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Coral Vue Hydros

Considering a 2.5 Gallon pico


glmory

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I am considering trying a 2.5 gallon aquarium. I don't feel safe trying anything too expensive/fragile in such a small tank so it will be devoted to Zoanthids, Mushroom Coral, and possibly yellow polyps or leather coral. Along with the usual cleaners. I am trying to see if I understand everything I would need for this aquarium to give myself some hope of success.

 

a 2.5 Gallon 12x6x8 glass aquarium $12

 

Aquaclear 20 filter $22 (http://www.aquariumguys.com/aquaclear4.html)

 

I am probably going to use the 1x18W being sold for $42 here: http://www.aquariumguys.com/12satellite.html but I noticed that the 2x18 is only $49 ( http://www.aquariumguys.com/12aqualight.html ) For the corals I was looking to get would it make a difference which one I bought?

 

a 25W heater $12 ( http://www.aquariumguys.com/minitherm.html )

 

pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, test kits $17 ( http://www.aquariumguys.com/mastertestkit3.html )

 

DIY Sun Tea Jar Auto Topoff $10 http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?...&hl=sun+tea

 

Hydrometer/Thermometer I was debating between these two: the 12 inch one that floats in your tank, or in my case probably a cup (http://www.aquariumguys.com/hydrometer.html) or one from Red Sea that appears to be attached to the glass in the aquarium (http://www.aquariumguys.com/red-sea-hydrom...hermometer.html) $12

 

 

5 pounds live sand $10

 

3 pounds live rock $20

 

Corals and invertebrates $5 - $1000

 

Is there anything really important to have that I have neglected to mention? anything that is useless junk and I should get a more expensive version of? anything I am getting totally ripped off on and should find cheaper? aquariumguys.com a decent source of equipment? I was trying to come up with something reasonably similar to the stock aquarium in the pico competition that was held a while back. I have a few years experience on a 40 gallon salt water aquarium and that convinced me the only way to get back into the hobby for less than $500 would be a 2.5 gallon aquarium. Although if I could get stuff used or make it myself I might consider a 5 gallon.

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circusordie16

list looks good although id add a refractometer to that list instead of a hydrometer and consider taking your sand down to about a pound or two. i got a 5 pound bag for my 2.5 gallon and after using it for both my 2.5 and my current 5 gallon i still have a couple pounds left. the 18W light would be fine but the 36W would be better. i had plenty of success with the 18W but more light is almost always better.

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Sounds like a good plan. My only concern would be the tank overheating. When I had my 2.5 I had an 18w mini-aqualight and if the ambient teperature ever rose above 78 the tank would over heat. A simple solution is just to have a fan blow over the water. Then an ATO becomes essential. Otherwise sounds good.

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agreed with circus on the refractometer. as you go down in volume, i.e. into the pico-range and lower, the accuracy of the salinity MUST be kept.

 

due to the typical quirk in the increasing ratio of water surface area versus water volume as you go down in tank size, evaporation on the smaller tanks occur at a faster rate than a larger tank, e.g. 10g vs. 2.5g, <3:1in surface area but a 4:1 in volume. this results in a greater potential shift in salinity when comparing between the two.

 

i'd still get the floating hydro/thermo though. it can't hurt to have redundant checks/balances.

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Where are you located? I happen to be selling a 2.5AGA with a Coralife Aqualight mini which has 18W... Also I am selling a brand new Hagen Aquaclear 20 as well.. check out my thread: http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=142375
Saddly I am in upstate NY, I also just moved from CA :(
i used a 24 watt power compact on mine and it doing great and it not to big to mount on you tankhttp://www.aquatraders.com/index.asp?PageA...&ProdID=259
I do like that a lot, about half the cost of the 18W I was looking at...
agreed with circus on the refractometer. as you go down in volume, i.e. into the pico-range and lower, the accuracy of the salinity MUST be kept. due to the typical quirk in the increasing ratio of water surface area versus water volume as you go down in tank size, evaporation on the smaller tanks occur at a faster rate than a larger tank, e.g. 10g vs. 2.5g, <3:1in surface area but a 4:1 in volume. this results in a greater potential shift in salinity when comparing between the two.i'd still get the floating hydro/thermo though. it can't hurt to have redundant checks/balances.
Well... Two people telling me the same thing probably means ill lose more money from killing stock than I will save by avoiding it. http://www.aquariumguys.com/almo-sybon-refractometer.html seem reasonable?
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agreed with circus on the refractometer. as you go down in volume, i.e. into the pico-range and lower, the accuracy of the salinity MUST be kept. due to the typical quirk in the increasing ratio of water surface area versus water volume as you go down in tank size, evaporation on the smaller tanks occur at a faster rate than a larger tank, e.g. 10g vs. 2.5g, <3:1in surface area but a 4:1 in volume. this results in a greater potential shift in salinity when comparing between the two.i'd still get the floating hydro/thermo though. it can't hurt to have redundant checks/balances.
Two people telling me I need that probably means ill spend more money replacing dead stock than i would save not buying it. this seem reasonable? http://www.aquariumguys.com/almo-sybon-refractometer.html
Sounds like a good plan. My only concern would be the tank overheating. When I had my 2.5 I had an 18w mini-aqualight and if the ambient teperature ever rose above 78 the tank would over heat. A simple solution is just to have a fan blow over the water. Then an ATO becomes essential. Otherwise sounds good.
Any concept of how warm the ambient temperature has to get before a fan isn't enough? if it gets bad I have a basement that stays around 70 in the summer but it would be nice getting an idea of how long ill have to leave it there...
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that refract looks pretty good at $44. sometimes you see deals around $30~$40.

 

the fan should be sufficient unless te room gets into the upper 70's or there's sunlight hitting it. you could still just upsize the fan to move more air volume (note: there's likely to be more evaporation too).

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