small tank for work...

[laeelin]

I'm going to set up a small tank for work.
I need this tank to be able to handle 3 day weekends (I work a 4X10 schedule)

I'm thinking that a mantis tank would make the most sense(and i'd love one anyway):

Mantis (Gonodactylus Smithi - If I can find one.)

Food/Roommates: *replace as he eats*
1-5 Blue-legged Hermit crabs
1-5 Turbo Snails
1 Domino Damsel (hoping he doesnââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t get munched on, but if so at least it's a $2-$4 fish)

Setup:
2.5g tank (might go with a 5g tank)
20w PC
Crushed Coral (so he can dig without sandstorms)
1 Small HOB filter to place a small heater in, and to provide water movement.
Autorefil to replace evaporation (3 days would probably be to long to leave a small tank otherwise)


- MIGHT make a small sump, if so wouldnââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t use the HOB filter, and would place the heater in the sump.

- Would love a coral that would be alright in this setup.

Thoughts?
Ideas?
Suggestions?


Thanks
David

 

[H2OLUVSME]

i wouldnt put a fish in a 2.5, and i dont think id put a domino in a 5. IMO, the fish will add stress to the mantis, possibly causing it to hide a lot. also, a domino will get 5" long (WAY too big for a 5 gallon).

with your light i would say you could keep shrooms, zoos, buttons and any other easy softies.

get as large of a sump as you can, or go with the 5 gallon (i dont know if this will work though). the evap is going to kill you on a tank that small, if you cant see it for three days at a time.

Landon

 

[laeelin]

i wouldnt put a fish in a 2.5, and i dont think id put a domino in a 5. IMO, the fish will add stress to the mantis, possibly causing it to hide a lot. also, a domino will get 5" long (WAY too big for a 5 gallon).

For some reason I was thinking that a Domino maxed at 2.5 inches (thatââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s why I was thinking they would be good... Cheep and small)

I'm probably going to use a float switch to have it automatically replace evaporated water as it evaporates that way I donââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t have bad swings in salinity.

My biggest problem is room; my "office" also is also storage for a lot of stuff leaving me with little room for a tank... It's going to go on my desk, but there is so much already on my desk that I only have a little room to work with (otherwise I would take my 12g or 10g in.)

David

 

[Gonodactylus]

The biggest worry in a very small tank left for three days is rotting food or tank mates. Should the stomatopod take out the fish or a large snail or crab that it can't finish, decomposition after a couple of days could foul the entire set-up.

I run dozens of 2 - 3 gal aquaria that are serviced twice a week and have little problem with evaporation. We use canister filters piped through the top side of the tank and sealed. A solid glass lid forms a tight seal. I only have to add a few ounces of DI once a week (and the blue-rings can't escape).

Roy

 

[laeelin]

I've never used a canister filter, but I see what your saying, and it sounds like a good idea to me... sealed lid would sure cut back on the evaporation. Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢ll check Wal-Mart; I think I saw some canister filters there.

Also, Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢ll make sure that only smaller crabs and snails are in the tank with him... There should be a lot less danger of rotting food that way. =)

On that note though, I've always wanted to have a Cephalopod, but I thought they needed a much larger tank, and I canââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t afford a large tank right now.

Do you have any suggestions on a Cephalopod that would be fairly happy in a 10g tank? (Other than blue rings... A blue ring + 3 year old = REALLY bad idea!)

It will be quite a few months before I set up another tank... 2 new tanks in 2 months is enough for now .... Or so my wife says! /grin

 

[laeelin]

OH, almsot forgot..

How do you heat the blue ring tanks?

I was thinking of the small heater i've saw somewhere before, but they have a preset temp, and I have no idea what that temp is set at... and the package didnt say (I think they were for beta tanks)

Because the air is turned up to 80 in the night in summer (or down to 70 in the night in winter) I'm thinking of setting the heater at 80.. Thats still in the good range, and because the light wouldnt be on when the AC isnt on the tank should always stay right at 80

Thanks
David

 

[Gonodactylus]

My lab is maintained at 77 degrees so we don't have to use heaters.

Roy

 

[spline9]

I was thinking of the small heater i've saw somewhere before, but they have a preset temp, and I have no idea what that temp is set at... and the package didnt say (I think they were for beta tanks)

I think youre talking about the Junior Heater by JrAquatics.com. I emailed them about the preset temp, this is what I got back:

Hi there,
I have a tiny saltwater fishtank. Its less than a gallon. I found your heater on a search for something to help maintain its temperature. My question is: is this heater (The Junior Heater) adjustable in temperature? I dont see any controls for it. If its not, what temperature is the heater set to?
Thanks for your time.
Shawn.

Hi Shawn,
Thank you for your inquiry on the Junior Heater. The Junior Heater is designed to warm a 2-5 gallon aquarium to 6-8 degrees above ambient room temperature. It is a pre-set tank warmer, and has no controls.

Please let us know if we can be of further assistance.

Thank You,
Hollie Longworth
Jr. Aquatics

Hello Hollie,
I was hoping this heater was pre-set to something like 78 degrees. So I cant really use this heater to maintain a certain temperature, right? Like, if the ambient temp fluctuates at night (office situation, heater/ac arent on after hours) my tank will also fluctuate temps but will always be considerably warmer than the room.
Do you plan on making a version of this heater that is adjustable?

Shawn.

Hi Shawn,
Most rooms fluctuate somewhat between day and night temperatures, but water will remain more constant, as it takes longer than 12 hours for water (in an aquarium) to cool down/warm up. That's why it is based on ambient room temperature, more of an average between the night and day temps. So with a Junior Heater, a 2-5 gallon aquarium will maintain a more constant temperature, even if the room temperature varies. In some office environments, the temperature varies sharply, or remains cold (like a data
center environment). In these types of environments a Junior Heater may not be ideal, as a 7.5 watt heater will not warm a 2-5 gal. tank more than approx. 6-8 degrees above the ambient room temp. The Junior Heater has been on the market for 15 years in it's current design (with some small changes for CSA and then UL approval). We do not currently have plans to make an "adjustable" heater. Again, thank you for your inquiry on the Junior Heater. I hope this information helps!
Hollie Longworth
JR. Aquatics


I found another heater, this one is adjustable by finnex.net. On their website it shows that the smallest heater is 50w. I could be wrong but I think I saw a 25w one in the LFS the other day. Either way the heating element was really small and could most likely fit in your tank. http://www.aquaticeco.com/ has em for $21.64.