Simplest/Easiest/cheapest frag tank setup?

[cubbyman60]

Hey all,
I was wondering if it was plausible to setup a small frag tank for my office (20-40 g). I have an established reef tank at home, but would like something fun and pretty in my home office. It would only have softies and easy LPS. I have some basic questions.
1) What would you consider essential?
-Protein skimmer, sump, ATO, doser
2) Do you need to have fish in the tank?
3) How difficult is it to keep up maintenance on a small frag tank? Is it similar to a typical mixed reef? Do you need more water changes or can you get away with less.
---Is it difficult to maintain nutrient levels like Nitrate and phosphate?

Thanks for your time. Curious to see if it is worth my time considering a frag tank for my office.

 

[cubbyman60]

Bump ;Penguin

 

[cubbyman60]

Any help?

 

[shiftline]

you could use a Rubbermaid container with a light and a powerhead. the only essential is flow.. so you need a powerhead.
Container/tank. .your choice.

-ATO/Doser are nice to have and make the tank less work for you. personally i would use them... but if your on a budget you can do it manually for now

Fish are advisable as they provide nutrients to coral but not required. If you dont have fish you dont need a skimmer.. even then on a small tank you can get away with just doing water changes.