Dorm Tank Ideas

Baby Ray · Oct 9, 2016

Hello everyone!!
Hopefully I will be going off to a boarding high school next year and I want to bring a small reef with me. During the interview I asked if I could keep a small fish tank and he said yes!!
Does anyone have any cool ideas for a cool dorm tank? I was thinking something like a a 5ish gallon. Maybe a little bigger or a littler smaller.
Thanks everyone!!

cmcoker · Oct 9, 2016

Check out the reef jar, also Maritza the reef vase, and @brandon429 s 1g reef vase.
Theres links to each here:
http://www.reefjar.com

A little smaller than 5g, but nice setups.
Fluval also makes some nice 5g tanks that would be neat nano reefs

saltyfilmfolks · Oct 9, 2016

I vote 10g planted.

Baby Ray · Oct 9, 2016

Thanks for the suggestions!
I was thinking about this one-
http://m.drsfostersmith.com/product...jwQ7eIwZi4tKIBbNhaibrMkbCsjN1FlPDEaAv_I8P8HAQ
It looks simple and cheap. Would I be able to keep some softies and inverts in this tank?

saltyfilmfolks · Oct 9, 2016

yes. I would consider a standard tank with lids. Evap in a small tank will really mess you up. an ato is still a must.

Baby Ray · Oct 9, 2016

saltyfilmfolks said:
yes. I would consider a standard tank with lids. Evap in a small tank will really mess you up. an ato is still a must.

Well, the dorms are really small and I would have to leave the tank on my desk. I would defiantly need an AIO tank.

Chefbill · Oct 9, 2016

RFAs and some anemone shrimp would be cool. Considering that for my empty 29g biocube

Baby Ray · Oct 9, 2016

Chefbill said:
RFAs and some anemone shrimp would be cool. Considering that for my empty 29g biocube

I was thinking about that as well. I was just afraid the light wouldn't be strong enough for rock nems.

saltyfilmfolks · Oct 9, 2016

Baby Ray said:
Well, the dorms are really small and I would have to leave the tank on my desk. I would defiantly need an AIO tank.

understood. Not sure the price difference in an aio or a ten with an hob aquaclear. should be some lidded aios out there too

Baby Ray · Oct 9, 2016

saltyfilmfolks said:
understood. Not sure the price difference in an aio or a ten with an hob aquaclear. should be some lidded aios out there too

Thanks!! If you happen to come across anything good, please let me know.

Baby Ray · Oct 9, 2016

I was also looking for cool ways to stock the tank. Any ideas?
I like the Rock nem -anemone shrimp idea

Baby Ray · Oct 9, 2016

bowen1022 · Oct 9, 2016

Could you fit an IM Fusion 10 or Fluval Evo?
As for stocking I'll link a thread that you might gain inspiration from as soon as I get home. The tank owner stocked a Fusion 10 with rock flowers, Zoas, and ricordea mushrooms along with some other stuff and the tank is just stunning.

Baby Ray · Oct 9, 2016

bowen1022 said:
Could you fit an IM Fusion 10 or Fluval Evo?
As for stocking I'll link a thread that you might gain inspiration from as soon as I get home. The tank owner stocked a Fusion 10 with rock flowers, Zoas, and ricordea mushrooms along with some other stuff and the tank is just stunning.

The IM 10 fusion is actually my ideal choice, I'm just not sure I can afford it. I am only 14 and my parents make me pay for everything for my tank (I am fine with that too) I have been keeping an eye out for any used IM 10 gallon tanks and equipment for sale. Please let me know if you here anything

Please post that link!! Thank you!!

JaimeAdams · Oct 9, 2016

My first coral tank was a Fluval Spec V. The light is garbage, but could easily make a cheap LED with a couple of PAR38 bulbs. The lighting goes for any pico tank though. JBJ Makes the 8 gallon all in one.

Baby Ray · Oct 9, 2016

JaimeAdams said:
My first coral tank was a Fluval Spec V. The light is garbage, but could easily make a cheap LED with a couple of PAR38 bulbs. The lighting goes for any pico tank though. JBJ Makes the 8 gallon all in one.

I have thought about that tank too. I have been thinking about trying to do a skimmer less nano tank and use cheato for nutrient export and do weekly water changes.

bowen1022 · Oct 9, 2016

Baby Ray said:
The IM 10 fusion is actually my ideal choice, I'm just not sure I can afford it. I am only 14 and my parents make me pay for everything for my tank (I am fine with that too) I have been keeping an eye out for any used IM 10 gallon tanks and equipment for sale. Please let me know if you here anything
Please post that link!! Thank you!!

I don't know where you are located but I have one lol just shipping would probably be a nightmare. I think the Fusion 10 is worth the money. Maybe just save a little longer to get it? That's what I had to do.

JaimeAdams · Oct 9, 2016

I ran my Spec V without a skimmer. I used a 3 inch sand bed a ton of rock and added Chemipure blue to the filter chamber. I did not have any fish, just a pair of shrimp and lots of coral. The only issue I had was keeping the water topped off. Other than that it was a very easy tank.

Baby Ray · Oct 9, 2016

JaimeAdams said:
I ran my Spec V without a skimmer. I used a 3 inch sand bed a ton of rock and added Chemipure blue to the filter chamber. I did not have any fish, just a pair of shrimp and lots of coral. The only issue I had was keeping the water topped off. Other than that it was a very easy tank.

I was thinking of doing something like this. I might get get a small fish like a clown goby or a fire fish but I don't think I would need to get a skimmer for one fish.

bowen1022 · Oct 9, 2016

http://www.pnwmas.org/topic/35570-picoreefer/

Here is the link. He started with a Fluval Chi but then upgraded to the IM Fusion 10... then IM Fusion 20.... Then JBJ 45 lol. But you can check out how he did his Fusion 10

Honestly you probably dont need a skimmer at all if youre not going to have SPS corals.