Hi All,
I'm thinking of getting back into reef tanks - but I have to be honest, I quit the last time because it became way overly complicated and a constant fun suck. I think that was a result of me being a little too eager too quickly.
About 8 years ago - My previous setup was a 32 gallon biocube - and I modded the lid with LED lights - fit a skimmer + and everything I could in the back of the thing, different media baskets. ATO, at one point in time I even had nutrient pumps to try to sustain hard coral. When the hard coral was put in the tank - that's when it really got complicated.
Long story made short - I had a major tank crash, lost a ton of livestock and coral - and I shut the tank down and sold it.
This time around - I'm hoping to really, really go simple - I just want a 20 gallon Waterbox cube to put on my desk. Something to keep me in good spirits during the workday. I only desire to probably have two clowns, a goby, a nem, and some soft corals inside it with live rock and live sand. I'd prefer to have everything in the back of the tank with just media balls, etc. Maybe an external ATO.
I'm hoping technology on these cube tanks has come a ways since my tank 8 years ago.
Why I came on here for advice is because I have the following list of concerns:
1. The maintenance was a bear in my biocube because it was so hard to remove all the equipment and adjust in the back of the tank. because of this - I'd really like to avoid a skimmer. Or maybe a hang on back skimmer? Can I make that work?
2. People that are successfully running a cube this size - what does your maintenance/water change schedule look like? What am I signing up for? Can I realistically run this tank without checking water perimeters every day after the initial cycle? If you are successfully running a cube this size - what type of equipment do you have in it?
3. Last but certainly not least - I have a very curious toddler and another on the way. Waterbox does sell lids for the tank - but they are only mesh. Does anyone have experience with toddlers and tank this size sitting on a desk? my fear is she constantly tries to get into this thing.
I'm thinking of getting back into reef tanks - but I have to be honest, I quit the last time because it became way overly complicated and a constant fun suck. I think that was a result of me being a little too eager too quickly.
About 8 years ago - My previous setup was a 32 gallon biocube - and I modded the lid with LED lights - fit a skimmer + and everything I could in the back of the thing, different media baskets. ATO, at one point in time I even had nutrient pumps to try to sustain hard coral. When the hard coral was put in the tank - that's when it really got complicated.
Long story made short - I had a major tank crash, lost a ton of livestock and coral - and I shut the tank down and sold it.
This time around - I'm hoping to really, really go simple - I just want a 20 gallon Waterbox cube to put on my desk. Something to keep me in good spirits during the workday. I only desire to probably have two clowns, a goby, a nem, and some soft corals inside it with live rock and live sand. I'd prefer to have everything in the back of the tank with just media balls, etc. Maybe an external ATO.
I'm hoping technology on these cube tanks has come a ways since my tank 8 years ago.
Why I came on here for advice is because I have the following list of concerns:
1. The maintenance was a bear in my biocube because it was so hard to remove all the equipment and adjust in the back of the tank. because of this - I'd really like to avoid a skimmer. Or maybe a hang on back skimmer? Can I make that work?
2. People that are successfully running a cube this size - what does your maintenance/water change schedule look like? What am I signing up for? Can I realistically run this tank without checking water perimeters every day after the initial cycle? If you are successfully running a cube this size - what type of equipment do you have in it?
3. Last but certainly not least - I have a very curious toddler and another on the way. Waterbox does sell lids for the tank - but they are only mesh. Does anyone have experience with toddlers and tank this size sitting on a desk? my fear is she constantly tries to get into this thing.