corals for a nano?

[leahski]

hey, i just started an 8g nano tank. and by just i mean its a day old, so obviously i won't be putting anything into it for a little bit, but are there some corals that are more suited to smaller tanks? or some that i completely need to steer away from?

i'm completely new at this. it's my first saltwater, so any advice would be great. i'd love to make a small beautiful reef tank with a fish or two (gobies?) or maybe just shrimp...we'll see about that later.

thanks!
Tori

[lcstorc]

Well I am sure you already know you have to cycle the tank first.
After that I would start with shrooms, xenia, zoas and GSP. Maybe a few others. The thing you will need to be careful about is compatability in such a small space. Many corals have defence mechanisms that you will need to overcome. For example leather corals use chemical warfare so you need to be diligent on water changes and carbon usage. Most LPS have stinging tentacles that will sting other nearby corals. Some are longer than others but you want to be sure not to have another coral in reach.

[leahski]

good tips. and yes, i'm cycling the tank first, but i'm just too excited to wait until then to start looking at corals!

okay, a newbie question. LPS means what? i see it all over the place but i'm not sure what it stands for!

[panmanmatt]

LPS= Large Polyped Stony corals

[leahski]

ah, thanks. so i'm guessing SPS is small polyped? and GSP?
lol wow, i feel really kinda stupid right now!

[mempho reefer]

Welcome to the club! You're going to love it. Just take it slooooow and don't rush anything.

GSP= Green Star Polyps.

What kind of light kit does your tank have? That will have an impact on the type of corals that you can keep.

[leahski]

i have an 8g biocube. it has one sunlight bulb and one blue one. (sorry, i don't know the technical names yet!) but the guy i was talking to at the store told me that it was the right spectrum or whatever to be able to keep corals...


ooo, one question. i have a hitchhiking mushroom on one of my rocks, but he's not opened as much as he could be. just getting settled? or is the current to strong where he is? (pretty much top center of tank)

[dobejazz]

Welcome to RS!

Mushrooms, Zoanthids and palys (buttom polyps) will all do good with that lighting in a small tank

[PEMfish]

Whats the wattage?

[Emg]

I believe most mushrooms can get pretty big and would quickly take over an 8 gallon tank.

I'm pretty new to reefs as well.....only been at it for a year now, so my experience is pretty limited....but....here's my 2cents anyway...

I'd go with softies to start with as they're more tolerant to fluctuations in parameters, which is going to happen in a small tank. Zoas would be a nice choice...they look great scale wise in nanos and there are LOTS of colors to choose from. Star polyps would also go nicely in a tank that size...

Hammers and frogspawn would be good as well, since they don't argue over space with one another from what I understand...and you could put them right next to each other. I think zoas are the same way in that they tolerate each other fairly well....though I don't know how well zoas and hammers/frogspawn get along.

I think if you do some research into which corals tolerate which other corals......and stay with the ones that are the easier to keep...and I think you can have a nice little tank there ! I woudn't add more than one small fish though....something like a small clown goby. But, you could put a few shrimp or reef safe crabs in there for added interest.

Have fun and post pics !!

[leahski]

okay, thanks!
frogspawn is a cool little coral, i'd love to have some. i'll check it out.
i'm thinking of having an oceallaris (sp?) clown fish and maybe some sexy shrimp or peppermint shimp. but the corals really excite me!

i've posted some pics of my tank (its only rocks and sand right now...and some hitchiking asteria) in the aquarium chronicles or whatever forum.

[DrHank]

Your excitement is wonderful but don't let it lead to impulsive decisions or buying. Your tank is going to need at least 4-6 weeks to complete it's cycle and you really don't want to add anything until that is done.

In a tank your size, with the lighting that you probably have, Lynn's advice on suitable corals is the best. I would also suggest that you consider fish last. at most you will probably only be able to have one small one.

You will find that you can have a beautiful nano tank with live rock, a few corals, and a shrimp or two even if you don't add any fish. Just take the next month or so researching and planning.

[leahski]

oh, don't worry, i'm not going to rush into anything. but why do you say to do the fish last? i've heard to put a fish in before corals.

[DrHank]

The order in which you put them in isn't as important as what you put in. I would do the fish last because it will contribute most heavily to the bioload of your system. It will give you more time to learn how to maintain such a small volume of water. That is simplified when you leave the fish out of the equation.

You need to consider many things. What water source will you use? Will you be using a protein skimmer? How are you going to maintain temperature? Water parameters? Replacement salt water? Top off water due to evaporation?

A fish adds considerably to water pollution and yet demands very good water conditions. Feeding the fish adds to the challenge. How much food? What kind of food? When to feed?

You will also have to consider a proper clean up crew for your tank. Actually, you will have to take almost every factor into consideration for your small tank that you would if the tank were 100 gallons. The fact that it is so small means that conditions change much more rapidly than they would in a large tank.

The absolute best advice that I can give you is to proceed very slowly. Research all you can about nano tanks and ask those who have success with them any question you can think of. Personally I would love to do a nano tank but I'm not sure how good I would be at it. I know that I would only select the hardiest livestock and easiest to maintain.

[PEMfish]

I have a nano, let me on the soap box. Corals after fish. The fish create a change in the water chemistry - not a good one. Corals can't handel that very well. Water is very important ( think of a waterless tank... ) you MUST USE RO/DI & A PROTEIN SKIMMER. I have tried substituting, you NEED 4000g before you can think of substitutes. I just want to help, I don't want to see you crash. I had some hitches, make no mistake. I goofed, be not blind. I was, nor am I perfect, I am a killer. I want you to not do as i did, but I want to keep you from doing what I did. Me and RS can guide you into a perfect* tank. Hear us and learn from not only our folly's but triumphs too. Please listen.