MrReefer's Tom 2 Gallon Contest Tank

[MrReefer]

Hello Everyone,
So I wasn't really sure if I wanted to do this contest at the beginning but a friend of mines kind of talked me into it so here I am. Goals of this contest for me are to maintain a healthy thriving pico tank with the restrictions of the rules. I would love create a LPS tank since LPS is a little more forgiving than SPS. Eventually if the tank is stable enough, I will try and incorporate some SPS. Another idea is to do a chalice only tank which would be pretty cool.
So, here are my plans.

Plumbing: The tank will be drilled in the back right wall and drain down into a 10 gallon sump. The sump will hold 3 chambers, 1) for drain/filter, 2) chaeto/live rock/ potential skimmer 3) return pump.

Lighting: Will be a DIY LED. I will be using 5 cree LED's with a mixture of 2 blue's, 2 whites, and 1 UV. LED idea was helped by another reefer so Cheers buddy .

Controller: ReefKeeper


I will post pictures of updates as I go along and hopefully I won't screw up on the way lol. Lets start with pics!

Toms 2 gallon Tank


Toms Tanks and 10 gallon sump

Everything in the box and my favorite beer for size reference, this tank is freaking small!

Tank with just the Guiness can. To the Guiness police, I did pour it out into a tulip pint glass lol, I will not drink it any other way.

 

[MrReefer]

Tape to paint the back wall

Drilling the tank for the bulkhead

It Fits!

building a DIY overflow, very low budget lol

 

[MrReefer]

Pic of the wall painted, tank drilled, and installed the overflow

Another angle

Shot from the top

 

[MrReefer]

Lighting! This is going to be awesome. The par ratings are insane only 4-6 inches away, this tank is destined for SPS.

All the pieces to the puzzle, the fun part is to put them all together..

All parts that came with the Toms tank will be used. I am still trying to figure something creative for the return, and once the idea turns into a reality the tank will go wet. Cheers BRS.

 

[letoan]

Looks good buddy, cheers!!

 

[willray]

Excellent work on that light.Cool contest!

 

[MrReefer]

Excellent work on that light.Cool contest!

Thanks!

 

[MrReefer]

long overdue updates, Ive been working in this project in between 3 jobs, snowboarding and a gf so progress has been insanely slow.

Here is my old tv stand that I will be using as my tank stand

Drilling for drain and return

This is the return, thats a pic of me and David Ortiz in the background!

 

[MrReefer]

The power compact light that came with the kit, I will be drilling that into the top of the stand on the inside to use as a refugium light for chaeto

Pretty crooked... looked straight when I was installing after a few beers lol

Wet Test, Failed big time. The return was initially hard plumbed but leaked, I decided to use soft tubing for the return.

 

[MrReefer]

I used a towel rack to hang/attach the light over the tank, I might change this idea. Wires are currently everywhere and looks wicked messy

Hiding the wires

 

[MrReefer]

All led's on

uv led/moonlight

The guts!

The tank is ready for sand and rock, I just need a few other pieces of equipment and I should be done.. but really, when is a reefer ever done? So far this has been pretty fun, and a lot of work. My tank is no match for the other reefers "ahem" (toan) but I will give it my best shot.

 

[letoan]

Dammit you're going all out heh? I need to crank out something new

 

[MrReefer]

Dammit you're going all out heh? I need to crank out something new

So are we going top shelf sps in this pico? I saw your post that your looking for red dragon. Im going to put a gem tang in here and run from the tang police to win lol

 

[letoan]

So are we going top shelf sps in this pico? I saw your post that your looking for red dragon. Im going to put a gem tang in here and run from the tang police to win lol

Maybe

 

[MrReefer]

long overdue update... things have been hectic lately but here it is

Large Image Link (164 kB)
here is the guts, bought a nano skimmer, not much to skim.

Large Image Link (158 kB)
here is the tank itself, kinda dirty because i was cleaning it, cycle is done, I'm guessing its ready for livestock and coral.