Microtanks

[FishyFishFish]

I have recently seen a few ‘microtanks’ and wondered what everyone’s thoughts were. They are clearly very niche but look like they could be a fun thing to play around with.

The Minicompletetank is one version but I have seen a couple of others from 40oz to 1 gal. I’m tempted to have a play with one for some gsp and a zoa or 2.

If you have one, what do you think?

What would you put in one?

 

[homer1475]

Always thought they were cool looking, but the evaporation issue, and keeping salinity stable is the one thing I thought of that would be a huge PITA.

Don't think there is an ATO small enough that would work on a "micro tank"?

 

[FishyFishFish]

Hopefully they don’t mind me posting their photos, but there is another one from pnw-custom that even includes a tiny sump, and a tiny 1 gal AIO from Oceanbox Designs (which looks great but is very expensive); both of these would work with an ATO.

 

[homer1475]

Wow!

I had no idea a 1G tank will cost you $500 to setup. If you go with that Oceanbox one, and their recommendations on heater and light. It does look super cool though.

 

[PNWCustom]

Thanks for sharing!!

 

[PNWCustom]

As the curator of the PNW Micro Reef, I will chime in that I spent countless hours developing a micro tank that could actually be ran successfully long term. The sump works as a full filter system allowing use of easy to change media, room for heater, ATO, return pump, temperature probes, etc. The sump and main display tank both have lids to help with evaporation, along with a dedicated water level line on the sump for easy visualization of water height which is a key component to keeping salinity in check. We also encorporated a true dual drain system like a fullsize tank, to combat any extra drainages or clogs. The light is also very capable of growing corals, and I have been keeping some SPS alive, along with many other soft corals such as mushrooms, zoanthids, micromussa lord, GSP, chalice, etc.

I even have a button scoly garden, flower nems, toadstool, etc in another micro 1.5g cube tank. Surprisingly the button scolys looks better in that than in my main display.

Both tanks run on just ATO, inkbird heater controller, and media from main display.



I have been running my micros for quite a while successfully, and I'm excited to share with everyone the results!

 

[alyssah]

As the curator of the PNW Micro Reef, I will chime in that I spent countless hours developing a micro tank that could actually be ran successfully long term. The sump works as a full filter system allowing use of easy to change media, room for heater, ATO, return pump, temperature probes, etc. The sump and main display tank both have lids to help with evaporation, along with a dedicated water level line on the sump for easy visualization of water height which is a key component to keeping salinity in check. We also encorporated a true dual drain system like a fullsize tank, to combat any extra drainages or clogs. The light is also very capable of growing corals, and I have been keeping some SPS alive, along with many other soft corals such as mushrooms, zoanthids, micromussa lord, GSP, chalice, etc.

I even have a button scoly garden, flower nems, toadstool, etc in another micro 1.5g cube tank. Surprisingly the button scolys looks better in that than in my main display.

Both tanks run on just ATO, inkbird heater controller, and media from main display.



I have been running my micros for quite a while successfully, and I'm excited to share with everyone the results!

Hello so I bought a micro tank from you guys and I am having trouble getting a hold of anyone from the contact email provided. The lower part of my tank is staying low and making bubbles mean while the actual tank is about to over flow and if I put water into the lower part to get to the line the actual tank overflows. The water levels are not balancing out could you please help me ?