I have been building and keeping freshwater tank for around 10 years. But I always wanted to try a saltwater tank. But everybody I asked about saltwater tanks said they were too expensive and that you need a 40 gallon or larger setup for it to work. I live in a small basement apartment and have no room or the budget for such a large setup.
Then I found out and researched about nano and pico setups. So I bought a Fluval Spec V 5 gallon tank and all the equipment and started my first nano saltwater reef tank. That was about 4 months ago and the tank is up and running and fully stocked and beautiful to look at.
After that successful nano setup, I had found a spare 2.5 gallon tank with heater and filter in my storage. So I bought the rest of the required equipment and set that up about 2 months ago and it is up and running and partially stocked.
Since that pico setup was successful, I bought a 1 gallon tank and all the required equipment and setup another pico reef tank setup. It is currently 1 week into the Nitrogen Cycle so it will be a while before I can stock it.
5 gallon nano setup:
- Fluval Spec V 5 gallon tank with it's built in filter system converted to a built in Refugium
- 4 watt Daylight LED Bulb for the built in Refugium
- Aqualife 50 watt heater
- Coralife Biocube in tank skimmer
- Coralife Biocube Powerhead
- Zoo-Med Digital Thermometer
- Current USA Orbit Marine 18"-24" Reef LED Lighting System
- Marina 0.8 gallon HOB Breeder Tank with a 85GPH Pond Pump used as a HOB Refugium
- Current USA 6 watt clamp on LED Lamp used for the HOB Refugium
2.5 gallon pico setup:
- PetSmart 2.5 gallon standard rectangular tank
- Zoo-Med Digital Thermometer
- Exo Terra Micro Terrarium Lamp Hood with a Coralife 50/50 10000K/450nM 20 watt PC lamp and DIY fan cooling system added
- Top Fin 10 gallon in tank filter converted to an in tank Refugium and for water flow as well
- 53GPH pond pump used as a powerhead
- Aqualife 50 watt heater
- Marina 0.7 gallon Breeder Tank with an air pump used as a HOB Refugium
- 4 watt Daylight LED Bulb used for the Marina Breeder HOB tank
1 gallon pico setup:
- Big Al's house brand glass 1 gallon cubed tank
- standard glass in tank thermometer
- Marina 8 watt in tank heater
- Big Al's house brand 5 gallon in tank filter with spray bar for mechanical filtration as well as used as a powerhead
- Marina 0.7 gallon Breeder Tank with an air pump used as a HOB Refugium
- 4 watt Daylight LED Bulb used for the Marina Breeder HOB tank
- DIY PC Lamp with a 10 watt 50/50 PC Bulb
As soon as I can find a site to host my photos I will add a link to this thread
Then I found out and researched about nano and pico setups. So I bought a Fluval Spec V 5 gallon tank and all the equipment and started my first nano saltwater reef tank. That was about 4 months ago and the tank is up and running and fully stocked and beautiful to look at.
After that successful nano setup, I had found a spare 2.5 gallon tank with heater and filter in my storage. So I bought the rest of the required equipment and set that up about 2 months ago and it is up and running and partially stocked.
Since that pico setup was successful, I bought a 1 gallon tank and all the required equipment and setup another pico reef tank setup. It is currently 1 week into the Nitrogen Cycle so it will be a while before I can stock it.
5 gallon nano setup:
- Fluval Spec V 5 gallon tank with it's built in filter system converted to a built in Refugium
- 4 watt Daylight LED Bulb for the built in Refugium
- Aqualife 50 watt heater
- Coralife Biocube in tank skimmer
- Coralife Biocube Powerhead
- Zoo-Med Digital Thermometer
- Current USA Orbit Marine 18"-24" Reef LED Lighting System
- Marina 0.8 gallon HOB Breeder Tank with a 85GPH Pond Pump used as a HOB Refugium
- Current USA 6 watt clamp on LED Lamp used for the HOB Refugium
2.5 gallon pico setup:
- PetSmart 2.5 gallon standard rectangular tank
- Zoo-Med Digital Thermometer
- Exo Terra Micro Terrarium Lamp Hood with a Coralife 50/50 10000K/450nM 20 watt PC lamp and DIY fan cooling system added
- Top Fin 10 gallon in tank filter converted to an in tank Refugium and for water flow as well
- 53GPH pond pump used as a powerhead
- Aqualife 50 watt heater
- Marina 0.7 gallon Breeder Tank with an air pump used as a HOB Refugium
- 4 watt Daylight LED Bulb used for the Marina Breeder HOB tank
1 gallon pico setup:
- Big Al's house brand glass 1 gallon cubed tank
- standard glass in tank thermometer
- Marina 8 watt in tank heater
- Big Al's house brand 5 gallon in tank filter with spray bar for mechanical filtration as well as used as a powerhead
- Marina 0.7 gallon Breeder Tank with an air pump used as a HOB Refugium
- 4 watt Daylight LED Bulb used for the Marina Breeder HOB tank
- DIY PC Lamp with a 10 watt 50/50 PC Bulb
As soon as I can find a site to host my photos I will add a link to this thread