2.5 Gallon

spec33 · 01/13/2017, 12:54 PM

Would it be possible to run a 2.5 gallon with soft corals and lps with only powerheads? Also weekly partial water changes?

mcgyvr · 01/13/2017, 01:00 PM

Sure would.. a light would be needed and probably a heater too depending on ambient temp

hartin461 · 01/13/2017, 01:00 PM

Had one in bedroom once. Had to lower maintenance because of health and took down.
Enjoyed it though..

Cliving1 · 01/13/2017, 01:30 PM

Could be a cool night stand tank!

jstack · 01/13/2017, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spec33

Would it be possible to run a 2.5 gallon with soft corals and lps with only powerheads? Also weekly partial water changes?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFd-1nr66RA

spec33 · 01/13/2017, 04:18 PM

thank you for the replies. I currently have a 3 gallon aio running with carbon and some filter pads. It has been up for about 9 months but am gonna go with a 2.5 since it will be easier to clean. The only livestock will probably be some
kinda shrimp. Would a .5 gallon waterchange a week be enough if I rarely feed the tank?

spec33 · 01/13/2017, 06:36 PM

Also are there any shrimp besides sexy shrimp or peppermint shrimp that could go in here? Ive heard sexy shrimp can each coral sometimes and they are really exspensive here.

CrayolaViolence · 01/13/2017, 07:08 PM

peppermints will eat coral. never heard of sexy shrimp doing that but it's possible.

spec33 · 01/15/2017, 01:25 PM

Also one more question. Would it be better to go barebottom in the tank in order to keep the nitrates down?

JamesHolt · 01/16/2017, 01:42 AM

You really dont need the power head, just a air line hidden somewhere that makes just enough bubbles to create some flow..
Look up Ma Rit Za on facebook or watch the video below. He/She has some tiny ones that have been running for years..

ncaldwell · 01/16/2017, 01:49 AM

Anemone crabs would work too

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gogo7 · 01/16/2017, 02:15 AM

softies will overgrow a 2 gallon vase in a couple of months under par 30s.
stick with lps, nice single polyps and let them grow into your setup. it'll happen fast.
lps don't slime up like softies. ime..
i use an air driven hob, no filter media, with the heater in the hob as a sump.you'll prolly need about 3 oz of rodi water for top ups. daily. i use an all in one reef fertilizer with distilled usually.
stocking.... stay away from hermits... they get bored and kill your best stuff because they know it upsets you......if you wanna use a randalls pistol, the ant farm affect is pretty cool. you'll need sand for that. don't worry about the worms... worms in sand are good... gross, but that's life. nassar snails are good for sandbeds as well... 2 or 3 in your 2 gallon will work. cowries.
clown gobies can handle small tanks... one only though.
water changes, yep.... forget about testing, just change the water. you'll be surprised how much swings in temp and salinity some corals can actually take.
you'll only need the tiniest, prettiest live rock you can get your hands on....
hope some of this helps....

JamesHolt · 01/16/2017, 05:05 AM

If it will help here is one I had running last year, heater broke and killed it off.
Deep Blue 8" cube..
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=2574312

spec33 · 01/16/2017, 09:25 AM

oh man seeing all of these awesome tanks really gets my multi tank syndrome going...I need to limit myself..Anyways... Would a coral banded shrimp work? The yellow or blue kind since I have heard they stay very small. That would be the only inhabitant in the tank except maybe a nass snail to stir up the sand.

I plan to have a 20 watt 50/50 bulb over the tank. Would any lps be okay under this light or am I limited to softies?

Its an actual 2.5 gallon tank so I was thinking about using a powerhead since I dont think the airline would work as well in a longer tank?

Daltonbilecki · 01/16/2017, 05:31 PM

Here's mine. Probably my favorite tank. I keep it on my bedroom nightstand. Only equipment is a pico hob filter, heater, and par38 led light.

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spec33 · 01/17/2017, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daltonbilecki

Here's mine. Probably my favorite tank. I keep it on my bedroom nightstand. Only equipment is a pico hob filter, heater, and par38 led light.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Awesome tank! How many gallons is that?

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Daltonbilecki · 01/17/2017, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spec33

Awesome tank! How many gallons is that?

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Its a 2.5 aha

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JamesHolt · 01/17/2017, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spec33

oh man seeing all of these awesome tanks really gets my multi tank syndrome going...I need to limit myself..Anyways... Would a coral banded shrimp work? The yellow or blue kind since I have heard they stay very small. That would be the only inhabitant in the tank except maybe a nass snail to stir up the sand.

I plan to have a 20 watt 50/50 bulb over the tank. Would any lps be okay under this light or am I limited to softies?

Its an actual 2.5 gallon tank so I was thinking about using a powerhead since I dont think the airline would work as well in a longer tank?

I think the golds stay the smallest, try finding a tiny fountain pump. You could hollow out a rock and hide it inside, or glue small pieces to the outside of it to hide it..

For the light, even though that doesn't seem like a lot of light,, in a tiny pico like you are planning it should be more than enough for some sps even..
Gathering parts to do a 12" cube for myself, might look at redoing the 8" cube that I took down..

spec33 · 01/19/2017, 09:25 AM

I have two more quick questions...

Would it be better to have two 10 watt 50/50 bulbs or a single 20 watt one?

Also what powerhead should I get? The smallest one I can find is the evomag? I think thats what its called but its like 180 gph. Ia that to much? There is also the the tunze 5024 but I dont think they sell it anymore. Anymore really tiny powerheads? How much flow should I be aiming for?

spec33 · 01/19/2017, 09:26 AM

Sorry about my spelling....

Daltonbilecki · 01/19/2017, 09:44 AM

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00OF...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
This is what i used. Adds flow and filters it out a little. You don't need a ton of flow unless you want sps

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spec33 · 01/20/2017, 04:10 PM

would it be better to just go barebottom? Also should I go with the koralia nano 240 or hydor 180? The powerhead will be the only source of flow.

rsepiphyte · 01/20/2017, 07:08 PM

I am really enjoying following this thread. Fascinating watching and reading about these tiny tanks.

ClownFishGuy6 · 01/20/2017, 09:12 PM

I would put on a small filter just to keep things clean. They're very cheap.

spec33 · 01/20/2017, 09:46 PM

would I be okay though with just a powerhead and weekly waterchanges. I was considering making a fuge out if an aquaclear but is it needed if the bioload is low and with the waterchanges everyweek?

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01/13/2017, 12:54 PM	#1
spec33 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Posts: 120	2.5 Gallon Would it be possible to run a 2.5 gallon with soft corals and lps with only powerheads? Also weekly partial water changes?

01/13/2017, 01:00 PM	#2
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	Sure would.. a light would be needed and probably a heater too depending on ambient temp __________________ Who me?

01/13/2017, 07:08 PM	#8
CrayolaViolence Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: North Carolina Posts: 1,867	peppermints will eat coral. never heard of sexy shrimp doing that but it's possible. __________________ "The good thing about science is that it's true whether you believe it or not." Neil deGrasse Tyson Current Tank Info: 90 gallon reef tank

01/16/2017, 01:42 AM	#10
JamesHolt Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Milton,NC Posts: 1,104 Blog Entries: 3	You really dont need the power head, just a air line hidden somewhere that makes just enough bubbles to create some flow.. Look up Ma Rit Za on facebook or watch the video below. He/She has some tiny ones that have been running for years.. __________________ John Adams: "In my many years I have come to a conclusion that one useless man is a shame, two is a law firm, and three or more is a congress." Current Tank Info: 29g with 2 Engineer gobies

01/16/2017, 05:05 AM	#13
JamesHolt Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Milton,NC Posts: 1,104 Blog Entries: 3	If it will help here is one I had running last year, heater broke and killed it off. Deep Blue 8" cube.. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=2574312 __________________ John Adams: "In my many years I have come to a conclusion that one useless man is a shame, two is a law firm, and three or more is a congress." Current Tank Info: 29g with 2 Engineer gobies

01/13/2017, 01:00 PM	#3
hartin461 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: northeast Posts: 145	Had one in bedroom once. Had to lower maintenance because of health and took down. Enjoyed it though..

01/13/2017, 01:30 PM	#4
Cliving1 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 1,923	Could be a cool night stand tank!

01/13/2017, 04:18 PM	#6
spec33 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Posts: 120	thank you for the replies. I currently have a 3 gallon aio running with carbon and some filter pads. It has been up for about 9 months but am gonna go with a 2.5 since it will be easier to clean. The only livestock will probably be some kinda shrimp. Would a .5 gallon waterchange a week be enough if I rarely feed the tank?

01/13/2017, 06:36 PM	#7
spec33 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Posts: 120	Also are there any shrimp besides sexy shrimp or peppermint shrimp that could go in here? Ive heard sexy shrimp can each coral sometimes and they are really exspensive here.

01/15/2017, 01:25 PM	#9
spec33 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Posts: 120	Also one more question. Would it be better to go barebottom in the tank in order to keep the nitrates down?

01/16/2017, 01:49 AM	#11
ncaldwell Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 241	Anemone crabs would work too Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using Tapatalk

01/16/2017, 02:15 AM	#12
gogo7 pico reefer Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: ontario canada Posts: 435	softies will overgrow a 2 gallon vase in a couple of months under par 30s. stick with lps, nice single polyps and let them grow into your setup. it'll happen fast. lps don't slime up like softies. ime.. i use an air driven hob, no filter media, with the heater in the hob as a sump.you'll prolly need about 3 oz of rodi water for top ups. daily. i use an all in one reef fertilizer with distilled usually. stocking.... stay away from hermits... they get bored and kill your best stuff because they know it upsets you......if you wanna use a randalls pistol, the ant farm affect is pretty cool. you'll need sand for that. don't worry about the worms... worms in sand are good... gross, but that's life. nassar snails are good for sandbeds as well... 2 or 3 in your 2 gallon will work. cowries. clown gobies can handle small tanks... one only though. water changes, yep.... forget about testing, just change the water. you'll be surprised how much swings in temp and salinity some corals can actually take. you'll only need the tiniest, prettiest live rock you can get your hands on.... hope some of this helps....

01/16/2017, 09:25 AM	#14
spec33 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Posts: 120	oh man seeing all of these awesome tanks really gets my multi tank syndrome going...I need to limit myself..Anyways... Would a coral banded shrimp work? The yellow or blue kind since I have heard they stay very small. That would be the only inhabitant in the tank except maybe a nass snail to stir up the sand. I plan to have a 20 watt 50/50 bulb over the tank. Would any lps be okay under this light or am I limited to softies? Its an actual 2.5 gallon tank so I was thinking about using a powerhead since I dont think the airline would work as well in a longer tank?

01/16/2017, 05:31 PM	#15
Daltonbilecki Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 282	Here's mine. Probably my favorite tank. I keep it on my bedroom nightstand. Only equipment is a pico hob filter, heater, and par38 led light. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

01/19/2017, 09:25 AM	#19
spec33 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Posts: 120	I have two more quick questions... Would it be better to have two 10 watt 50/50 bulbs or a single 20 watt one? Also what powerhead should I get? The smallest one I can find is the evomag? I think thats what its called but its like 180 gph. Ia that to much? There is also the the tunze 5024 but I dont think they sell it anymore. Anymore really tiny powerheads? How much flow should I be aiming for?

01/19/2017, 09:26 AM	#20
spec33 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Posts: 120	Sorry about my spelling....

01/19/2017, 09:44 AM	#21
Daltonbilecki Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 282	https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00OF...?ie=UTF8&psc=1 This is what i used. Adds flow and filters it out a little. You don't need a ton of flow unless you want sps Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

01/20/2017, 04:10 PM	#22
spec33 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Posts: 120	would it be better to just go barebottom? Also should I go with the koralia nano 240 or hydor 180? The powerhead will be the only source of flow.

01/20/2017, 07:08 PM	#23
rsepiphyte Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: kentucky Posts: 60	I am really enjoying following this thread. Fascinating watching and reading about these tiny tanks.

01/20/2017, 09:12 PM	#24
ClownFishGuy6 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 261	I would put on a small filter just to keep things clean. They're very cheap.

01/20/2017, 09:46 PM	#25
spec33 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Posts: 120	would I be okay though with just a powerhead and weekly waterchanges. I was considering making a fuge out if an aquaclear but is it needed if the bioload is low and with the waterchanges everyweek? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk