My son Eli's Nano/Pico Tank

[Giovanni]

About two months ago my 5 year old boy Eli decided he wanted to be like Dad. Well we set him up a 2.5 gallon tank put in some LR, water and a few softies from my big tank. We let is cycle and then picked up a clarkii clown from a frag swap. Eli thinks he is a boy. Last weekend we got him a rose bubble tipped anemone. He decided it was getting good enough to put on RC.

It is bare bottom, uses the LR for water purification and has an air pump and stone for circulation. We do 1 gallon water changes from the big tank every one to two weeks. It has a tight glass lid so evaporation is minimal. Longer than two week and the corals start show stress. It has a coralife 18 watt mini for lighting. I would put a bigger light on if would not heat the tank up to much. We are growing out some nice Bambam zoa frags to put in next. I also have a toad stool frag we may put in.

We will post updated photos and details as we go. Your comments are welcome as he will like reading and having them read to him.

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q240/ICURN_photos/Elisreef.jpg

[clavery]

Way to go, Eli. Your tank looks great. What did you name your clown fish?

[John99]

Man your sons tank looks really good and that clown loves that BTA

[Giovanni]

Thanks guys, I named the clown Clarky.

Eli

[Poorcollegereef]

well I have been critical about clowns in a 2.5 but I will choose to say that it is great to see a father/son tank, it looks better than mine, and I cant wait to see eli's 100 gallon system in the future!. Any excuse for a upgrade right?

[Doglover_50]

Well, this is certainly more productive as a father and son post than a brother and brother post! Inside joke for poorcollegereef.

Eli, that is amazing! I had my first salt water tank when I was 14 years old, and it was a total mongrol compared to yours!

Tell me--with your lights and top on the tank, do you have any problems with the tank heating up?

Great job!

[InvaderJim]

That is like the best 2.5 I have ever seen. I love that thing, it looks amazing.

[Giovanni]

Poorcollegereef,

When the clown/anemone get to big for the tank we will remove them to an upgrade. ;) Both seem very happy for now.

Doglover,

Eli has gone to bed and the heat questions is a little over his head. We originally has a little powerhead/filter in there and the tank did overheat. Plus it was unsightly. The Tmax is about 80 so far. We are more worried about delta T now. The typical T range is 74-78 over 24 hours. We are considering a home made canister filter to place a heater in to stabilize the temps, but that is moving in to pain in the rear area.

InvaderJim,

Eli will be very stoked to hear your compliment. Thanks

[3fins]

Very pretty tank Ur son is has very good tast

[Giovanni]

He has picked all the corals himself from my system. Thanks

[InvaderJim]

You could always put a little aquaclear filter on the back and stick the heater in there to hide it. It would also produce a little flow.

[Poorcollegereef]

wow, you truely have a talented son! Invaderjim' idea is good for as long as the anemone doesnt get too close to the uptake. Congrats!

[Giovanni]

We are trying to keep it simple and clean and this is why no external filters at the moment. I have a heater that can be attached to the bottom of the tank and a controller with a small temp sensor that drops in the tank.Have thought about using it. I think the controller is made by helix. Lab stuff from my biology days. You would be amazed at the flow produced by the bubbles.

[edwing206]

sweet tank, i like the clown and the nem.

[InvaderJim]

If you do decide to put on a filter, just stick some sponge in the intake tube so the anemone wont get sucked in. ;)

[Giovanni]

Thanks for all the compliment guys. I like getting your reports. I am having a lot of fun aquascaping and taking care of my tank with my daddy. I picked out some zoas to put in this morning so we will take an updated photo tonight when he gets home and post it.


Eli

[REDDAWG43]

Man that is a beautiful looking pico....
Keep up the good job. My son is only 8 months but I hope
he turns out to have an interest in reef keeping like you Eli.

[vsnsofadrgn]

beatiful tank eli!!

[3fins]

Hey could u get a full tank shot so i can c what it looks like cus i have a 29g and im thinking of a 2.5 or a 3g tank for my mom and now to be rude or anything put what did u pay for the tank, thank

[al aziz85]

LOOKS GREAT! :)

[Absinthe]

Great tank Eli!

I love those yellow polyps in the middle. They grow quickly!

Keep up the good work. I will be watching for updated pictures.

[tripsied]

What a great tank!!! Hehehe Eli can pick corals for my tank any day! :lol: Great taste in corals!!

Great work on the tank. I got to work on a tank with my friend's son (I practically raised him) and it was a great experience! Eli is going to be one heck of a reefkeep when he gets older! :D :D

[Poorcollegereef]

I am looking forward to the updated picture! I think this should be a suggestion for the tank of the month for March!

[Giovanni]

I just got home and Eli is in bed. We will have to post the photos and let Eli reply to all the nice comments tomorrow. He is really enjoying all the comments. Thanks everyone.

[loyalty]

wow nice

[ricanboy57]

I love the look of the tank. great placement and an excelent choice for a bare bottom, to keep things clean. My one question is, do you notice any dead spots with just the airstone for flow?

[fishinbuc]

Eli, thats a great little tank you have there. Clarky looks like a really neat fish. You must have some really cool parents, huh?
Do your freinds want want a tank like yours now?

[slovan]

That is a very nice nano you have there Eli! :) I can't believe you can fit all that into a 2.5 gallon tank. Keep up the good job! :thumbsup:

[blackheart]

great little tank looks like he is hooked for life

[Giovanni]

REDDAWG43,

I always want a tank because my Daddy has a tank. I bet your son will want to be like you.


3fins,

The tank its self was lit $8-10 with a glass lid from pets-mart. The light came from marine depot for around $29 and we have $5 in the air pump from wal-mart.


Poorcollegereef,

Whoa, I would love it if my tank was of the month, Thanks again for the compliment.


ricanboy57,

There are some spots where the water does not move as much. Dad and I are thinking of adding a second air stone on the other side of the tank to help. Maybe we can find a water pump that does not over heat the tank.

fishinbuc,

I love my clarky and rosie. No one ever ask if I have a tank so I don't know if they like it or not.

slovan,

I am just getting started I want to have more corals in my tank. (Dad here. He has the addiction also. HEHE)

[Nitro350Z]

That is an amazing tank! Keep up the good work. Good Luck and have fun.

Wish I could come up with something that looks that great...