Weetabix7 Posted May 1, 2010 Share Posted May 1, 2010 April 30 FTS May 30 FTS June 30 FTS July 30 FTS August 31 FTS November FTS I have 2 goals for this tank: 1.) To create a a beautiful, lush Pico Reef showcasing Soft Corals, Macroalgaes, and a few small but unique livestock items. I will be stocking mostly with Soft Corals and Macroalgaes to show that a beautiful Reef can be created without using expensive, high-end corals. Since the size of this tank limits livestock options, I will be trying to add a few unique inverts to keep it interesting. 2.) To explore Leng Sy's Ecosystem method of filtration. This is something I have been interested in and wanted to try for a while now. Put simply, this method utilizes barebottom tanks and an attached refugium with a mud-bottom and macroalgae, no skimmers, and no chemical filtration to achieve a very healthy and diverse Reef Tank with prolific microfauna and filter feeders. For more detailed information, see here: http://www.athiel.com/lib7/lengsy.htmEquipment 10" cube tank, approx 3.5g actual water volume DIY Food Storage Container Refugium, approx 1.75g actual water volume 18w Tom Deco PC Perchlight for Display Underwater Halogen light for Refugium Tunze 5024 Universal Mini Pump Mini HOB filter 25w Hydor Theo heaterInverts Money Cowrie Several Stomatellas Cerith Dove Snail Periwinkle Snails Mini Brittlestars Micro Porcelain Crab 1 Sexy Shrimp 2 Pedersons Anemone Shrimp White Finger Sponges (died) Red Ball Sponge Purple GorgonianCorals & Anemones Anemone from an Anemone Hermit Crab Mini Carpet Anemone 2 Maxi Mini Carpet Anemones 2 types of Xenia White Star Polyps Encrusting Green Gorgonian Various Mushrooms Bam-Bam Zoas Nuclear Green Palys Tubbs Blue Zoas EvilMels Green Skirts Zoas (died) Tiny Orange & Yellow Encrusting Gorgonian AA Pink Palys Red & Black Zoa Frag (died) Green Blasto Merletti Very Small Green Nepthea frag Blue ClovesMacroalgaes Codium Red Botrycladia Blue Distromia Scrolling Algae Cactus Caulerpa (refugium) Caulerpa Prolifera (refugium) Blue Ochtodes Red Graciliara Fire Fern Stypodium Zonale Nemastoma (died) UnIDed Red Spotted Ruffly Macro Red Titan UnIDed Fleshy Rose Macro Red Graciliara Carpeting form of Chaetomorpha 7 Quote Link to comment
pismo_reefer Posted May 1, 2010 Share Posted May 1, 2010 (edited) I enjoy this. Edited May 1, 2010 by pismo_reefer Quote Link to comment
c_k_kuehne Posted May 1, 2010 Share Posted May 1, 2010 Not going into a lot of explanations atm, title tells you all you need to know. Next pictorial update should have cool stuff in it. Best part of this picture .............. It got submitted in time Quote Link to comment
alephnull Posted May 1, 2010 Share Posted May 1, 2010 I am liking the black silicone. Quote Link to comment
Weetabix7 Posted May 31, 2010 Author Share Posted May 31, 2010 I have updated the first post of this thread with an explanation of my goals for this tank and with a current equipment and livestock list. A thread describing how I built my DIY Food Container Refugium can be found here: http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=238317 One of the focuses I wanted to have for this tank was small but unique critters. I spoke with johnmaloney of Reefcleaners.org about what I wanted to do with this tank, and he found me a really awesome Decorator Crab that just happened to have decorated itself with the shell and Anemone from an Anemone Hermit Crab. Here's how they looked during acclimation: Unfortunately, the Decorator Crab died late that night. After it died, I noticed that it was an egg-carrying female, and I wondered if maybe the double stresses of shipping and pregnancy were too much for her. I do still have the Shell and Anemone that used to be her home. The anemone is one of the coolest looking things in my tank atm. I fed it a piece of PE Mysis earlier today. Another of my Interesting Inverts is a Fuzzy Chiton. He's pretty funky looking and likes to park where the two viewing panes of glass converge. I have decided to call him Fuzzy Wuzzy. Here's another shot of the tank from a different angle: More to come.... 1 Quote Link to comment
animalmaster6 Posted May 31, 2010 Share Posted May 31, 2010 Weetie this tank is incredible. I can't wait to see it fully stocked Quote Link to comment
Weetabix7 Posted May 31, 2010 Author Share Posted May 31, 2010 Weetie this tank is incredible. I can't wait to see it fully stocked You like? Hey, you're good at this, if you run across any interesting inverts that you think would work in this tank, would you let me know? I need to come up with something different since the Decorator Crab died. Quote Link to comment
jeremai Posted May 31, 2010 Share Posted May 31, 2010 that anemone is pretty fantastic. Quote Link to comment
animalmaster6 Posted May 31, 2010 Share Posted May 31, 2010 (edited) You like? Hey, you're good at this, if you run across any interesting inverts that you think would work in this tank, would you let me know? I need to come up with something different since the Decorator Crab died. I sure will! YGPM Edited May 31, 2010 by animalmaster6 Quote Link to comment
fewskillz Posted May 31, 2010 Share Posted May 31, 2010 This Pico gets the fewskillz stamp of approval. ...not that that means anything, but I like it Lisa! Quote Link to comment
pismo_reefer Posted May 31, 2010 Share Posted May 31, 2010 I wish this could be at my house... <Jealz. Quote Link to comment
peacemaker Posted May 31, 2010 Share Posted May 31, 2010 Nice! Would an AC70 fuge mod with the Miracle Mud work as well? Quote Link to comment
Weetabix7 Posted May 31, 2010 Author Share Posted May 31, 2010 (edited) Nice! Would an AC70 fuge mod with the Miracle Mud work as well? I'm honestly not sure. I've never tried anything like this before. Def. never heard of anyone trying it on a Pico. One of my concerns with the AC70-- and also one of the reasons that I build the fuge instead of using an AC--is that the volume wouldn't be big enough to function as intended in the Ecosystem method. But again, this is very experimental on my part, so that's conjecture. I'm sure I'll be able to comment on it more once I've had this running for a month or two. In doing research on this, it seems like this was a popular thing in the early 90's but it's not really done much anymore. Don't entirely know why. I looked up reviews on the Ecosystem Method and didn't really find anything negative. I know that it's possible for the Mud to develop Red Slime in the early days, esp. if flow isn't high enough, but that's supposed to be a new tank thing that runs it's course. I may upgrade my pump to a MJ400 to increase flow for that reason though. I've alrdy noticed one positive thing that may be a result of using the Mud, I will try to get pics to show what I mean later. Thanks everyone for the very nice comments! Edited May 31, 2010 by Weetabix7 Quote Link to comment
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