2.5 low-tech (1 Viewer)

[BashfulBacterium]

Put together this small 2.5 I had lying around for kicks to keep myself busy and try a low tech approach. Lighting is just a normal T5 don't know the K rating aside from the fact that it is reef specific spectrum(hope to upgrade eventually). All I have for filtration is a 10-15 HOB filter with Chemi-Pure Elite in the compartment. WCs consist of about 3-6 WCs per week of a couple cup fulls. Setting this thing up ran me about $35 ($30 for the chemi pure and $5 for a power strip).




This Blasto came in pretty bad shape. 1 head looks practically dead and I can see some aptasia under the other one. Along with some algae something what looks like a practically dead head. We will see if it recovers, it did eat a small piece of mysis which is a good sign.


Electric Green Brain Coral looks pretty good, had all its tentacles out but just sloughed off the mysis. Will probably give it more time to adjust to this tank before I try feeding it.


Let me know if the 5-15 HOB w/chemi pure is enough filtration, I couldn't really imagine being able to find a skimmer small enough for something like this. Also let me know if there are any other low-light or intermediate-light corals that could work in a tank this size.

 

[hypertech]

That filter is fine. I used to use purigen in a small tank.

My thinking for filtration on little tanks is to just to do big water changes. That's the most effective way to dilute anything in there.

 

[reef junkie]

Looks good. If you notice film build up on the top of the water, you may want to add a power head to mix the surface up.

 

[BashfulBacterium]

holy crap I'm noticing a TON of aptasia on this blasto! Anyone have ideas on how to control it? Good thing I didn't put this in my 55g....

Ya I'm doing lots of WCs on the tank and I will keep an eye on the film at the top.

 

[Omen]

Try peppermint shrimps I've had plenty of luck with them.

 

[Jace]

I challenge you to fill this thing up with coral

 

[BashfulBacterium]

I challenge you to fill this thing up with coral

Shouldn't take much to fill up a 2.5 lol I'm debating whether to go for just Blastos or a mix of low-intermediate light corals.

Would 1 peppermint shrimp and like a trio of sexy shrimp be too much?

 

[guy9smiley2]

Throw a pep in, otherwise easy to treat with aptasia x. Just unsure if affects being that its on a coral.

 

[Jace]

How about you work your little butt off and get some higher end zoa's grow buy 1 or 2 polyps at a time and fill the tank up eventually with them

 

[reef junkie]

i would try and get the blasto of the rock its on, and reglue on a new one, Then toss the old plug. Unless the aptasia is growing on the blasto. Then could try gluing over the aptasia.

 

[Pumbooris]

How about you work your little butt off and get some higher end zoa's grow buy 1 or 2 polyps at a time and fill the tank up eventually with them

If he is trying to stay low tech, high end zoas would call for higher end lighting

 

[SmnParish]

I think you know what I'd fill it up with...

 

[BashfulBacterium]

i would try and get the blasto of the rock its on, and reglue on a new one, Then toss the old plug. Unless the aptasia is growing on the blasto. Then could try gluing over the aptasia.

HOw do I get it off the rock it is on?

 

[kheebl]

Break it off, or if you have a bone cutter cut it off

 

[cubetankguy]

If he is trying to stay low tech, high end zoas would call for higher end lighting

imo low tech doesn't nessacarly mean cheap equipment .. my 70 gal is very low tech as I have no dosing pumps rectors ect.. just my reefbreeder leds, a skimmer and good water movement

 

[BashfulBacterium]

imo low tech doesn't nessacarly mean cheap equipment .. my 70 gal is very low tech as I have no dosing pumps rectors ect.. just my reefbreeder leds, a skimmer and good water movement

Good point. Once my job starts back up again on July 8th I'll be able to afford better equipment.

Just used the bone cutter on the blasto and looks like I got off most the algae (except the algae on the 2nd head) and all the aptasia from what I can tell.

 

[Pumbooris]

I just ment he would need more high tech lighting (not just the standard t5 as stated) to do the high end zoas. I have a nice frag of blastos as well but they have a bunch of hydroids all over them

 

[BashfulBacterium]

Would that like 6-LED solderless kit on RapidLEDs work?

 

[Vashjir]

A small smd fixture like the one on my 14g biocube HERE might do quite well on a 2.5, especially considering how shallow they are. If you're interested in several 10" or 12" led strips let me know. All the materials together might cost you 25$ for a fairly intense light.

 

[BashfulBacterium]

A small smd fixture like the one on my 14g biocube HERE might do quite well on a 2.5, especially considering how shallow they are. If you're interested in several 10" or 12" led strips let me know. All the materials together might cost you 25$ for a fairly intense light.

THANK YOU! I was searching all over the forums to find the thread again, this is what I was initially planning. I'll let you know once I got the money to spend on this.