1.5 gallon hex tank.. any suggestions? never done SW

Easydoesit

Easydoesit

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Mar 17, 2008
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Hey, I dont venture over here to the SW much, but I have a 1.5 gallon hexagonal tank that I dont know what to do with.
It has a crappy UGF(the airstone type)and hood w/ 15 watt(i believe?) light with a plastic protector thats place on top of the tank, right under the light.
Basically, a little hex tank with a hood and airstone w/ small air bubbler.

I was wondering if theres anything I could do with saltwater with this. I like salt water, I'd just like to start small. I think 1.5 gallons is pretty small:)

It doesn't have a filter, and the heater I put in there just broke one night when my sister had her betta in there. So it's filterless and heaterless. I could probably make a small filter with a powerhead and sponge though.

Okay, anything?
 
thats sounds the perfect size for an itty bitty nano tank. i unfortunately have no experience with SW either, but i'm sure there are many here that can and will help you out tremendously.

....personally..... i'd put a betta in there instead.... lmao!
 
I would say no, its too small. I have two 20g marine tanks and it can be bit tricky just keeping the water really stable in those size tanks. A 1.5g tank would have significant swings in temp, salinity etc and stablity is key to keeping any marine organisms even the hardiest ones.

For anyone wanting to start out in marine, and don't have the money/space for a large aquarium, I would say 15g minimum probably around 30g ideal first marine. The bigger the tank the more stable the water params and therefore easier to keep critters healthy. Just my opinion anyway.
 
bettafishmommy- yeah id put aother betta in too lmao, but i just think they look so lonely and bleh compared to my betta in the 10 gallon. plus, the floor space isnt super, the tank is more tall than wide

tropical- makes sense... but theres absolutely nothing i could do? it would be in a part of the house where the temp doesnt swing much at all, and id have a heater in it. i have a 10 gallon thats going to be empty this week, but i dont have that much money to spend on LR and everything to fill the 10. i was hoping to make a nano setup.. theyre so neat. i already have 2 FW setups, but if theres nothing i can do with this little 1.5 gallon with SW, then i guess ill just make a FW nano tank with shrimps or something
 
ps- tropical, that fish in your avatar is so cute, it makes me smile. lmao sounds a lil strange, but it does:)
 
use the 1.5 as your qt or hospital tank for FW and send me your empty 10..... lmao!

I have the same 1.5 hex with a shortfin male in it and he seems to do fine. i keep the fake plants to a minimum with a broad leaf one with leaves near the surface that he sleeps on, plus he gets a view of the two girls in the 10, so he is happy.
 
I would not suggest using a 1.5g tank for saltwater. Even a tiny amount of evaporation would make s.g. swing wildly, which would be dangerous to all organisms. There is no marine fish that can ethically be kept in any tank under 5g, and even 5g is really pushing it. Pico tanks (less then 5g) should really be left to experienced reefers, people who have the experience with keeping a large tank and the ability and time to maintain such a small tank.

If you really wnat to do marine, and are prepared to put a lot of time and money in it then I'd suggest getting a big tank 40g+ it makes starting out so much easier.

If you just want to 'dabble' with the idea of saltwater, perhaps make the tank brackish with a single bumblebee goby, it'll show you how quickly salinity swings anyway.

If you don't have the money to convert a 10g, how would you have the money to convert the 1.5? they still need a lot of similar equipment, LR, multiple test kits, a hydrometer, power head and its much much more difficlut to keep.
 
Easydoesit said:
ps- tropical, that fish in your avatar is so cute, it makes me smile. lmao sounds a lil strange, but it does:)
Click to expand...

Thanks, I'll tell him ;). He's my favourite fish species of all, Bicolor Blenny. He has a kind of "I see you taking a photo" kind of expresion on his face :).

If I had a spare 10g lying around (plus a bit of spare cash :)) I would probably put a few pieces of live rock in it, put a spare light, heater and a powerhead on it and just monitor it for a month or more. If I could keep everything stable and water quality good, only then would I think about putting some livestock in it. There's no harm in putting some saltwater and live rock in a tank and see how it goes, like cuticom said 'dabbling', but as soon as livestock goes in you've got to be dedicated (freshwater top ups, testing the water etc) or the livestock just won't do well. A 10g can work but it does require some dedication, I would never want to turn anyone off trying marine 'cause its very rewarding but small tanks do need effort and can be prone to problems.

Bit of specfic nano info here.
http://www.nano-reef.com/articles/
 
You could hatch brine shrimp in it.
 
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