My 2.5g AGA reef wall

[Melbourne]

Hi,

Been posting over at N-R.com for the 2.5g Stock Pico contest. Figured I would drop a few pics of the tank as it stands today.

-Mike

My Nano tank threads
Custom 12g Nano
My Custom 12g Nano Log (http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=57475)

AGA 2.5g Nano
My 2.5g AGA Nano Log (http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=69501)

Tank update:

Upgraded my lights since I wasn't happy with the color using the single 13w PC bulb. Last night I took apart a Satellite 18W fixture I had on my FW planted tank and retrofitted it into the hood. Added a few more frags as well. The left side shading is worse due to the bulb socket but I think the overall color is better with the single 18w 50/50 bulb than the AH 13w retrofit.

FTS Jan 10th
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/FTS_JAN10.jpg

Corner Jan 10th
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/corner_jan10.jpg

Purple dot mushroom
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/purple_dot_mushroom.jpg

Green mottled mushroom - originally mounted to wall but it detached in the evening - I'm going to leave it there.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/green_mushroom.jpg

Tiny Lemnalia frag
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/lemnalia.jpg

Red Zoas
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/red_zoas.jpg

Ric with a arrangement of different colored polyps
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/ric_polyps_jan10.jpg

[Melbourne]

More pics

More mats :)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/dmatjan10.jpg

Cream monti
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/cream_monti.jpg

Rare brown zoas :)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/brown_zoa.jpg

Cabbage without activated carbon bits on him
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/cabbage_jan10.jpg

Purple mushroom
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/striped_mushroom.jpg

Yellow polyps with feather duster in background
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/yellow_duster.jpg

Toadstool with zoas
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/toadstool_zoas.jpg

[Melbourne]

Tank size compared to a toothbrush
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/FTS_Brush.jpg

Tiny Candy Cane
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/tinycandy.jpg

[kamla]

WOW.....

That all you get... :)

[cj_basser]

That is one of the best looking 2.5 gallon tnak I have ever seen.

How did oyu make oyur background?

[20reefer]

The best 2.5 I have seen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have the same question of cj_basser.

[Agu]

Nice tank and pics :thumbsup:

[Melbourne]

Thanks, its a Great Stuff foam over egg crate with a southdown sand coating. I'm hoping that in a few months it will look more natural and the corals grow in. The tank is 3 months old right now.

[vanmo92]

AWSOME

[baj]

Hi, that is one of the best 2.5g ever!! Good luck in the contest! I was wondering what sort of circulation you have in the tank? Do you have a powerhead in the back of the tank? Again, awesome tank!!

[Jimsmowen]

Amazing, you will win for sure!!!

[Dakafall]

How did you build that wall for the back?

Very nice tank btw, puts my 2.5g to shame lol

[Melbourne]

Thanks, there are lots of nice tanks in the pico contest so I think I'm a long shot. Since I'm running in the stock category I'm limited to 18w max using PC's and a stock HOB filter under 150 gph. So I selected a Tetratec PF150 which also allows me to integrate the heater in the HOB filter while retaining the stock filtration (stock means no Aquaclear HOB refugium / skimmer / etc). The Tetratec is the only power filter on the market that has a built in surge device. It has worked pretty well for my setup. I'm running one stock carbon/filter pad, a 100 mL bag of Purigen, and a small sock of Phosban in the back. The HOB is the only source of flow for the tank - there really is no flow to speak of behind the foam wall, but the foam is right against the back glass so hopefully not too much detrius builds up there.

The foam wall is Great Stuff foam, sprayed over a skeleton of egg crate, covered with southdown sand. I took the idea and inspiration from a thread from Reefcentral and applied it to the 2.5g tank.

[Melbourne]

Tank Update

Busy week.Was able to snap a few shots before the lights went off tonight. Sorry for the dirty glass. Some new monti's since added since last post. Tank also endured 2 power outtages from winter storms.

FTS Jan 27
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/FTS_jan27.jpg

FTS Corner Jan 27
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/FTS_Corner_Jan27.jpg

Unknown Macro Algae / Duster / Yellow Polyps
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/duster_algae_jan27.jpg

Kenya/Cap
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/cap_kenya_jan27.jpg

Various Monti's
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/side_monti_jan27.jpg

Wall Monti's (haven't photo'ed these in a long time)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/monti_zoa_jan27.jpg

Green Monti's
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/monti_jan27_green.jpg

Middle of tank closeup
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/Middle_Jan27.jpg

Lem growth shot
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/lem_jan27.jpg

[Mikeeal]

I would like to say thank you very much for the idea, I saw this thread awhile back and decided to do the same. Only difference is I used crushed coral since I had it on hand. Here is my thread if you'd like to check it out.

http://archive.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=749539

Did you have any problems with the Great Stuff's bouyancy? Mine didn't want to submerge at all.

Your tank looks great btw.

Thanks again!

Mike

[Melbourne]

Thanks, yes the foam needs to be weighted down. In my case it fits fairly snugly into the back of the tank so it doesn't float. I've removed the HOB for cleaning and it stays put. I did a bit of mixing/sculpting of the foam to get a more random look to it while it was wet. I'm going to do another foam wall coated with agrocrete for another tank I'm setting up. This time I'm going to do arches and stuff as well.

I just checked out your tank thread - looking good! Keep up the good work.

-Mike

[Melbourne]

Been a few months - here are some updated tank pics taken today. I had to remount a few of the SPS due to an astrae knocking them loose.

Gorgonian is also showing growth although at a slower pace - if you look back at the older shots you will see it is now growing a new branch on the lower left side :)

FTS 3-15-06
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/FTS03-15-06.jpg

Corner 3-15-06
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/corner_03_15_06.jpg

Side
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/side_03_15_06.jpg

Spotted mushroom is reproducing again- you can see baby behind parent in this pic
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/dotted_mushroom_03_15_06.jpg

Mushroom under HOB output pipe is doing well and grown
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/frilly_03_15_06.jpg

Green ric starting to split
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/split_ric_03_15_06.jpg

Side shot of monti mountain with various softies mixed in
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/side_monti_03_15_06.jpg

Lem has shown some decent growth from a tiny tiny frag I added
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/lem_growth_03_15_06.jpg

Toadstool has done well in this tank - here is a side shot of it
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/toad_03_15_06.jpg

[Melbourne]

More pics

Close up of monti mountain
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/monti_mountain_03_15_06.jpg

Close up of polyp extension on violet / white monti
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/monti_polyp_03_15_06.jpg

Candy Cane is doing well
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/candy_03_15_06.jpg

Good old cabbage as a tank center piece - who would have thought :)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/cabbage_03_15_06.jpg

[Mikeeal]

Beautiful.

[Giovanni]

VERY VERY Cool!!! Is it a lot of work keeping it stable?

[bluenassarius]

WOW! nice tank :D i didn't know you could jam so much coral into a tiny tank. what are you using for water circulation?

[skabimini]

well done!! :cool:

[Melbourne]

Thanks - circulation is via a Tetratec PF150 it has an integrated heater as well. I run a 100 ml bag of Purigen and some Phosban in a filter sock and some Seagel carbon. Maintenance is daily top off water. Water changes are done with a turkey baster every month or so when I change out the carbon. The Purigen has been in the tank for about 4 months now and it still hasn't changed color. I only have corals and a few small inverts in this tank.

[schiavonir]

I like the fact that you could pass some of your shots off as a 180g tank. You really can't tell the scale until you see the toothbrush.

Great looking pico!

[Melbourne]

Contest over at N-R is ending on Sunday. Posting up some pictures I took this week.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/FTS_04_05_06.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/corner_4_05_06.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/baby_ric_4_5_06.jpg

Larger of two blue legs
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/cleaner_crew_04_05_06.jpg

Smaller one sitting on pink xenia
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/cleaner_crew_2_4_05_06.jpg

Toadstool
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/toadstool_04_05_06.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/orange_monti_4_5_06.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/green_mush_4_5_06.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/kenya_4_5_06.jpg

[mr pink floyd]

sexy

[Western_reefer]

Can you take a few update shots plz?

[nanotrigger]

really nice...

[ShootMe]

Wow thats a thread from the dead.

[nanotrigger]

we want fts