Tom@HaslettMI Posted October 24, 2017 Share Posted October 24, 2017 Hello all! After much internal debate... I'm in. I have a few ideas on where I want to take this itty bitty ecosystem, but I've not landed on a final plan yet. What I do know is I want this thread to have a non-reef keeping theme. So, post will of course be focused on the "tank" but I will also attempt to enrich readers with something more. Thus the aforementioned theme, which will be the music of the late, great Fank Zappa. So, To keep with the theme each post will contain a secret word (like he did for so many if his concerts). And the secret word for this post is "vacuum flask"! What?!? Why vacuum flask you ask? Well, because the creative container is a 4000 mL vacuum flask. I rescued this from the garbage about 10 years ago when my fellow grad student broke the vacuum hose barb off it. I've always wanted to make it either a terrarium or an aquarium. Posts may also include some lyrics or recommend a Zappa song to check out. More on the pico as I figure it out. Happy pico reefing! Tom 9 Quote Link to comment
seabass Posted October 24, 2017 Share Posted October 24, 2017 I love the narrow neck. Looking forward to seeing what you do with it. Quote Link to comment
Friendly Posted October 24, 2017 Share Posted October 24, 2017 I am also looking forward to seeing how this one goes! make sure you get clamping tweezers or something! would hate for the rock to slip free and do a slow tumble to the bottom and break the base. Quote Link to comment
vlangel Posted October 25, 2017 Share Posted October 25, 2017 Wow, you must like a challenge! 1 Quote Link to comment
dmw913 Posted October 25, 2017 Share Posted October 25, 2017 Brave, brave reefer! Kudos! Quote Link to comment
Tom@HaslettMI Posted October 26, 2017 Author Share Posted October 26, 2017 Thanks for all of the likes and follows. I appreciate it. The secret word for tonight. Is: "Puffin" (see link at end of post to see why!) Still no physical progress on the flask. I have been thinking about it a bit... My dream is: macroalgae and dwarf seahorses. But I don't know if I want to commit to that level of food culture, and if I can't commit I'm not going to start. Second in line is a half-baked thought of a cryptic sponge forest. It'd be low cost to run. But I'm not sure how much growth would be visible in 6 months... or if it's even be doable. Plan C is sexy shrimp with a fuzzy mushroom or something. Your thoughts and opinions are welcome. Tom 2 Quote Link to comment
seabass Posted October 26, 2017 Share Posted October 26, 2017 2 hours ago, Tom@HaslettMI said: Your thoughts and opinions are welcome. For a narrow neck, I think it would be neat spray some pond foam in it to make a rock structure. While it's still wet you could place some rock rubble in the foam to build your rock structure. Then pour some crushed coral over it to cover any exposed foam. 1 Quote Link to comment
gena Posted October 27, 2017 Share Posted October 27, 2017 Interesting! I agree...quite the challenge. Once you get your coral and critters in there, I guess they stay where they are. Especially with growth over time. You'll have to break the glass to get things out . Quote Link to comment
Tom@HaslettMI Posted October 28, 2017 Author Share Posted October 28, 2017 On 10/26/2017 at 2:23 AM, seabass said: For a narrow neck, I think it would be neat spray some pond foam in it to make a rock structure. While it's still wet you could place some rock rubble in the foam to build your rock structure. Then pour some crushed coral over it to cover any exposed foam. Good thinking! My concern with doing that is exactly what gena brought up... I don't want to break the flask! Quote Link to comment
Tom@HaslettMI Posted October 28, 2017 Author Share Posted October 28, 2017 9 hours ago, gena said: Interesting! I agree...quite the challenge. Once you get your coral and critters in there, I guess they stay where they are. Especially with growth over time. You'll have to break the glass to get things out . Small and or soft critters only! The opening is actually about 2" across... so plenty of room... maybe? Quote Link to comment
Felicia Posted November 23, 2017 Share Posted November 23, 2017 Hi! Just a reminder to please pm me your November full tank shot (FTS) along with a link to your build thread by the end of the day on November 30th. Quote Link to comment
RayWhisperer Posted November 24, 2017 Share Posted November 24, 2017 Don't eat the yellow snow where the huskies go. White base and rocks with only yellow corals. Be a dental floss tycoon. Attach all corals to dental floss suspended from the rim. Joes garage. Paint container like a garage, just grow one frag of joe the coral acro. Baby snakes. Just grow snake polyps. Cant really think of anything related to Bobby Brown, unless you put something in that changes sex from male to female. Given the confined space, I'd not recommend it. 1 Quote Link to comment
Tom@HaslettMI Posted November 30, 2017 Author Share Posted November 30, 2017 Been awhile since I posted... I have not spent a lot of time or $ on the pico yet. I did get sand and water in it to start cycling. It is currently running a 25 watt heater and an air pump for circulation. I still need to decide on a light... I’m leaning toward a CFL rather that LED. Here’s the November FTS... not much to look at! and here’s Frank! Tom 3 Quote Link to comment
Felicia Posted January 1, 2018 Share Posted January 1, 2018 Just a friendly reminder that if you haven't already, please pm me your December FTS and a link to your build thread by January 5, 2018. Quote Link to comment
Tom@HaslettMI Posted January 6, 2018 Author Share Posted January 6, 2018 Is December over already? Man, have I been slacking on this pico. Sad to say nothing has changed this month... still just sand and saltwater. I did order a ZooMed ReefSun CFL bulb, but have not set it up yet. January will be different. Here’s the obligatory monthly FTS. Zappa time! This summarizes my efforts in December... Keep rocking! Tom 2 Quote Link to comment
Tom@HaslettMI Posted January 14, 2018 Author Share Posted January 14, 2018 Update: I had to cut back some fuzzy shroom in my main tank, so into the flask they go! I also got the CLF set up. Overall I like the color a lot. I had forgotten how nice and even fluorescent lighting is. Tom 3 Quote Link to comment
seabass Posted January 14, 2018 Share Posted January 14, 2018 The mushrooms are a nice addition Tom. 1 Quote Link to comment
Felicia Posted February 4, 2018 Share Posted February 4, 2018 I have not yet received your January FTS for the contest. Please pm it to me as soon as possible. Quote Link to comment
Tom@HaslettMI Posted February 4, 2018 Author Share Posted February 4, 2018 2 hours ago, Felicia said: I have not yet received your January FTS for the contest. Please pm it to me as soon as possible. Thanks for the reminder! PM on its way! Slow progress... Close up top down Tom 3 Quote Link to comment
Tom@HaslettMI Posted February 18, 2018 Author Share Posted February 18, 2018 I feel like the technical aspects should be covered more thoroughly. Heat = Aqueon mini heater (buried in the sand) with InkBird temp controller. Light = ZooMed CFL. Plugged into main tank’s APEX for on/off control. Flow = single outlet apump air pump. Livestock... so far just macroalgae and mushrooms. 2 Quote Link to comment
JBM Posted February 18, 2018 Share Posted February 18, 2018 You sir, shall suffer the full wrath of Chungas Revenge 1 Quote Link to comment
Tom@HaslettMI Posted February 18, 2018 Author Share Posted February 18, 2018 This pico needs an animal in it. Too small for a fish... I’m thinking may be a porcelain crab. Please let me know if that’s a bad idea or not. Thanks, Tom Quote Link to comment
seabass Posted February 18, 2018 Share Posted February 18, 2018 As long as it's fed, I think that would be OK. 1 Quote Link to comment
Felicia Posted February 26, 2018 Share Posted February 26, 2018 Hi! Just a reminder to please pm me your February FTS by this Friday 3/2/18. Quote Link to comment
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