jason12 Posted April 13, 2012 Share Posted April 13, 2012 Hi all, Just purchased an Ecoxotic EcoPico the other day and decided to go in a slightly different direction than I had initially planned with it. At first I just wanted a small kitchen counter tank that I could use to brighten up the area by adding a few softies and some mushrooms. However, after looking at various designs and some additional components people have added to them, I've decided to go for a slightly upgraded pico. Basically, it's gonna be an experiment into what this little thing can handle from a growth and sustainability perspective. So for now what I have planned is to get the tank set up and cycled, and get started with the upgrades. The plan is to have 2 of the stock light arms from ecoxotic completely jammed with 10 led strips. As far as filtration is concerned, being that this isn't going to hold much more than a small cleanup crew I'm going to stick with the stock filtration as well as the azoo palm filter. I think a combination of those 2 as well as the koralia nano that's already in there should provide plenty of flow. I'm also planning on getting a custom fit acrylic top once the additional arm and led strips arrive, to keep evap as low as I can. It'll be a work in progress and I'm just now ordering the additional components so in the next few days/week I should be ready to get all of the additional parts plugged in and running. I've included a few pics, sorry the cell phone camera kinda stinks. Link to comment
blaksheep67 Posted April 13, 2012 Share Posted April 13, 2012 Looks good ! Is that one rock or are they stacked up ? Good luck with your build. Link to comment
jason12 Posted April 13, 2012 Author Share Posted April 13, 2012 2 Separate rocks, the bottom one is flat and the top one is sort of a pyramid shape. I'm sure I'll adjust the aquascape 300 times as I go, but this one looked good for now Thanks! I'm looking forward to it! Link to comment
jason12 Posted April 13, 2012 Author Share Posted April 13, 2012 Anyone have any input on color combos for the lights? As of now I have 3 strips up there, down the middle is of course the stock strip and on the outsides of that I've put the 453nm Blue's. So I was thinking about doing 2 all white's on the outside of those. Then just repeating the same setup for the additional arm. Making each arm from left to right....white, blue, white/blue/white, blue, white. ******EDIT****** Just realized how utterly confusing that was... Here's what I had in mind Link to comment
jason12 Posted April 15, 2012 Author Share Posted April 15, 2012 Decided to go with the white/blue/white and all blue combos. So placed my order and am anxiously awaiting delivery. Ordered: Additional LED arm 4 white/blue/white LED strips 3 blue LED strips Azoo Palm filter 2 3-way splitters 3 12v Transformers It'll be a total of 2 Arms with 10 LED strips (18 blue and 12 White) This little tank is gonna light up big time when I'm done with it! Will post pics on arrival of everything Link to comment
fiction101 Posted April 16, 2012 Share Posted April 16, 2012 Two of those would look awesome over a 12" ADA cube! Link to comment
jason12 Posted April 19, 2012 Author Share Posted April 19, 2012 Got a text from the front desk that a package had arrived I wonder what it could be?!? More to come! Link to comment
jason12 Posted April 19, 2012 Author Share Posted April 19, 2012 Wiring, zip tying, installing, and a few hours later. Up and running!! Possibly the most expensive 5 gallons of water I've ever had. Got the spacing a little better and made everything look even. I really need to get a new DSLR because this camera on my phone does these pictures absolutely NO justice, this thing is BRIGHT. Just did a water change, waiting for the nitrites to come down, then the stocking will commence! Also going to run to the hardware store and grab a few thin strips of acrylic to make a custom fit top for this thing. Link to comment
jason12 Posted April 20, 2012 Author Share Posted April 20, 2012 Curious, what kind of salt do you guys use. I've just been using the plain Instant Ocean (non Reef Crystals). Any particular brand any of you guys swear by, or any good results found with others? Link to comment
jason12 Posted April 21, 2012 Author Share Posted April 21, 2012 A few new editions today! Link to comment
Builder Anthony Posted April 22, 2012 Share Posted April 22, 2012 eewww those look nice. Link to comment
Clarinet_Reefer Posted April 22, 2012 Share Posted April 22, 2012 Wow that's alot of light! Those led arms are sleek. Do you acclimate your corals to the LEDs? Link to comment
jason12 Posted April 22, 2012 Author Share Posted April 22, 2012 Wow that's alot of light! Those led arms are sleek. Do you acclimate your corals to the LEDs? Yea I've only got half of the strips running right now until they get a little more used to it, then I'll gradually add some strips a few at a time. Link to comment
fiction101 Posted April 22, 2012 Share Posted April 22, 2012 That has to be around $300 worth of lighting there. Link to comment
jason12 Posted April 23, 2012 Author Share Posted April 23, 2012 That has to be around $300 worth of lighting there. You are correct lol. This was my attempt at seeing what an ecopico is made of, using only stock lighting. These desktops are a lot of work though, that's for sure. Tossed a Zoa frag in there as well, pictures to come later after it opens back up! Link to comment
npatching Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 You are correct lol. This was my attempt at seeing what an ecopico is made of, using only stock lighting. These desktops are a lot of work though, that's for sure. Tossed a Zoa frag in there as well, pictures to come later after it opens back up! Wow! I'm definitely following along. Link to comment
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