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Evo 13.5g upgrade - Page 2


shawnd08

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I have recently started my first Pico reef tank which also happens to be my first saltwater tank. I am sure some of you would advise that a small tank is for a more advanced aquarist and a larger tank would be a better beginners tank. I decided to share my build to get feedback and guidance from the more experienced group. I am not looking for someone to tell me its all wrong and I shouldnt do it.

The Tank is actually from Petco and originally had built in filtration which made the display around 2.8 gallons. I removed the filtration giving myself the full 3.7 gallons to utilize. I added a Marina medium sized HOB breeder/refugium and created 3 compartments for it. I was able to fit a 50 watt heater at a slight angle along the bottom which passes through each of the compartments. Currently I have live rock rubble, Chemi-pure blue, and foam filter pads in it. On the intake side I have an Aquatop 80 gph power head to bring the in. The water flows out the other end back into the display where I have placed a 40 gph power head underneath for flow.

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I have roughly 5 pounds of live sand, 4 pounds of dry rock, and a piece of live rock in the display.

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For a light I went with the Coral Compulsion Par30 Vibrance Reef light. I was able to get a desk lamp from staples that attaches to my night stand and allows for me to move the light in every which way. Ignore the canister filter, it was used during the cycling of the tank.

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I have the following frags. I am not 100% sure on a couple of them so please correct me if I am wrong.

GSP
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Green button polyp ?
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Zoanthoids (not sure what kind. there are 2 different types)
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Hammer
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Green Moonstone favia ? and nassarius
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And a yellow clown goby
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If you have any suggestions for changes that may be better for my setup please let me know. I appriciate the help.



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Looks good! do you mind posting a link to where you got your light? I've been trying to find one like it.

 

BTW, I'd keep an eye on the goby, he's looking a little thin though most gobies coming from the store are thin to begin with.

Anyways, good luck with your tank! I started small too, and it isn't that bad if you're on top of things. Everyone here is super helpful so ask anything you can't find with the search bar. And welcome to nano-reef :)

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this is the bulb I am usinghttp://www.amazon.com/Coral-Compulsion-Par30-Vibrance-Light/dp/B0099UINTM

I thought the clown goby looked a little thin. I've had him for a few days now and I spot fed him cyclops (LFS recommended) lastnight with a dropper and he came right up and ate from it. are there other foods that would work and how often would you recommend feeding ?

Cool thanks :) it looks great over your tank.

It sounds like you're doing a good job already, I would feed daily until he plumps up, just careful with adding too many nutrients. How long has the tank been up?

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It's been about a month the cycle came on quickly Probably due to the live rock and rubble. saw the spike in ammonia then nitrite and finally nitrate. The diatoms started it's process and towards the end of it I added the frags which to my knowledge are doing well. After a few days with the parameters in check I added the clown goby. I am on day 3 with him (or her) and have tested the water each afternoon which has been good so far. I did feed the goby tonight and noticed that it will take a piece and spit it out and do that a few times so I'm not sure if it dosent like the food or what. Hopefully I can get it in good shape. I really enjoy watching him in there, he goes perfectly in the tank.

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  • 3 weeks later...

Just and update on the tank.

 

Everything has been good so far with the tank. Added some more frags over the last couple of weeks. Also got a dslr, here are some of my first shots with it.

 

 

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NorthGaHillbilly

Tank looks great, my YCG eats flake like a champ, good way to get a dense food into em.

 

Also, Id watch out for the button polyps, there like a reed STD after a while

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Any specific flake you are feeding. I have been feeding cyclops and it will take a bite or two but is still skinnier than I'd like. I've tried brine and mysis with no luck. thanks for the heads up, I'll keep and eye on the button.

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NorthGaHillbilly

Any specific flake you are feeding. I have been feeding cyclops and it will take a bite or two but is still skinnier than I'd like. I've tried brine and mysis with no luck. thanks for the heads up, I'll keep and eye on the button.

Mine has done well on tetra, the cheap stuff

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I love this little tank. I've been knocking around doing a pico on my desk at work. Either fw planted or something like yours.

 

BTW: The canister you used to cycle... That's my only filter on my 9g. ;) They're surprisingly good canisters.

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I love this little tank. I've been knocking around doing a pico on my desk at work. Either fw planted or something like yours.

 

BTW: The canister you used to cycle... That's my only filter on my 9g. ;) They're surprisingly good canisters.

Thanks!! I wish I could have one on my desk at work. But I don't think it would go over so well. However I though about setting a mason jar up with some of the LR rubble and seeing if it will grow anything at my desk.

 

That canister is pretty tough, originally it was used on a turtle tank (10 gallons at the time, now the turtle is housed in a 75g) then I used it for freshwater on this 3.7G, a 10g quarantine, and finally For this cycle. It has been a very good filter to have around.

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Do you have a link or name to the aquarium this is? I really like the look of it!

I'm not sure if they still make itI dont see it on there website. Its a Petco Cubic 3.7g.

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I'm a huge fan of canisters for polishing and carbon. Mine is the only filter on my 9g. I removed the skimmer and never replaced it.

I threw out the sponge it came with and have filter floss -> carbon/smidge of GFO and Purigen. That's it. Haven't needed to do anything else. And I don't think the GFO is doing anything. But my nitrates have been zero and I was still getting GHA. So I tossed in a quarter teaspoon mixed with the carbon, and haven't had any new GHA show up. As I remove it, it doesn't grow back. So I'm calling this a success.

 

I have a Marineland HOT in the garage that will go on my 70, but only carbon in there. The skimmer will be up and running on that tank and I have a proper reactor for the GFO if I decide I need it.

 

As for my desk.. Better to ask forgiveness etc etc. I'm sure the owner will throw a fit (she doesn't even let me put pictures on the walls of my office), but I've been surprised. Like when I put a black glass "whiteboard" on my wall, she came in and complimented me on it. :)

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Update April 24th,2015

 

I removed the LRR from the fuge and am now only running filter floss and chemi-pure blue. A few of the LRR parts went into the display and the rest went into a mason jar that I have setup on my desk at work. I'll add photos of that later. The newest addition is a small scarlet reef hermit.

 

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Do you need a cleanup crew in a pico tank??

I think it's benifical to have a small cuc of snails. I went with the small 2g,3g cuc from reefcleaners. With in a few days they had cleaned up the sand and rock very well and have kept it clean. I'm sure there are others who have had no issues without a cuc in a pico but personally I enjoy the added life to the tank. The biggest issue I see is if a snail or hermit was to die and be left in the tank it would probably result in a crash And that would be devastating.

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Here is the jar I set up on my desk at work.

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Added a small Ocellaris Clown which is only in here until my 15 gallon build is cycled.

 

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Never thought to get a side shot of the 3.7 before.

 

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  • 3 weeks later...

Update: 2 Months

 

Tanks been running for about 2 months now. Everything has been good so far. I added 2 sexy shrimp and a green clown goby as I will be moving the clown to my 15 gallon.

I haven't been able to get a picture of the goby because he found a nice hidding spot and quickly pops his head out to grab some food.

 

 

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I will add some more photos of the tank and corals later.

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  • 2 weeks later...

I can't seem to find this tank anywhere? Is it discontinued?

 

I love the set up, btw. Neat idea having a pump move the water into the intake tube. Ever have any problems with detritus getting in there?

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I believe the tank was discontinued. I haven't seen it available for awhile now.

 

usually after a couple of weeks I will get a little bit of detritus. I just suck out what I can when I do a water change. about every 3 weeks or so I take the hob off and rinse it out.

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I can't seem to find this tank anywhere? Is it discontinued?

 

I love the set up, btw. Neat idea having a pump move the water into the intake tube. Ever have any problems with detritus getting in there?

 

 

I believe the tank was discontinued. I haven't seen it available for awhile now.

 

 

If this is the Petco 3.7 Gallon glass tank you mentioned in the original post, they seem to be available only at their retail stores, not online.

 

The couple of Petco's I've been at (one I frequent and the other in my neighborhood) have them on their shelf.

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