2GAL NANOREEF!

bradsmack

bradsmack

Member
Well, last week i decided to convert a 2gal fresh to a 2gal saltwater reef tank, using water from my already cycled 29g reef that has been going over a year. I have 2 damsels, a brittle star and some live rock, as well as one white and flou. green flower anemone. FOR lighting, this is cool, i mounted a 24 in. 40 Watt, 50/50 light bulb above the tank probably 3 inches from the top, so far this tank seems to be doing awesome.
I was wondering if anyone has ever done this, has some experience in nanoreefs this small.. Talk to me!
thanks-
 
B

bsharp1313

Guest
I just started a 3 gal nano reef with a DSB and 6lbs of florida aquacultured LR. I use 2x13w pc lighting.
The macroalge is taking off faster than I have ever seen.
 
jedimaster

jedimaster

Member
Aside from the DSB and LR what do you guys have in there as far as heaters, pumps, filtration? I have consided this for my son as he wants a star but I do not want to put one in my big tank. He has a 5 gallon FW tank that I was thinking of converting.
 
beginnermatt

beginnermatt

Member
I'm new and not quite sure what a nanoreef is exactly. Might consider one for some seahorses if it's what I think. Thanks.
 
B

bsharp1313

Guest
In my experiance with 3 micro/nano reefs with my most curent being a 3 gal I use a 100w heater but recomend a smaller one scince the first heater I used went crazy and heated the water to 110 degres. I lost everything fast. Don't go cheap on the heater in such a small tank. As far as filtration I use my DSB and LR. I ues the small filter that came with the tank with no media to circulate the water. For lights I use 2 13w power compacts.
 
luke

luke

Member
bradsmack - you have to be careful with bioloads on such a small tank. Any fish, let alone two damsels, is a lot in a two gallon.
Luke
 
broomer5

broomer5

Active Member
Agree with Luke on this.
Nano's can be fun, challenging, and a lot of people have great success with them, but 2 fish in a 2-3 gallon tank IMO - is cruel.
Most anemones required strong lighting, and excellent water quality as well, and most agree this is harder to do in a very small tank.
I would not even consider having a child maintaining a saltwater tank of anything less than a 20 gallon. Although not impossible to do by any means, I don't consider it a "good" idea.
I'm sure I could "keep" a fish alive for a period of time in a drinking glass if I tried hard enough, kept a constant eye on it, did routine water exchanges, kept the water warm, and met the minimum requirements for life... food, oxygen and waste removal ..... but not much of life for the poor fish.
Just my opinion on very very small tanks.
 
bradsmack

bradsmack

Member
Well i work at a fish shop that specializes in Saltwater so i should know my **** . Here is the status on the 2gal reef after about 1.5 weeks
One damsel Domino, totally beat the **** out of the other damsel so i now have one damsel a brittle star, a bout a pound of live rock.. im adding slowly so that ammonia doesnt spike. And one Flower anemone..
I added a really nice 75w submersible heater, and im getting ready to add a Rio 200 pump for nicer water circulation. Algae is starting to grow quite a bit so i also added two snails. Ill see what happens. I do not plan on adding anymore fish, becuase that damsel is really mean! but i do plan to add maybe 5 pounds of LR eventually and then try some green star polyps.
The big 50/50 light seems to be working great too. The anemone is also doing really great.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top