travisurfer Posted July 4, 2008 Share Posted July 4, 2008 On a trip to my local Petsmart to get a 2.5g for my desk, I found this beautiful little Bettacube tank made by Current USA. It is glass, huge plus, with black silicone and beveled edges. There was a sticker next to it saying that it was a new product so I figured it would be perfect despite the $24.99 asking price. It is a truly awesome tank so I figured it was worth it though. I'm probably going to be going with a mangrove and a small crab or some sexy shrimp. In my other pico, which will be taken down, I have some half-dead live rock covered with half-dead gsp and healthy majano's. I got the rock for cheap because the owner was trying to kill off the little pests which I though would be interesting. Any thoughts on stocking? Equipment List: Current USA Bettacube Whisper Power Filter 10 Hydor Theo 25w Heater Portfolio Desk Lamp 1 x 10w Coralife 50/50 Bulb Link to comment
h3llc4t Posted July 4, 2008 Share Posted July 4, 2008 Tagging along. I hate how tiny most betta enclosures are but they make some damn fine picos. Link to comment
jewbilee Posted July 4, 2008 Share Posted July 4, 2008 definitely want to see this thing up and running! Link to comment
tinyreef Posted July 4, 2008 Share Posted July 4, 2008 noice! does it come with a top? i'm glad i still haven't set up my next tank yet. hmmm... how's that trim at the top? i'm not partial to it, do you think that's easily removed? Link to comment
travisurfer Posted July 4, 2008 Author Share Posted July 4, 2008 noice! does it come with a top? i'm glad i still haven't set up my next tank yet. hmmm... how's that trim at the top? i'm not partial to it, do you think that's easily removed? the tank comes with an open top. the trim is very nice but i took it off. it consists of two square trim pieces capable of sliding on and off. i just took them off, but you can easily put both trim pieces on over the top of the tank once it is setup. i think that is a nice feature because it lets you decide what you want to do with it. i don't know why you'd want to cover up those clean corners and beveled edges. pics of it setup in a sec. Link to comment
tinyreef Posted July 4, 2008 Share Posted July 4, 2008 i like the look! i just saw the ones without the edge/trim. i'm sooo getting that tank this weekend! i had been kicking around a 2.5g to go trimless (that was a pita to do). i should've just waited for this tank. *head-smack* looking good though! the gsp looks like it a monstrous chunk of rock placed in that little tank like that. Link to comment
clownfish1124 Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 what are the dims of the tank? Link to comment
travisurfer Posted July 5, 2008 Author Share Posted July 5, 2008 i like the look! i just saw the ones without the edge/trim. i'm sooo getting that tank this weekend! i had been kicking around a 2.5g to go trimless (that was a pita to do). i should've just waited for this tank. *head-smack* looking good though! the gsp looks like it a monstrous chunk of rock placed in that little tank like that. lol, this tank is just so awesome. i'm glad you can see why i didn't hesitate to buy it. lol, i was actually considering a rimless 2.5g as well but i figured this still my fit under my shelf with the light and it just barely made it. lol, thanks. the gsp are really starting to open up which is why i decided to ditch the original majano theme from the 2.5g hex that preceded this tank. there are actually 3 rocks in there but they are almost completely covered with gsp albeit the actual polyps are bleached atm. what'd you think about the stocking list. the tank is really too small to do any shrimp or whatnot so a single dwarf blue leg should suffice. the way the light is setup makes an ideal situation for a mangrove so i suppose i do have some nice nutrient removal but i dunno. the last question is on the backgrouond. the original plan was to go for the clean look and keep it open to have coralline and gsp grow in later on. what are the dims of the tank? 7 x 7 x 8 if i remember correctly Link to comment
jewbilee Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 damn, that does look really good... If run out of room in my 2.5 later on, I'll definitely set up one of these guys... very cool looking! Link to comment
tinyreef Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 i don't see why you couldn't go with 1~3 sexy shrimp or even one blood shrimp instead (pretend it's a tiny lobster ). or you could have up to 6-marine feeder shimp in there but they can/do jump. but watching their hearts beating thru their carapace is pretty cool. i've been favoring ceriths in recent years. i like the algae and scavenging aspects they have; the substrate turning ability, small sizes, and their fecundity are just further pluses for me. so ceriths are my preferred snail atm. but the bumble and astrae are a good combo too. more colorful and active. i'd keep 'em at one a piece like you have planned. not sure on the background as i think it also depends on the room and the lighting (imo). the aquascape also plays a part but could make it a moot point if you make a wall. Link to comment
travisurfer Posted July 5, 2008 Author Share Posted July 5, 2008 lol, yeah, i just want to make sure i have enough space. it just seems like sexy's could potentially get a bit cramped. lol, a blood shrimp would be rediculous. only you would put one in a 1.25g. feeder shrimp=lame but i do want some movement in there. lol. i have always loved ceriths as well. they were the only snails that could hide through cozmo's reign in my 20H. after looking at bumblebee snails though, it seems like they serve a similar purpose in a cooler looking package. the lighting is bright and i'm not sure how much more rock i'll be adding. with the mangrove and the gsp, i don't think the background will come into focus much. if i feel like it, i may just put some black posterboard back there or something. Link to comment
ddr_phish Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 I am definitely tracking this topic. I've seen these same exact tanks at my LFS and have been wondering how to turn it into a pico, the only dilemma I find is how to add a filter or powerhead without turning it into a sandstorm in there? Link to comment
travisurfer Posted July 5, 2008 Author Share Posted July 5, 2008 I just put the powerfilter on the back and it's fine. Link to comment
ddr_phish Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 I just put the powerfilter on the back and it's fine. Got any pics? Someone on a different thread was saying they had a yasha goby/pistol shrimp pair in a 1gallon nano at their LFS and they seemed comfortable, I might try something like that in a 3g.. Link to comment
travisurfer Posted July 5, 2008 Author Share Posted July 5, 2008 Got any pics? Someone on a different thread was saying they had a yasha goby/pistol shrimp pair in a 1gallon nano at their LFS and they seemed comfortable, I might try something like that in a 3g.. of what? there are a bunch of pics in the first post Link to comment
ddr_phish Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 I mean all around pics, you only have front view Link to comment
fiction101 Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 I would only go with one sexy shrimp, the problem with more then one is that they will be trampling all over your corals since the tank is so small. I have 4 in my 3g and they're always ####### off my toadstool and clove polyps! Link to comment
travisurfer Posted July 6, 2008 Author Share Posted July 6, 2008 I mean all around pics, you only have front view I'll get some more up as the tank progresses a bit. I would only go with one sexy shrimp, the problem with more then one is that they will be trampling all over your corals since the tank is so small. I have 4 in my 3g and they're always ####### off my toadstool and clove polyps! well, this will just be a giant patch of gsp for the most part so i won't really mind it. thanks for the heads up though. on that note, i may get a few mushroom and zoa frags to mix things up a bit but we'll see. Link to comment
travisurfer Posted July 7, 2008 Author Share Posted July 7, 2008 i bought one today. awesome i can't wait to start stocking too bad the lfs is only open on weekends when i have to work Link to comment
FishFreak77 Posted July 7, 2008 Share Posted July 7, 2008 I will deff be following this along. I can't wait to see what else you will do with it. Where did you find the lamp? Link to comment
travisurfer Posted July 7, 2008 Author Share Posted July 7, 2008 I will deff be following this along. I can't wait to see what else you will do with it. Where did you find the lamp? It was at Lowes, a chain hardware store similar to Home Depot, for $12. Link to comment
FishFreak77 Posted July 13, 2008 Share Posted July 13, 2008 So are you just using a 23w household bulbs to grow corals? Link to comment
travisurfer Posted July 17, 2008 Author Share Posted July 17, 2008 So are you just using a 23w household bulbs to grow corals? yeah, you just have to be sure to get a daylight bulb with a spectrum of 6500k. it's not ideal but it is cheap. i'm still considering a 10w 50/50 just for more blue though. Link to comment
FishFreak77 Posted July 18, 2008 Share Posted July 18, 2008 It would look nice with some actinic. Update? Link to comment
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