nano ideas for red sea cube

[Fishsauron]

Introduction & Current Plan:

I’d like to share my experience in the hobby, what I’m aiming for now, and get some feedback on whether my ideas make sense.
I’ve been in the aquarium hobby for about 16 years, mostly freshwater. I started reefing around 3 years ago and went through three different tanks:

• A 50g with a sump (mixed reef, no SPS)
• Another 50g with just the tank and a HOB (fish-only setup)
• A 33g AIO that housed clownfish and anemones (unfortunately, the anemones didn’t survive—this was the only tank that really failed)

After that, I sold all my tanks and stepped away from reefing for a while due to life-related issues. But now I’m ready to come back—this time with something simple (though maybe it’ll get complicated, as these things often do!).

My Build & Plan
For this setup, I’m planning to purchase a Red Sea Max Nano Cube—I fell in love with the clean look and the built-in add-ons.

Core Equipment:

• Red Sea Max Nano Cube
• ReefATO+
• Red Sea NanoMat fleece roller
• Red Sea Doser (2 heads, dedicated for auto water changes)

My goal is to run automated 2% daily water changes. The main reason I’m going all-in with Red Sea gear is that everything can be controlled through the same app. I’ve used the app before—I know it can get a little weird at times, but I’m fine with it.

Other Items:

• Heater: undecided
• Light: Red Sea Max Nano light
• Skimmer: Red Sea Max Nano skimmer
• Sand: CaribSea Special Grade
• Rock: Purple Reef Rock
• Wave-maker: undecided
• Salt: Tropic Marin Classic or Pro (leaning toward these because they store well long-term without precipitation)

Testing Kits (already on hand):

1. Hanna Nitrate HR
2. Hanna Phosphate ULR
3. Hanna Alkalinity
4. Red Sea Marine Care Multi-Test Kit

Stocking Plan (so far):

• A pair of clownfish (non-negotiable!)
• 3 blue-legged hermit crabs
• Maybe an eye-spot blenny, depending on nutrient levels
• Still deciding between going mixed reef or anemone-only

Goals:
I want to create something beautiful that I can simply come home to, open a bottle of whatever I need, sit back, and just enjoy.

Concerns:
I know that 20g tanks are usually considered small and potentially unstable. My hope is that running daily water changes will help offset that, but I’d love some input from more experienced reefers on whether this approach makes sense.

What I’m Asking:

• Thoughts on the feasibility of my plan (especially with stability in a 20g)
• Recommendations on whether I should go mixed reef (which I had success with before) or anemone-only (which failed for me once in the past)
• Suggestions for coral species and anemone species that would fit this build
• Feedback on my equipment choices and any upgrades/alternatives worth considering
• Which clownfish species would be the best fit for this setup (I’m set on having a pair, but I’m unsure whether to stick with Ocellaris/Percula or consider another type)
• Ideas for additional fish (beyond my clowns and possible blenny)
• Suggestions for a more diverse cleanup crew

 

[Peace River]

Hopefully others will jump in soon with other input, but I will touch on a couple of things to start. While the rule of thumb about starting with a tank in the 40-75g range is a reasonable starting point, nano and pico tanks have gone mainstream because the knowledge and equipment is now far more readily available. A 20g tank is a realistic place to start. Secondly, many times anemone tanks struggle because the time to develop a mature tank is important to them.

 

[rowenaad]

I have a 20g and you can certainly succeed with that size. I had a good time for a year or two until I made big mistakes and crashed it, but it's finally coming back. Back to this, I might suggest save that doser for alk and maybe ca if you decided to go mixed (tho im not sure the AWC will be able to compensate even with anemone only especially in the early stages when rocks are likely gonna bind a bunch of alk speaking from experience). An cheaper and handier IMO alternative is use a combo of ATO pop into your salt water mix and a super cheap usb pump like this for a few dollars along with a smart/wifi power board (I use automation on these power boards extensively and made my life a lot easier) with a daily automation schedule to turn off the pump, pump water out for a set duration, turn salt water ATO on and turn it off after a period of time and turn pump back on.