Narzyzz_12 Posted June 19, 2017 Share Posted June 19, 2017 Dimensions: 11.8" x 7.0" x 8.3" Volume: 1.76G(overall) 2.5G(empty) Lighting: 3 x 12" TrueLumen Pro Strips Equipment: AquaClear 20 Heater: none yet (usually maintained at 78–80º F) Circulation: Might add a small powerhead later on Photoperiod: Planning on running it at full power for 8 hrs or so Filtration: 250mL of SeaChem Matrix and stock sponge Livestock: My plan for this tank is to turn it into a small zoa garden with a few encrusting Montipora on either the back wall on Background: Over the past 2.5 years that I’ve been in the Marine side of hobby I’ve set up 3 reef tanks so far a CoralLife Biocube 29, Nuvo 8G and a 20G Long all of which are still up and running. So as many of you know after being in the even a couple of years can lead the collection of old lighting systems, extra rock, and a constant urge for more. That’s where this Pico comes into the scene.I hope that this build will come close to being as awesome as @el fabuloso , @pj86 and @.Newman.epic 3g picos. 2 Quote Link to comment
Nart Posted June 19, 2017 Share Posted June 19, 2017 Looks neat. Can't wait to see some updates! I was thinking of starting a Pico too... but didn't want to deal with having to top it off daily. Quote Link to comment
Narzyzz_12 Posted June 19, 2017 Author Share Posted June 19, 2017 3 hours ago, Nart said: Looks neat. Can't wait to see some updates! I was thinking of starting a Pico too... but didn't want to deal with having to top it off daily. Yea this tank will by far be the smallest reef tank I've ever set up coming in at a whooping 221 oz something like 1.76g.The evaporation rate isn't too high, 24hr between topping off there it increased from 1.026 to 1.0265ish I don't know what the future holds for this pico, but man this is so exciting. Quote Link to comment
Narzyzz_12 Posted June 20, 2017 Author Share Posted June 20, 2017 What fish would you guys put in here?I'm thinking maybe a either Trimma cana a Green Banded Goby duo or a trio. Quote Link to comment
Narzyzz_12 Posted June 23, 2017 Author Share Posted June 23, 2017 Tested the pico yesterday and today the NH4 has gone from 0.5ppm ->0.25ish NO2 0.25ppm->1.0ppm guess I'll have to wait a couple more days till I test again.Right now I'm using @brightwellaquatics MicroBacter7 at the recommend using to seed a tank. 4drops per gallon for two weeks.Other than that I'm using some @carribsea livesand that I had in a bag for 8ish months, do you guys think the bacteria was in a dormant state and will take off now? Quote Link to comment
Lula_Mae Posted June 25, 2017 Share Posted June 25, 2017 On 6/22/2017 at 11:05 PM, Narzyzz_12 said: Tested the pico yesterday and today the NH4 has gone from 0.5ppm ->0.25ish NO2 0.25ppm->1.0ppm guess I'll have to wait a couple more days till I test again.Right now I'm using @brightwellaquatics MicroBacter7 at the recommend using to seed a tank. 4drops per gallon for two weeks.Other than that I'm using some @carribsea livesand that I had in a bag for 8ish months, do you guys think the bacteria was in a dormant state and will take off now? Dunno, the bacteria might be dead and give a nice kick-start to the cycle lol. I've never been convinced of the "alive-ness" of bagged, store-bought live sand, personally. But it might be. Personally I'd think it's more the Microbacter that is going to seed the tank. 1 Quote Link to comment
Narzyzz_12 Posted June 27, 2017 Author Share Posted June 27, 2017 I too was a bit skeptical about using the year old resealed bag of sand to seed the pico, it does seem unlikely that it would still be bioactive so I took a trip the LFS.As mot know when ever you visit the LFS you end up buying more than you planned,I left with a cool zoa rock, 5 of the tiniest Pacific Blue legged crab ever(possibly the cutest too) and a whooping 1.6lbs of LR.When I got home and unwrapped the LR the what I though was a tiny piece didn't even fit into the pico, so I ran outside grabbed a pair of scatter proof glasses and left the rest to gravity.Turns out LR it dense asf and it left its signature creator on the driveway,but it's a small price to pay if it means the perfect aquascape.lol Quote Link to comment
Narzyzz_12 Posted July 11, 2017 Author Share Posted July 11, 2017 Since my last update I've been only running a single Actinic LED strip and it seems that even one strip is more than sufficient. All the frags that have been added are showing great PE and even some growth already.However for the purpose of getting a decent photo I turned the 12K lights on instead. @Jholm007check it out bro 1 Quote Link to comment
Jholm007 Posted July 11, 2017 Share Posted July 11, 2017 So how long have you had this tank up? Quote Link to comment
Narzyzz_12 Posted July 11, 2017 Author Share Posted July 11, 2017 it's been up since 6-18-17 Quote Link to comment
Jholm007 Posted July 11, 2017 Share Posted July 11, 2017 So I guess I should expect some algae or diatoms within the next week or so? I just got mine setup last Friday night. 07/07/17. Quote Link to comment
Narzyzz_12 Posted July 11, 2017 Author Share Posted July 11, 2017 Yea, it's all part of the newly step up reef process.After a couple weeks it should go through the ugly phase as silicates are used up and diatoms fade away.You should closely monitor your ammonia/nitrites levels since your tank is fairly new and you added a fish right away. Plus there will be some die off the LR even if it was fully cured. Quote Link to comment
Jholm007 Posted July 11, 2017 Share Posted July 11, 2017 Well, I am going to stay on top of my water changes. I changed about 1/3 of the tank last night. Quote Link to comment
Narzyzz_12 Posted July 11, 2017 Author Share Posted July 11, 2017 That's good to hear,what are your parameters at ? Quote Link to comment
Jholm007 Posted July 11, 2017 Share Posted July 11, 2017 So far everything is still zeroing out. Not sure if it is because there is not enough waste in the tank yet, or because I keep a really close eye on the tank. I had a crazy idea last night of building a sump/refugium in another larger tank, right beside this one. I want to build a stand for this tank, so maybe if will do it and put it in the bottom. 1 Quote Link to comment
Narzyzz_12 Posted July 13, 2017 Author Share Posted July 13, 2017 Making a display fuge would be awesome Quote Link to comment
Narzyzz_12 Posted July 14, 2017 Author Share Posted July 14, 2017 The pico is starting to fill these past couple of week I've added some GSP,Xenia,Ice &Fire Zoas, and a Golden Psammocora frags.As for the livestock all that has been added are hermits and a couple snails that were jumped within minutes of going into the tank.You can see one of the killer crabs in the snail shell. 2 Quote Link to comment
Narzyzz_12 Posted July 21, 2017 Author Share Posted July 21, 2017 So in the past week I've made a couple changes I switched out the AC20 to a AC 70 not only because I wanted a bit more volume but because it was better option than plain old powerhead to add water flow,plus it saved space.I also made an attempt to build an acrylic lid which turned into a disaster since I completely scattered half the panel while trying to snap it.However I was a able to make a rectangular top with space for the AC70,so hopefully the evaporation rate will decrease. If anyone is more proficient in the art of acrylic work please give me some tips. Quote Link to comment
Narzyzz_12 Posted August 3, 2017 Author Share Posted August 3, 2017 So I was at the LFS last week just to look around and maybe buy some snails since my last ones were murdered by the killer hermits,but instead I ended up taking this little beauties.I believe they're called Captain America zoas or something along those lines. Quote Link to comment
Narzyzz_12 Posted August 3, 2017 Author Share Posted August 3, 2017 I also added a head of Candy Cane coral as well as a couple micro frags of a Green Birds Nest and a GARF Bonsai acro. 1 Quote Link to comment
Narzyzz_12 Posted August 23, 2017 Author Share Posted August 23, 2017 The pico is slowly filling in and will hopefully continue to do so. Quote Link to comment
Narzyzz_12 Posted August 23, 2017 Author Share Posted August 23, 2017 Also managed to snag this gorgeous chalice at the LFS 1 Quote Link to comment
Narzyzz_12 Posted August 8, 2018 Author Share Posted August 8, 2018 Last year after Hurricane Irma the pico didn't make it past the first few days. But shortly after life returned to normal I restarted it and here what it looks like now. 2 Quote Link to comment
Christopher Marks Posted September 11, 2018 Share Posted September 11, 2018 Somehow I missed this update @Narzyzz_12, sorry to hear about the hurricane ruining your pico reef. It was a handsome little system you had created. I'm glad to see you got it back up and running though, did you use all new liverock in the restart? How long has this version been going now? It must be getting close to it's 1st anniversary! 🎉 Quote Link to comment
Narzyzz_12 Posted September 13, 2018 Author Share Posted September 13, 2018 On September 11, 2018 at 3:08 PM, Christopher Marks said: Somehow I missed this update @Narzyzz_12, sorry to hear about the hurricane ruining your pico reef. It was a handsome little system you had created. I'm glad to see you got it back up and running though, did you use all new liverock in the restart? How long has this version been going now? It must be getting close to it's 1st anniversary! 🎉 Hi Chris, thanks for checking the pico out. It was indeed a tragedy.After the reset I only kept the SeaChem Matrix and the sand.The 1st year anniversary is coming up within two weeks . Day #1 09/28/17 2 Quote Link to comment
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