PJ Reef Thoughts

[Jimmyboo]

Hi all,

 

First a little background. I started my 2 gallon aquarium about a year ago and although mine is not in the best of shape right now, I am happy to report that everything id doing fine.

 

Ok, Now I want to know everyone's thoughts on the PJ Reef system. I'm seriously considering downsizing from my 2 gallon and transferring over some of my corals. I want to know what people think / experience / any tips. One aspect I am concerned about is having no filter in the tank.

 

Any thoughts, please post, I really want to get everybody's opinion about whether it really is "low maintenance" and whether it will actually last.

 

TYVM,

JB

 

EDIT: Also if you do not like the tank, any other small (around 1 gallon) reef tanks AIO that you like?

[seabass]

Here's a vase that's been around for awhile: http://www.nano-reef.com/topic/336169-8-yr-old-reefbowl-1-gallon-vase-update/

[Jimmyboo]

Here's a vase that's been around for awhile: http://www.nano-reef.com/topic/336169-8-yr-old-reefbowl-1-gallon-vase-update/

 

Thanks! Still hoping for some thoughts on the PJ reef itself.

[cindyp]

i didn't have much luck with it.

but tbh, i started as a total noobie. i mean,

that was my first "tank". and when he said

"two corals" i stuck in like two giant corals

(a big gsp frag and another with two shrooms).

the little jar simply couldn't handle it.

 

but i was buying frags from LCS and they

didn't have anything much smaller to give me.

so if you wanted teeny corals in there, like a single

small mushroom or a small xenia, i think it would

work. there's other great threads on jar systems

that aren't PJ Reef specifically.

[Jimmyboo]

i didn't have much luck with it.

but tbh, i started as a total noobie. i mean,

that was my first "tank". and when he said

"two corals" i stuck in like two giant corals

(a big gsp frag and another with two shrooms).

the little jar simply couldn't handle it.

 

but i was buying frags from LCS and they

didn't have anything much smaller to give me.

so if you wanted teeny corals in there, like a single

small mushroom or a small xenia, i think it would

work. there's other great threads on jar systems

that aren't PJ Reef specifically.

 

Thanks, good to hear. I guess the specific types of corals do make a difference.

[seabass]

Thanks! Still hoping for some thoughts on the PJ reef itself.

Isn't it just a jar with a light? The light is nice and clean, but the cost of it is pretty high.

 

If you are really interested in it, you should become aware of the other vase projects out there first (problems they've encountered and how they got around them, maintenance, stocking, etc).

[Jimmyboo]

Isn't it just a jar with a light? The light is nice and clean, but the cost of it is pretty high.

 

If you are really interested in it, you should become aware of the other vase projects out there first (problems they've encountered and how they got around them, maintenance, stocking, etc).

 

good points, that is true. problems do rise and wheather its 1 gallon or 5, i still need to know how to solve them.

[cindyp]

PJ Reef is only 1/3 of a gallon i believe?

it is very small.

[brandon429]

in my opinion the appeal of the pj reef specific or that kind of system is bare bones, like something at work you cant have fifty cords all around and bunch of noise pumps or water spill risks.

 

the heart of the entire pjreef system above anything is the mechanics of the stilled reef, ergo any container can be a pj reefs mode container and what he sells is nice and modular if someone wants the option, ive almost bought one. both my fw planted tanks are perfectly still and raise bee shrimp etc, so stilled tanks are neat but they are limited in my opinion.

 

for example, i believe no stony coral lps or sps has been kept in a still tank although we'd better comb the biotope forum well before claiming that, the most advanced work with stilled and coldwater tanks is done on this site in that forum. I believe thats the case tho, just soft corals.

 

it can be a challenge keeping higher order animals people typically like such as crabs and snails in an unheated, uncirculated tank, which is why GSP and mushrooms are common fare.

 

in contrast, a small reef of half a gallon up to two gallons all pretty much just run on large weekly water changes so they dont have much difference in actual care, but they have equipment to maintain and evaporation to deal with etc.

 

Small, square open topped pico reefs are extremely hard to balance in terms of salt gain and fw loss, evap. such that keepers rarely keep at it permanently. the partially sealed or totally sealed systems have appeal there if we are willing to forego some animal diversity to attain it. the difference between the two hardware systems is only a heater and a form of water movement but it changes what can be kept 90%.

[Jimmyboo]

 

 

Thanks Brandon for chiming in. For me, the first reason is exactly why I would consider going for the PJ reef. I am looking for something basically all in one that would look a bit more professional for my work desk. Do you think it would be possible to get a air stone in something that small?

 

Also, I believe PJ reef is 1/4 gallon, although i could be wrong.

 

The other idea is to somehow make my current take seem more AIO by creating a custom setup with the light and such. I would probably still want to downsize the bowl to 1gallon or smaller, but it should be doable. But, at the moment, I have no idea how I could do that.

 

Best,

JB

[cindyp]

yes, you're right. it is very small. not even

close to 1 gallon.