need help with 12g nano reef

[gryphyn]

I have a 12g nanocube im trying to get a little reef going on the main fish i want is (1) ocelaris clown and (1) green mandarin dragonett. My problem is should i take the bio balls out, and what does that do?, and do i need to change the lighting, mind you i have an all stock 12g nano cube with nightview led.

 

[demartini]

First off, your not going to be able to keep a dragonett in a 12g, they need a lot of LR with a lot of pods to feed from. People take the bio balls out because if they are not properly cleaned they could add nitrates to your tank. What i did to my 12g was take everything out and filled the back with small pieces of live rock. You can still run the carbon if you want but be sure to change it or clean it often. Some people run it 24/7 some people run it for a few days a month. As for the lighting if you got the DX model that has 2x24watt pcs, you will be able to keep a nice voriety of LPS corals. You wont be able to keep any SPS corals/clams/anemomes. If you dont have the DX model and only have 1x24 watt bulb im not sure if you will be able to keep much. You might be able to keep some low light corals such as mushrooms or zoos. (someone corect me if im wrong

) Good luck with your tank and post some pics when you get it up, i would love to see them!!!

 

[gryphyn]

I was going to buy bottles of live copeos and brine to feed the dragonette but you say thats not enough live rock for them. If not do you think the 10 pounds i do have for right now would be enough for maybe a scooter blenny those guys that glide like that are the cutest.

 

[demartini]

Originally Posted by gryphyn
I was going to buy bottles of live copeos and brine to feed the dragonette but you say thats not enough live rock for them. If not do you think the 10 pounds i do have for right now would be enough for maybe a scooter blenny those guys that glide like that are the cutest.
well the reason i said you need a lot of rock is because the pods live in the rock, and ive read that they need 100+lbs of LR. I could be wrong, hopefully someone else could have a deffinite answer. Im not too sure about the scooter, someone else will have to answer that one too.