socalsprinter Posted February 27, 2014 Share Posted February 27, 2014 I'm a long time lurker here on nano-reef and decided to share my newest build a Spec V pico!. This is my first attempt at a pico reef so we will see how it goes. Background: I have kept some sort of tank since I was 8 and just converted to the salty side of things about 3 years ago. I currently have a 24 gal aquapod and a 36 gal in the works at home. Location: The tank resides in my office at work. Which has been a nice learning experience for my co-workers about the nitrogen cycle and why all their fish die a few days after they buy them..... Tank: It is a slightly modified spec V that I actually got for free! Well sort of free I purchased a spec V for my daughter to keep a beta but when it arrived the bottom bezel was cracked and the hood was also cracked. Petco sent me a brand new spec V and told me to keep the other one... so couple drops of super glue later I have 2 spec Vs for $50!. Tank Modifications: Taking examples from others around here I have added a small piece of plastic behind the overflow so that it actually surface skims. I have also added another pump and drilled the back panel to add a Hydor Flo. Equipment: Lighting: 18" Marineland Reef Capable LED. I went over a lot of options for this. I wanted something sleek, safe and inexpensive. A PAR 38 bulb was my first thought but the gooseneck would be a bit unsightly for an office. DIY led was my next but I didn't know how my boss would feel about my own electrical work! So I found a fellow reefer selling a used marineland fixture for 40 shipped it fits the tank perfectly and keeps the powers that be happy its from a reputable manufacture. I'm not ecstatic with the color of it(I like a bit more blue) but it will do. Pumps: Stock and a Hydor Centrifugal 100 with a Hydor Flo Heater: Hydor 50w Planned Stock: A single small damsel of some sort leaning towards a fiji blue devil Various snails may also do a pom pom crab As for coral it will be a mix of softies and some of the easier LPS. I might try some monti but we will see. Things Still to do: Finish the cycle. Actually I think that is already done as I used established rock and sand. I dosed ammonia and it converted it to 20 ppm nitrate over night. Going to monitor it and see what it looks like after the weekend. Make a media rack for the rear chamber have everything to do it just need to... do it. Will add some filter floss and chemi-pure elite. ATO of some sort. I need this mostly for the weekend. I may just make a small movable bottle ato and just leave it off during the week. Continue endlessly working on my aquascape as I am never happy with it lol Link to comment
BigAl18 Posted February 27, 2014 Share Posted February 27, 2014 Excited to see your progress and happy to se another Spec V. Link to comment
socalsprinter Posted February 28, 2014 Author Share Posted February 28, 2014 Well managed to make a simple ATO out of a hamster bottle. Tested it overnight and it worked great and its large enough to last the weekend. Link to comment
jestep Posted March 1, 2014 Share Posted March 1, 2014 This tank is definitely addicting. I've had several pico and nano tanks and this is by far my favorite. I got my first FW tank when I was 8 as well. If you want a damsel the springer's do extremely well in this tank. If you keep the stocking low, you may not need the CPE at all. I like the rock layout in the first image. I might reverse it so the taller rock is on the far side of the flow. But, coral will grow in, just find something you are comfortable with and let the tank evolve from there. Link to comment
socalsprinter Posted March 4, 2014 Author Share Posted March 4, 2014 This tank is definitely addicting. I've had several pico and nano tanks and this is by far my favorite. I got my first FW tank when I was 8 as well. If you want a damsel the springer's do extremely well in this tank. If you keep the stocking low, you may not need the CPE at all. I like the rock layout in the first image. I might reverse it so the taller rock is on the far side of the flow. But, coral will grow in, just find something you are comfortable with and let the tank evolve from there. Ya the CPE is a maybe still going to make media rack though just in case I want to add some. The tank made it through the weekend just fine and my ATO worked perfectly. Its is definitely cycled now so I decided to add a ricordia and duncan on my lunch break yesterday. They both opened fully and made it through the night. Going to look at some damsels today(with my manager who seems more excited then I am lol) also need to look into a small CUC. Pictures coming soon once everything opens up for the day. Link to comment
socalsprinter Posted March 5, 2014 Author Share Posted March 5, 2014 Here are some updated pics. Still haven't had the time to go look at fish but will be one day this week. Duncan: Ric: New full tank shot I moved the rock around a bit: Link to comment
socalsprinter Posted March 6, 2014 Author Share Posted March 6, 2014 Finished my media rack(no pics as its just a 2 tray egg crate media rack). Right now i'm still just running filter floss. May add come chemi pure but going to monitor my params to see if its even needed. Took my manager and co worker down to a LFS and picked up a fish! I let my manager pick a damsel from my approved selection and we now have a very nice blue damsel. I also picked up a small rainbow acan and a very green fuzzy mushroom. I decided to start a small cuc also as my rock had algae on it from my previous tank. I picked up 2 scarlet hermits, 1 blue leg hermit, and a couple nerite snails. Everything has opened and seem to be doing well. The crabs actually went in yesterday and worked all night to clean a lot of my hair algae off the rock. Some pics: Link to comment
socalsprinter Posted March 10, 2014 Author Share Posted March 10, 2014 Made it through the weekend with fish and coral in tact! Was nervous coming in on Monday but everything is fully open. Everything actually seems to have settled in over the weekend as the damsel made himself a cave and the coral has never been as open as it is today. Link to comment
Fishstiks Posted March 13, 2014 Share Posted March 13, 2014 If I might ask, how did you make (and hang in the tank) your hamster bottle ato? I am getting ready to set up my fluval spec v at work and need something for an ato for the weekends as well. Sounds like your setup is good........... Link to comment
Kijho Posted March 27, 2014 Share Posted March 27, 2014 This is awesome, I really like what you've done. Such a good idea to have it at work. Wish I could do that! Link to comment
bdevillier19 Posted March 28, 2014 Share Posted March 28, 2014 This is awesome. I have a spec v with an ato already made for it and I've been really tossing around the idea of putting it on my desk at work. Stock it full of mushrooms and zoas and maybe a tail spot blenny. Link to comment
nelyrag Posted March 28, 2014 Share Posted March 28, 2014 What I did for my Spec V. I cut a piece of acrylic to fit the rectangular hole in the lid that came with it, siliconed it over the hole. This has been GREAT for evaporation. I only have to add water once per 10 days. I bought a jbj nano cube surface skimmer to get the floaties off the top. I used the existing light and attached 1 blue stunner strip and 1 50/50 stunner strip to it. There was room for two more pumps in the little pump/sump chamber. Now there are 3, and I have them on a Tsunami wave maker timer (there is always two pumps running). Other than that I haven't changed anything else about this aquarium. I am very addicted to it as well. I prize it over my 300 gallon system. Link to comment
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