Consideration: a fish-free tank?

[pjr]

Happy Friday to all!

I'll be setting up my 12g nano in the office this weekend. I want it to be a low maintenance setup, with minimal need for water changes, tank scraping, algae issues, and so on.

One of the ideas kicking around in my head to help me get to that goal was making this a fish-free tank! I'd have corals, a RBTA, and maybe a starfish too. Without fish, I don't have to worry about bio load, and I will have less food-induced waste, minimizing the water change and nitrate issues.

Open to any thoughts, experiences, feedback and opinions!!

[litttlelondyn]

If you're looking to make money off of Frags, many of us have tanks without fish. :thumbsup:

[steve&mari]

Seen some really nice invert setups so go for it maybe get a sexy shrimp or crab for the rbta aswell. Post some pictures when your up n running.
Big Steve

[BK's Reef]

anemone will add some good waste to the system but really thats the only thing i believe that will make you do a little more frequent waterchanges

[Sir Patrick]

Fish free tanks can be pretty cool! I have found that without fish, the focus becomes what is moving in the tank, and to non reef keepers, it can be pretty facinating. Great idea for an office tank.

[CalmSeasQuest]

My desktop Nano (http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/2011-nano-contest/calmseasquests-36-nano-build-11873/) is currently fish and invert free. Aside from everyone entering my office asking "where are the fish", I'm really enjoying the tank. A few observations...


I travel a lot. No fish makes maintenance easier.
Although corals still produce waste, no fish means a much lower bio-load making maintaining water parameters simpler in a small tank (I do feed the corals weekly to make up for the lack of fish detritus.)
Feeding is much easer as you don't have to use strategies to keep shrimp from stealing food.
Things stay where you put them - No snail, shrimp or fish to move things around - even if they are not glued down.

In my case, my dense coral stocking still requires frequent water changes to maintain levels and I've not decided yet if I will eventually add a Nem and a pair of picassos, but for the time being - I find it refreshing, focusing just on the coral.

[pjr]

Thx all! The feedback is appreciated.

So CSQ: in your weekly coral feeding, what's your food of choice?

[CalmSeasQuest]

Thx all! The feedback is appreciated.

So CSQ: in your weekly coral feeding, what's your food of choice?

Acans, Favias, Chalices and Rics get Fauna Marin LPS pellets. The SPS get Reef Chili mixed with a bit of Coral Frenzy.

[pjr]

Thx! I have got to get some of those pellets. Not sure who sells them on the west side of D...

[Paulo]

RBTA would be nice but tank that small might not work. They are known to wander as all nems are. Would put in a pair of cleaners b/c most people dont think of coral as being alive lol. And of course.... LED lighting lol.

[pjr]

Yeah LED of course! I set the tank up today.... will have to take some pics! USing a Sunbrite Slimline to light it. Tank looks sweet!

[pjr]

Tank is up -- and no fish. pjr-ette wants me to get some juvenile clowns. I am still undecided.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y30/pjr300/Aquaria/Nano%20at%20THHS/nano-FS.jpg

[pjr]

Another pic...

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y30/pjr300/Aquaria/Nano%20at%20THHS/FS.jpg

[Sir Patrick]

Lookin good Pat!