TMC Tiny Tank

[Cavallo73]

After moving house 9 years ago, I was gutted when I had to sell my marine aquarium, livestock and equipment, due to not having the space to set it up in our new place. A few weeks ago though, I found my old frag tank in the garage whilst having a clear out. It is a tiny TMC microhabitat, only 15 litres, and acrylic so I wasn’t sure what state it would be in, as it was pretty dirty and cobwebby. I cleaned it up and polished out most of the surface scratches, and have decided to try and set it up as a pico tank. I had to change the pump, as the flow adjuster was broken so it was blowing sand everywhere, but I’ve got it up and started now, and am feeling excited about how good this little tank is going to look as it develops. 

[demonclownfish]

a few sexy shrimp would look real good in there

[Cavallo73]

You must have read my mind! I’ve popped one in for now, and hoping to get another couple in the next few days. 

[Cavallo73]

With technology improvements since I last had a reef tank, it seems there’s so much better equipment out there now. I’ve changed the pump I was using for a really great, quiet TMC compact pump. With the small rear chambers on this tank, I’m really limited with pump size.


 

This little pump has a tiny footprint, draws from the bottom, and best of all has an external controller to turn it off and on and to change the speed. The only way I could adjust my previous pump was by taking it out of the tank, and that was before the adjuster fell off and it just blew a small hurricane through instead!

 

[Cavallo73]

One of my favourite pieces of kit is my Reefloat auto top up system - I was so pleased I kept this when I sold the tank. I bought this ATU system many years ago for my old tank, and it’s been sitting in the garage for a long time now. I cleaned it up and gave it a test, and it still works perfectly.

 

 

It took a bit of tweaking to set it up for the TMC, as this is a much smaller tank than my last one. I’m expecting that having an auto top up system will be even more important because of that though, and with summer round the corner (hopefully!) I don’t want to have to rely on manual top ups when I’m working. 

 

 

This auto top up system is amazing. Gordon, who makes these systems (and the brilliant auto water change systems too), is fantastic. He sells all the parts so you can service, fix and replace anything you might need to, and when he updates things he sells the update kits so you don’t have to buy a whole new system. His customer service is second to none. 

[Cavallo73]

All has gone well so far this week. My sexy shrimp seems to be quite happy, so I’ll take that as a good sign and will look to get him some friends next weekend. I’ve named him Tom Jones, and he seems to have started hosting the duncan coral in the tank. 
 

 

I’ve got a couple of new zoa heads appeared on the frag I bought last week, and I spotted a pretty looking ricordea frag at the weekend to add some different colour to the tank.
 

 

 

I’m trying to take it slowly while everything settles in, but will start increasing the clean up crew over the next few weeks I think. I’d forgotten how addictive marine aquarium keeping can be!

[Cavallo73]

Meet Nautilus

 

 

and Dreadnought. 
 

 

 

Up periscope and surface at the slightest hint of food. Tom Jones is just hanging out and doing his thing in the Duncan. 

[Cavallo73]

It’s been a little while. There’s a few updates to the tank. Tom Jones now has a couple of backing dancers, and I’ve added three blue legged hermit crabs - the three amigos - to keep the algae under control. They’ve done a great job so far. 
 

I’ve also added a branching cyphastrea for some different colour, and an acan frag.

On the equipment side of things, I’ve set up a temperature control system to try and keep the temperature in the tank as consistent as possible. With that and the ATO, this little tank is currently pretty low maintenance. 

Tom Jones doing his thang. 

[Cavallo73]

Crab moult. Looks like something out of a horror movie. 🤢

 

[Cavallo73]

Got this little thing in the post a couple of days ago. With the tank being acrylic, lots of magnet cleaners aren’t suitable, as it’s ridiculously easy to scratch. The Nimble Nano came with lots of positive reviews, including lots from acrylic tank owners, so it seemed safe to give it a go. It’s also really tiny, and manages to get round all the rock and coral to clean. Postage was surprisingly quick to the UK, and having used it for a couple of days it’s definitely acrylic safe!

 

[AiredaleReef]

Good progress...following along. 

[Cavallo73]

I managed to get out and pick up some new corals for the tank. I had no idea that there is a coral supplier right on my doorstep, fragging  and selling corals from his home. I took a short trip out to see him, and was blown away by the setup he has and the incredible selection of corals he had for sale. I got a few small pieces for the tiny tank, but will definitely be saving up and making a return trip to see him again. Or maybe two trips…

 

Tom Jones got very excited with all the new real estate and proper wore himself out cleaning everything. His backing dancers have proved to be less productive and seem to be happy just watching him strut his stuff. 

 

[debbeach13]

Good morning, I am still drinking 2nd cup of coffee. My eyes might be playing tricks, but that last picture looks like the frogspawn is inside if the little glass cream pitcher or beacon. 

[Cavallo73]

Ha ha! I hadn’t noticed that, but you’re right!! It’s not really in the little jug thing, it is in the tank. At least I hope it is. 🤔 Might just go and check. 

[Woodini]

Cool tank!! I might need a sexy shrimp one day! 👍🏿 

[Cavallo73]

Corals looking good today. 

Looks like the mushroom has a mini me. 
 

 

Tom Jones. Just doing his thang. I think he’s ditched the Duncan for the Frogspawn. 

 

[JamesQ]

Looking good!

[Cavallo73]

Tank update! It’s been a while, but the tank is doing well and the corals seem to be happy. Some a little too happy - I had to do a little zoa pruning as they were affecting the polyps on the stylophora. The mushrooms seem to be loving life in there - they are growing and multiplying faster than rabbits! I’m going to have to start giving some away soon to stop them taking over. 

[debbeach13]

Tank looks great. Are any of the sexy shrimp still alive.

[Cavallo73]

Yes, only one though. He spends most of his time in the frogspawn coral, but jumps out to take brine shrimp from me when I pop some in the tank. I’ve also got a yellow coral goby in there, but he’s rather camera shy!

[colormegone]

Tank looks great! Are you using an AI 16HD light? Also on the TMC pump, is it the compact 500? I am looking for an adjustable pump for my 8 gallon nano.

[Cavallo73]

Thank you! Yes, it’s an ai 16HD light. It’s set quite low as the tank is so tiny, but seems to be about right for everything in it. The filter chamber at the back is tiny, so I’ve actually got the tmc 350 in there, as the 500 wouldn’t fit. I think the 350 is only available from Maidenhead Aquatics - or that was the case when I bought it. It’s still set to a low setting as it’s just used to circulate the water through the filter media. The circulation pump in the tank keeps the flow moving across the corals. I really like the compact pump, as I can ramp

it up to push out all the crud from the rockwork, and easily switch it off when needed. It’s also really easy to clean which is a bonus, and runs quiet, especially on the low settings. 

[colormegone]

No more 350's it seems. The 500 won't fit in my back space either. If I need more flow, I guess I will go with a nano wave maker. Thanks

[Cavallo73]

Oh no! Are you UK based? 

[colormegone]

No, I'm in the US. I looked on Maidenhead and they don't have the 350. Only the 500 and larger.