16 gallon nano reef

[New to reefing]

So currently I have a 55 gallon aquarium and I am thinking of starting a 16 gallon nano reef. I have been researching for about a month and I am wondering exactly how hard it would be to maintain( having only mushroom coral). That's all thank :-) you in advance.

[Havok_9]

Not hard at all! Assuming the 55 gallon you already have is marine, you understand what it takes to keep a saltwater take running successfully. Now just scale it down. Should be very easy especially if you just want to keep mushrooms.

 

Map out what your expectations are for you new nano reef and make a list of equipment you will need to achieve the results you want. Always buy the best you can afford, never skimp. It took me a couple purchases to learn that lesson...

[Halo_003]

Map out what your expectations are for you new nano reef and make a list of equipment you will need to achieve the results you want. Always buy the best you can afford, never skimp. It took me a couple purchases to learn that lesson...

This is extremely true.

 

And if you can't afford it, save until you can. This will save you worry and money on the long run.

[Mariaface]

Make sure you read up on your different tank options, then look up at least five different sources that go into tank cycling extensively. You may find differences of opinion, things like that. I'm partial towards cycling with pure ammonia instead of food or fish if you're not trying to soft cycle live rock, but soft cycling is nice for the biodiversity you end up with while cycling with pure ammonia allows to you account for a high bioload from the get-go.

 

Do research on the mushrooms you plan to keep (aggressiveness, lighting/PAR requirements, diet, filtration, etc), and like Havoc said, make lists of the equipment you plan on having. Tank, lights, ATO, type of salt mix, RO/DI unit if you're not buying from a store, TDS meter for double-checking pure water, so on and so forth. Go the extra step and look up reviews on the different items, so you know you're getting something reliable (and quiet, if that's important to you).