After the research here's what I've come up with based on my knowledge and budget. I'm a complete rookie so please let me know any mistakes I may be making before I go out and start spending. (I know its dependant on what livestock I want but I'm going for hardy, medium flow, natural filtration, and keeping it simple to start)

Tank & Stand: 12 gallon setup I've already got
Live Rock: ~12lbs of Cured Fijian
Substrate: CaribSea Arag-Alive Fiji Pink ~20lbs
Powerhead: Marineland MaxiJet 400 (106gph)
Lighting: Nova Extreme 2 X 24 Watt T5HO 10K/460NM (Bulbs TBD)
Heater: 50W Jager

I'm worried I'm cheaping out on the lighting but I can't seem to find any decent options inbetween this $100 setup and something and a $400 setup (yes I know I've just opened myself up to the don't cheap out lecture).

I've also got plans for salt, an API master test kit a hydrometer. I don't have a specific plan for water other than finding a reliable source to buy from to start as I don't have a RO setup, nor the dollars to fork out after the initial investment in the tank setup (again opening myself up to the don't cheap out lecture).

Figuring out exactly what livestock to get will likely become my hobby while the tank cycles.

Thanks in advance for any insight!

Sounds like you're off to a good start. You don't necessarily have to spend alot to get alot in this hobby. Craigslist and local or forum classifieds can often turn up "getting out of hobby gems". Consider a 70 w halide or diy led as a long term goal for this tank. Local sources for Rodi or distilled water should be pretty inexpensive for such a small tank.

Lose the hydrometer and spend the extra for a good refractometer.

+1. You need one, once you don't have yours you feel blind.

to nano-reef.com

You don't need a refractometer (ib4mrfosi!)

You don't have to buy bagged "live sand". Even a dry aragonite/calcite sand (avoid crushed coral) will soon become live when you add the live rock. For water flow, don't get the maxijet; get some type of powerhead. A hydor koralia 1 is a good choice.

The lighting is sufficient for most low-medium light corals. Switch out the bulbs to higher quality ones so you can get better lighting (see the T5HO information thread in the lighting forum for more info).

Thanks for all the help guys!



I was worried the koralia 1 or even nano would be too much flow for a 12 gallon as I understood the rule of thumb to be a flow rate of 7-10x the tank's capacity... But then I'v also read that you can never have enough flow.

Let me know what you think.

Thanks for all the help guys!



I was worried the koralia 1 or even nano would be too much flow for a 12 gallon as I understood the rule of thumb to be a flow rate of 7-10x the tank's capacity... But then I'v also read that you can never have enough flow.

Let me know what you think.

That "rule of thumb" must be for freshwater tanks.

Right. I wish I remember where I read that... But then maybe I should be glad I don't 'cause its off the mark...

I've heard/read of piles of reefers using the Koralia stuff so they're likely doing something right. So then do I go with the nano at 260gph or the 1 at 400... I've been trying to sift through the forums but appropriate flow rates haven't really come up.

Thanks so much for your advice lakshwadeep... Its been great. I want to build a thread dedicated to my nano with pics as I go. Is this the right board?