SHOW OFF THREAD *Unoffical* Mini Complete Tank Contest

[Stang67]

Psa : Be sure to check your light OUT ports. My light wouldn't turn on today. As I was fiddling with it I noticed what appeared to be some corrosion on the OUT port located by the vent hole in the lid. Assuming it's from evaporation and creep.

 

[Fishyj]

Unfortunately due to some unexpected health problems, I shut down my mini tank. Still at the moment I have my 32.5 tank still going.

 

[Stang67]

January update
Of my 3 tanks this little guy seems to be doing the best. Go figure. No mods except a heater and controller. Added some weed from the main display as well. Go shorty it's your birthday.

Snails are alive the little hermit is doing his thing and I haven't killed anything. Yet.

 

[Alaeriel]

My tank is crusty and full of algae. Pictures to follow tomorrow after I get back home! I've taken to cleaning the display with a microfoam sponge bit attached to a chopstick. Not pretty, but it works!

 

[Mhamilton0911]

January update:
This is an easier tank than I thought it would be, really just cleaning and top off. Although I have had no noticable growth, no losses either. I spot feed about once weekly, so I'm thinking to up the feedings to see if I get growth. I have not tested parameters other than salinity. Biggest issue is salt creep but I'm managing. No algea issues which is surprising. I did move it from the window to the countertop as I had a few really cold nights and the drafts got the tank's temp in the mid 60's. Other than that, it's been smooth sailing.

 

[Kah]

Happy New Year R2R!!
January update:

I decided to reduce the rock work to open up the scape some.
Also trying a minor mod on the overflow to reduce salt creep. It might be working, but still got salt coming up the opposite corner!

Also needs a little clean! Hahaha.

 

[Charlied]

Happy new year everyone!
So happy to be posting a January update. Not a lot to report. I’m still waiting to see if the pink coralline algae spores sprout... should see it in about two more weeks or so. Keeping fingers crossed.
I want to start testing more parameters... just testing salinity right now. I’m new to all of this and only keep this one tank, so it’s all new to me, I’d like to learn more about being a good steward of this tiny environment. So I have some research to do and welcome any advice on which parameters to start testing , and where to get good supplies.
The sole resident of my tank, an Asterina star, seems to be doing well. It continues to be active and has grown a bit. I think I might try feeding it a bit. I like the idea of spot feeding like Mhamilton0911 is doing, maybe 1x/wk or until I see some pink algae growing, then the starfish could Snack on that.
I’m thinking I should try a cleaning the acrylic, but want to wait on doing a partial water change until I get data from parameter testing as a baseline. I didn’t use live rock, so I’m not seeing algae as a problem, but the acrylic seems to be yellowing, so I’m sure it’s there.
The salt-creep added a certain “frosty” look to the holiday scene this year. .

 

[danieyella]

Happy January. Cloves spreading across the back wall. Zoas in the front left definitely spreading.

Still massively battling salt creep. Set up a 2nd one though.

Here's the new one, started Jan 1st with rock and water and corals from my big tank. NOT mct brand, but exact same dimensions so showing for fun.

 

[Maddlesrain]

January update!
Still dry—waiting for it to warm up a tad here so I can go walk the beach in search of different algaes. I redid my scape, and have decided I want to try growing plants native to my area, and maybe add a tiny tidepool shrimp or crab since I assume they'll be hardier and more accustomed to fluctuations than some of our reef critters.

The holidays really kept this little guy on the back burner, but I've been slowly adding and planning around it.

 

[Alaeriel]

My tank is crusty and full of algae. Pictures to follow tomorrow after I get back home! I've taken to cleaning the display with a microfoam sponge bit attached to a chopstick. Not pretty, but it works!

Definitely not pretty, but I'll be adding a snail tomorrow and we'll see how the algae overtake goes!

 

[Ben's Pico Reefing]

All these tanks looking good.. I was planning on getting custom lid made and addressing salt creep underneath but have to push out a bit further..

 

[Adamantium]

Mine’s been running since October, I just keep missing the updates.

It’s got a grube’s gorgonian, jawbreaker, and some sort of zoas (magicians?). It’s also got 2 or 3 asterinas, a few limpets, and some bristle worms. I’ve thought about adding something else, like even potentially a Pom Pom crab since the tank seems so stable, and they pretty much stick to one spot, but I don’t want to stress it, nor rock the boat.

I have an ATO tied into the back using an aqualifter and an autoaqua ATO to keep salinity stable. Very minimal salt creep, but it does happen. I just wipe it off, and monitor salinity, adding new SW as needed to get it back up.

I’m just gonna stay the course!

 

[Brit’s Fish]

I’m not part of the contest because I got my tank late, but I’m still in the game as far as keeping my MCT going! I have not figured out a good way to clean the “glass” so that’s looking pretty nasty. Otherwise, everyone is there is doing pretty well. The tank is teeming with pods of all types & honestly they’re kind of fun to observe… particularly the amphipods.
My only real issues are keeping the sides clean & trying to keep any nutrients in there. I’m bottomed out at 0.0 nitrates right now and a couple of the zoas are not happy about it.
Everything in this tank came out of my other tanks. The only things purchased new were the Sexy shrimp and RFAs. I really didn’t end up having a cycle because I did it that way.

Current inhabitants:
2 female Sexy shrimp
1 tiny baby Blue Leg Hermit crab
2 tiny baby Banded Trochus snails (smaller than BBs)
1 Stomatella snail
1 Astrea snail
1 Asterina starfish
2 small bristle worm hitchhikers

3 zoa frags
1 chunk of GSP rock
2 Rock Flower Anemones
The first picture is from just before New Years and the second is from today. Just got over Covid so the tanks got a little neglected. Any tips on cleaning the glass are welcome!!

 

[Adamantium]

I’m not part of the contest because I got my tank late, but I’m still in the game as far as keeping my MCT going! I have not figured out a good way to clean the “glass” so that’s looking pretty nasty. Otherwise, everyone is there is doing pretty well. The tank is teeming with pods of all types & honestly they’re kind of fun to observe… particularly the amphipods.
My only real issues are keeping the sides clean & trying to keep any nutrients in there. I’m bottomed out at 0.0 nitrates right now and a couple of the zoas are not happy about it.
Everything in this tank came out of my other tanks. The only things purchased new were the Sexy shrimp and RFAs. I really didn’t end up having a cycle because I did it that way.

Current inhabitants:
2 female Sexy shrimp
1 tiny baby Blue Leg Hermit crab
2 tiny baby Banded Trochus snails (smaller than BBs)
1 Stomatella snail
1 Astrea snail
1 Asterina starfish
2 small bristle worm hitchhikers

3 zoa frags
1 chunk of GSP rock
2 Rock Flower Anemones
The first picture is from just before New Years and the second is from today. Just got over Covid so the tanks got a little neglected. Any tips on cleaning the glass are welcome!!

Looking good! The rock flower and sexy shrimp are two things I'd love to add.

The glass is my issue, as well. I don't want to scratch it, and I'm worried even a normal plastic credit card could...

I have a hard paper one from Target. Maybe I'll try that and report back...

 

[Stang67]

I’m not part of the contest because I got my tank late, but I’m still in the game as far as keeping my MCT going! I have not figured out a good way to clean the “glass” so that’s looking pretty nasty. Otherwise, everyone is there is doing pretty well. The tank is teeming with pods of all types & honestly they’re kind of fun to observe… particularly the amphipods.
My only real issues are keeping the sides clean & trying to keep any nutrients in there. I’m bottomed out at 0.0 nitrates right now and a couple of the zoas are not happy about it.
Everything in this tank came out of my other tanks. The only things purchased new were the Sexy shrimp and RFAs. I really didn’t end up having a cycle because I did it that way.

Current inhabitants:
2 female Sexy shrimp
1 tiny baby Blue Leg Hermit crab
2 tiny baby Banded Trochus snails (smaller than BBs)
1 Stomatella snail
1 Astrea snail
1 Asterina starfish
2 small bristle worm hitchhikers

3 zoa frags
1 chunk of GSP rock
2 Rock Flower Anemones
The first picture is from just before New Years and the second is from today. Just got over Covid so the tanks got a little neglected. Any tips on cleaning the glass are welcome!!

Qtip works for me.

 

[Adamantium]

Qtip works for me.

Good call. I just figured out extra soft toothbrushes work well, too.

 

[phenom3030]

Regrettably, I’m withdrawing from the contest. The salt creep got the best of me and I just couldn’t tank it anymore. Additionally evaporation seemed to have increased or something in my dry Colorado climate.
I didn’t experience any growth from the zoa frag I had in there, and it didn’t seem happy. Going to move it to my big tank and see if it recovers.

These tanks definitely require a lot of maintenance IMO, from topping off to clearing salt. Good luck everyone! Looking forward to keeping up with everyone’s progress.

 

[Adamantium]

Regrettably, I’m withdrawing from the contest. The salt creep got the best of me and I just couldn’t tank it anymore. Additionally evaporation seemed to have increased or something in my dry Colorado climate.
I didn’t experience any growth from the zoa frag I had in there, and it didn’t seem happy. Going to move it to my big tank and see if it recovers.

These tanks definitely require a lot of maintenance IMO, from topping off to clearing salt. Good luck everyone! Looking forward to keeping up with everyone’s progress.

I found that having an ATO and keeping the water level a solid 1/8” from the top has lead to success. It seems like it also depends on the individual tank’s build quality, though, so who knows.

 

[Ben's Pico Reefing]

Sorry I have not been on, alot has been happening and other projects. I have an idea for salt creep I will eventually try. I will put silicon around the inside of the sump and mash the tank down. I will only put a line around the inside of the bottom. this should possibly create a seal or prevent the salt from being pushed through.

All these tanks are looking good so far.

 

[Stang67]

February update
Harry the hermit has sadly crossed over to Davey Jones locker. But everything else seems to be hanging on. Seriously though the creep. Here is mine after returning from a 9 day Vaca.

All things considered doing well. Going to add some more stuff here soon.