get out of whack too fast.

hope it helps, steve

[MikeP]

If you want to do anemone and a pair of percs go with at least a 10 gallon. 5.5 will be very unstable and you will have to keep a really close eye on evaporation and feeding/nitrates with an anemone in that tank.

[matt]

I have to agree with Mike here; an anemone and 2 fish in a 5.5 is probably not realistic. I kept a BTA and one maroon clown in my 10 gal, but that tank had an external sump/refugium, auto top-off, and a decent skimmer. Still, every few months I had to give the clown fish away because it just got too big too fast. For a 5.5 w/o any external water volume/filtration, I'd consider maybe one tiny fish like a firefish, one shrimp, and some softies. You could light it with a single smartlite, I guess that's the P.C. you're talking about, but even one small PC will heat up that small a tank. I love nanos, but to be stable they need a VERY low bioload.

[Markster]

Thanks everyone for your thoughts and advise. I guess I got all worked up after seeing Jim's tank that I wanted another one, no matter the size. Thus, I have decided not to do it.