5 gallon Reef Bowl & Reef Vase - Build Thread (Lots of photos!)

SauceyReef · Aug 16, 2023

Some individual shots from the Vase. All the corals are doing very well. If I ever had a Zoa not doing well in my fluval I bring it to this tank and for some reason they love it.

SauceyReef · Aug 16, 2023

Here is the mystery coral. It has been doing well! I’m thinking for sure acan ecinata at this point. I am excited to see what it grows into! The warpaints/ tie dyes have a nice variety.

SauceyReef · Aug 22, 2023

Reef Bowl update time!! Still battling hair algae in this one.

besskurz · Aug 23, 2023

Have you considered to dose vibrant microbacter clean / brightwell or any other algae killers? I think that this length of hair algae there's no much cuc that would eat...

I know that sometimes looks like cheating lol but if you keep good husbandry afterwards it's very likely to clean it up "forever"

SauceyReef · Aug 23, 2023

besskurz said:
Have you considered to dose vibrant microbacter clean / brightwell or any other algae killers? I think that this length of hair algae there's no much cuc that would eat...

I know that sometimes looks like cheating lol but if you keep good husbandry afterwards it's very likely to clean it up "forever"

I just manually pick it off during water changes when all the water gets removed and it has been getting better. I think its been persisting bc I have an emerald crab that likes to uproot and eat any macro algae I add in. Lucky for the crab I like it - I recently gave up on the macros.

I have microbacter7 on hand used to start my other tank, but every time I test the nutrients it seems bottomed out so I thought it would be pointless to add. I do have reef flux on hand - I am guessing this is bryposis with the bottomed out tests, but was hoping to avoid using reeflux on this tank.

SauceyReef · Aug 23, 2023

besskurz · Aug 23, 2023

SauceyReef said:
I just manually pick it off during water changes when all the water gets removed and it has been getting better. I think its been persisting bc I have an emerald crab that likes to uproot and eat any macro algae I add in. Lucky for the crab I like it - I recently gave up on the macros.

I have microbacter7 on hand used to start my other tank, but every time I test the nutrients it seems bottomed out so I thought it would be pointless to add. I do have reef flux on hand - I am guessing this is bryposis with the bottomed out tests, but was hoping to avoid using reeflux on this

Actually the product I mentioned is a different than the one you have.

Microbacter clean or Vibrant (i guess this is more famous) will strike right on those persistent algaes what grow on rocks and frags. It will make any other macros melt as well.

I have myself a emerald crab and macros, but that dude is eating them all - among the bubble algaes.

SauceyReef · Aug 23, 2023

besskurz said:
Actually the product I mentioned is a different than the one you have.

Microbacter clean or Vibrant (i guess this is more famous) will strike right on those persistent algaes what grow on rocks and frags. It will make any other macros melt as well.

I have myself a emerald crab and macros, but that dude is eating them all - among the bubble algaes.

Haha typical emeralds. If it wasnt such a small tank it wouldnt be an issue, but I could only really put in small portions of start macros (and it always gets to them)

I will look into microbacter clean and vibrant! Thank you.

SauceyReef · Aug 31, 2023

Pom-Pom crab came out a few days ago! I also got a very nice brown/purple photosynthetic gorgonian I will get some photos shortly.

SauceyReef · Nov 17, 2023

Update Video: Tank has finally found balance! Enjoy <3

SauceyReef · Feb 16, 2024

Update shot on the Reef Bowl. I’ll try get some better photos today.

Corraline algae is started to buildup in spots on the glass. Not sure the best way to get it off with the curved glass. As of now that’s really been my only problem with this tank.

Manpeckz · Feb 16, 2024

Very well done and fun to see

Mr_Knightley · Feb 16, 2024

Such a fun project! I'm tempted to try something similar. Loved seeing the progress pics through the algae outbreak; IME dosing chemicals to speed up the process has only given me more headaches.

SauceyReef · Feb 20, 2024

Manpeckz said:
Very well done and fun to see

Thank you very much! Agreed it has been probably my favorite tank project ever and ironically the smallest.

Mr_Knightley said:
Such a fun project! I'm tempted to try something similar. Loved seeing the progress pics through the algae outbreak; IME dosing chemicals to speed up the process has only given me more headaches.

Go for it! Super cheap, barely any equipment, can start with like no rock or corals, and if it goes bad you dont lose much. It almost seems like way more people should be starting like this. I guess balance is more difficult with the smaller tanks though.

Some of the best advice I ever got is to not freak out about algae your first 6 months. It is just part of the cycling process. Although it is amazing to see some tanks at 3 months filled with corals and no algae! That never happens with me lol.