My 2.5 Nano.

J

jesseownss

New member
I just started up my nano 4 days ago. Making it a newborn.

Its a 2.5 Gallon All-Glass I got at Petco. I also bought a coralife 2x13 watt light 10k blue/white. I also added a nano filter for flow. I'm thinking about ditching it and adding just a powerhead or an aquaclear filter and turn it into a fuge.

Also so far I've added about 3lbs live sand and 2lb of live rock (will post pictures below)

My gf wants me to add a clown but im really against it, I want to just have corals maybe a shrimp.

My water test as of tonight...

Ammonia - 0
PH - 8.2
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 0


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0219072111a.jpg


Tell me what you think please. I really looking for input here..my gf wanted that white rock which used to be an old coral that died..I dont like it and im getting rid of it tomorrow!

Also tell me your suggestions about the aqua clear thing with cheato in it maybe?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9285989#post9285989 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jesseownss
My gf wants me to add a clown but im really against it, I want to just have corals maybe a shrimp.
Click to expand...

You must have read the "other" 2.5 thread- good choice. Shrimp are a great idea for the nano. Keep us posted.
 
also when you guys do water changes...while the tank is cycling do you add just straight ro water or salt water...and do you guys do water changes on tanks this small while its cycling?
 
Don't add the shrimp till the cycle is over. I know it's tempting...but you don't want it to die.

As for water changes, wait until your cycle is over then do a 20% water change. When you do a water change you add saltwater, when you top off the tank from evaporation you use regular fresh water. Hope this helps.
 
Looks like you have a really great start there. I agree with the plan to scrap the dead coral and get some live rock to replace it. The dead coral skeleton would soon become an undesirable algae (eg diatoms, red slime, etc ) magnet. The desirable coralline algae that grows on live rock actually inhibits undesirable algae growth ( to a certain extent). Of course I also agree with the idea not to get a fish- especially for a newly set up tank which is so small. A cleaner shrimp would probably do fine but I think smaller shrimp such as the cool looking sexy shrimp would be more size appropriate. It looks like barely enough light is getting to the power filter that you probably could support growth of some Chaetomorpha. It is pretty cheap so it would be worth a try...
 
i have the same tank with two palm filters for more water flow and a coralife 18wat light. I am building a stand for it now and i am going to add a skilter filter and a 70 wat halide
 
No offense, skilters are not going to be worth the effort or the money. It will produce alot of bubbles in the tank and never really skim no matter what you do.

Rodril has many good points. The dead coral is a toss up because coraline algae will encrust it but not until many cycles of undesirable algae first. Also, I am not that sure that chaeto will make a significant enough of an impact. I have buckets of it that make it usable in an economy of scale.
 
a couple of updated pictures.

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0220071737.jpg



I ditched the dead coral rock, and added a few peices of "live" rock i was told live rock smells sweet is that true I think my rock smells sweet...I don't know.

I also added a few crabs and a couple of snails.
 
I really like hagen so an aquaclear is a very good option IMO. I have a couple and have made the DIY refugium which works well. To be honest, I am one of those unannounced Skilter owners who hides from the shame of ownership. I have even tried to mod it. It really fails to skim anything, causes a massive micro bubble problem like I said, and is bulkier than one thinks. If you really want a skimmer, check out some of the DIY threads for mini-skimmers or work in a sump with a skimmer, but water changes are easier.
 
after putting this all together I really want to paint the back of the tank...arg! I didn't even think to do it at first...if I covered the top can I do it in my room and mask it off? do you think it would hurt it?
 
Nice start; that cycle wait is always a patience-tester.

I also have a A-G 2.5G pico and want to move to a 2x13w Coralife, but don't have the room front-to-back with a AquaClear 20 hanging on the back. You don't seem to have that problem. What are you using for the light stands/legs? I can't tell from the pic.
 
I am using the coralife 2x13w with a nano filter...but im going to switch to a aqua clear 20 on back i have the light propt up by two piece of PVC, its cheap and easy, I've also seen eggcrate used...
 
Thanks for the PVC tip. I assume you mean PVC tube. On it's side or 4 circles in the corners?

As for the back. Don't paint once it has water in it. Look for a LFS that has the expensive adhesive backgrounds. You wet and soap the glass and then use a credit card to push out the bubbles as if you are tinting a window. Work from the center, out.

It always looks professional and doesn't have the chipping risk or permanance of paint. It is about $6 a foot and comes in the popular colors. I chose black and love the look. It hides the black filter intake and heater cord nicely.
 
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