Essential items to have a successful 20g nano tank?

[N64]

Curious of some helpful or essential add ons to a 20 gallon reef tank. I plan on have 2 clowns 1 royal gramma. Euphyllias zoas acans. Just curious on add ons such as skimmer ato dosing pumps ECT. Thanks in advance

 

[Gedxin]

Are you asking for specific brand recommendations? The equipment you listed is all great for a 20g. Im running a Nyos 120 skimmer, aqua duetto ATO, AI prime 16hd lights, and a DIY dosing setup, but you could grab any generic wifi dosing pump to satisfy your needs.

Are you going AIO or sump? Options change a bit depending.

 

[N64]

Are you asking for specific brand recommendations? The equipment you listed is all great for a 20g. Im running a Nyos 120 skimmer, aqua duetto ATO, AI prime 16hd lights, and a DIY dosing setup, but you could grab any generic wifi dosing pump to satisfy your needs.

Are you going AIO or sump? Options change a bit depending.

I have a waterbox 20. I'm just curious because I was planning on getting a skimmer and dosing pump and then had multiple people tell me not to get those for a 20g tank.

 

[Gedxin]

I have the Waterbox Marine x 35.1 which is basically the same as the WB 20, but has a sump. I'd highly recommend getting a a dosing pump, and a skimmer eventually (once you've stocked with fish.)

 

[Bouncingsoul39]

I don’t agree with anyone who says no protein skimmer for smaller tanks. Is it 100% essential? No it isn’t. But it’s going to keep the water cleaner and reduce the need for more frequent water changes. It makes life easier. There are a lot of nano skimmers though that are junk and the good ones are expensive.

 

[N64]

I have the Waterbox Marine x 35.1 which is basically the same as the WB 20, but has a sump. I'd highly recommend getting a a dosing pump, and a skimmer eventually (once you've stocked with fish.)

Any recommendations on nano skimmers and dosing pumps? I was looking at the red sea 4 doser.

 

[N64]

I don’t agree with anyone who says no protein skimmer for smaller tanks. Is it 100% essential? No it isn’t. But it’s going to keep the water cleaner and reduce the need for more frequent water changes. It makes life easier. There are a lot of nano skimmers though that are junk and the good ones are expensive.

Any recommendations on nano skimmer for a wb20?

 

[Bouncingsoul39]

what size is the rear chamber that could hold the skimmer? do you want to have something that fits in the chamber or could also be a “hang on back model”?

 

[Tamberav]

I mean if you keep the water too clean you starve the corals and cause Dino. I would add a skimmer if/when it is needed. I had to remove mine on my 20g.

 

[Townes_Van_Camp]

By far the most consistent skimmer for a nano

Mame skimmer. They are air drive so you have to supply a pump. I use one in my IM 14. Pulls some junk out. You don’t need a skimmer and if your aren’t careful, you can strip your tank clean. But it is sure nice to have.

The hardest part I have found was flow. I’ve finally settled on a jebao slw 10 (I think that’s the small one) and a sicce syncra 1.0. Back up pump and wave maker.

also in a tank that small it’s important to not underestimate temperature swings. I’m in Florida and keep my house A/C at 74. My tanks are kept at 78. In order to maintain 78. My rank will use both the heater at night and early morning and the fans in the afternoon and evening. Absolutely get an Inkbird with a plastic probe. Run a heater and fans. For fans I use a 120mm cooler master case fan with blue led’s that way I have a visual confirmation when my tank is getting warm.

If you want to keep sps, get an ATO. Tunze osmolator is good to go. I’m using a reefbreeders prism it hasn’t failed me in any way.

 

[Bouncingsoul39]

I mean if you keep the water too clean you starve the corals and cause Dino. I would add a skimmer if/when it is needed. I had to remove mine on my 20g.

That’s ridiculous lol. Why are you spreading misinformation like this? Skimmer cause dinos? Dude we’ve been using skimmers for 30 years probably before your were born. A skimmer ain’t gonna starve your corals.

 

[Tamberav]

That’s ridiculous lol. Why are you spreading misinformation like this? Skimmer cause dinos? Dude we’ve been using skimmers for 30 years probably before your were born. A skimmer ain’t gonna starve your corals.

Low nutrients cause Dino and some nano skimmers do a fantastic job these days paired with lots of dry rock starts. Not rocket surgery. Get your head out of your butt.

Again, I would add a skimmer if/when it is needed.

 

[Townes_Van_Camp]

Low nutrients cause Dino and some nano skimmers do a fantastic job these days. Not rocket surgery. Get your head out of your butt.

Like the bout of Dino’s I have after accidentally turning my skimmer on full time instead of just half time. You sir are correct.

 

[Bouncingsoul39]

Low nutrients cause Dino and some nano skimmers do a fantastic job these days paired with lots of dry rock starts. Not rocket surgery. Get your head out of your butt.

please show me the scientific paper source your are referencing with this claim. Or at a minimum show me a known hobby expert who has written an article on how low nutrients cause dinos. back up your BS

 

[Townes_Van_Camp]

That’s ridiculous lol. Why are you spreading misinformation like this? Skimmer cause dinos? Dude we’ve been using skimmers for 30 years probably before your were born. A skimmer ain’t gonna starve your corals.

It is very very easy to strip a tank this small of nutrients. And once you do that, there is only nutrition enough for dinos. Ask me how I know.

 

[Bouncingsoul39]

If you over skim your tank and get dinos, youre doing it wrong and don’t know how to keep a reef tank.

 

[Townes_Van_Camp]

please show me the scientific paper source your are referencing with this claim. Or at a minimum show me a known hobby expert who has written an article on how low nutrients cause dinos. back up your BS

Here is reefbum. He is widely recognized as an expert in the hobby.

How I Beat Dinoflagellates - ReefBum

Despite my best efforts to avoid an ugly phase with my new peninsula tank, dinos popped up at the seventh month mark. Time to nuke the dreaded brown snot.

reefbum.com

It’s in the third or fourth paragraph.

 

[Townes_Van_Camp]

If you over skim your tank and get dinos, youre doing it wrong and don’t know how to keep a reef tank.

You are just here to be an ******* tonight. People over skim and under skim their tanks all the time. You recognize the mistake, correct it and move on. We aren’t all as perfect as you sir or madam.

 

[ClownWrangler]

There's more than one way to skim a cat. There are people with skimmers and healthy tanks and there are people without skimmers and healthy tanks. Usually when people are split sown the middle on things here, its because both methods work.

I cant say from experience what causes Dinos, because out of my 8 small tanks ranging from a little over 2 years to 6 months of age, I have never had Dinos. Only my first 29 gallon had a skimmer for a short while. It was the only one with Ciano issues for a short while, but it may be unrelated. No further issues after getting rid of the skimmer, but all my tanks are loaded with macro algae or have chaeto.

 

[SJ701]

+1 for skimming a nano.. I only run it a couple overnights per week with great results.