SHOW OFF THREAD *Unoffical* Mini Complete Tank Contest

[Alaeriel]

February update! Still going! Weakly, but going! We're managing the creep levels and never did add that snail. (She hid under the substrate of the main display and I haven't seen her.) The uglies are well underway but I'm excited to see if we can get a genuinely stable setup!

 

[Charlied]

Still in the game! Doing water changes weekly now and testing parameters. Learning a lot. Struggling with calcium and magnesium levels. Introduced a purple mushroom mid month to fatal result....it melted within a day. Hard lesson to learn. Anyway, the asterina star is going strong, and I’m getting purple coralline algae growing on my rocks. I’m really excited about that. It has been 12 weeks since I introduced the spores into the CMT . Getting lots of inspiration from the other posts.

 

[Stang67]

Still in the game! Doing water changes weekly now and testing parameters. Learning a lot. Struggling with calcium and magnesium levels. Introduced a purple mushroom mid month to fatal result....it melted within a day. Hard lesson to learn. Anyway, the asterina star is going strong, and I’m getting purple coralline algae growing on my rocks. I’m really excited about that. It has been 12 weeks since I introduced the spores into the CMT . Getting lots of inspiration from the other posts.

I wouldn't worry about calcium and magnesium in this small of a tank tbh. Do you have any sps in there? What salt are you using?
LPS and softies don't really care too much about those levels and as long as they are consistent in not swinging all over, then your fine. At least in my experience.

 

[danieyella]

No big updates, tomorrow is water change. Had one guy bleach out (I'll pull him tomorrow). Cloves are still spreading all over the back. Of course when I took this picture I had just messed with the light and spooked them all.

 

[Mhamilton0911]

Feb update.

Not pretty at the moment. I was sick with covid the first 2 weeks of January, then my father in law was hospitalized and later passed just this last week, so this tank has been really neglected. I just have been adding water. I take need to clean it.

 

[Maddlesrain]

Sneaking in last minute on the Febuary update with another shot of my dry scape lol still waiting to do a beach walk for some algaes I can collect.

 

[Maddlesrain]

Feb update.

Not pretty at the moment. I was sick with covid the first 2 weeks of January, then my father in law was hospitalized and later passed just this last week, so this tank has been really neglected. I just have been adding water. I take need to clean it.

I'm so sorry about your father in law. ❤

 

[Ben's Pico Reefing]

I’m not part of the contest because I got my tank late, but I’m still in the game as far as keeping my MCT going! I have not figured out a good way to clean the “glass” so that’s looking pretty nasty. Otherwise, everyone is there is doing pretty well. The tank is teeming with pods of all types & honestly they’re kind of fun to observe… particularly the amphipods.
My only real issues are keeping the sides clean & trying to keep any nutrients in there. I’m bottomed out at 0.0 nitrates right now and a couple of the zoas are not happy about it.
Everything in this tank came out of my other tanks. The only things purchased new were the Sexy shrimp and RFAs. I really didn’t end up having a cycle because I did it that way.

Current inhabitants:
2 female Sexy shrimp
1 tiny baby Blue Leg Hermit crab
2 tiny baby Banded Trochus snails (smaller than BBs)
1 Stomatella snail
1 Astrea snail
1 Asterina starfish
2 small bristle worm hitchhikers

3 zoa frags
1 chunk of GSP rock
2 Rock Flower Anemones
The first picture is from just before New Years and the second is from today. Just got over Covid so the tanks got a little neglected. Any tips on cleaning the glass are welcome!!

Take looks

Feb update.

Not pretty at the moment. I was sick with covid the first 2 weeks of January, then my father in law was hospitalized and later passed just this last week, so this tank has been really neglected. I just have been adding water. I take need to clean it.

Sorry to hear about the loss and issues you have had. Praying for yall. But even so your still keeping up with the pico..

 

[Mhamilton0911]

I'm so sorry about your father in law. ❤

Worst part is he didn't pass from covid, I'll be seeing the hospital in court for Medical malpractice.

Take looks

Sorry to hear about the loss and issues you have had. Praying for yall. But even so your still keeping up with the pico..

Besides being ugly at the moment all the zoas still open every day and the little bit of xenia I have in there is growing and splitting. And the algea seems to be flourishing

 

[AnotherReefHobbyist]

Fun thread! Following along.

what is the salt creep caused by? Is it just splashes from the tank and sump?

 

[Alaeriel]

Fun thread! Following along.

what is the salt creep caused by? Is it just splashes from the tank and sump?

It just oozes from between the cracks. The tank doesn't really splash from the return, it's likely just humidity escaping, but I can't be certain

 

[Adamantium]

Mine has started running hot the past few weeks. Getting up to 30C (86F)...

Nothing seems too upset about it. I think it might just be the room is warmer due to the way my house heats in the winter. Should go back to normal in summer.

EDIT: Scratch that! It turns out the thermometer that came with the heater is just off. It's actually sitting at 73 lol These tanks are a trip.

 

[Stang67]

How many of us are still in this?
Here is my March update.
Salt creep is such a pita.

 

[Adamantium]

I’m still in! Been running smoothly. I even added three sexy shrimp last month. I’ll get a pic shortly.

I don’t have a huge salt creep issue, honestly. I keep my water a bit lower than it can hold, and I think that helps.

 

[Adamantium]

Best pic I could get. The sexy shrimp had just bothered the zoas, obviously, but they’re otherwise doing great.

 

[Adamantium]

And have you guys seen the mini reef tank that SaltwaterAquarium.com is selling?

Micro Reef Ready Tank (0.3 Gallon) Standard (WHITE) - PNW Customs

Shop The Best Saltwater Aquarium Equipment & Supplies at Saltwater Aquarium. We Carry Everything you will Need for your Fish Tank.

www.saltwateraquarium.com

 

[Stang67]

And have you guys seen the mini reef tank that SaltwaterAquarium.com is selling?

Micro Reef Ready Tank (0.3 Gallon) Standard (WHITE) - PNW Customs

Shop The Best Saltwater Aquarium Equipment & Supplies at Saltwater Aquarium. We Carry Everything you will Need for your Fish Tank.

www.saltwateraquarium.com

I did but no ato system?

 

[Adamantium]

I did but no ato system?

True. You can get a $70 one from Amazon, though.

That’s a LOT of money to throw into a .3 gallon tank, in total, but the ATO is at least reusable one day.

 

[danieyella]

I'm still in, I'm running both systems actually. I'll post an update later this afternoon.

 

[mexi757]

I started one in February. It’s a 48oz micro I got from one custom. Will post a pic tonight if anyone is interested.