questions about starting a 12G Nano

[costa78]

I am thinking about starting a Nano tank with a 12G Eclipse system. I want to put a few pieces of LR, maybe some polyps and mushrooms, a couple of shrimp, hermits and possibly some sea horses. My question is this. Can I set up this type of tank with the existing Eclipse filtration system, or should I consider some type of protein skimmer. All ideas are greatly appreciated.

 

[black99l]

personally i don't think you could go wrong with putting a skimmer on a tank, but that is just me...

 

[meloco14]

I agree that a skimmer is never a bad idea, but one isn't always necessary. And on an eclispe it would take some hood butchering. I think you would be ok with an eclipse, though instead of their carbon packet thingy you might want to use something like purigen or chemi-pure. That's just my preference though. With a low bioload and regular water changes you should be fine. Though I have no experience with seahorses, so I don't know their requirements. For everything else you mentioned you will be fine.

 

[costa78]

Is there anyone that has an opinion on whether or not the eclipse 12 would make a good mini reef maybe for seahorses?

 

[marjesatl]

12 w/ eclipse 1 twin light hood
I ditched the eclipse (rite size) filters like Meloco14 mentioned and cut my own w/ a Polyfiber and inserted some purigen in a 50 micron bag.This fits nicely in the media compartment.
This tank is 3 months new. and all is well.
13 lbs Fiji LR
LS
2 turbos
4 scarlets
8 blue leg hermits
1 peppermint shrimp
1 blue damsel
1 percula
1 bubble tip anemone
Hope this helps with your decision............

 

[marjesatl]

...

 

[marjesatl]

last 1 unless you want to sea more

 

[stapler]

How are those red and blue leg hermits doing? Would like to mix some...but never hear anything good about bluelegs.