Filtration and movement

[Celcuis]

Hi all

im beginning to set up a 60l nano reef after ages of saving. Im on a budget and wondering what is the best combination for water movement and filtration. Im thinking of buying a seachem tidal or aquaclear 70 and using no wavemaker. Im planing on keeping softies maybe euphyllia. is it best to use a larger hob filter without a wave maker or a smaller hob like a 35 and a wavemaker such as jeboa rw-4. ?

side question: can you get macroalgae for refugiums in NZ?

Thanks for any input

[TBrewerton]

Hey mate, 

What style of tank are you looking at? This can change some of these decisions slightly. A 60L is small enough that you can get away without a hob at all if you wanted to it just increases maintenance very slightly. 

The main thing with small tanks is keeping the water stable and evaporation is the main thing to throw out Nanos due to the already small water volume. I would recommend a good automatic top off system for evaporation over getting a Hob as this will keep things much lower maintenance for you as far as stability goes. 

For filtration your rock will be enough to take up nutrients and then just do small water change's each week and when you syphon out the water make sure to "surface skim" any build up of protein on the surface. I maintained a 60L like this for a few years no problems. 

[Celcuis]

The tank is a 60 x 30 x 30cm rimless. Im planing on putting an acrylic top on it would that be bad regarding oxygenation?  il definitely check out ato.

Thanks

 

 

[TBrewerton]

An acrylic tops a great idea as it will cut back the evaporation a bit too. Just remember acrylic will bow a bit from the difference in moisture between top and bottom - turning it over every few days can help prevent that.