My next project a 2.5g pico reef! contest

I always liked trying crazy stuff, this is probably the craziest yet! I bought a 2.5g Aquarium today and am planning on building a sealed pico reef tank. It will incorporate the same functionality as my 28g. I am going to build a false wall on one end and use this for a refugium with chaeto lighted by a nano glow led light, filter will be live rock, return pump is a via aqua 80 gph. The false wall will have an overflow then returned to the tank, this should give me a turnover rate of 40 times per hour. Lighting will be led 6000k and blue moon led. Tank will be sealed but top can be removed if need be. I will still need to work out the dosing and water change details but shouldn't be a problem. I know ya'll thought I was gonna upgrade but I went the other way. Constructive comments welcome but don't tell me this won't work because I think it will. More details later in the build, I have stuff ordered and on the way so it will be a few days before much happens.

Cool. I'm thinking about a custom pico tank for my office. I want one long and skinny with the visible wave going across the top. Will likely do a refugium for water quality...since it will go a few days each weekend without care.

Show us the fuge design you come up with. I love seeing all of your projects, they're so clean.

I don't see any reason why it wouldn't work. Good luck!

matt_longview wrote:Cool. I'm thinking about a custom pico tank for my office. I want one long and skinny with the visible wave going across the top. Will likely do a refugium for water quality...since it will go a few days each weekend without care.

Show us the fuge design you come up with. I love seeing all of your projects, they're so clean.

Matt
Take your tank and shrink it down to 1/10 its size and you will see how I am doing it. I am gonna use the same process just leave out the filter basket, only Chaeto in there, water goes under another divider to the heater and pump for return through the false wall. I will use black plexi for the false wall and drill it for return. The tank will be sealed to stop evaporation, the Chaeto if need be can be lit for 24-7 for oxygenation of the tank, its going to be interesting. I'm having a problem finding black acrylic, I have found black ABS plastic 1/8" thick, I may try it. Read lots of pros and cons on ABS but hey, all the pumps filters tank frames are made of it so it should be safe. Anyone out there have a piece of black acrylic about 6"x7", I sure could use it.

Found the black acrylic on ebay, its on its way!

Donnie

this has worked, is working, and could work for you. here is a video of a sealed (i think .5g reef)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3lhEeOCpao&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

Yeah, Brandon was my inspiration for doing this, I been following his pico's for years, I love that vase reef. His have been ongoing for years with good coral growth.

his stuff is pretty impressive, I really like the vase as well. Look forward to seeing what you can accomplish with this tank.


Good Luck

You know the funny thing is, I have a vase exactly like he used but I decided against the vase in favor of the tank but man that thing he has is tiny and that fuge is crazy.

Working on the stand and light hood, coming along considering I'm only using a skill saw and hand tools. I'm going to shoot for black laquer for the finish but thats hard to do without an enclosed shop so it may end up being a fleckstone finish, we'll see how the laquer goes. Still waiting on parts for the tank and light.

Its comin' along.

you should put a baby dolphin in there.





Looks great

That is sweet! Good work.

wow...that's nice Donnie. Nice carpentry there.

donnie i have the same tank & a light fixture going un used... i may copy you. i dont even have any livestock in it right now... just a few pieces of live rock and some sand.

Ok guys, so I got it laquered, it looks pretty good to have been done outside. I think I will leave it as is for now anyway, heck I can always go with the fleckstone anytime. That enough until next week, maybe do some FISHIN' this weekend!!!! Thanks for the comments!

u need to make a duplicate stand & hood for me donnie that looks really great man!

Dang John, it took me all day to do that one, it will be awhile before I want to tackle another. It would be simple if I still had all my woodworking tools and a shop to do it in but after being in construction for 45 years, I really wasn't planning on ever picking up a saw again, if you know what I mean. Man I love retirement!

Very nice!

how are you going to light it?

I'm thinking about a jbj nano glo light, I have one hooked on it right now and its pretty bright, I think they are 1 watt led x 4, Gotta experiment a little there cause I gotta light the Chaeto that will be in the compartment behind the false back wall. I decided to build the false wall all the way across the tank giving me 1-3/4" for the fuge and return pump. The display will be about 4" x 12" x 7" deep Return pump=80gph with two returns, one on each end of the back wall. I may have to add some blue led, need moon glo anyways. Gotta keep the heat down, hence leds.

is that a banana in your tank or are you just happy to see me?

I'll get some pics of the submersible 1 watt led I'm using on my chaeto for ya. Although with with that being your primary source of oxygen I might go bigger.

Win wrote:is that a banana in your tank or are you just happy to see me?

Lol, I was going to say something about bananas not being reef safe but that was better! I've heard of adding potassium to color up sps but that's a little overboard.

Anyone know where to find tiny plumbing parts and supplies or will I have to fabricate them as well?