sps in aquapod question

pballer · 05-24-2007, 08:02 PM

ok i am looking into getting a 24g aquapod. I always wanted to keep some sps but never have. i dont know too much about their lighting needs but figured that they need more then the standered 24g aquapod lighting. so i looked around and found that Liveaquaria.com has a 24g aquapod with a 150w metal halide. Would this be enough lighting for sps? also if anyone knows if it would be enough for a small clam?

gwaco · 05-24-2007, 08:42 PM

josh , that 150 is probably more than adequite. just remember this though when setting it up . a 150 m.h. is going to really generate some heat and you may end up with some heating issues . unless you have a chiller hooked up to this cube you will heat up 24 gallons in no time . check out some of the nanos in their forum here and see what they are doing to combat this . when you do stock this tank remember the picture on the box is nothing more than a picture ! looks real pretty, but not realistic. remember that things grow and need room to grow ,so cramming in a bunch of stuff will only make things go sour in a short time . i.m.h.o. its alot harder to maintain these small tanks but they are appealing. good luck !

JY13131 · 05-24-2007, 09:04 PM

Definately not SPS in a standard aquapod, but I did keep a clam in my biocube with no problem. And I have heard the same, that the heat can become a problem.

gwaco · 05-24-2007, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JY13131

Definately not SPS in a standard aquapod, but I did keep a clam in my biocube with no problem. And I have heard the same, that the heat can become a problem.

i have to disagree here as there are some sps corals that will do well regardless whether the tank is 1gal or 1000 gals . they don't care about volume as long as their needs are met . many montipora spieces will do fine as well as some of the stags . the tight branching acros will probably pose a challenge though , but not impossible . just depends how much work your willing to put into it .

JY13131 · 05-24-2007, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gwaco

i have to disagree here as there are some sps corals that will do well regardless whether the tank is 1gal or 1000 gals . they don't care about volume as long as their needs are met . many montipora spieces will do fine as well as some of the stags . the tight branching acros will probably pose a challenge though , but not impossible . just depends how much work your willing to put into it .

So like adding extra flow and keeping the tank clean with water changes?

Joel Neal · 05-24-2007, 09:50 PM

pballer i have a 24 gallon AP with the 150 watt sunpod and my tank run about 82.5 so i added a tower fan behind the tank blowing across the water and the tank runs at 78 degrees all day. But we do keep our home at about 74-75 degrees.

pballer · 05-24-2007, 09:56 PM

well i was prob going to get one of those nano chiilers also because i did hear that the halides on th Ap gets it really hot. Also i do have extra power heads to put into the tank for more flow, which i was going to use anyway beause my plate coral likes the extra flow.

Hendersonracing · 05-24-2007, 10:00 PM

I have a 20 gallon with a 150 mh and have no problem with heat....I just top off during the day with some colder water and everything is fine...I have a few capriconis and they are growing like crazy...Im going to add some more sps soon!

gwaco · 05-24-2007, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JY13131

So like adding extra flow and keeping the tank clean with water changes?

yes those things help , but are not the keys imo . since your talking about such a small volume of water i think its more important to pick things that will work . you have to keep the bioload down , so if you want this to be sps corals, put in your rock,sps corals a couple of fish that stay small , a few snails and be done . there is no need to add things like hermits , starfish , crabs , clean-up crews , pods etc. you just won't have long term success if you keep adding these (bio-load ) to such a small volume. i also think that to do this (sps corals ) with long term success than the tank should feed to a sump where a adequate skimmer can be housed. skip a deep or shallow s.b. and add just to cover the bottom. things could be done differently if you where going to just house say , seahorses or a frogfish . the biggest problem i can see with a small sps tank would be the heat generated by the lighting . everything else can be worked out easy enough .

pballer · 05-26-2007, 12:54 PM

well i wanted to be able to also have like one toadstool in there also and a clam. for fish i was prob just going to put a pair of percs. I was also planning on buying one of those nano chillers to keep the temp down. I would love to put on a sump but this is a tank for my desk at school and there is simply no room to put a sump. I saw online that they have a nano skimmer which i was going to get unless u guys thought that that would not be enough skimming.

gwaco · 05-26-2007, 01:34 PM

you should be fine with a leather , just remember to leave it room . i don't know about the nano chillers other than i had tried one of those small probe styles ( the ones you need to drill a hole in the tank) and i was'nt overly impressed , in fact i sold it . as far as a skimmer why not just get one that uses a wood airstone . those are very efficient if you keep the stones changed . also should you have a power outage you can simply connect a battery powered air pump till the power comes back on . plus they are inexpensive !

pballer · 05-29-2007, 10:23 PM

would i be able to keep a Leaf Plate Montipora?

hng · 05-30-2007, 01:00 PM

I agree with Gary - it can be done. I have a LFS here that has the aquapod with power compacts and they have a beautiful variety of acropora and montipora species growing - faster than in my tank at home, actually! So the size of the tank and lighting is just one part of the puzzle. BTW, they do almost a daily water change on the tank and use a 2 part alk/calc suppliment.

Lonnie · 07-03-2009, 10:45 PM

Ive got a 12 gl aquapod that over heats like crazy i added extra fans (computer cooler fans) the cover. instead of 84 i get about 80. The filtration didn't seem to do the job after about a month i tore down the tank ( saving the water) and added an under gravel filter (with air stone). I also bought a canister filter. I plan on converting a 55 gal fresh water tank to salt later so i bought big ( a cascade700). this thing does 185gph but i turned down flow some and used it to drive built in filter. i added a length of hose ( about 20 ft) to filter to lay on tile floor and help cool the tank. wish i could find a radiator. this tank is a burden for sure. my 55 gal tank has been hands free for 3 years ( just ad water, fish food). prolly should have taken it back. looks good now.