Inspire me for my next tank!

[MONTANTK]

I’ve been out of the hobby for a couple of years and have been thinking of getting back in. I’ve had a lot of different tanks over the years.

Looking to do a pretty simple setup but want to do something unique that also isn’t going to require a ton of maintenance/testing. Volume will be 10g.

Leaning towards a softie reef but also curious about NPS. Also open to other ideas that would be unique.

As for fish, I really don’t know. I’ve always wanted a pair of classic grade A Picasso clowns, but I also really like Helfrichs fire fish. Pink streaks are cool too. Something with a little bit of personality outside of the usual gobies/blennies, etc.

Let’s see what you guys and gals come up with!

 

[Fish Fan]

Hello from just north of Canandaigua!

You can do some fish in a 10 gallon, but if you want what I think might be a real head turner and is definitely a little different, try a bunch of Rock Flower Anemones and Sexy Shrimp. Cheap, easy, and definitely something to see.

Good luck with whatever you decide!

 

[MONTANTK]

Hello from just north of Canandaigua!

You can do some fish in a 10 gallon, but if you want what I think might be a real head turner and is definitely a little different, try a bunch of Rock Flower Anemones and Sexy Shrimp. Cheap, easy, and definitely something to see.

Good luck with whatever you decide!

Hmmm that is an interesting idea. I do like rock flower nems. Even though clowns won’t host, they could still work with the tank.

My other thought is doing some kind of nem, other than a BTA that the clowns might host

 

[Fish Fan]

No, the RFA's do not host Clowns, but they do host Sexy Shrimp

 

[MONTANTK]

No, the RFA's do not host Clowns, but they do host Sexy Shrimp

sexy shrimp and maybe some porcelain crabs

 

[Fish Fan]

sexy shrimp and maybe some porcelain crabs

Yes! I was literally just saying this last night lol!
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/3-7-gallon-imagitarium.1119975/post-13720256

 

[exnisstech]

I've found it easy to run a simple tank. I have 5 tanks currently and they are all pretty simple. No controllers other than heat and ATO units. I run an SPS tank with nothing but a reefmat and a doser for AFR. No skimmer, reactors or anything else. I test alkalinity, nitrate and phosphate weekly and calcium every month or two. I ignore pH because it's always low yet coral grow fine. I wasn't even using a doser for AFR but added one because I was forgetting to dose manually. I've found this hobby can be as simple or as complicated as a person wants to make it IMO

My simple SPS tank

 

[MONTANTK]

I've found it easy to run a simple tank. I have 5 tanks currently and they are all pretty simple. No controllers other than heat and ATO units. I run an SPS tank with nothing but a reefmat and a doser for AFR. No skimmer, reactors or anything else. I test alkalinity, nitrate and phosphate weekly and calcium every month or two. I ignore pH because it's always low yet coral grow fine. I wasn't even using a doser for AFR but added one because I was forgetting to dose manually. I've found this hobby can be as simple or as complicated as a person wants to make it IMO

My simple SPS tank

I did something similar a few years ago. I had a 7g tank that I did a <1g water change on every other day. In this case I think it would be a little too much maintenance.

Beautiful tank!

 

[exnisstech]

I did something similar a few years ago. I had a 7g tank that I did a <1g water change on every other day. In this case I think it would be a little too much maintenance.

Beautiful tank!

I do small water changes of 2-4g every 7-10 day just to vacuum detritus.
Did you do changes so often for a reason?

 

[MONTANTK]

I do small water changes of 2-4g every 7-10 day just to vacuum detritus.
Did you do changes so often for a reason?

It was small enough that I could do them quickly so I felt it would help keep the parameters more stable, which it did.