Shallow naked PicO filtration

[frootbat]

Hi all,

 

I just bought a 15"x15"x9" naked PicO, and I'm wondering what to do about a filter.

 

The volume looks a shade under 9 gallons given the dimensions.

 

Equipment plan so far:

 

Eheim 350 skim (rated 80gph, not bought yet)

Some flavor of NanoBox LED (not bought yet)

Cobalt Neotherm 100w (overkill, but it's what I have on hand)

Tunze nano osmolator (maybe overkill also, but again, it's what I got)

 

Stocking:

mainly zoas, a neon green toadstool, a micromussa, maybe another odd lps here and there

I'd also like to keep my 2 juvie clowns in there, but if that's overstocking, I'm actually good with just inverts (sexy shrimp/rock flower anemone?).

 

My big quandary is filtration for the tank. I'd like not to wreck the aesthetics completely with a big HOB, but at the same time, I'd like to be somewhat sparse with the rockwork...in my imaginary mind I'm picturing maybe a .5" sandbed with spaced individual rocks...islands of zoas

 

I'm just wondering how I can pull this off with sparse live rock for biological filtration without hanging a big HOB with chaeto/purigen off the back. If I have to, I will, but I'd prefer not to if there are other options,

 

If any of you pros have any ideas, I'd be grateful

[JR!]

id paint the back of the tank a color and use and aqua clear 70 for filtration. just get a overflow box for the filter for skimming the water surface

[Tripwyr]

I'm personally not a fan of painting the back glass, but I agree with Jrmiller. Badfish sells a surface skimmer for the Aquaclear 70. I'm also a pretty big fan of the Aquaclear 70 media basket from inTank media baskets.

 

The other very clean and attractive option is the Mame Nano Overflow. You'll have to find one used or import one from Japan though. This is the cleanest option by far, but requires cleaning and costs a fair chunk.

[Alex B]

I would go with canister and Lilly pipes. Super clean look.

[DaveFason]

Look at the Cobalt EXT canister filter. It is so simple and easy.

 

-Dave