Current Setup Upgrade Ideas

[natattack]

Hey all! How would you upgrade this setup?

Have had a 15 gallon HOB nano reef for about two years now. This is my first reef and I struggled a bit along the way but have finally started to have some success, some new polyps, and no more nuisance algae / aiptasia.

Also, I am on a bit less of a budget these days and want to invest a bit into the tank and buy some higher end coral. Specifically, I wanted to do a zoa garden with some higher end zoas and some rarer rock flower anemones.

First though, I think it is probably prudent to take stock of my current setup and maybe make some upgrades.

Ideas:
- HOB protein skimmer
- A premium powerhead or two


Attached some photos as well.


Current equipment:

Filter - Aquaclear (purigen, sponge, and biomedia only)
Powerheads - sicce nano 1000 and fluval sea cp2
ATO - Tunze nano osmolator ATO
Heater - Eheim Jager 100W
Light - AI Prime

Current livestock:

1x black ocellaris
2x peppermint shrimp
3x blue legged hermits
1x astraea snail

Current coral:

1x zoa colony
1x GSP colony
1x duncan

 

[Fish Fan]

I think that's quite a nice system, with a lot of good equipment already. Is there something you specifically have a concern with?

 

[natattack]

I think that's quite a nice system, with a lot of good equipment already. Is there something you specifically have a concern with?

My main concerns are not having quite enough flow / needing extra nutrient exfiltration with a skimmer if I go extra coral heavy.

Otherwise I'm pretty happy with it.

 

[Fish Fan]

My main concerns are not having quite enough flow / needing extra nutrient exfiltration with a skimmer if I go extra coral heavy.

Otherwise I'm pretty happy with it.

You have your HOB filter and two circ pumps in a 15 gallon, that's not a bad start for flow

Most nutrient issues in tanks of this size can be mitigated with regular, routine water changes.

 

[Shawn_epicurious]

Hey all! How would you upgrade this setup?

Have had a 15 gallon HOB nano reef for about two years now. This is my first reef and I struggled a bit along the way but have finally started to have some success, some new polyps, and no more nuisance algae / aiptasia.

Also, I am on a bit less of a budget these days and want to invest a bit into the tank and buy some higher end coral. Specifically, I wanted to do a zoa garden with some higher end zoas and some rarer rock flower anemones.

First though, I think it is probably prudent to take stock of my current setup and maybe make some upgrades.

Ideas:
- HOB protein skimmer
- A premium powerhead or two


Attached some photos as well.


Current equipment:

Filter - Aquaclear (purigen, sponge, and biomedia only)
Powerheads - sicce nano 1000 and fluval sea cp2
ATO - Tunze nano osmolator ATO
Heater - Eheim Jager 100W
Light - AI Prime

Current livestock:

1x black ocellaris
2x peppermint shrimp
3x blue legged hermits
1x astraea snail

Current coral:

1x zoa colony
1x GSP colony
1x duncan

I would be scared to death to have a 15 gallon salt water tank… your maintenance is going to be non-stop… Have you had a salt water tank before?

 

[Fish Fan]

I would be scared to death to have a 15 gallon salt water tank… your maintenance is going to be non-stop… Have you had a salt water tank before?

Small tanks have the benefit of being able to be "reset" with a good water change.

I have to ask again, are you part of the Epicurious website? I spent most of my young adult life in food and beverage, both behind the line and on the floor. I am an avid home cook, and I really, really like to eat

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I've got very similar set up as you do, I have a 4 year old 15 gallon tank (old fashioned rectangle tank), mostly softie's with a few lps, it has 2 sicce voyager nano powerheads, and the main filtration is weekly 5 gallon water changes. I also have an AI Prime, set at 80% for 10 hours. IMO a skimmer is not needed. If you want fancy powerheads then go for it, but I don't see anything that needs an upgrade. Good luck.

 

[natattack]

I would be scared to death to have a 15 gallon salt water tank… your maintenance is going to be non-stop… Have you had a salt water tank before?

I've done salt before just never reef. It has been fine tbh. I don't have to make that much saltwater every week and my bioload is manageable with one fish.