20 Gal nano reef

[szogun]

Hi all I have a 20 gal fresh water tank and I'm thinking about turning it into a nano reef what you think is it a good idea Is it worth it to play with that small tank.
I have a regular fluorescent bulbs over it 3x 20W with the actinic an white bulbs would that be enough for my 20 gal? I'm thinking about soft corals, and what about filtration would 20lb of LR and a protein skimmer be enough or I need some kind of mechanical filter?
Can you guys give me some feedback specially in the success rate with such small systems?

[Craig Manoukian]

I have a 20 gallon nano with 35 lbs of live rock ans 4" of live sand. I have an Aqua Clear 200 filter that is full of live rock rubble and serves as a refugium, in addition, I have a Seaclone 100 skimmer. My lighting is 110 watts of 10,000k compact florescents.

My clean-up crew includes a Red Skunk Cleanr Shrimp, four Scarlet Hermits, 6 Limpets, 6 Turbo Snails, 1 Fighting Conch, and 1 Bumble Bee Snail.

I have polyps, mushrooms, and a Bubble Tipped Anenome. I also have 1 Blue Damsels and 1 Blue Green Chromis.

HTH.

[Speedy]

You want Nano? Try my setup.

10 gal, soon upgrading light to 100 watt PC. As far as filtration goes, I got about an inch of sand, 10 lbs of LR, a cheap millenium 1000 filter. (coming soon, a small fuge)

The life:

I got 2 red shrooms, and one green-blue striped shroom, green starburst polyps, and white starburst polyps, (No big deal, but I'm also watching closely as what was one blue Xenia polyp has just reproduced, and now I have two little Blue Xenia Polyps.)

Cleaning crew: 10 Checkered Nerite snails, 9 Turbos, 7 Ceriths, 3 Marginella snails (sand sifters), 7 dwarf blue leg hermits, Sand sifter sea star, Skunk cleaner shrimp.

And as far as Fish go: The main tenant of the tank is a Maroon Yellow-stripe Clown.


Here's the thing, the tank has been up since September 23rd, 2003. The cycling period is very critical, the introduction of any living thing can and usually does cause a temporary dis-balance in a small environment, with the introduction of any living thing, give some time (at least a month) to let things stabilize before adding anything else. I'd up the lighting a little bit , although I've seen that with smaller tanks since they are usually less tall the lux ratings are much higher even with lower wattage lights.

[reefman_MC]

If you decide to go with it ke.ep us posted

[szogun]

I have a 20 gal High tank which is 2' long and 17" high I decited on 4" DSB do you think its a good idea?

[Craig Manoukian]

There are pros and cons for going bare bottom or having sand. I feel 4" creates a great denitrification layer with excellent esthetics. Four to six sand stirring Nassaurius snails will keep the sand bed in good shape.

[szogun]

where can I get those stirring Nassaurius and how do they look?

[Craig Manoukian]

They bury themselves in the sand so they look invisible for the most part. You can order them from most on-line livestock suppliers or request them from your LFS. Check the invert forum for snail discussions!

[Speedy]

Cerith snails and sand sifting stars also help to move the sand.

[szogun]

Thanks guys