Fish Only Setup

I'm interested in a fish only setup with NO LIVE ROCK. If I were to use a canister filter, like a marineland c-220, and a good protein skimmer, powerheads etc., would it be possible to keep 2 or 3 small fish (like clowns and damsels) in a 20 to 30 gallon tank?

Are water changes required more often on a fish only setup even if a good canister filter and protein skimmer are used on a tank of 20 to 30 gallons? If so, how often would they be required?

Thanks in advance for any help that can be provided.

 

you could easily keep those 3 fish. since its only fish only, and a smaller tank , and those fish arent big waste producers, you could probably add another fish or 2. of the smaller variety.

 

welcome to 3 reef Russ4h

water quality and parameters are what we consider when doing water changes
if you can keep the nutrient levels properly the need for water changes is debatable

cannister filters need to be rinsed regular to ensure they are sediment free otherwise you can get escalating nitrates and phosphates etc

oxygen is a governing factor in how many fish a given volume of water can support
and as such common advice would be to restrict yourself to 1 inch of fish for every 4 gallons of salt water- allowing for max adult size of the fish - so you should be OK with 2 or 3 fish in that sized tank and this would help reduce the need for larger more frequent water changes = less waste = less parameter concerns

I would probably start with 5% every other week and rinse the cannister at the same time in the old tank water so as to preserve the bacteria that will colonise it

I would monitor my nitrates and phosphates and adjust my water change schedule based on my test results

Steve

 

Welcome to 3reef.
You should be fine and follow Steve's suggestions, you won't go wrong.

 

Thank you for your advice. Would a hang on protein skimmer like the CPR bak-pak eliminate the need for something as elaborate as a canister filter since it functions as a bio filter as well as a protein skimmer?

Thanks again for the help.

 

Yes you could do it that way. One draw back is you won't be able to use chemical filtration in the Bak-Pak like you can in a canister. I would suggest you get both.

 

russ4h

if you have adequate flow, plenty of rock and a skimmer then the need for the cannister as a means of biological filtration is negated

the beneficial bacteria, will colonise the rock and every other area of the tank and the good water movement required, will ensure nutrients are always being directed to the bacteria

the cannister can become a good means of providing chemical filtration if you dont have a sump and thus room for reactors etc

I run GFO - phosphate remover, Purigen and Carbon in a cannister and rely on the rock work etc for the biological aspects


Google Berlin system for a much better detailed description of how it all works
Steve

 

Say I had both, do you think the water parameters would be kept in check thus requiring little or no water changes?

 

Thats the thing, I don't want to run a berlin system. I'm trying to have a fish only setup with out any live rock. I understand the benefits of live rock but I was just wondering if its possible to maintain a healthy saltwater aquarium of 20 to 30 gallons with a good canister and good protein skimmer while not needing to do significant water changes. I only want 2 or 3 small fish.

 

No water changes are a must, I think 5% every two weeks would do you well to start.