nosser Posted September 18, 2015 Share Posted September 18, 2015 Equipment: 3g JBJ Picotope AC70 with DIY fuge and media rack ATO BoostLed Par30 led Hello, I'm finally ready to get back into the hobby. I've missed it for so long. I was on this site 24/7 like 5yrs ago. I've had a few aggressive Fowlr tanks up to 120g, and a few nano reefs ranging from 5g to 30g. Before my son was born, I had lots of plans and bought tanks and equipment just because they were on sale but I've never used. I was hoping to sell my old but new biocube 14 to start a 40g. I finally settled in my new home and can start a tank now. There are so many cool tanks now and I just want to buy a new one but I figured I should ease back in with a smaller tank. So I plan to keep cost low for the time being and use my old but new stuff. I have 2 tanks to choose from. A 3g Picotope and a 7g Mini Bow. I have a (Fab) modded ac70 for the 3g and a modded ac110 for the 7g. Since I've been catching up and reading this site I'll most likely run without sand in either tank. I plan to paint the bottom with a finish so at least it will appear to look like sand from afar. Help me choose please.. Don't mind the lamp I was just checking how it would look in this location. This is my formal living room. Also don't mind the fixture for the Par30. I will be changing that too. Sorry if I talk to much! I have pichers Link to comment
Paleoreef103 Posted September 18, 2015 Share Posted September 18, 2015 I'd probably go with the 7 gallon tank. Increased water volume makes for a more forgiving tank. Link to comment
Merthynia Posted September 18, 2015 Share Posted September 18, 2015 I also like the 7gal tank. Link to comment
michaelrzachmann Posted September 18, 2015 Share Posted September 18, 2015 i smell an upgrade within a month of setting this tank up haha Link to comment
Langer6 Posted September 19, 2015 Share Posted September 19, 2015 I'd go 7. That way you can do a fish or two. I'm working on a 2.5 and can't stop myself from looking at bigger options for an inevitable future upgrade. Also, easier to maintain your perams. Link to comment
Orangutran Posted September 19, 2015 Share Posted September 19, 2015 Welcome back! I took a 2 year hiatus when my kid was born... I had a lot of old new equipment too! lol Good luck with the build. I'd go bigger than 7g if you can. Reefing is even more exciting these days, so many choices in livestock and equipment, you'll wanna upgrade real quick! Like Michael said... Link to comment
nosser Posted September 19, 2015 Author Share Posted September 19, 2015 Thanks everyone I am going with the 7 gal. I think I might remove the top rim and I just got some stone textured spray paint to paint the bottom. I ordered a few things. I've never used a koralia but hopefully it's not too much flow I ordered a 425. Haha about upgrading soon. I always find reasons to spend money! Well my girl is talking about how cute pufferfish are and how cool lion fish look so I already want to start a big fowlr tank and this will be my only reef. Corals are not cheap. Link to comment
gkarris Posted September 20, 2015 Share Posted September 20, 2015 Definitely the 7 looks better in a corner with that much space available. Link to comment
nosser Posted September 20, 2015 Author Share Posted September 20, 2015 Alright! Well the 7g is out. I'm embarrassed to say but I cracked the glass along the top removing the trim. I was rushing and not taking my time. It's just a small chip along the top but I'm just gonna trash it. I did get some paint and did the bottom of the 3 gal pico. I think it turned out pretty good! Now I can run a bare bottom. Link to comment
NinjaReefer Posted September 20, 2015 Share Posted September 20, 2015 The painted on sand is a cool idea. I liked the 3 gallon more anyways. Link to comment
nosser Posted September 20, 2015 Author Share Posted September 20, 2015 The painted on sand is a cool idea. I liked the 3 gallon more anyways. Thanks I saw it somewhere online. I was going to try a faux sand bed but I figured this would be a better and easier solution. That's what I keep telling myself! haha Link to comment
nosser Posted September 24, 2015 Author Share Posted September 24, 2015 This thing is wet now! Had a hard time taking pictures with the LEDs. First pic was Auto white balance and I adjusted the others. I also made a media rack for the AC70. Don't mind the silicon lol, I made that like 5yrs ago! Link to comment
gkarris Posted September 24, 2015 Share Posted September 24, 2015 That's like the perfect rock for a that tank... Link to comment
JR! Posted September 25, 2015 Share Posted September 25, 2015 What paint did you use for the bottom? Link to comment
nosser Posted September 25, 2015 Author Share Posted September 25, 2015 Looks great dude! Thanks man! That's like the perfect rock for a that tank... Thanks it's 3 separate pieces. I think they're originally from Reefcleaners What paint did you use for the bottom? I used this and painted the outside bottom. I got it from HD think it was like $6-7. Link to comment
nosser Posted October 2, 2015 Author Share Posted October 2, 2015 It's been a while since I posted. I'm using dry rock so this cycle is going to take forever! What suggestions do you have to speed it up a bit? I'm going to test it again today. on a side note no-one wants to buy my 14 biocube so I've been working on that as well. Link to comment
patback Posted October 2, 2015 Share Posted October 2, 2015 Yes! Another 3 gallon tank! That bottom looks awesome. if you throw in a piece of live rock, once ammonia and nitrites are reading zero I would say you are safe for a cuc and coral. I would wait a bit before a fish or anything though. Coral doesn't really count towards the bio load and with such a small tank, anything fishwise you add in the future will not produce much ammonia to worry about a spike. Link to comment
aquareefer69 Posted October 2, 2015 Share Posted October 2, 2015 That looks really clean using the stone paint for the bottom. Link to comment
Langer6 Posted October 3, 2015 Share Posted October 3, 2015 I'm cycling with dry rock too which I started with some flake food. Monday will be 4 weeks so hopefully everything is reading zero by then. I had a little nitrite earlier in the week but Ammonia has been 0. Looking forward to watching your tank come to life. Link to comment
nosser Posted October 3, 2015 Author Share Posted October 3, 2015 Yes! Another 3 gallon tank! That bottom looks awesome. if you throw in a piece of live rock, once ammonia and nitrites are reading zero I would say you are safe for a cuc and coral. I would wait a bit before a fish or anything though. Coral doesn't really count towards the bio load and with such a small tank, anything fishwise you add in the future will not produce much ammonia to worry about a spike. That looks really clean using the stone paint for the bottom. Thanks guys! I'm cycling with dry rock too which I started with some flake food. Monday will be 4 weeks so hopefully everything is reading zero by then. I had a little nitrite earlier in the week but Ammonia has been 0. Looking forward to watching your tank come to life. Yeah it's my first time using dry rock and honestly it's kinda boring haha! I used fish food too but I'm not seeing much difference. it's only been 1 week for me. I'm following your tank as well. I have read about the raw fish but wasn't sure about that since this tank is so small. Link to comment
Tkpico Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 Cool setup, excited to see where this goes. Link to comment
wow.such.chris Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 Im so glad I clicked your thread and saw that bottom! That looks so good and the longer I do this the more I HATE SAND Link to comment
mechishark7 Posted November 2, 2015 Share Posted November 2, 2015 That painted bottom looks awesome! I see it becoming a new trend Link to comment
nosser Posted November 2, 2015 Author Share Posted November 2, 2015 Thanks guys! Little update I finally finished my cycle and my girl got a clownfish and a $5 frag of candy coral. I also sold my biocube and purchased a 40b that I've been working on. I'll update pics shortly. Thanks for all the comments on the painted sand bed. I may do that on the 40b also. Link to comment
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