Planning 10g Mixed Reef

Okay here are my ideas and after I will post questions. I am planning on a 10g mixed reef (will be only LPS and softies till im more experienced) with a 30g sump/fuge. I like this sump set up here and also this one here. I would have chaeto algae and an aragonite DSB in fuge. For the skimmer I would use the JBJ nano skimmer here. I would try and find a drilled tank with overflow but if not I would use 300gph HOB overflow like this or this overflow here. I would buy 25 lbs of dry rock from reefcleaners (13lbs for DT and 12lbs for fuge) and 6lbs of cured rock. For substrate I would use Fiji Pink sugar sized sand. My lighting would be two 80 degree Par30 3xRoyal Blue 2xWhite LED's from RapidLED. For flow I would buy two Koralia 240's. My stocking idea is 1 Red Mandarin, 1 firefish (helfrichi or purple) and 1 black misbar clown and a CUC from reefcleaners. I will keep a copepod population in the fuge.

Questions:
A.)What return pump do you recommend and what gph rating should it be? There will be 54in of head pressure.
B.)Which sump idea would work better?
C.)Which overflow is better?
D.)Does the stocking sound good?
E.)Any problems you have with my plan?

 

Looks good besides Manderin goby and the skimmer.

Manderins need 75g or bigger, or a 55g maybe..Becuase they live off of Copepods, which need to multiply quickly to let a manderin survive..A 10g with a 30g sump might possibly work once it gets very mature and there are a huge pod count and they are getting more and more..But i wouldnt recommend one.

The skimmer, JBJ and Biocube skimmers are not very good from what i have read up on...But if its all you can afford...its better then nothing.

Thats all i found..But maybe someone else can find more.

 

I am going to keep a large copepod population in the fuge, whenever I need any I will just siphon some out and put in the tank. I picked the skimmer because I couldnt find any for my tank size that weren't HOB, if there is a better HOB skimmer like the remora then i will get that. Most of the reviews of the JBJ skimmer were good too.

 

Why don't you go 10 gal sump/fuge and 30 gallon DT? As far as overflows, they will take up a lot of room and will be unsightly IMO in a tank that small. If you still choose to go that route though, I prefer the U tube style. As for stocking, I would say the mandarin is out, even with pods in the fuge, I don't know if enough will get to the DT to supply him with food. The firefish and clown seem fine. If you do go with a 30 gallon fuge, that number of fish would be fine. But I would consider only have two small fish at the most for space constraints. Fish do need their room and if you cram them in there, they will be more prone to fighting and disease.

As for sump design, I have the latter and like the setup. It's easy, simple and effective. The return pump is going to be tricky, especially for a small tank like that and nearly 6' of head. You will need a considerably stronger pump then normal. You may want to consider having no power heads and a strong return pump to provide circulation.

Personally though, i don't think a 10 gal. DT is well suited to a sump. As mentioned, the overflow will take up a lot of space and your very limited to livestock option. I would consider flipping the sump tank and DT, but that's just me.

 

We all hear different things about stuff haha..I only saw a couple reviews, but they were average...Basically what im saying is that its nothing special, but it does the job...

And about the manderin..I honeslty would not do it....Just because it may destroy your life outside of the tank..Haha, because in a 10g, even with a fuge..A tank that small can not produce enough pods quick enough.

In order to keep a manderin in a 10g.
Culture live pods and introduce them tri-weekly
AND you may want to find one that eats frozen foods.

That is what i have read about keeping them in nanos.

 

I like the look of nanos and having a large sump will create more stable water parameters and less top off. I also went that route to save money on LR, sand, powerheads, and lighting. If I flopped it then I would have to spend loads more on lighting and everything else. If I can't find a mandarin that eats frozen or dont have a large and stable enough pod population then I wont get it.

I would just siphon pods out and feed him

 

Fair enough.

 

Any other opinions?