Half Pint Lagoon - 25 Gallon

Hentz · Mar 23, 2018

Hello!

Today begins the day of my Nano setup. I’ve been keeping reefs since 2012 and didn’t realize how much of a journey I was starting.

The name “Half Pint” stems from a multitude of things. First, in terms of slang, it means short person. Being this is a short tank and half as tall as my 120 (4x2x2), I felt it fit well. Second, aside from having a passion for corals, I have a passion for beer. Lastly, I have a few corals in my main tank that has been impossible to find the name of. Being that, I’m hoping this is the start too my coral business called “Half Pint Corals” in which my goal is to sell frags from.

This Lagoon 25 will not necessarily be a complete setup in terms of a fully functioning reef. But will instead be a holding station for my corals from the main display, new frags coming in, and chosen corals to be added for grow out. We can think of it as a working tank.

Equipment:
- Tank: IM Lagoon 25 w/ Custom Stand
- Lighting: Kessil A360we
- Flow: Maxspect Gyre 130
- ATO: IM Hydrofill Ti

Future Possible Equipment:
- Jebao DP-4 Doser
- Apex Jr.

My 120 is running the full Triton Method Core7. While I don’t plan on running any refgiums for nutrient export, I will likely just rely on weekly/bi-weekly water changes on the Lagoon 25. When parameters need to be dosed, I will very likely use a simple 2-part.

I’ve added a nice sized rock from my 120 display that has been very well established. I’d assume my cycle will be very short, if i even have one. I will not be adding any sand (as of yet) to the Lagoon 25. Not sure if I’d like to keep it barebottom or not for ease of maintenance.

Thanks for checking out the thread so far! I will keep it updated regularly!

Pictures of the setup as of today:

And here is my 120 which is where most of the Corals will be coming from:

dbl · Mar 23, 2018

Looks great...congrats.

Hentz · Apr 22, 2018

Not much has changed. I’ve added some sand along with a piece of live rock. Seems instead of it being a Frag tank it may end up being a mixture of that and a play tank for zoas and LPS.

The aquascape looks ugly without Corals on it, however with Corals fillling in I’m hoping it will look good. May add more rock, but we will see.

I’ve also had Aiptasia on the rock from my Display. I added two Peopermint Shrimp last night to get rid of it before putting them in my 120. Was quite surprised to come home 2-3 hours later with no aiptasia after adding them.

I think in the next 2-3 weeks I will slowly start to fill it with some Corals. I have a Frag from my Pearlberry Colony in there that’s slowly encrusting. Not sure on water parameters, but color is pretty green on my Pearlberry. Could just be low lighting as my Kessil 360 is only up at 45%.

JBKReef · Apr 23, 2018

looking good! I'm getting ready to bite the bullet and start up a 25. What filtration options will you be utilizing for the nano? Triton on the 120 makes sense but will you do that on this tank as well? I dont think a fuge area is large enough.

Hentz · May 2, 2018

JBKReef said:
looking good! I'm getting ready to bite the bullet and start up a 25. What filtration options will you be utilizing for the nano? Triton on the 120 makes sense but will you do that on this tank as well? I dont think a fuge area is large enough.

Thank you!
Honestly I was thinking just weekly or bi-weekly water changes. Wanted to keep this tank as simple as possible. Debating on adding a protein Skimmer, however I don’t think I’ll have any fish. I’m back and forth on that, but may just implement a beautiful CUC. So if I add fish, I’ll likely add a Skimmer.
Was going to do the “other” methods on this tank, if I go with that route as well. Though I’m letting the tank just sit empty with little to no livestock in there right now. Adding any sort of Calcium or Alkalinity will only be a waste as nothing is consuming it, aside from my one Pearlberry Frag.
Later down the road if consumption increases with more corals, I’ll likely implement Triton Other Methods.