Hello everyone my name is Jamie. I'm returning to the hobby after a 7 yr. hiatus. My last tank was a 55 gallon fish only tank, so while not totally green, my new 12 gallon will be my first foray into a true reef system. I just returned from my lfs with, 2 bags of live sand, a heater, pump, thermometer, timer, hydrometer, test kit and some additives. I also purchased 12 lbs of Fiji rock that's being held at the store until my daughter and I set up the tank soon after xmas. She's just turned 7 and asked "Santa" for something science related for xmas. What's more science related than a mini reef, haha?
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So here are my questions. I'm going to be adding a skimmer. I know many feel this to be unnecessary for a system of this size but I can't see how it would harm anything and for me, it's an added piece of mind. I'm considering the eshopps nano but want to know if it will fit the chambers without any modding? I'm also under the assumption that removing the ceramic balls and stock media is a suggested first step. Is getting a media basket and ditching the stock media the way to go?
My intent is to house no more than a pair, maybe 3 fish and a small cleaning crew. In terms of corals, zoas and star polyps seem like a good starting point with the potential to add frog spawn or something similar when I succeed with these other species. Realizing these are living creatures, my number one goal is to first do no harm. Killing an animal is far more distressing to me than any potential loss of money, so I want to prioritize giving theses animals a good life. I loved my former tank and the fish lived long healthy lIves (yellow tang, perc, hawk fish, pseudo chromis, coral beauty and a sand sifting goby). If I can achieve the harmony that that community shared, on a much smaller scale, I'll be very happy.
I'm very excited to be returning to the hobby and introducing my daughter to it as well. I thank you for the time taken to read my post and any help you all may provide. If I'm missing anything I'd love the feedback.
So here are my questions. I'm going to be adding a skimmer. I know many feel this to be unnecessary for a system of this size but I can't see how it would harm anything and for me, it's an added piece of mind. I'm considering the eshopps nano but want to know if it will fit the chambers without any modding? I'm also under the assumption that removing the ceramic balls and stock media is a suggested first step. Is getting a media basket and ditching the stock media the way to go?
My intent is to house no more than a pair, maybe 3 fish and a small cleaning crew. In terms of corals, zoas and star polyps seem like a good starting point with the potential to add frog spawn or something similar when I succeed with these other species. Realizing these are living creatures, my number one goal is to first do no harm. Killing an animal is far more distressing to me than any potential loss of money, so I want to prioritize giving theses animals a good life. I loved my former tank and the fish lived long healthy lIves (yellow tang, perc, hawk fish, pseudo chromis, coral beauty and a sand sifting goby). If I can achieve the harmony that that community shared, on a much smaller scale, I'll be very happy.
I'm very excited to be returning to the hobby and introducing my daughter to it as well. I thank you for the time taken to read my post and any help you all may provide. If I'm missing anything I'd love the feedback.
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