porkchop-rob Posted March 12, 2015 Share Posted March 12, 2015 EDIT** I will update this post with the most current info, as we go along... Current Items 1. Tank - IM Nuvo Pico 4 gallon 2. Light - AI Prime in black.....so.....sexy...... 3. ATO - Tunze Osmolator Nano 4. Inhabitants - Frostbite/Flurry Clownfish, Frogspawn, Candy Canes, Small Chalice Frag, GSP, purple Stylo, green Pavona coral. Tank has Fiji pink sand (maybe a mistake on my part) and Cured live rock from my 40B sump. Does anyone have suggestions of what else I need to do to make this tank SPS ready? Link to comment
porkchop-rob Posted March 12, 2015 Author Share Posted March 12, 2015 anyone? Would you guys go for the aio with sand and live rock as normal, go extreme with BB and rock or ceramic rings in a fuge, or go somewhere in between? I would say that my skill level is intermediate but I make no claims to be an expert! I have only been in the hobby a total of 3 years. Link to comment
CatfishSoupFTW Posted March 12, 2015 Share Posted March 12, 2015 anyone? Would you guys go for the aio with sand and live rock as normal, go extreme with BB and rock or ceramic rings in a fuge, or go somewhere in between? I would say that my skill level is intermediate but I make no claims to be an expert! I have only been in the hobby a total of 3 years. maybe just do a filterless build? some live rock, and a wavemaker of some sort and bam. good to go. simple, lost cost, youll maximize tank space and things should be set. an AIO that small, aside from flow, not too sure what youd benefit from at that scale. tank live rock in the tank with a shallow substrate the 1 fish snails corals lid powerhead/wavemker maybe matte spray the back of the tank minimalistic. if youd really like, maybe on weekends runs a power filter for some surface love, and cleaning, but overall I dont think you need all that fancy stuff. Link to comment
porkchop-rob Posted March 12, 2015 Author Share Posted March 12, 2015 Thanks for the reply.. maybe just do a filterless build? some live rock, and a wavemaker of some sort and bam. good to go. My only concern with that plan, is the surface skim. I had an issue with it on my very first tank, years ago. Since then, I have always had a sump. Is there another way to eliminate the surface skim/scum whatever, without having a weir for the water to break over? Link to comment
jabeuy Posted March 12, 2015 Share Posted March 12, 2015 Thanks for the reply.. My only concern with that plan, is the surface skim. I had an issue with it on my very first tank, years ago. Since then, I have always had a sump. Is there another way to eliminate the surface skim/scum whatever, without having a weir for the water to break over? Pointing the powerhead to the surface does it for me. I'm also running a simple office setup. Barebottom, 1 fish, rocks, snails and coral. Link to comment
porkchop-rob Posted March 12, 2015 Author Share Posted March 12, 2015 i tried that in the six gallon....not really a fan of it. Link to comment
jlangtree Posted March 12, 2015 Share Posted March 12, 2015 Eheim 350 Surface skimmer, its tiny and perfect for Pico/Nano tanks like your wanting to build. http://www.amazon.com/EHEIM-Skim-350-Aquarium-Filter/dp/B00D5WHBFC Worth every cent mate! Link to comment
porkchop-rob Posted March 14, 2015 Author Share Posted March 14, 2015 Broke down yesterday and just bought a Nuvo pico 4. I have it full at the moment doing the water test. My plan is to use... 1. hydor pico 180 powerhead 2. tsunami auto top off** 3. cured live rock from my display tank** 4. figi pink live sand 5. Boost led Par 30 lamp** Does anyone have suggestions of what else I need to do to make this tank SPS ready? Link to comment
Sk8n Reefer Posted March 14, 2015 Share Posted March 14, 2015 What type of sps are you comsidering- I don't have any exp. with that light so I can't help there. You could possible add a spin stream to your powerhead - gives really good random flow and will agitate the surface- might look ugly in that size tank though. I have two on my NUVO 16 and love them but some people just hate them for the noise. I found the noise settled down after awhile- I've had mine for about 8-9 months. I clean them every other month. A hang on back filter might be nice to run some media and would also agitate the surface for ya- if nothing else to rum floss. Link to comment
porkchop-rob Posted March 14, 2015 Author Share Posted March 14, 2015 What type of sps are you comsidering- I don't have any exp. with that light so I can't help there. You could possible add a spin stream to your powerhead - gives really good random flow and will agitate the surface- might look ugly in that size tank though. I have two on my NUVO 16 and love them but some people just hate them for the noise. I found the noise settled down after awhile- I've had mine for about 8-9 months. I clean them every other month. A hang on back filter might be nice to run some media and would also agitate the surface for ya- if nothing else to rum floss. To be honest, I am not sure what exact species of SPS I am wanting. I have shyed away from sps in my 40 gallon. I have only had LPS and softies up to this point. I am looking at the spin stream, but I am concerned about how far it will hang out into this little 4 gallon tank. Does the flow really need to be "random"? No hang on filter in the plans. The tank is an AIO, so I can run floss or whatever media I want in the rear chamber, plus the water is surface skimmed as it enters the back of the tank. Link to comment
Sk8n Reefer Posted March 14, 2015 Share Posted March 14, 2015 To be honest, I am not sure what exact species of SPS I am wanting. I have shyed away from sps in my 40 gallon. I have only had LPS and softies up to this point. I am looking at the spin stream, but I am concerned about how far it will hang out into this little 4 gallon tank. Does the flow really need to be "random"? No hang on filter in the plans. The tank is an AIO, so I can run floss or whatever media I want in the rear chamber, plus the water is surface skimmed as it enters the back of the tank. Gotcha- missed the AIO part- I really like the random flow. I don't use any powerheads in the tank so the random flow helps with minimizing "dead spots" - pick up a Birdsnest or Pocillopora , Stylophora- a little easier than some of the acros. Encrusting Millepora's are really cool too . Ck out my thread I have a number of all stuffed into my nuvo. Link to comment
porkchop-rob Posted March 15, 2015 Author Share Posted March 15, 2015 Got the tank all setup on the nightstand. It looks amazing. I went ahead and stole some live rock from my sump (been in there for two years). Current equipment list is.... Nuvo Pico 4 tank Boost Led Par 30 light Tetra HT10 Heater Hydor Koralia Nano powerhead. Tsunami ATO I need to work on a way to get all of the wires and hoses bundled together. It really is a clutter of wires leaving the tank.... I went ahead and "fed" the system last night. I am not expecting to see much of a cycle (due to the live rock) but I wanted to give it a few days and monitor it. I still need to purchase a little sand to toss in the bottom. Once I am sure that I am not going to see a full on cycle, I will add in the Tonga branch covered with red mushrooms and start shopping for a fish. Once the system is "proven"...then I will transport it to the office. If I can bring myself to....I REALLY like it by the bed! Link to comment
porkchop-rob Posted March 16, 2015 Author Share Posted March 16, 2015 Sand was added last night. After the water cleared a couple LPS frags were tossed in. Ill keep an eye on the test kits, just to be sure there isn't a surprise cycle. Link to comment
porkchop-rob Posted March 17, 2015 Author Share Posted March 17, 2015 Frogspawn is open...the candy canes are starting to really open up as well. Although, I now remember that I am not a huge fan of the Boost LED light. It makes everything look purple.....even the coral. Link to comment
Reefkid88 Posted March 18, 2015 Share Posted March 18, 2015 You're going to want random flow for sps. Constant,straight on flow just agitates them. In my 2 gallon,I have a AC50 filter with a AC70 impeller and a Hydor Pico 800 (200gh) turned half way down and pointed at the glass and when it was pointed more towards the corner,the ones getting blasted never showed polyp extension. But once I changed it,everything was fluffy and hairy as can be and extremely happy. As for the par bulb,their website states and 12" off the water it puts out I think it was 400+ par,which is really nice for a par bulb. Which you'll be able to keep any sps you want. It'll all just boil down to consistency,and keeping them happy. Which I can vouche for,is hard sometimes in a pico. It can definitely be done,just check out my 7g thread Link to comment
porkchop-rob Posted March 18, 2015 Author Share Posted March 18, 2015 Quick Pic and Vid the wife sent from her cell phone. I really need to scape the tank and organize the coral. They were all grabbed out of the big tank and tossed in (it was late, LOL) I am Really liking this Frostbite/flurry Clown! I wish I had room for an RBTA tho... You're going to want random flow for sps. As for the par bulb,their website states and 12" off the water it puts out I think it was 400+ par,which is really nice for a par bulb. Which you'll be able to keep any sps you want. It'll all just boil down to consistency,and keeping them happy. Which I can vouche for,is hard sometimes in a pico. It can definitely be done,just check out my 7g thread I am thinking of trying the spin stream and a stronger pump in the tank....maybe to solve the flow problem. I hate the COLOR of the Boost PAR30 (Everything is just PURPLE).....I am getting the AI Prime next week. It should do WAY more than I need! LOL I am really hoping to be able to keep this tank in line. The only thing that concerns me is dosing. I don't see me bringing that much more equipment into the office....but we will see. Link to comment
porkchop-rob Posted March 18, 2015 Author Share Posted March 18, 2015 Tunze Nano Top off is in the mail....I'm Not using much water, but I do not want to see major salinity swings over the weekends. Link to comment
porkchop-rob Posted March 20, 2015 Author Share Posted March 20, 2015 ATO is here....I am about to head home and set it up. Any recommendations for a clean/sleek ato container I can grab at wally world? Link to comment
ittybittypilot Posted March 24, 2015 Share Posted March 24, 2015 Ditto on the ATO container. I'm putting together my "nano shopping list" and I'm not liking the "unsightly ATO container" idea. LOL Link to comment
kylhcky Posted March 24, 2015 Share Posted March 24, 2015 ATO is here....I am about to head home and set it up. Any recommendations for a clean/sleek ato container I can grab at wally world? i use the plastic tupperware containers for cereal. mine hold about 1.5 gallons, good enough for a week of evap for me on a 10g Link to comment
porkchop-rob Posted March 24, 2015 Author Share Posted March 24, 2015 i use the plastic tupperware containers for cereal. mine hold about 1.5 gallons, good enough for a week of evap for me on a 10g I ended up with a clear squarish container (looks like the BRS containers that the GFO comes in) and its working nicely. I have sent a PM to someone locally to see if they want to make me an ATO container out of lexan, but no response yet.... Link to comment
Reefkid88 Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 So do you still dis like the color of the boostled par bulb ? Maybe get a coral compulsion bulb and sell the boost one ?! I also use a container for cereal as my ATO container. Just drill a hole in the flip up part and run your airline tubing down in there. But make sure its near the bottom. Link to comment
porkchop-rob Posted March 25, 2015 Author Share Posted March 25, 2015 So do you still dis like the color of the boostled par bulb ? Yup, hate it. That said, I have a purple Stylo on the sand bed as well as a lot of LPS and everything is open and happy. I have an AI Prime that should be here today....fingers crossed! Link to comment
CatfishSoupFTW Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 keep that camera ready ! been reallll curious on how that light will perform ! D: Link to comment
porkchop-rob Posted March 26, 2015 Author Share Posted March 26, 2015 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wrw2QOEOBAk Cell phone vid of the AI Prime. Nothing fancy...just and unboxing and a quick run through the wifi and adjusting the leds. I LOVE this light compared to the boost LED. Link to comment
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