Digimes
Well-Known Member
The Concept:
I have been toying with the idea of having a nano reef for my office. I had kicked the thoughts around and wasn't sure where I wanted this to go until I recently acquired several 1/2" plugs from a new found friend.
We already have a 5g reef, which my little plugs have been growing within, but I really want it to be an eventual show piece. So in thinking of what to do with the little frags, while they grow big and strong, I decided to add them to a 2.5g tank I was able to get and began adding off the shelf micro parts.
The Project:
Currently, I have an extra 12" reef light laying around. It's not the perfect spectrum, but it will do for a while. I also have a small skimmer pump on order as well as a little heater. The office stays fairly cold in the winter, even though this is Florida.
I drew out the lid today on an extra piece of plexiglass, to be cut tomorrow, and this will form the new lid. The bottom will be a mix of numerous small frags, a couple plug holders and about a cup of live sand.
Next week will probably include the addition of some water so the cycling can begin. I have already begun soaking the rocks in an established system to jump start everything.
The tank is set up, front to back, like a peninsula at 12x6x6. Later improvements will be some form of plug rack down either side and the lower center will be my base stock to propagate from. I have a sorta verbal agreement with an LFS who will swap me frags for new colors or species when this gets rolling in 6-12 months.
The Corals:
This will be a 80% softies tank. The local Zoas are not the most colorful so that is a definite prospect as well as GSP and Xenia. These seem to always be sold out locally to new reefers because of their ease and cost.
I plan to segregate the tank into several 3x6 sections, seperated buy some sand. I assume the natural growth pattern will become a partial barrier for things to stay in thier place. I do want to include some height in the little space with Duncans and some waving hands.
The Plan:
I will be using water from the changes on my reef tank, so it should be a little "dirty" and full of nutrients. I am going to let everything expand and split naturally for now and not cut things. This should help them cover the rockmspace I am providing. There will be a stiff center flow from back to front.
I am thinking we will stay away from any fish in this tank. Difficulty in feeding when away or weekends. Maybe a few sexy shrimp and hermits to scatter around and play.
I will be posting pictures, once I get them taken. I am curious if anyone else has really tried this before. I don't feel like there is much finacial risk because the entire project will be of the ground under $20. Also, I have no expectation of making any cash.
I wanted something nice, as a focal point in my office, and it doubled as a way to grow out some tiny frags before being placed in my nano reef tank.
Comments, opinion and words of encouragement are happily accepted.
I have been toying with the idea of having a nano reef for my office. I had kicked the thoughts around and wasn't sure where I wanted this to go until I recently acquired several 1/2" plugs from a new found friend.
We already have a 5g reef, which my little plugs have been growing within, but I really want it to be an eventual show piece. So in thinking of what to do with the little frags, while they grow big and strong, I decided to add them to a 2.5g tank I was able to get and began adding off the shelf micro parts.
The Project:
Currently, I have an extra 12" reef light laying around. It's not the perfect spectrum, but it will do for a while. I also have a small skimmer pump on order as well as a little heater. The office stays fairly cold in the winter, even though this is Florida.
I drew out the lid today on an extra piece of plexiglass, to be cut tomorrow, and this will form the new lid. The bottom will be a mix of numerous small frags, a couple plug holders and about a cup of live sand.
Next week will probably include the addition of some water so the cycling can begin. I have already begun soaking the rocks in an established system to jump start everything.
The tank is set up, front to back, like a peninsula at 12x6x6. Later improvements will be some form of plug rack down either side and the lower center will be my base stock to propagate from. I have a sorta verbal agreement with an LFS who will swap me frags for new colors or species when this gets rolling in 6-12 months.
The Corals:
This will be a 80% softies tank. The local Zoas are not the most colorful so that is a definite prospect as well as GSP and Xenia. These seem to always be sold out locally to new reefers because of their ease and cost.
I plan to segregate the tank into several 3x6 sections, seperated buy some sand. I assume the natural growth pattern will become a partial barrier for things to stay in thier place. I do want to include some height in the little space with Duncans and some waving hands.
The Plan:
I will be using water from the changes on my reef tank, so it should be a little "dirty" and full of nutrients. I am going to let everything expand and split naturally for now and not cut things. This should help them cover the rockmspace I am providing. There will be a stiff center flow from back to front.
I am thinking we will stay away from any fish in this tank. Difficulty in feeding when away or weekends. Maybe a few sexy shrimp and hermits to scatter around and play.
I will be posting pictures, once I get them taken. I am curious if anyone else has really tried this before. I don't feel like there is much finacial risk because the entire project will be of the ground under $20. Also, I have no expectation of making any cash.
I wanted something nice, as a focal point in my office, and it doubled as a way to grow out some tiny frags before being placed in my nano reef tank.
Comments, opinion and words of encouragement are happily accepted.
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