2.5 gallon reef question

[dan987]

OK, so I know this isn't a great idea. My real question is: How bad of an idea is this?

What can I do with a tank this small? Barnacle blenny and some small soft corals! A tiny goby and a couple snails?
What can I expect if I do this?

 

[steventaylor702]

Just do weekly water changes they are easier than doing larger tanks, just keep an eye on parameters they can change quickly

 

[dan987]

So, this is happening...
I hope 150 gph isn't too much flow...

 

[revhtree]

Cool following!

 

[dan987]

Without putting anything in, I somehow managed to have a lot of livestock. A nassarius snail, a blue tip hermit crab, and a tiny brittle star.

Still waiting for the LFS to get a cool fish.

 

[dan987]

Upgraded my light to something that will hopefully grow some coral and enough algae to keep the nutrients down. Put a mini carpet in. These things are cool! Took him forget to get comfy though. Nearly 6 hours before he opened up and walked to the corner. He looks good now though.

What do you think so far?

 

[dan987]

Bump

Mini carpet ate some squid tentacle today. Seems happy and healthy.

 

[philfree]

id suggest to remove the actual "bio-wheel" from the filter. Ive read that it can cause high Nitrates, do to its abundance of aerobic bacteria.

 

[revhtree]

Looking good!

 

[dan987]

Did some messing around with this tank today. Trying to sort our the micro-bubble problem. The outlet of the filter is so powerful it creates bubbles. Put some plastic mesh over it. I think that helped. And I moved the heater into the HOB as well. Looks a lot cleaner. Maybe I can do something with the thermometer too.

I cut the original lid to fit around the new filter. I think it looks OK. I did that for 2 reasons. The first, obviously, is to avoid excess evaporation. That happens very fast in this tank. And the second is because I'm getting a wrasse and I don't want it jumping. I've done some research on the pelvic spot wrass (Pseudocheilinops ataeniae) and I think it will be a good fit for this tank.

Before everyone screams "animal cruelty", let me say my peace. I've been observing this wrasse at my LFS for nearly 2 months now. It is VERY shy. He had it alone in a 20-ish gallon frag tank and it always hides under the corals, in the shadows. Since nobody is willing to pay $50 for this 1/2 inch fish, he has given up on selling it and that's why it was in the frag tank. Being so small and reclusive I think he won't mind the small tank so much. And this way he can hide between the rocks and I can still see him. He will have his very own tank.

OK, now you can tell me I'm am idiot.

 

[dan987]

Bump. Anyone?

 

[dan987]

carpet walking

My mini carpet walked right into the new coral. Should I be worried?

 

[melypr1985]

Can't help with the nem question.... don't know much about them. Cool pico though!

 

[Kent Roberts]

Is this tank still together? How did it work out? I have the same tank (3 of them, actually) but I use them for bettas

 

[dan987]

No. This tank only lasted a few months. I got tired of adding water 2-3 times per day. And it was too small for anything I wanted.

 

[Kent Roberts]

I liked the idea. Thanks for sharing it. I figured it needed regular top-offs but 2-3x would definitely become trying.