24 Gallon Nano

[ZMattie]

So im in the process of setting up my first nano... I am completly stuck on what kind of skimmer to go with! Does any one have any advice? or has anyone had success or no success with a specific brand or type? I know its alot of questions in one but i figured its worth a shot!

I have a false perc clown and a firefish goby that i plan to put in the nano, I also want to introduce 2 cleaner shrimp and 2 coral banded shirp. I will probally just stick with them for fish/inverts and I also plan to load it up with some softies! I know that the smaller you go the harder it is to keep up with. I had a 55gal that I recently tore down in order to get the nano and I still have live sand and live rock circulating (im waiting for the nano to be delivered tomorrow) that I plan to add right away. Besides the skimmer question, does anyone have any over all advice for maintain a 24 gal tank? I know the basics like water changes (15-20% weekly) and frequent testing (which i plan to do every other day for the first fews weeks).

Thanks alot,
Zach M.

[Loverotties]

What type of skimmer HOT or Sump?

[ZMattie]

I do not plan on having a sump (if thats what you mean), and with the hood i dont know if a HOT would be practical... I think i would have to modify the hood. Its not out of the question but somthing I would like to stay away from. I have seen alot of different ones ranging anywhere from $20 to $200. There are some that fit right into one of the filter chambers, some that are submersible where only the collection can is out of the water and there are some HOT's that ive seen out there... Im basically looking for one that will get the job done to where i will not have to modify anything on the tank. I dont need the most expensive one but i am willing to pay for a good product. Im looking for something new or used between the prices of $30-100. Like i said ill pay more if its a must.
Thanks again,
zach

[Loverotties]

The only other type is in the tank and their not worth it.

[D.J.]

hey check out some of your LFS there in lax........i know that tropic waters here has/had a skimmer designed for the bio-cubes they sell....im guessing that what your getting?, not sure on how much they where but with TW here its hard to guess a price.......

if its a bio cude your gettin isnt the filtration for it made into the back of the top? ive never looked at one so i dont know.....if they are i dont think there would be much room to modify for a skimmer........

some thing like the SEACLONE style (i believe is what im thinkin about) might the best iddea and lil modification to get it to fit....kinda like the one the lennie got from you....since its mostly a powerhead on a tube and then the lil return section......

or check out ebay and see whats out there for nano skimmers.........i mean you wouldnt have to have it right away so a few weeks while you try to find one should be fine......my tank went 8 months without a skimmer.......

[Afish4u]

ok ding ding ding I can help you out some here. First off what is the exact tank and lighting. I have ran a 24 gallon aquapod for a few years. with and with out a skimmer. I ended up getting rid of the skimmer and was better off. I did 2 gal water changes every other week.

[Afish4u]

my avatar is actually from the 24 gallon when I was first setting it up. I may have some other pics in my images. But I have to go back to work now.

[ZMattie]

Alright!!

Its a JBJ 24 Gallon NanoCube with 2 38W 50/50 lights (3.17W per gallon), Ive already added a really neat heater (digital reading thermometer, with an out of tank remote) and a bag of Bio-Chem Zorb in the center filter chamber. Ive done absoutly nothing with the tank. I plan to add my false perc (possibly another, the G/F wants 2 lol), my firefish goby, 2 cleaner shrimp, quite a few snails and hermits for a clean-up crew (and possibly an emerald crab to add to the clean-up crew). And of course some softies, as much as I can fit! well within reason obvisiouly. And some clams is the lighting is high enought, which I havent researched yet.

[D.J.]

sounds like a nice setup zach.........have you moved yet?? or you gona have to tear this down to move?

[ZMattie]

No i have not moved yet... I WISH!!! lol but i figured that its a small enough tank that it could be moved. I cant say easy because im sure nothing about it is easy but I can say alot easier than a 55 gal!! Plus ive already got some offers to help move it when the time comes! Thanks alot DJ... I see you picked up quite a bit of coral, im assuming your taking full advantage of you "new" lighting!

[Jrmass]

the light will probably not be enough for a clam... that's my person opinion at least as they feed from micro organisms in the water when small and really the light only when larger. So, in theory you could make it work for now... but, would have to adapt to a much better light later.

Jas

[D.J.]

why we are on the subject of clams............what the difference between the flame scallop and clams???

cuz i thought about a FS and then i sen clams and it says they need intense lights but the FS dont.....



yeah the lights are great zach...........THANKS FOR SELLIN THEM!!!

[Jrmass]

Just so you know FS do not typically last much longer than a year in the home aquaria. I think Aaron will vouch for that.

[ZMattie]

correct me if im wrong... but i think flame scallops are inverts and need little to moderate lighting.. im no expert but i think i remember reading this when i was intersted in scallops.

[Afish4u]

I would really have to say that sounds about maxed. You may ended up losing a cleaner just do to the size and food.( this is just what ended up happening to me.) My tank had 2 clowns, a gobby or 2, lawnmower, cleaner, snails and hermits, and a clam I have a few other things in there also but only from time to time. ( the tank fills up quick lol) I ended up pulling everything out of my tank in the back. I would only add a little bit of chemi clean once in a great while if I was looking for a crystal clear tank.

the only thing I would add to my tank was Nano A+ B and that when I followed that to a T the tank grew very well.

FYI the clam was a Deresa and had no issues in fact it grew in the tank. The aquapod lighting is very close I think the bulbs were 32w each. I've seen people put a prism skimmer on the backs and cut alot out of the back. Jbj does have an interesting nano skimmer that has had good reviews. the fusion skimmer was always to wet.