2.5 gallon mini reef

floydreefer · 11/06/2008, 05:08 PM

I just got my 2.5 gallon set up and running with about 5 lbs of rock, and a hang on the back filter for flow. I have 40 watts of CF lighting over it. I am going to be adding mostly soft corals to the tank. Is there a fish that will do well in a aquarium this small. I didn't know if a small goby would be ok, or if it is to small for any fish? Also, would a shrimp be ok? I am going to do the fish or shrimp, not both, as the tank is so small. Just wondering what my options are. Thanks

WHiteout · 11/06/2008, 05:12 PM

i wouldn't recommend a fish. too small imo. you might be able to pull off a shrimp. im getting a 3 gallon soon so post some pics so we can see!!!

WHiteout · 11/06/2008, 05:12 PM

ps welcome to reef central!

floydreefer · 11/06/2008, 05:17 PM

Thank you for the reply. I was kind of thinking it would be to small, but had seen a three gallon on here that had a yellow goby. I just wasn't sure if that was pushing it or not. Also, I had a question about the Taam Rio Nano Protein Skimmer, has anyone used this skimmer. Thinking about adding it to my 2.5 gallon. I thought I might use it instead of the HOB filter. That is if it works.

WHiteout · 11/06/2008, 05:23 PM

you could do it. a yellow would work but with a tank that small, if anything were to happen it would obviously crash. Then again iv seen a 6 gallon with a pair of clowns and they have been in it for 4 years with no problems. personally i think it would be cooler to have some shrimp : )

cant say anything about that skimmer. I run all bio in my tank.

post some pics when you can!

SLOreefer · 11/06/2008, 07:47 PM

if a ycg died in a 2.5 the tank will not crash. That is ridiculous, period.
A 2.5 is not an ideal habitat for a fish, and nothing but small gobies should really be considered.
However, many of the really small gobies would be fine in a small 2.5 tank. Jut make sure to keep up the the water changes and you will be ok. If it dies, obviously pull it out asap. If your tank crashed because of it, you had some serious problems already.

I havent heard much about the nano skimmer. For the price, it would be worth a try. If nothing else, turn it into a fuge.

buttons buster · 11/06/2008, 09:25 PM

ya a stable tank will not crash as SLO stated.
Also I would onl recommend one small goby.
Just make sure you know what you're doing.
As far as water changes, maintaining water quality, and top-offs, then you should be fine.

Oh and also make sure it's one of the smaller breeds of goby like a clown goby.

floydreefer · 11/06/2008, 09:53 PM

I appreciate all the replies. Still not sure if I want to go with the goby or with a shrimp. Just getting some ideas. What kinds of gobys will work. I know that the clown goby would do fine. Are there any other types that would work? I plan to do a 1 gallon water change every 3 days. Since it is so small I want to make sure it has fresh saltwater regularly. Does this seem like a good plan? I have had a 20 gallon up and going for about a year, and everything is going great. I just wanted something small for my desk.

Chaloupa · 11/14/2008, 11:09 PM

The Trimma Gobies or Eviota Gobies stay very very small, are quite colorful and active and would do very well in that size tank. I had one in mine....

adolfo425 · 11/15/2008, 03:51 AM

Any Pictures i would like to see how this tank is coming along. I have a 1.8 gallon pico going right now and not sure what i should stock it with myself. I wanted a fish but would mostly likely just go with one shrimp at most.

Adolfo

bsagecko · 11/15/2008, 05:49 AM

Take a look at like a pair of sexy shrimp?

or a pom-pom crab

both are very nice looking kinda active and not that difficult to keep.....

With that said a clown goby would work nicely...................

with the pom-pom crab just make sure everything is tied down

Good Luck

I vote for sexy shrimp or yellow clown goby

floydreefer · 11/16/2008, 08:50 PM

Thanks for all the comments. I will try and get pictures of it up in the next couple of days. I have been very busy. Again, thank you for all of the help.

11/06/2008, 05:08 PM	#1
floydreefer Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 37	2.5 gallon mini reef I just got my 2.5 gallon set up and running with about 5 lbs of rock, and a hang on the back filter for flow. I have 40 watts of CF lighting over it. I am going to be adding mostly soft corals to the tank. Is there a fish that will do well in a aquarium this small. I didn't know if a small goby would be ok, or if it is to small for any fish? Also, would a shrimp be ok? I am going to do the fish or shrimp, not both, as the tank is so small. Just wondering what my options are. Thanks

11/14/2008, 11:09 PM	#9
Chaloupa Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Vancouver Island, BC Canada Posts: 414	The Trimma Gobies or Eviota Gobies stay very very small, are quite colorful and active and would do very well in that size tank. I had one in mine.... __________________ No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. Sarah Current Tank Info: 65g hexagon reef,120g anemone and LPS, 34g RSM, 150g SPS and zoos, 40g frag/Q tank

11/15/2008, 03:51 AM	#10
adolfo425 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Fresno, CA Posts: 68	Any Pictures i would like to see how this tank is coming along. I have a 1.8 gallon pico going right now and not sure what i should stock it with myself. I wanted a fish but would mostly likely just go with one shrimp at most. Adolfo __________________ Adolfo is the name and reefing is my game. Current Tank Info: 34 Gallon solana Mixed Reef

11/15/2008, 05:49 AM	#11
bsagecko Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 1,685	Take a look at like a pair of sexy shrimp? or a pom-pom crab both are very nice looking kinda active and not that difficult to keep..... With that said a clown goby would work nicely................... with the pom-pom crab just make sure everything is tied down Good Luck I vote for sexy shrimp or yellow clown goby __________________ There are three things that will never be believed- the true, the probable, the logical (Steinbeck) Obey little, Resist much Current Tank Info: Out of the Hobby until I have a Fortune :)

11/06/2008, 05:12 PM	#2
WHiteout Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: New Mexico Posts: 234	i wouldn't recommend a fish. too small imo. you might be able to pull off a shrimp. im getting a 3 gallon soon so post some pics so we can see!!!

11/06/2008, 05:17 PM	#4
floydreefer Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 37	Thank you for the reply. I was kind of thinking it would be to small, but had seen a three gallon on here that had a yellow goby. I just wasn't sure if that was pushing it or not. Also, I had a question about the Taam Rio Nano Protein Skimmer, has anyone used this skimmer. Thinking about adding it to my 2.5 gallon. I thought I might use it instead of the HOB filter. That is if it works.

11/06/2008, 05:23 PM	#5
WHiteout Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: New Mexico Posts: 234	you could do it. a yellow would work but with a tank that small, if anything were to happen it would obviously crash. Then again iv seen a 6 gallon with a pair of clowns and they have been in it for 4 years with no problems. personally i think it would be cooler to have some shrimp : ) cant say anything about that skimmer. I run all bio in my tank. post some pics when you can!

11/06/2008, 07:47 PM	#6
SLOreefer Registered Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hayward, Ca Posts: 915	if a ycg died in a 2.5 the tank will not crash. That is ridiculous, period. A 2.5 is not an ideal habitat for a fish, and nothing but small gobies should really be considered. However, many of the really small gobies would be fine in a small 2.5 tank. Jut make sure to keep up the the water changes and you will be ok. If it dies, obviously pull it out asap. If your tank crashed because of it, you had some serious problems already. I havent heard much about the nano skimmer. For the price, it would be worth a try. If nothing else, turn it into a fuge.

11/06/2008, 09:25 PM	#7
buttons buster Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Sacramento Posts: 1,429	ya a stable tank will not crash as SLO stated. Also I would onl recommend one small goby. Just make sure you know what you're doing. As far as water changes, maintaining water quality, and top-offs, then you should be fine. Oh and also make sure it's one of the smaller breeds of goby like a clown goby.

11/06/2008, 09:53 PM	#8
floydreefer Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 37	I appreciate all the replies. Still not sure if I want to go with the goby or with a shrimp. Just getting some ideas. What kinds of gobys will work. I know that the clown goby would do fine. Are there any other types that would work? I plan to do a 1 gallon water change every 3 days. Since it is so small I want to make sure it has fresh saltwater regularly. Does this seem like a good plan? I have had a 20 gallon up and going for about a year, and everything is going great. I just wanted something small for my desk.

11/16/2008, 08:50 PM	#12
floydreefer Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 37	Thanks for all the comments. I will try and get pictures of it up in the next couple of days. I have been very busy. Again, thank you for all of the help.