My 6 gallon nano

[akaBillyPrefect]

The specs are...

6 gallon curved glass tank.  18 watt 50/50 bulb and a 13 watt 6500K bulb.  A large hang on tank filter, I think it is an early Regeant model, supposed to be rated for something like 120 gallons per hour.  Small power head on the side for some nifty cross currents.  The rock is about 6 or so lbs with a couple extra pieces beside it, probably adding up to a pound.  The sand bed is roughly half aragonite, and half crushed coral.  Simple 25 watt heater. 

Current live stock is one solo palythoa (sp?) polyp, one solo zooanthid polyp (very very tiny, free rescue sort of thing), yellow tailed blue damsel, 5 margarita snails, 5 blue legged hermit crabs, uncountable bristle worms. 

Any tips would be great.  Due to it's size I can't figure out how to get any sort of protein skimming going.  I do roughly a gallon to 1.5 gallon water change every second week, time the water change by paydays, using store bought water.  I feed frozen omnivore cube mixed with water one day, and a few flakes the next day, fish always looks hungry.  A single cube usually lasts a little over a week, keep the unused sealed and bottled in the fridge. 

I'm hoping to upgrade to a 12 gallon all in one cube this summer.  I also have a daughter being born this summer, so the cube is really really on the bottom of the list.



[attachment deleted by admin]

[akaBillyPrefect]

Any tips or thoughts would be very appreciated.

Thanks.

[kennyman]

unless the pest algae starts to get ahead of you don't sweat the skimmer. You might also want to try an easy to manage macro in the display like Halimeda to help export nutrients.

Looks nice and clean 

[ray]

If you're looking for a sm skimmer.Current USA makes the nano fission.I have not used so I can't comment as to it's effectiveness.

[akaBillyPrefect]

It's been up and running for about 3 or 4 months now, all settled down and past it's little diatom and algae fits.  It's crystal clear pretty much all the time, and with the exception of the 5 or so things that aren't supposed to be in the tank, its a faily nice and clean tank, just wish it was about 6 gallons bigger with surface skimming, and hidden room for nice things like protein skimmers et al.

[akaBillyPrefect]

Forgot to mention all the not so nice stuff about the tank... I have it neatly compiled in this message from my other question. 

http://ovas.ca/index.php?topic=17262.msg127345#msg127345

I don't know if that link works or not, but you can cut and paste if nothing else.

[RoxyDog]

looks cute.    I have those 6 more gallons and I still don't skim.    I like it cheap and easy!

[Tyler.L]

i have a 12g and i don't run a skimmer just have good flow and things should be fine..

i am moving to a 20 very very soon though. i also have a creature on the way but not until december thats why i am hustling to get the tank on the go now..before it pops out.

keep good flow and don't worry about skimmer now..and you only have one fish so bioload is pretty small.