This tank journal has been on my "to do" list for quite a while.
It relates to a 2 foot nano tank that I have been running since 2003. It has been through a number of different phases and 2 house moves in that time, but I've somehow just never got around to posting a Tank Journal thread. I have posted information on various DIY projects and tank inhabitants over the years, so some of the pictures may seem a little familiar.
The intention of this tank started out as being that I wanted to run it as inexpensively and with the absolute minimum of technical equipment that was possible. Over time that has expanded a little, but it is still a nice basic setup that hasn't cost me the earth to put together. The challenges of running such a small water volume have provided many learning experiences (and a few painful lessons) over the years, but it is currently a very stable little system that provides me with a lot of enjoyment.


System Objectives: Current system focuses on providing a habitat for a pair of Amphiprion ephipium (Red saddleback anemonefish).
System Type: Currently fish focused, with a few corals to fill out the look of the tank.

Display System:
Strike up Date: 2003
Display Tank: 24" long x 12" wide x 18" high.
Water volume approximately 50L.
Deep Sand Bed of crushed marble (pool dust and 00) and some coral sand.
Average depth would be 100mm across the tank, with actual sand depth varying between 0 and 150mm.
Display Lighting: DIY 4 x 24W HO T5 fluorescent with individual reflectors

Stand: Standard retail-purchased open pine stand, retrofitted with pine doors.
Hood: DIY open topped pine hood with T5 lighting fitted.
Sump: No sump. Tank does run an Eheim hang-on-back filter with no filtration media to provide additional water circulation, provide surface water movement, and to provide a location freshwater topup and occasional placement of activated carbon or mechanical filtration.

Refugium: None
Refugium Lighting: None
Support systems:
System Water: Natural salt water
Display Water circulation: 2 x 3000 LPH Hydor-copy propeller pumps
Return Pump: Eheim hang-on filter.
Skimmer: None
Evaporation Top Up: Auto topup with Reverse Osmosis treated water, with float switch and Williamsons peristaltic pump
Chemical Support:
Calcium Addition: Daily manual additions of calcium chloride
Alkilinity Addition: Daily manual addition of sodium carbonate (baked sodium bicarbonate)
Other Chemical Maintenance: Regular manual addition of Magnesium chloride.
Current Water Chemistry:
Nitrate: Undetectable (Salifert)
Phosphate: <0.03 ppm (Salifert)
Alkalinity: 9-11 dKH (Salifert)
Calcium: 380 - 420 ppm (Salifert)
Salinity / Specific Gravity: 35 ppt (Refractometer)
Magnesuim: 1250-1300 ppm (Salifert)
Images:
Istiblennius meleagris

Favia sp.

Xenia sp

Acropora sp. frag donated by Zeason99. Doesn't display as the nice purple that it does in Zeason's tank, although it is encrusting and growing nicely.

I hope to expand this journal over time to include some background on the historical stages this tank has been through, as well as recording further progress and development moving forward.