I Going to Need Some Help

[maroonytunes]

Hi everyone,


I have been thinking about this and decided for my mom's birthday in Dec. I am going to get a 2.5 gallon bowfront for her desk at work. What kind of filter should I use??? I'm not going to use a skimmer, because of the eye sore, and I can't drill it because I would have no where to place a sump. What amount of wattage, would 10 watts be enough??? It will be a zoa only tank, most if not all of the corals will be completly propagated from my nano. Last question, should I use a sand bed, 1-1.5in, or crushed coral, same depth???

 

[ecotoxlady]

Not really sure about the wattage question but I would strongly recommend doing a sand bed, not crushed coral. I've had both and had so many issues with cyano and algae with the crushed coral but no issues whatsoever with the sand. Thats just my 2 cents Sounds like it will be a nice tank!

 

[maroonytunes]

Sand bed it is.

 

[shivametimbas]

i had a 2.5 mini-bow with an AC50 "fuge" on it. i didnt have anything else for flow and it seemed to be fine. i built a canopy for it that had 2x18w 50/50 pc lighting.
i wouldnt go with crused coral, but thats just me i guess

here is a pic of the acfuge:

i am gonna use the lighting for something else soon, but could sell the canopy if ya want to go that route.

 

[furforfour]

I had a standard 2.5g tank set up for a while with zoanthids and used the Coralife 18w fixture. It came with a 9w 10k bulb and a 9w actinic. I also used an AquaClear Mini filter. Mark Levinson has a pretty cool 2g tank you can check out for ideas.
http://www.melevsreef.com/pico.html

 

[furforfour]

what the heck is going on with your Pabst can there?

 

[Azurel]

That's what's in Pabst beer....That's why you feel so bad after drinking that S***.

 

[maroonytunes]

Sweet, thanks for the link.

Furforfour,

Where did you get the 18w coralife fixture??? I will probally put in a seahorse after 2-3 months and then when he gets big enough, I 'll put him in my nano with my brother's seahorse, Sea.

Water changes will be sent with my mom, 1, 7oz plastic cup, full of water from my nano, two-three times a week.

When winter hits, if the temperatures are to cold I will add a 7.5 watt heater.

Lights will be automated with timers. The seahorse will come home over any school breaks or vacations.


Thanks everone for all your help,


Maroonytunes

 

[gflat65]

I'm running a 5.5 with a shallow sand bed (~1"), a small HOB (Regent 10-20 I think), no skimmer, with bi weekly waterchanges. I run (2)-20W screw in 50/50 bulbs and it is definitely not too much for any of the zoas I have.

 

[maroonytunes]

Gflat,

Do you run a heater at all???

 

[gflat65]

Nope. I used to, but it is in the office environment, so it stays pretty constant.