Pilg0re Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 Alright, so now that my college tank has been up and running I'd figure I'd replace all the intro babble with tank specs and just a general description of my tank. Equipment Tank- JBJ Picotope Filter- AC50 Powerhead- K-nano 425 Reactors- DIY bubble canister reactors Heater- Marineland Stealth pro heater 50W Controller- Reefkeeper Lite with ALC Light- DIY LED fixture 4 Blue crees, 4 CW Crees, 2 nanotuners TV LEDS Stocking: Fish- NO FISH EVER! Coral- Mixed reef, from acans to zoas. Inverts- 2 Cerith snails and some Stomatellas, Maybe a porcelain crab in the future. Current FTS: As always, feedback and suggestions are welcome! Link to comment
Mr. Microscope Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 Hello PilgOre! Welcome to the pico community. Sounds like a good plan. The smaller K-nano would probably be better, but you might hear otherwise from someone else. That second light looks cool. I'd go for one 10KK or 6500K and two actinic 420 nm bulbs. Also, there's one bulb out there with some red in it (looks like a 50/50, but one side is red instead of blue). I've seen great color results with that bulb added in with some actinics and 10KKs. If, however you take what you'd spend on this light, and wait a little longer and save up for LEDs, you won't regret it. Link to comment
Pilg0re Posted October 5, 2010 Author Share Posted October 5, 2010 Yeah, I've seen different opinions about how much flow to use and really, if I find the 425 too much I'd be more than happy to put it in my 10g . As for the lighting I'm really leaning toward the led route and I'm familiar with soldering and all that it just sill seems daunting to me. Link to comment
.Newman. Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 IMO, if you want a simple and easy tank to keep in college, I would just run the whole thing stock and keep mushrooms and zoas. maybe GSP or something like that. you can create a tank that looks much better than some you can see on this forum with just being simple. This will also make the whole thing more affordable. I would send most of my funds, if i were you, to larger tank projects, not a temporary pico (as with all small tanks you will probably get bored of it after a year or two). Link to comment
Pilg0re Posted October 5, 2010 Author Share Posted October 5, 2010 IMO, if you want a simple and easy tank to keep in college, I would just run the whole thing stock and keep mushrooms and zoas. maybe GSP or something like that. you can create a tank that looks much better than some you can see on this forum with just being simple. This will also make the whole thing more affordable. I would send most of my funds, if i were you, to larger tank projects, not a temporary pico (as with all small tanks you will probably get bored of it after a year or two). Thanks for the input and I can totally understand where you're coming from. But on the other hand, I don't really see this as a temporary pico, just a portable one. Zoas are definitely on my list, and LPS (chalices and acans) are too as well as the easier SPS(if I decide to go with the LEDS because I have a ton of green slimer growing at home.) For some reason mushrooms don't do too much for me, and as for gsp. I'd rather not even deal with those invasive beasts. I'm toying around with the idea of creating a zoa "carpet" Link to comment
.Newman. Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 I am trying the do the zoa carpet as well in my pico lol! and idk why and maybe its just my case, but GSP hates LEDs. it simply wont spread and even dies back sometimes when everything else seems so happy. not an invasive coral IMO in pico conditions. Not temporary? I would still go with stock equipment just to challenge myself (if i had to start over with my picotope, that is one thing that I would do) Link to comment
Pilg0re Posted October 5, 2010 Author Share Posted October 5, 2010 Hmm, good idea. This hobby has a love/hate relationship with my wallet! Same with my girlfriend lol She hates when I set up my tanks, because it costs so much, but then sometimes I find her staring at it more than I do. Link to comment
.Newman. Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 lol all the more to be happy about going with just the stock equipment. Though it will be hard getting a thermometer in the tank w/o taking up much space (i guess you'll want a digital one then). I feel confident in saying that zoas, mushrooms, GSP, xenia, anthelia and most cloves, along with LPS like acan and Blasto will be sustainable under the stock lighting. Link to comment
Pilg0re Posted October 5, 2010 Author Share Posted October 5, 2010 Good to know! Haha I feel like we're swapping information by experience with your pico and my 10g. What's your WC schedule like on your pico? Link to comment
.Newman. Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 It used to be 1 gal water changed out, once a week. Since I will give dosing a try, now I'll be changing out 2 gallons of water out once a week. Due to the sand and rock amount in my tank, the total water volume (despite the AC70 fuge) is just a little over 2 gallons. I do not want to pressure you too much into running with stock equipment, It was only a suggestion. after all it is your canvas for some reefing art, not mine Link to comment
Pilg0re Posted October 5, 2010 Author Share Posted October 5, 2010 Hey, if I can save money and it works by itself I'm all for it lol Link to comment
.Newman. Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 Right, as with any tank, the slower you go, the better. Judging by your 10 gal, you seem to know exactly what to do and when. Link to comment
Pilg0re Posted October 5, 2010 Author Share Posted October 5, 2010 I wouldn't say that I am by no means an expert. I just spend a lot of time (too much) reading. Link to comment
Pilg0re Posted October 5, 2010 Author Share Posted October 5, 2010 Also, in your experience do you think it's worth it to buy one of those acrylic tops that are seen floating around in the classifieds section? Link to comment
.Newman. Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 acrylic tops? any top is useful to cut down on evaporation, so yes, but I'd go for a custom cut class one sicne acrylic may warp (or am i thinking of plexiglass here?) anyway get whichever one is cheapest for you. top is a nice thing to have on a pico. Link to comment
Pilg0re Posted October 5, 2010 Author Share Posted October 5, 2010 Yeah I bet evap can be a pain. I do plan to rig up the same ato I have on my 10g though Link to comment
zooman72 Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 A top is almost a requirement on these small tanks because of evaporation (especially in winter), and an acrylic works without warping if you go with Lexan - I got my sheet of it at Home Depot (~$10), cut it to fit, have had zero issues with it since, and I only top off manualy about twice a week. There is currently someone in the Hardware Sale forums offering acrylic lids for $30 shipped, which isn't bad really. Link to comment
.Newman. Posted October 6, 2010 Share Posted October 6, 2010 You could get a custom cut glass lid for around $20. Link to comment
Pilg0re Posted October 6, 2010 Author Share Posted October 6, 2010 Hmm, I'll look into it Link to comment
Pilg0re Posted October 8, 2010 Author Share Posted October 8, 2010 UPDATE!!! It came in the mail today!! Still waiting for all the goodies to come in the mail including some BRS dry rock! But for now, it's leak tested and ready to go! Link to comment
.Newman. Posted October 9, 2010 Share Posted October 9, 2010 good to see its not cracked or anything! when i ordered my picotope, the first one they sent me was shattered, so i had to send it back >_< Link to comment
Pilg0re Posted October 9, 2010 Author Share Posted October 9, 2010 Ouch! Yeah that was my worst fear that'd I'd come home all excited to see shards of glass all over the place. Link to comment
.Newman. Posted October 9, 2010 Share Posted October 9, 2010 lol yes i was quite disappointed in that i couldnt start my tank when scheduled. Link to comment
ColoradoNano Posted October 12, 2010 Share Posted October 12, 2010 Looks good so far two big suggestions for the JBJ Paint the back glass panel black looks better and hides equipment and cords. Upgrade the filter to a AC 50 or AC 70 Link to comment
Pilg0re Posted October 13, 2010 Author Share Posted October 13, 2010 On my to-do list! I just bought the standard black background paper for aquariums and it seems to work just fine. Well here it is finally has water in it! I bought some dry rock from reef cleaners and bought a few pieces of LR from my LFS (I'm going to take them out once it's cycled) Here are some pics! Oh yeah, I'm still playing with the scape so bare with me. Link to comment
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