New nano

[2clockz]

Hey guys. I've had large tanks (100-200gallons) most my life in the saltwater reef hobby. This is going to be my first small tank ever.

I picked up a mr aqua 12 long today (36x8.5x9.5). I've ordered some LEDs for it and I have it cycling right now with some live sand and rock. I am just running an AquaClear hang on back filter right now. I plan on adding a fuge possibly as well. Probably just a CPR hang on.

My questions:

Should I run a skimmer on this? If so what kind? Can't seem to find any small ones.

And how many gph powerhead should I have on this? Which koralia?

I plan on having lps, sps, softies and nems.

Thanks! Any advice greatly appreciates! Like I said I've got years of experience in the hobby, however none with small tanks with no sump!

Thanks!

[2clockz]

Bump! Need help!!

[OhioStreetz]

Cadlights has a nano size skimmer could run it in the fuge so it wouldn't be in the display.

Also I would say 2x koralia 425 would be good for most softies and lps.

[2clockz]

So far all of the skimmers I've looked at are all relatively large. My tank is only 9.5 tall therefore most hang ons wouldn't fit, and I don't want one inside the tank. I probably won't run a skimmer. And I'll just have a small fuge on the outside. Trying to keep this as sleek and clean looking as possibly.

Koralia 240 or 425? Seems like 425 would be quite a bit for such a small tank but maybe I'm wrong. I'll test them both

[baldbean]

Like OhioStreetz said, Take a look at the cad lights skimmer (PLS-50). They just came out with a newer one (Elite) that is supposed to have a smaller footprint.

[RTee]

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/08/25/ba532d8aab9df64e0ec4ce9b94502c78.jpg
http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/08/25/43f002b6cf510d9b3fb526e3d6626877.jpg
First is aquatic life and is smallest skimmer I can find, second is innovative marine. Both work very well. Hydor has another skimmer which takes water in like an overflow and skims very well but is considerably larger.
Also, I find that the swings in smaller tanks occur much faster and as such are less stable especially with livestock. I recommend going with one type of reef tank not a mixed reef so it will be easier to keep the levels constant to what they like. If you are going with a coral only you can get away with no skimmer if you do frequent water changes, especially if you don't feed or always do changes after feed.
Btw both of those tanks are 5.5 so you have a size reference, and I agree that two pumps would be overkill.

[jasonp87]

Small skimmers can be hard to find. I ended up with a bio-cube skimmer on my 10 gallon but didn't like it much.

As for the pumps, I have 2x240s on my 25 gallon cube and that with my return is plenty. You should be fine with just 1.

[Rsprague221]

If you get CPR refugium they have a aquafuge 2 with the built in skimmer. Here's a link to check it out http://www.amazon.com/CPR-AquaFuge-Refugium-Protein-Skimmer/dp/B001EU7M6A

[jessegarcia28]

I would drill it bro, would def. give you a nice clean look & the space needed for skimmer & a big + on added water volume :)

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/08/25/5108b0d6d4a142f76ea476c6a14aafa1.jpg


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[2clockz]

Thanks for all the info guys! Yeah small tanks can be tough! Used to large tanks and this little one was kinda a spur of the moment! Haha



I would drill it bro, would def. give you a nice clean look & the space needed for skimmer & a big + on added water volume :)

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/08/25/5108b0d6d4a142f76ea476c6a14aafa1.jpg


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And yeah man I'm trying to figure out as to do that as right as it's going to be a bar/counter top tank and I don't have anywhere to run the plumbing or anything :(

But I agree that it looks SOO much cleaner without all the equipment .

[RNMike]

Have you considered passing on the skimmer, and just going with water changes? Just a thought.

[Squid]

If your gonna have a fuge forget about the skimmer entirely. I have a 10 plumbed to another 10 with a Refuge and definitely did not need my skimmer anymore. And as for my multiple 5 gal nanos I have no fuge or skimmer and these are all over a year old. If you decide to go with the skimmer just know that everything it pulls out will be wet and it won't really help much at all.