What is reasonable to stock in a 2.5g tank?

[mootay]

I haven't even touched a guide/tutorial regarding reef tanks but I've long known that I wanted to keep twin 2.5g tanks; one reef and one planted freshwater. I've sorted the freshwater part of the equation and even though a reef is probably a year or two off, I'd like to get some ideas rolling.

I am insistant upon using a 2.5g standard rectangular tank and accept the challenges that come with it. That said, I'd like to know what is reasonable to be kept in such a tank. Am I limited to invertibrates? What kind of corals could I keep? etc.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

You are very limited to what you can have in a 2.5 gal tank as you probably already know. The biggest problem is keeping stable water parameters in a tank that small. So all of this said as long as you have a good amount of live rock 3-4 lbs of small pieces which will add greatly in filtering your tank you could possibly have one maybe two of the following fish. Yes they say min of 10 gal but I think you would still be ok with 1 or 2 of these.

Any of the Clown Gobies
Neon Blue Gobies
Fire Fish

I would get a mix of snails
Astera
Cerith
Nassarius
Nerite

You could have one or two shrimp just search them and ask here about what you find that you would like. Some cleaner shrimp might be a problem for such small shrimp and not be a good choice IMO.

Corals
Pretty much take a look at LPS, Zoa's and Paly's, mushrooms to name a few. I would not try SPS because I believe lighting choices are minimal for such a small tank, not only that but you would have to have pristine water to keep them and they aren't as forgiving as the others.

So do your research and then make a list of what you would like to keep and ask here once you have your list.

Good Luck and Welcome To Reef Central!!!!

 

[Taahirs]

I would keep no fish. A few inverts. All sorts of different zoas.

Would it be possible for you to drill the tank and have a sump underneath. Larger water volume would mean more stable

 

[bashment]

Good info. I have a Fluval Spec 3 and always curious what people stock in them. I'm focusing mainly on corals right now.

 

[A1t2o]

A shrimp goby pair would be fun. After that look at simple corals that either grow slow, or you can frag them and sell the frags. Frogspawn comes to mind, or plate corals, Birdsnest, and so on.

 

[Deftones2015]

Watchman goby and pistol shrimp and some Zoas or shrooms would be pretty neat

 

[CStrickland]

I think a standard rectangle 2.5 would be ok for a pistol / gobi combo because it has a pretty big footprint at 12x6x8, I don't know if I'd put that pair in a tall narrow fluval. On the other hand the rectangle won't have much swimming room after you get the rocks in it, so that's going to limit your choices for fish that like the water column.

Regardless of the footprint, you will have very little wiggle room for your water parameters. Salinity, trace elements, and fish waste are going to need very careful monitoring because there will be less than 2g of water diluting them. I would proceed very slowly, test often, invest in a really good ato, ensure maximum oxygenation, and use high quality live rock in order to get as much stability as possible. Honestly a few hermits would be much easier.

These are called "pico" tanks and there are some very cool ones

 

[gone fishin]

I do not think I would go with any fish. Maybe a sexy shrimp instead.

 

[Deftones2015]

I do not think I would go with any fish. Maybe a sexy shrimp instead.

Sexy shrimp are really cool. They would be perfect in that tank.

 

[RayAllen3422]

+1 for no fish. That's just too small in my opinion.

 

[e048]

go for a coral only reef and if you really want a fish you could do the neon goby or an unarmed perchlet again I wouldn't do any fish in anything that small

a sexy shrimp would work or a pom pom crab

 

[aadams22]

I would stick to inverts and cheap easy corals. No fish. One swing in ammonia or nitrate and everythings dead. Your water changes will have to be miniscule (like a red solo cup or two) in order to maintain paremeters for inverts like snails

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

No fish. I kept a trio of sexy shrimp in my 2.5g tank years ago. Very entertaining little inverts.

 

[sde1500]

Flaming prawn goby maybe? They are so small anyway, they should be good for the tank. Though I hear they hide a lot.

 

[mootay]

I just want to add that water parameters for a 2.5g are no less of a challenge in the realm of freshwater planted tanks but they can be managed. I don't know all the angles for a reef tank yet but I'm sure I'll get them sorted.

 

[Sk8r]

With adequate light, softie corals, shrimp, crabs, and snails.