2g nano that depends on you! help me!

S

sh0rtlilvietb0i

New member
Hello all. I have been to this forum a while back to start a nano but some financial issues came up. I realized that I havent touched it for a year when I recently found it in my closet. It is acrylic and I will run it off a airfilter.

Specs:
27watt flourescent light (its basically a desktop lamp, extremely bright)
2 gallon acrylic nano

Im wanting to put some sand into it, Would i need to layer the bottom with coarser medium since i have heard it is very beneficial for microorganisms?

Can you guys please give me a couple of suggestions on the setup of this tank? I would like to maybe keep something that is simple. maybe a couple of sps? I have no clue on what to do....

Thanks guys, This whole tank is depending on you!
 
Well you're not going to be able to do much with a 2 gallon nano, I've never heard of a tank thats so small. I'm not sure you'll be able to get any fish, most salt water fish need at least 10 gallons so they have room to swim. You should consider getting this... http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produ...nner-_-Reef_Central-_-Nano_Cube_Offer-_-03_06
it's 12 gallons and the lighting will be strong enough for mushies and other small colonies. If you do get your 2 gallon set up I wouldn't advise putting in any sps under that light, not even soft corals. I'm not trying to be a jerk, I'm just not so sure a 2 gallon tank is close to big enough for anything salt water. You have to think about water movement, lighting so on and so on.

As far as sand goes, use i finer grade sand like this... http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=7321&N=2004+113554

Do you have any pictures of the tank and lighting so possibly myself or someone else can better advise on what to do?
 
Go to www.nano-reef.com there are quite a few people with expereince on tanks that small. You will need better lighting, some sort of pump and lot of discipline.

With that you have a pretty good chance of success. Even with a some slower growing soft corals or zoos. But there isn't room in there for very much
 
sorry it took so long, this laptop is s-l-o-w slowww







I am reading some articles on marine aquariums i printed a while ago. I dont realy want to spend alot on on it. my budget will probably be $50 but I am flexible. I want to have an ejoyable biotope of a saltwater tank without spending too much!

Thanks abugs!
 
ya know that tank is suprisingly larger than I had pictured..good idea placing your hand next to it in the pic...here are some things to keep in mind...your initial setup will prob be way over 50 bucks but once you get it all set and running it should tone down

You're going to need....

substrate, salt, a small powerhead or something else to move your water around, a refractometer to measure salinity, a test kit to test pH NO3 NO2 and ammonia, better lighting if you're going to get corals, livestock isn't very cheap...other odds and ends...also keep in mind that if you do get a light upgrade and you do start purchasing corals, unless you purchase frags, most corals come on pieces of live rock that are usually already covered in coraline...so you might be able to cross LR off your list...not that you'd need much anyways, but hey...every dollar counts

I can't wait to see it though when it's all set up, post some pics when that day does eventually come!
 
ok, thanks alot for your help! the information you give me will be very beneficial to my nanos health!

I i think the lamp is a powercompact quad. it has 4 tubes and is running at 27 watts.

I will first buy some premixed saltwater from the lfs (good idea?) and will figure out how to mix it myself sometime later.

Do I just pour the water in and then the live sand and place the live rock in at the same time?
 
If you're going to get premixed water pick up at least 5 gallons right off the bat just incase something happens. It is better to mix your own salt water but to do that you need a bucket, a powerhead, a refractometer and you need to let the salt disolve and airate for at least 24 hours....so sticking to a budget...which you are, it's probably best to stick with premixed from your LFS....also, when you have to add water after your tank is all set up you're not going to be adding more salt water...just regular water. Usually RO/DI water is used but if you pick up a gallon of poland spring water or other bottled water, thats better than most tap water.

Get the water in and then add the sand, get your filter running and give it time to set, then put in the LR...make sure you get cured LR. You're going to have to pick up a low wattage heater and get your water temp up to around 80 and then let the tank sit for a looong time....this is where your patients really comes in...you have to let your tank go through cycles...especially since you're putting LR in right away...even cured LR will still release some ammonia into the tank. Pick up a test kit and when everything finally reads well you can start adding livestock : )
 
ok, I wouldnt be surprised if it took a week to cycle because the tank is puny! :D but patience is a key ingredient in keeping a nano!

Im still reading up and refreshing my memory and im taking a trip to the LFS tommorow. Good luck to me and thanks for all your help abugs
 
smaller does not mean less expensive if you do things correctly.I spent 3X as much on my 20 gallon than I did on my old 55.

I have run a .75 before.If you mean for this to be a long term tank then you will be wise to invest in an ATO though I have no idea how you could incorporate it unless you do it directly into the main tank.

Being in Texas you're going to need to wrry about heat issues otherwise come next summer(if the tank is still around) everything you've invested will perish..try
www.nanotuners.com

With a tank that small,it's like watching a newborn..constant attention is required.
 
ok, so today I went out and bought some crushed looking rock gravel, 5 gallons of mixed saltwater and a live rock
total:$13.45

I rinsed the gravel inside of the tank with tap water and then with saltwater ( was all brown)

I then put an airstone inside of it and then proceeded to put the rock in... Did I do everything correctly or will I be the one who goes by trial and error?
 
Looks cool :)

I like the tank too!

And while it will cost a little more than your initial pudget you will probly be happy with the results :)
 
IMO I think you should have went with sand. Gravel is going to be a real headache, you will need to really stay on top of siphoning out detritus from the gravel. Its going to be a nightmare trying to keep your nutrient levels down with the gravel.
HTH
-Chris
 
Yeah, particles of food and ditritus can get stuck in the gravel, just get some live sand from your LFS, like maybe 5lbs, and that should give you a SSB(small/shallow sand bed). That lighting will be plenty for a two gallon, altough you will probaly be able to keep some soft corals and maybe a few inverts. NO FISH!, sorry , but its just a big no no in that size tank. I would probaly go get an aqua clear filter and run some purigen or something like that in for some other filtration, but maybe not. I would also look into a ATO or auto top off, because the water will evaporate alot quicker. BTW, you will spend alot more than 50$ on this tank, be sure of that.
 
yes, I have just noticed that haha

Im going to use a hang on filter and covert it into a sump, i saw something like that in this forum...

also, I tried to ask them about buying 2 or 3 lbs from a bag but they said they only sold the bags and not a lb or two... dangit..

right now I have noticed some branchy and green things growing around the rock (not alot of them)

Im going to see if i can get a pump or powerhead soon to circulate the water (besides using an airstone because it makes the water evaporate extremely fast)
 
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