2.7g Pico Pest Tank Office Build

[DracoKat]

I've obtained a 2.7 gal cube for next to nothing and decided to set it up as a pico reef. It is sitting in my cubicle at my job, so excited about this one. I've been itching to start a new reef tank and here it is! This will be the smallest SW tank I've never done.. (smallest was 9 gal, which I absolutely loved and miss). I am looking forward to the challenge!

My goal is to have pest corals- Xenia, Kenya, mushrooms and gsp. Some zoas too. Livestock would be some sort of invert, maybe pompom crab or sexy shrimps, I haven't decided yet. No fish. Of course some CUC.

The filter is the one that came with the tank and is rated for 7 gal. I replaced the filter media with a piece of established sponge from my main tanks sump. I hope the filter and flow will be strong enough. if not, I have a filter for 10 gals and a pump for nanos on standby.

I have this light coming in by the end of the week. Don't need lights at the moment while the tank cycles.
ABI 12W Tuna Blue LED Bulb Coral Reef Optimized. Spectrum PAR38

Right now I took some rock from my main tank, but will have to get more to fill up. Debating if I want to add sand, or leave it as BB.. what do you guys think?

 

[DracoKat]

Just brought the tank to work today.. semi set up. Need more rocks and still waiting for my light to come in.

 

[money88]

Looking good, following along on this build

 

[DracoKat]

Thank you!

Added more rocks from my lfs- already I see an asterina star hitch hiker. Will be good if I decide to get harlequin Shrimp

 

[revhtree]

Cool and following along!

 

[Michael Cronmiller]

Nice my last lil tank was a 4.5 gal it was fun

 

[DracoKat]

I got a bunch of freebie "pest" corals from my reef club (Thank you, Andy, if you are here!). I put them in this morning.
Some pulsing xenias, blue cloves, green polyps, teal green and red mushrooms and lots more GSP (I threw these in my sump of my main tank as there's already some in my pico). They're all on good sized rock chunks, none were plugged!

I had to remove some rock, not too much as I like the rocks as it is now! Some rocks has yellow sponges on it for an added bit of colors too.

This pic was taken about an hour after putting the pieces in the tank. They still need to open up. I am already mesmerized by the pulsing of the xenias.

 

[mkutsch]

Any updates? Really cool.

 

[DracoKat]

thank you- no fun updates really.

I had a terrible ammonia spike last week- a snail or crab died in the tank and caused the spike. It took me about 4 days to stabilize it again. Lost my pulsing xenias but everything else is coming back. The zoa bunch on the upper rock lost their green color and is ugly brown. Hoping the color will come back in time.

 

[mkutsch]

Ah, that sucks... hope you get it back to its former glory!!

 

[Katrina71]

A moment of silence for the Xenia...

 

[DracoKat]

It was a nice xenia too. I will replace it soon.

I bought an Aquaclear 50 to create a refugium. Modded it per some instructions I've seen. I will let it cure a few days before putting it on the tank and adding chaetos and floss.

I added a neon green Kenya tree today too. I hope it becomes a centerpiece (photo was taken when it was temporary in my main tank until I could get it to work).

 

[Tuffyyyyy]

Any chance of a full cube shot (with anything personal scrubbed)? Curious how it fits into your area at work. Been trying to convince my boss to let me get one.

 

[DracoKat]

I will try to remember to take a photo tomorrow!

 

[DracoKat]

@Tuffyyyyy

Hope this helps

 

[DracoKat]

Updated FTS with the aquaclear 50 installed

 

[brett_schn]

What heater is that and what type of goby is the one in ur tank

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Updated FTS with the aquaclear 50 installed

That's a great pico!

 

[DracoKat]

Heater is Ehiem, I forget the wattage- rated for up to 10 gallons I believe.
The goby is a Yellow Clown Goby. Great little guy, always out in the open and tons of personality! I am still trying to fatten him up, he was pretty skinny at the LFS.

and thank you

 

[brett_schn]

Heater is Ehiem, I forget the wattage- rated for up to 10 gallons I believe.
The goby is a Yellow Clown Goby. Great little guy, always out in the open and tons of personality! I am still trying to fatten him up, he was pretty skinny at the LFS.

and thank you

Would the filter fit into a standard 2.5g tank?