My 9 Gallon Jebo reef tank

[9 Gallon Jebo]

Well, I've setup my first nano reef tank and have had no problems with the setup. I've been doing some research first before actually starting. Good thing that I did, I didn't know, at first, that it would cost a lot of money to setup an reef tank. Here are my specs on my reef tank.

9 gallon jebo
Modified the canopy lights to 24 watts of smartlight 50/50
Tetratec PF 150 - removed the filter and replaced it with regular pad filters
20 pounds of live sand
3 pounds of cheap live rocks
4 pounds of fiji rocks
6 pounds of expensive rocks - can't recall the name of the rocks but it was $7.99 a lbs, cured and fresh from the ocean with some plants

2 Juvenile Ocellaris - hopefully they'll mate
1 Neon pseudochromis- Dutoiti
1 Cleaner shrimp
1 elegance coral
1 LPS - can't remember the name of it
1 Carnation coral - might have to return this - I've read that this is a difficult coral to keep
1 Pinkish feather duster - don't know the name

I'm not using any heater, because the light gives it enough heat, may be too much heat? I'm not using and protein skimmer, I do a weekly water change of 3 gallons. I haven't had any fish die on me yet....

Questions:

Do I need more lights or do I have enough lights?

Is it better to buy ocean water from the LFS or mix my own?

I'd like to buy some clams the LFS said that the clams they have are called croasha, or something, and that they don't need as much lights as the maxima clams. Is this true or the LFS is full of SHI#..?

What kind of corals would you suggest for this small reef tank - corals that are easy to maintain?

Thanks for tacking the time

9 Gallon Jebo
:D

[nanoman123]

there will be NO clams for u in a tank that small. u should have at least a 50 gal with MH lighting around 250 watts for MINIMUM clam keeping. as for the corals, i reccomend some shrooms. ur light is perf for them, they are easy to keep, etc. as for the rest of ur stuff, ur tank sounds great!

[RazerCorals]

Nanoman I have no clue how you came to that conclusion about the clams. You do not need 250w of MH unless you are keeping some species of Maxima. Also a 50 gallon tank is not required, I have seen clams do well under PC lighting in a nano. Although I don't agree that it is best for the clam, they do seem to grow just fine. Although to be on the safe side I would double your light output.

[nanoman123]

o, well, srry. i didnt know that there were species of clams that can thrive under those tank condidtions. but, if u change ur mind, flame scallops are always great for nanos! IMO

[RazerCorals]

I am also going to have to disagree with that statement too. Flame scallops are often difficult creature to keep as they need certain foods. They also can make a mess of a nano with a sandbed.

[9 Gallon Jebo]

:D
This is great news, that there are certain clams I can get... Thanks for the great info...

What kind of clams can I get. I plan on moving them to a bigger tank once they get big. I'm hoping I can get into a 50 and up gallon reef tank. Still doing some research on lighting though.

Thnx...

:D

[RazerCorals]

Squamosa and Derasa clams require less intense lighting than maxima and crocea.

[9 Gallon Jebo]

Okay... This is most helpfull. One more Question, I was just reading a couple of forums on the web and notice that one guy has a maxima clam on a nano-reef with just a PC light. I think his thank size is 6 gallon with 32 watts. He said he's had it for about a year now.

Will that work.

:shock:

[Fiji Live Rock]

I can bet you that clam isn't as colorful as it should be...nor will it have the growth like normal.

[9 Gallon Jebo]

Well, this has been most informative... Thanks

:D

[RazerCorals]

Yes I would also agree with Fiji. For them to hold their true color they should be under metal halide light. You will also want to get one that is 3.5"-4" so it is fully light dependent.

[nanoman123]

what kind of clams can u get in a nano with 32 watts of pc lighting? i ahve the same thing as him, except my nano is one gallon more. i wouldent mind haveing a clam in there either

[RazerCorals]

Before you add a clam I would try and aquire a frag of montipora digitata (green.) Now if you can keep that alive in there then go for the clam.