Small Protien Skimmer/12 Gallon???
- Thread starter bdhough
- Start date
j21kickster
Active Member
you dont need one- just do your waterchanges and you will be fine
j21kickster
Active Member
- trust me you will be fine- do bi-monthly water changes- or even weekly- i have kept several small tanks w/o skimmers i just put a good powerfilter- even then they dont always need that, Water Changes are the key and dont overstock w/ fish
bdhough
Active Member
I have an eclipse 12. I plan on installing 30 watts of light. My final goal is for mushrooms and polyps not sure on the quantity, 15lbs of live rock, 2 :3-4 inch fish and of course all the cleaners (snails, shrimp, and crabs). So bimonthly should do it? What about screwing up the cycling of the tank? I appreciate the help...
j21kickster
Active Member
what do you mean screwing up the cycle?- When doing waterchanges- bacteria remains in the tank it dosent come out. that isnt really much light- mushrooms are good- but polyps are kind of iffy. but doable place polyps at the top.
bdhough
Active Member
I was planning on placing them at the top. Way ahead of you. Everyone i've talked to has said that so long as i get them up by the light. I'm not going to get to extravegant with the corals. Just the simple ones that can live off of the lower light. With the water change would you suggest 2 or 3 gallon changes biweekly? 12 gallon tank. 25% places me there roundabouts. Also with the gravel vac, should i vac the rock or just the gravel/sand?
j21kickster
Active Member
no gravel vac- you could be loosing the "good stuff" instead stirr up the loose detritus on the rock and siphon it out- 3 gallons would be good- so stir up the junk and then suck it out- if you vacum the sand you will loose bacteria- good creatures and disrupt the bed.
bdhough
Active Member
Interesting....I think ill start a school on taking care of your aquarium.... 
While I've got you what can you tell me about calcium supplements? All i know is that corals need them, but i've been told the instant ocean i use to buffer my R/O water should take care of that.... Any help on that? Thanks....
While I've got you what can you tell me about calcium supplements? All i know is that corals need them, but i've been told the instant ocean i use to buffer my R/O water should take care of that.... Any help on that? Thanks....
j21kickster
Active Member
calcium it important to corals- softies (mushrooms and polyps) not so much, but hard corals it is a must- trace elements and iodine are more of a focus for softies but in that small of a system with just a few corals, your waterchanges will do the trick- in addition to changing water, mushrooms and polyps will benefit from direct feeding of vitamin enriched frozen (then thawed) brine shrimp.
j21kickster
Active Member
they should eat it- and yes i have a 6 line in quarentine that i just bought- waiting to be added to the main tank.
bdhough
Active Member
He's on my list of fish to get. I heard he may eat my shrimp though.... Other than that I know he's great for reefs. I was also thinking about the Bangaii/Budda Cardinal or a Flame angel. I really don't know, since i'd rather invest in the corals right now and then get the fish.
j21kickster
Active Member
get small fish like gobies, flames andcardinals aretoo big
bdhough
Active Member
I figured the flames were.... I was thinking about an Orangespot goby, I don't really want a neon goby but i may settle for one. Maybe a royal gramma or a firefish. Are feather dusters worth getting? Thought about getting one or two and also thought they would help with clean up...
j21kickster
Active Member
all that you just mentioned is kosher- dusters are cool imo
j21kickster
Active Member
welcome- im tired im going to sleep now