im upgrading to a aquapod 24 gallon and i was wondering if you wouldnt mind taking a look at this link, and telling me which model is the better. they have different filtration methods..... whats the best lighting for a nano reef? Aquapod | Current What's Next
The only difference I see between the 24 gal tanks is the lighting. One has 32w of PC lighting and the other has a 70w metal halide light. It really depends on what you want to keep. I always feel more light is better, but if you're just going to keep softies such, that may not necessarily be the case.
The bioballs and ceramic media are not suitable for corals as they will then to create high nitrates. The HQI is only a 70 watt lamp, not super powerful. I don't know what corals you would be able to keep with it but one of the MH people will chime in I am sure. With the PC's you can keep softies, many LPS and some lower light SPS like Pocillopora and Montipora digitata in the top half of the tank. I don't know what you are wanting to keep but in my opinion no matter what the lighting anemones don't belong in a nano.
no aniemies just coral,
and i want all kinds all i know is i want colorful
IMHO, thats gonna be kinda hard to do in a nano. there just isnt enough volume for water quality, unless you are as anal about it as Carmie is, with water changes. you can also find many colorful SPS corals now days, from sunset montipora to monti caps. they will add tons of color to the tank. i would suggest going with the halide for them and changing the 14k bulb to a 20k bulb for the best coloration, but it will also make the tank look really blue. it is going to ultimately be up to you and your preferences though.
__________________ Bobby
"I FORMERLY glued animals to rocks" NO TANK RIGHT NOW, but you never know when I might throw one together !! I have everything I need but the time!!
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I had a 70w MH in my biocube and it just didnt seem to be enough light for a lot of the brighter colored SPS corals, although you could do some of the less light needy ones like montipora capricornus and digita. My SPS corals didnt seem to like the 70w much and showed very little growth, once i switched to the 150w mh growth rate and color have improved dramatically.
If you get the 70w MH I would stick to the less light needy of corals, another option would be to buy just the aquapod tank (nanotuners.com sells tanks alone) and then buy a clip on metal halide or a pendant, or even a T5 fixture and go that route, you will be able to keep much more colorful corals that way.
Also what ireefikeeper said was very important if you want to do brighter colors in a nano, you must be anal about your water changes. I change 4 gallons (about 12%) every friday, and test my parameters daily, (ok the testing might be excessive but I am very interested in keeping everything as stable as possible.)
just saw your last post, no it will not be easier in a 29 gallon tank, I dont think it gets much easier until you significantly up your water volume like 55 gallons and up, even then I wouldnt think it would be "easy"
softies, zoanthids, polyps, euphyllia (sp?) those types of things, Although you really should take a look at the corals you like and what you find interesting and really try to build your tank to fit the needs of what you really want, it will save you money and time in the long run and you will much happier with your tank.
So what kinds of corals do you want to keep? other than colorful ones?
Sun coral is not photosynthetic so you will be fine with that. I have Euphyllia and Pocillopora in my NC24 with the stock PC lights. They are in the upper half of the tank and do fine. Softies will do fine anywhere with the stock lights.
It can't hurt to to work with your limitations. Make it a challenge for yourself to research, discover, learn about and house a certain family (SPS, softies, leathers, whatever). Maybe you'll find your limits really tighten your focus and find out there is plenty of variety out there.
__________________ Brian
Man I am HOOKED on DIY...I'd build me a fish from scratch if I could
sorry but you will no be able to keep a sea cucumber in your nano. It will die, and take everything else with it
I largely agree with PhotoJohn. If someone has a 24g with very stable params, I think they could keep a lower risk, small 3" sand sifting Holothuria sp. such as a Holothuria thomasi(NOT a filtering cucumber - especially NOT a Sea Apple). The problem is that with a small volume, the environment can change quite quickly and then you may go toxic if the cucumber spills its guts. What's more, the cucumber is eventually going to grow in size and potentially exude more toxin when it gets stressed.
My Holothuria thomasi is entirely dormant during the day and hides in a cave. He is quite a boring specimen unless you are up late at night with a flashlight. Not as active as I expected. Filtering cucumbers usually pick one location and sit there, also not terribly interesting.
I would only recommend a cucumber if you are confident that your pH, temp, salinity, and Alk remain stable, you do regular water changes and maintenance to keep your Nitrates low, and that you have a decent temperature controller (like a Ranco or equivalent) and an reliable ATO system to keep your salinity in check. It is as simple as that.
Even if you have stability, are you prepared for a extended blackout? If your 24g tank dips -10F degrees in 8 hours, some of your fish may survive - but probably not if your distressed cucumber wipes out the tank.
So in the end, the more general recommendation applies: Get a year or two of experience with more hardy stuff before taking on specimens with associated risks attached.
which tank is better? 
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