First tank: 1/2 gallon waterfall

[MinuteMan1979]

My son sparked my interest in reef tanks, and once we had his up and running, I went straight to work on my first tank.

I’ve never been one for the K.I.S.S. method, or “beginner kits”. I always want to have something different, unique, my own. So I started this half gallon pico waterfall tank build.


Tank: Aqueon ½ gallon rimless

Refugium: 2.5 gallon trash can, live rock, sponge, macroalgae and CUC



So, my plan was to build a Lava rock based tank, with lava rock mountain behind it hiding the refugium, with a waterfall feature into the tank. I’ll start with some pictures from the beginning, work my way to current state, and explain what the future holds.

Started by getting my lava rock base all set up. Then moved to creating the mountain waterfall feature. Spray foam was my weapon of choice when attacking the mountain, easy to use, transport, or redo. Sprayed the trashcan in foam, then painted it with Rustoleum red primer, which matched the lava rock quite well imo. After letting the paint gas off for a couple days, I got to put the tank together.

 

[smitten with ocean life]

sounds interesting!

 

[MinuteMan1979]

sounds interesting!

Thanks! It has absolutely been a ton of fun putting together, and it's not close to complete. So, lots more fun to come!

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Well, this is going to be a cool tank! Following along!

 

[p1u5h13r4m24]

Interesting. Are you going to have the waterfall outside of the tank with it falling into the tank?

 

[MinuteMan1979]

Yes, I do. It's all set up and stocked some already. I work faster than I can post. Lol I'll post more pictures and updates soon

Interesting. Are you going to have the waterfall outside of the tank with it falling into the tank?

 

[MinuteMan1979]

Well, this is going to be a cool tank! Following along!

Thanks! It's cool to me and I love it so far.

 

[MinuteMan1979]

So while the spray foam and then paint were drying, I filled the tank and started it cycling with some snails and hermit crabs, and added a Popbloom RL90 light.

 

[MinuteMan1979]

After a few days for the paint to dry, I set up the refugium and waterfall feature, and moved the CUC into the refugium. Added some macroalgea, and then, started adding some corals. Three weeks later, this how she stands:

***last video is at double speed so I could post it all, water is not that turbulent***

Short term plan is to add some live air plants and Spanish moss to the "mountain side" of the waterfall feature, and a mangrove tree in the refugium, growing out of the top.

Little longer term, I think I'm going to focus on this being a mostly mushroom tank, as I'm super into the shrooms.

 

[MinuteMan1979]

A little update. Added some mushrooms. A few bounce, a couple Deadpool, jawbreaker, ricordeas, nexus burst anemone, micromussa, orange octo, some paly's, teal tiger torch, mint button scolly, and a yasha goby and pistol shrimp.