My first SW tank!

HI guys/girls. This is a thread about preparing my first sw tank! I say tank, it's actually a 2.5g glass cylinder vase. *disclosure: I can't get a bigger tank so don't recommend me getting a bigger tank*!

So I've got the basics sorted. I'm going to go with live sand and rock. I'm currently looking for a good coral growing light so any recommendations would be great.

So for a tank this size I need to know:
1) what would a good water change/top up schedule be?
2) what inverts (or even fish, I've heard there's some small gobies available in sw).
3) how can I reduce evaporation so water params are kept even?
4) what good and 'friendly' beginner soft corals can you recommend?

That's all my questions for now. After my exams, so around June/July time this build will begin, so I'll be gathering as much info as I can between then and now (and of course not whilst I should be revising )

 

I can't help with SW, but this is an interesting idea, and I definitely want to see how it turns out.

 

I can't help with SW, but this is an interesting idea, and I definitely want to see how it turns out.

I thought that as well when I saw it. Be sure to stick with this thread as this'll be where I post everything related to my little sw vase reef

 

https://www.nano-reef.com

Nothing but love for fishlore, but when it comes to tiny reefs, the guys at nano are awesome.
They have a whole section dedicated to Pico reefs.


Edit: chopped my link.

 

Zoos and mushrooms might be a good choice. I used to love going to find frags in the tanks at the LFS and get a variety that way.

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https://www.nano-reef.com

Nothing but love for fishlore, but when it comes to tiny reefs, the guys at nano are awesome.
They have a whole section dedicated to Pico reefs.


Edit: chopped my link.

I just found Nano Reef after posting this thread. Its really useful to see the pico tank forum they have on there.

Firebelly - would you say zoos and mushrooms are the easiest corals to keep?

 

1 peppermint shrimp. 1 nerite snail. 2-3 small mushrooms.
Keep it for a couple of months until you develop a maintance schedule. If it works out you can replace the peppermint with a fire shrimp or a small goby.

You can get a piece of plexi-glass and cut to shape. Poke a few holes in it for ventalation. And use as a cover. Run a small airline/diffuser in there.

Maintance will be tough. Daily water changes. You might get away with 2x a week.

External under tank heater maybe. Not sure how effective it will be if you have sand on the bottom. Bare bottom might be better for heat transfer.

Interesting build though. But I would definitely not start with fish.

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I was thinking something like that. Get a few easy corals (maybe not all mushrooms but definitely 1 or 2 of them). I agree about the shrimp. Would the system be able to sustain a small goby if it doesn't have a 'proper' filter?

And do you mean daily top ups and biweekly water changes?

 

Other than mushrooms most coral require feeding with very fine particle food. This will mess up the water quality pretty quick without a filter to remove it. ( I am not sure of any other coral that can live with light alone) I would think water changes and not top offs . This is the only vector for nutrient export without a skimmer/macro algea/ filter.
The shrimp can get 1 pellet or a small piece of silverside a day. Large food doesn't dissolve as fast to mess with water quality.
Daily minI water changes should also help stabilize the dissolved CO2 levels and help prevent algae outbreaks versus one large weekly water change.

If your tank will be in public place put up a " DO NOT FEED" sign. From personal experience with a 1.5 gallon Fresh Water work tank people throw in extra food and destroy the tank stability. Hide the food. If I could padlock the tank top I would. I had 1 person even buy fish food to feed my fish when they couldn't find the food.

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I just found Nano Reef after posting this thread. Its really useful to see the pico tank forum they have on there.

Firebelly - would you say zoos and mushrooms are the easiest corals to keep?

Sorry, just saw this. I do think they are very easy and if conditions are right, they will split and you'll have a ton. Then you can swap for other ones. You just have to be careful if you want other corals because a lot of the soft ones are known to sting neighbors.

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