MarieH Posted July 14, 2017 Share Posted July 14, 2017 3 GALLON JBJ PICOTOPE. No upgrades. I am using stock everything and only adding a small powerhead for flow. Only addition will be tiny amount of chemipure blue and chaeto in a small breeder box. Today is day 2 of keep it simple stupid. 3 pounds of live rock and 1 pound approx of old dead rock. THE CYCLE BEGINS. 10 Quote Link to comment
WV Reefer Posted July 14, 2017 Share Posted July 14, 2017 1 minute ago, MarieH said: 3 GALLON JBJ PICOTOPE. No upgrades. I am using stock everything and only adding a small powerhead for flow. Only addition will be tiny amount of chemipure blue and chaeto in a small breeder box. Today is day 2 of keep it simple stupid. 3 pounds of live rock and 1 pound approx of old dead rock. THE CYCLE BEGINS. I love those little tanks! Quote Link to comment
MarieH Posted July 14, 2017 Author Share Posted July 14, 2017 Yes surprisingly cool for the price! 1 Quote Link to comment
Dominator Posted July 15, 2017 Share Posted July 15, 2017 I am a firm believer in keep it simple. Plus Pico reefs are just sooooo darn cute. Can't deny, seeing this makes me want one. Quote Link to comment
MarieH Posted July 15, 2017 Author Share Posted July 15, 2017 2 hours ago, Dominator said: I am a firm believer in keep it simple. Plus Pico reefs are just sooooo darn cute. Can't deny, seeing this makes me want one. It's just so easy. My only worry is evaporation. I am watching it closely and might add an auto top off if needed. The volume looks bigger than it sounds lol. Go for it. 1 Quote Link to comment
Clown79 Posted July 15, 2017 Share Posted July 15, 2017 Looks good. I love simple systems. Make a mark on the tank where it isn't visible and top up when it drops. That makes it easy. 2 Quote Link to comment
debbeach13 Posted July 15, 2017 Share Posted July 15, 2017 Great little tank. You should have a lot of fun with it. Quote Link to comment
MarieH Posted July 15, 2017 Author Share Posted July 15, 2017 Thanks, I am and very cost conscious, not because I have to but because I want to see how far I can get, on the cheap side. I might take out the box of chaeto / caulerpa mix (taxifolia and racemosa) out if I can get hold of some caulerpa prolifera and plant it instead but alas its hard to find here and very costly to get from the US. I put in an offer on ebay, waiting to get a response. Quote Link to comment
Clown79 Posted July 15, 2017 Share Posted July 15, 2017 I'm in cda too. Macro algae is very hard to get and i only see lettuce and chaeto in the stores. I wish we could get nicer stuff! 2 Quote Link to comment
MarieH Posted July 15, 2017 Author Share Posted July 15, 2017 My offer was accepted 12 US for a portion of prolifera, however I have since changed my mind. I think it might be too invasive for this tiny tank. I forget real estate is quite limited. Better to save the idea for another day. Quote Link to comment
MarieH Posted July 16, 2017 Author Share Posted July 16, 2017 New scape. Ordered a Hydor Evo Mag 150. I think removing one of the dead reef bones allowed for more edge space. 3 Quote Link to comment
Dominator Posted July 16, 2017 Share Posted July 16, 2017 I like both, I am a big rock lover. So much good things added to a tank. With enough rock, you might not even need to filter this, just move the water around the tank. Actually thats what I was thinking if I did a Pico. I would just have rock and flow and a few water changes a week. 1 Quote Link to comment
MarieH Posted July 17, 2017 Author Share Posted July 17, 2017 Thank you. I just put back the rock I had removed as per your suggestion I will remove the tiny filter when my powerhead arrives. I keep thinking big tank filtration thoughts. I will keep the little filter to run carbon if ever I have need to. NEW PICTURE. The tank in your avatar looks stunning. The poster above too! 5 Quote Link to comment
Dominator Posted July 17, 2017 Share Posted July 17, 2017 I am now thinking of doing a 5g and removing the rim on it. Make it like a mini me to my 20g. Is that Cheato in the back? I am trying to figure it out myself. Thank you for the nice comments. Getting a new light has really made my tank pop with growth. I do also run a small bag of carbon (or Purigen) depending on what I want to pull out of the water. However, I think most will agree, with such a small volume of water, you can easily do a quick water change to balance out anything. You can save your filter for this if you want to try and use carbon, but it might be better to just quickly change out most of the water and get whatever you need out. Are you planning on fish or just corals? 1 Quote Link to comment
Tamberav Posted July 17, 2017 Share Posted July 17, 2017 Love it! Setting up a keep it simple tank as well although not THIS simple. 1 Quote Link to comment
MarieH Posted July 17, 2017 Author Share Posted July 17, 2017 I am going simple on this one because I got something bigger in mind to come..wink Yes, thanks for the input Dominator, I plan on some sexy shrimp and old 'fashioned corals' in here such as xenia and gsp mushrooms, things that will grow under this light. Thus, no upgrades on it. Hope you guys start threads on your ventures. Something nice to look at when the snow comes! 4 Quote Link to comment
MarieH Posted July 17, 2017 Author Share Posted July 17, 2017 10 hours ago, Dominator said: I am now thinking of doing a 5g and removing the rim on it. Make it like a mini me to my 20g. Is that Cheato in the back? I am trying to figure it out myself. Thank you for the nice comments. Getting a new light has really made my tank pop with growth. I do also run a small bag of carbon (or Purigen) depending on what I want to pull out of the water. However, I think most will agree, with such a small volume of water, you can easily do a quick water change to balance out anything. You can save your filter for this if you want to try and use carbon, but it might be better to just quickly change out most of the water and get whatever you need out. Are you planning on fish or just corals? Its a mix of chaeto and caulerpa in a breeder box, i might spring for a hob finnex refugium, i have an aquaclear50 I can modify but I dislike the linear flow from them. Anyway, the box at present is just to harbor pods, its too tiny to do do much for filtration I think. 1 Quote Link to comment
Weetabix7 Posted July 17, 2017 Share Posted July 17, 2017 47 minutes ago, MarieH said: Its a mix of chaeto and caulerpa in a breeder box, i might spring for a hob finnex refugium, i have an aquaclear50 I can modify but I dislike the linear flow from them. Anyway, the box at present is just to harbor pods, its too tiny to do do much for filtration I think. That would certainly make for a great Microfauna Refugium. Also, I think that C. Prolifera would be less invasive than the Macros you already have. I mean yeah, you have to watch and prune it, but less than the C. Taxifolia and Racemosa. I'm hoping to get some Prolifera myself once I get my "big" tank going soon. 1 Quote Link to comment
debbeach13 Posted July 17, 2017 Share Posted July 17, 2017 Both rock scapes look good. I would leave all the rock in for now. The extra flow the filter provides can not hurt and a little carbon and floss is only going to help keep the water clear so why not use it. If you did change to the aqua clear fifty the increase in flow would not hurt and it would actually increase the water volume a little bit. You could mode the ac and get rid of the breeder box. You could also put one of those little preset heaters I think they are made by tetra and sold at Wal Mart in the filter and your display would be almost equipment free. Also what Wheetie said. Display macro's are great. 1 Quote Link to comment
MarieH Posted July 17, 2017 Author Share Posted July 17, 2017 Thanks, I am thinking on it. I have my eye on a Finnex hob refugium. I like the fact that the water trickles through compared to the AC filter mods. But then I already have the AC50...Its currently on my outdoor minipond. Points to ponder. 6 hours ago, Weetabix7 said: That would certainly make for a great Microfauna Refugium. Also, I think that C. Prolifera would be less invasive than the Macros you already have. I mean yeah, you have to watch and prune it, but less than the C. Taxifolia and Racemosa. I'm hoping to get some Prolifera myself once I get my "big" tank going soon. I too love the macro algae tanks..I would rather dedicate a whole tank to it with pipefish! Quote Link to comment
Dominator Posted July 17, 2017 Share Posted July 17, 2017 You can change the impeller to the AQ20 one to slow the flow down a lot. Also, you can slide it over to even further decrease the flow. There are a few different videos showing how you can use the media tray to make it a fuge. I was just talking about this with another person on a different forum. I have one laying around that I actually might mod into a mini fuge. However, trying to keep it simple, been running this way for a decade now, do not want to start changing too much at once. 1 Quote Link to comment
fishfreak0114 Posted July 17, 2017 Share Posted July 17, 2017 I was just looking at these tanks today and imagining the possibilities. I look forward to seeing what you do with it! 1 Quote Link to comment
debbeach13 Posted July 17, 2017 Share Posted July 17, 2017 I thought the AC50 was sitting around and that way you wouldn't have to spend money. But if you are using it some where else then you might as well check out other options before you spend. 1 Quote Link to comment
MarieH Posted July 18, 2017 Author Share Posted July 18, 2017 I can use the AC50 I already have, and that would leave $$ for a later light upgrade. (so true) I want to play with this for a year and then move on to a more 'serious' nano. My plan was to use the stock equipment as much as possible. But all good ideas I will keep in mind. 2 Quote Link to comment
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