2.5 gallon reef setup questions?

84chris

84chris

Member
i setup a mini 2.5 gallon tank with a mini filter and a couple of pieces of live rock in it. The light is a coralife mini coompact 50/50 2o watt. The reason i did this was to be able to easier frag corals, and maybe even grow some in it. Has anyone done this? Ive read a couple of threads with people doing similar setups and i was just wondering if anyone has some suggestions on how i should go about this? Also it is bare bottom right now, do you guys think i should add some sand, or can i leave it bare?
 
reefkprz

reefkprz

Active Member
Originally Posted by Seattle
You could have saltwater in that small of a tank

thats not very helpfull.
84 I'm sorry I reccomended you bringing this over here to this forum. It doesnt seem like the people over here who have nanos have any productive input to offer at this time. maybe you would have had better luck staying in the reef forum. HOpe fully (its only been viewed about 40 times) someone with something constructive to add may read this later. sometimes it takes a a while. sorry that its been over a day already.
 
craig_08

craig_08

Member
Chris,
I have been dabbling with nano reefs for a few years now. I started with a 10 gallon with all diy lighting. Currently I have a 24 gallon nanocube running. I am right with you now as I am in the midst of setting up a 3 gallon.
I got a JBJ picotope and added about a 1.5" sand bed of aragalive oolitic sand and about 5 lbs of live rock from other tanks. It is currently under the stock 9w 50/50 but I am either upgrading to a 2x9 or 2x14w hood.
In answer to your questions, you will be able to grow corals easily under 20w of PC on a 2.5g. The sand bed is up to you. On the one hand, it gives you more biological media to filter the tank and possibly help remove nitrates. OTOH, bare bottom allows for any detritus to remain in the water column with enough flow. Personally, I like sand beds for the asthetics but to each his own. In order for this tank to be successful, you just have to keep in mind that with the smaller water volume topoffs become infinately more important. The salinity swing in missing a single days topoffs can be enough to kill your coral. I would recommed some form of topoff if you can. I apologize that no one else is helping you. Also, if you would like some more help PM me and I can refer you to a website that has lots and lots of 2.5 gallon tanks and advice for pico reefers.
 
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