Worlds smallest reef

[nepenthes99]

When cleaning out my garage I found a 5 gallon tank and an old whisper filter. I went out and bought some live rock, a heater, and crushed coral sand. The filter works fine and the water has cleared up. I have many small frags that I am going to transplant into there. Will this plan work? Even if it does not, it only cost me around $30 so far.

[shifty51008]

the plan will work fine but just remember the smaller the tank the faster problems will arise with water chemestry so keep a good eye on it.

and on a side note there have already been 1gal. reef tanks:D

[nepenthes99]

Thank you! The "worlds smallest" was sort of a joke.

[nepenthes99]

Even though I thoroughly washed the crushed coral it still left residue on the filter cartridge. When I moved the cartridge it filled the tank with it and turned the water milky white. Is this okay for the livestock?

[NarnyTheGreat]

Not for now no... give it all time to settle a few days if your filter is working slow.

I saw a thread here on RC I think, that was less that 1 gallon, I think it was half a gallon but who can remember for sure lol.

[am3gross]

I think you should stick a mp60 in there for flow!!!! Just kidding.. Hope it all works out for you... Send us some pics.. U know we are picture hounds!

[shifty51008]

the milky part will prob. be ok but you really need to take things very slow, don't start adding livestock already, cycle the tank like normal

[shifty51008]

am3gross I was actually gonna suggest a Tunze Turbelle masterstream 6515 for flow:D thats only 13,208 to 39,625.8 USgal./h

[nepenthes99]

I have not added livestock yet, just live rock. The whole setup has only been functioning for about 5 hrs so far. I will wait a week for cycling before I do anything. I will also post pics soon. How long does it take for 5 gal to cycle?

[shifty51008]

it can take just as long to cycle a 5 gal. tank as it does a 100 gal. tank. alot depends on what type of stuff you start with.

[nepenthes99]

I would like to put in a small snail and a zoanthus polyp to start. Would 5 days be good enough for cycling? What can I do to speed it up?

[shifty51008]

only test kits will tell you if 5 days is long enough. nothing you can really do to speed the cycle up except using live rocks that have already been cured

[SushiGirl]

Read all the threads at the top of the "New to the Hobby" forum before adding any livestock. You have to cycle or stuff's just going to die.

I had a 3 gallon for 4 years.

What are your long-term plans for it?

[Solus]

I once saw a 1 gallon stocked and it was cool looking. even had a small clown fish in it

[dohc97]

I kept a standard 5.5 with a bunch of zoas, acans and a tiny fuzzy dwarf lionfish. It sure was a sweet little tank. good luck on the setup and post pictures.

[Ion Innovations]

I think i'll do the same thing as I have an old 5 gal hex in the garage.

[Dragon moray ki]

I'm building a quart Zoa tank. Hope yours goes well

[zachts]

My first tank was a 10 gallon some 15 or so years ago! kept it all through college and still have it going with a long tentacle anemone that pretty well fills the tank now. small tanks can be a lot of fun!

[spartyblaze]

I have a 2g Pico that's been up for about 8 months - it's been an interesting experience.

I feed mine from my display tank and system, with a 25% WC every 3 days direct from my 220g system.

I have been able to keep successfully zoanthids and now a leather coral. I also have a blenny in it.

You will need to figure out a way to skim it - a DIY setup or HOB nano skimmer might be best.

IMO water stability has been the toughest because evaporation is much different than on a larger scale. If a 5g is your only tank, I'd suggest figuring out a way to keep fresh water available at all times in a tote or something like that.

Good luck!

[brandon429]

Or build a sealed Pico reef that w fix topoff issues

[sammy33]

brandon429 - Fascinating article on the 'ReefBowl'!

[volitan24]

what fish are you stocking it with? any pictures?

[nepenthes99]

@spartyblaze
It is not my only tank, and I do not use skimmers but "natural filtration" like live rock and bacteria. I have some distilled water just in case, but I use my tap because I have a Rainsoft system. I am not stocking it with any complex or exotic organisms, just a few small fish and some zoas and mushrooms.
@volitan24
a few blennies, maybe a clown. Pics will be posted when I figure out how to.