DE FISH
Valuable Member
55L Bare Bottom Nano Reef Build
System Overview
This is a compact 50–55 litre bare-bottom nano reef aquarium designed around stable LPS coral care, clean circulation, and minimalist aquascaping. The system focuses on broad indirect water movement rather than aggressive high-velocity flow, creating a more natural reef environment for fleshy corals.
The aquarium uses a bow-front design, which naturally helps diffuse water movement across the display and soften direct current pressure.
Lighting is provided by the Aqua Knight 30W LED Reef Light, a compact full-spectrum reef LED suitable for soft corals and LPS systems. The light provides controllable blue and white channels with enough PAR for torch corals, hammers, frogspawn, zoanthids, mushrooms, and other moderate-light reef inhabitants.
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Filtration & Flow
Filtration
The system uses a rear corner filter box positioned in the back left corner of the aquarium. The outlet nozzle is angled slightly upward across the surface toward the opposite side of the tank to assist with oxygen exchange and surface agitation.
The filter provides:
Estimated real-world filter flow:
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Main Circulation
Primary water movement is generated by a Jecod SW-3 Wavemaker positioned in the back right corner of the aquarium just below the water surface.
Wavemaker Configuration
This setup intentionally avoids direct linear blasting through the centre of the aquarium. Instead, the bow-front glass disperses and softens the flow, creating broad reef-style circulation.
Estimated effective dispersed flow:
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Lighting System
Aqua Knight 30W LED
The Aqua Knight 30W LED is used as the primary reef lighting system for the aquarium.
Expected Performance
The light is well suited for:
The spectrum strongly supports:
Mounting & Coverage
The light is designed to provide even spread across small reef aquariums and works particularly well over shallow bow-front nano systems.
Recommended mounting:
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Flow Philosophy
The aquarium is designed around:
The target flow style is:
Corals should gently sway rather than whip or fold under pressure.
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Aquascape Design
The system uses an open arch-style aquascape designed to:
The bare-bottom approach further improves:
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Coral Suitability
The system is primarily optimised for:
Expected coral behaviour:
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Expected Turnover
Estimated total effective circulation:
In a 50–55L system, this results in:
This falls within a suitable range for a bare-bottom LPS-focused nano reef when flow is properly diffused and indirect.
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Overall Goal
The overall design philosophy prioritises:
Rather than chasing extreme flow numbers, the system focuses on achieving natural reef-style movement with soft dispersed turbulence suitable for long-term LPS coral health.
Fishless cycle started 10th May 2026.
System Overview
This is a compact 50–55 litre bare-bottom nano reef aquarium designed around stable LPS coral care, clean circulation, and minimalist aquascaping. The system focuses on broad indirect water movement rather than aggressive high-velocity flow, creating a more natural reef environment for fleshy corals.
The aquarium uses a bow-front design, which naturally helps diffuse water movement across the display and soften direct current pressure.
Lighting is provided by the Aqua Knight 30W LED Reef Light, a compact full-spectrum reef LED suitable for soft corals and LPS systems. The light provides controllable blue and white channels with enough PAR for torch corals, hammers, frogspawn, zoanthids, mushrooms, and other moderate-light reef inhabitants.
⸻
Filtration & Flow
Filtration
The system uses a rear corner filter box positioned in the back left corner of the aquarium. The outlet nozzle is angled slightly upward across the surface toward the opposite side of the tank to assist with oxygen exchange and surface agitation.
The filter provides:
- Mechanical filtration
- Biological filtration
- Supplemental circulation
- Surface movement
Estimated real-world filter flow:
- Approximately 150–400 L/h depending on final pump configuration.
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Main Circulation
Primary water movement is generated by a Jecod SW-3 Wavemaker positioned in the back right corner of the aquarium just below the water surface.
Wavemaker Configuration
- Mode: W1 pulse mode
- Power setting: Lowest or second-lowest setting
- Placement: High rear corner
- Direction: Angled slightly upward toward the curved front glass
This setup intentionally avoids direct linear blasting through the centre of the aquarium. Instead, the bow-front glass disperses and softens the flow, creating broad reef-style circulation.
Estimated effective dispersed flow:
- Approximately 300–700 L/h depending on power setting and rock placement.
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Lighting System
Aqua Knight 30W LED
The Aqua Knight 30W LED is used as the primary reef lighting system for the aquarium.
Expected Performance
The light is well suited for:
- LPS corals
- Soft corals
- Zoanthids
- Mushrooms
- Euphyllia species
The spectrum strongly supports:
- Coral fluorescence
- Blue reef coloration
- Moderate PAR requirements
- Compact nano reef coverage
Mounting & Coverage
The light is designed to provide even spread across small reef aquariums and works particularly well over shallow bow-front nano systems.
Recommended mounting:
- Approximately 15–25 cm above water level
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Flow Philosophy
The aquarium is designed around:
- Broad indirect movement
- Circular circulation loops
- Gentle coral sway
- Minimal dead spots
- Reduced direct pressure on coral tissue
The target flow style is:
- Rhythmic
- Soft
- Turbulent without aggression
Corals should gently sway rather than whip or fold under pressure.
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Aquascape Design
The system uses an open arch-style aquascape designed to:
- Allow flow underneath and around the rock
- Reduce detritus accumulation
- Create multiple coral placement zones
- Maintain visual openness
The bare-bottom approach further improves:
- Flow efficiency
- Detritus export
- Ease of maintenance
- Overall circulation dynamics
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Coral Suitability
The system is primarily optimised for:
- Torch coral
- Hammer coral
- Frogspawn coral
- Zoanthids
- Mushrooms
- Other moderate-flow LPS species
Expected coral behaviour:
- Gentle polyp extension
- Rhythmic swaying movement
- Full tissue inflation
- Moderate indirect current exposure
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Expected Turnover
Estimated total effective circulation:
- Approximately 700–1200 L/h combined effective movement
In a 50–55L system, this results in:
- Roughly 14x–22x turnover
This falls within a suitable range for a bare-bottom LPS-focused nano reef when flow is properly diffused and indirect.
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Overall Goal
The overall design philosophy prioritises:
- Stability
- Natural movement
- Coral comfort
- Clean presentation
- Balanced circulation
Rather than chasing extreme flow numbers, the system focuses on achieving natural reef-style movement with soft dispersed turbulence suitable for long-term LPS coral health.
Fishless cycle started 10th May 2026.
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But are you sure about the Bare Bottom stuff? I started my old Reef Tank also with bare bottom and also with mostly LPS like Euphyllias. But as doon i added Sand after 3month (for the look) i really saw the tank stabilise. Especially with Nano aquariums.
