Downsizing from 90 gallon FOWLR to small reef...suggestions?

[Anonymous]

It's time to give up my 90 gallon FOWLR that I've had for 4 years in favor of something easier to handle & move.

I'd like to go with LED lighting and a smaller, manageable tank. Probably 30 gallons or less, but something nicer in quality...nicer filter, skimmer, etc.

It's going to be a reef tank with few fish...pair of percs and a banggai cardinal, probably.

Recommendations?

Thanks in advance.

Peace,

Chip

 

[Anonymous]

hi Chip, long time no see - refresh my memory, can you and/or are you interested in DIY? If you are, rapidled.com has a plethora of LED kits, some of which are plug an play(no soldering required) and can fit into nano tank canopies like the JBJ series tanks. Kits are available in both dimming and non dimming functions - their kits are very reasonably priced.

What size tank are you planning on reducing to?

 

[Microcosmos]

Hi! I definitely agree that downsizing is an essential step if you move frequently! Carrying a 90 gallon aquarium and buckets full of LR around everywhere is just not fun or recommended. I have a 24 gallon FOWLR and I love it, but since you're going more for the corals and less for the fish I'd have to agree with your choices, a pair of percs and a Bangaii/Kaudern's cardinal will not bother most things without spines. I've had trouble in the past with perc pairs, the female usually kills the male, at least in my tanks. Maybe with less other fish to bother them they will leave each other alone? In any case, I have an Aquapod. I don't know if they still make them but if they do don't trust Fed Ex or UPS; have it shipped directly to your LFS with their normal shipment on a delivery truck. My Aquapod arrived broken twice before I realized what I should do. The Aquapod has a baffle in the back and a little pump for circulation that hides behind it. I definitely recommend putting another little pump or even two in there to maximize flow for corals depending on what you are keeping in there.... As far as lighting I have LED too and it works great, my mushrooms are very happy in there and macroalgae is doing well also. For frequent moves I don't recommend a sump. I've had the same issue, though I've been stable for a couple of years I used to move around a lot due to shady roommate situations, and the benefits of the mobility of not having a sump outweigh the benefits of having one IMHO, as long as you are willing to either do frequent cleaning and water changes or (what I do) let macroalgae and encrusting sponges have their way with your tank. Um let me think here...a heater can fit behind the baffle and if you are not obsessed with micro bubbles an air stone can fit back there too. Not much room for a skimmer but I've never tried the smaller hang-on types, one of those might just be perfect (I get by without one but if you don't want an air pump you'll probably want a skimmer to make sure that the water gets enough aeration). Definitely keep your prettiest pieces of LR for biodiversity and live filtration and just because it's pretty. And I think I've rambled on long enough, good luck with your adventure, and please post here to let us know what you decided and how you did it! And if you have more questions about nanos I will do my best to answer, though I've never gone full reef so I can't answer complicated coral questions.