Dr. Seuss's Truffula Tank - 2.5 Old School Pico

[debbeach13]

Moving tanks is tough. I think a couple contestants did it. Tank looks pretty good from what I can see. I hope you can find the time to clean the glass for a new FTS and a little write up on your thought on setting up and  keeping a pico. You had a couple hick ups but some nice growth. You could be in the running. Enjoy your new place.

[ChristopherDido]

Hey all haven't updated this in a while, life and all lol. Anyway, I started thinking shortly after getting our new house in semi-order I wanted to get this tank upgraded a bit. I loved one of the other contestants tanks with the pink sides and another with the florescent orange rim, so I started looking here and there for a "glofish neon" tank that I had seen at a pet store. However I didn't want to spend $80 on a 5.5 gallon tank. After searching Craiglist, going to pet stores and other places, someone gifted me this tank. They're grandson had lost interest in the tank, so score for me. I wanted pink, but can't say no to free lol. I plan to run all the same equipment from the 2.5, figure the only thing I may need to add is "powerhead." But I'll have to see what the flow is like first with the Tidal 35 on there.

 

Anyway that brings me a couple questions before I make this live. 

 

First of all, not sure what's in the silicone that makes it glow, do you think it will have an adverse effect on the inhabitants? 

 

Second, I ran water and vinegar through the tank for 48 hrs to do a good clean and wiped it down after, no leaks! 🙂 but now the question, how long should I wait after a vinegar bath before adding my contents from the 2.5?

 

Third, anyone have experience with these tanks and ever used one as a reef?

 

I know there was one more question, but I can't remember it at the moment lol.

 

Anyway here's what the tank looks like. Thanks for your help.

[seabass]

57 minutes ago, ChristopherDido said:

First of all, not sure what's in the silicone that makes it glow, do you think it will have an adverse effect on the inhabitants? 

 

Second, I ran water and vinegar through the tank for 48 hrs to do a good clean and wiped it down after, no leaks! 🙂 but now the question, how long should I wait after a vinegar bath before adding my contents from the 2.5?

I assume that the silicone (which was made for aquariums) is safe once fully cured.

 

After you rinse the vinegar out, it's good to go.  Actually, vinegar is used to carbon dose reef tanks, so it's pretty safe in small doses (it can have a lower effect on pH due to its acidity).

[ChristopherDido]

46 minutes ago, seabass said:

I assume that the silicone (which was made for aquariums) is safe once fully cured.

 

After you rinse the vinegar out, it's good to go.  Actually, vinegar is used to carbon dose reef tanks, so it's pretty safe in small doses (it can have a lower effect on pH due to its acidity).

So wait then, should I run more regular water through it, or is just draining it and drying it good? Thanks BTW

[seabass]

17 minutes ago, ChristopherDido said:

is just draining it and drying it good?

Yep, that's it.

[ChristopherDido]

33 minutes ago, seabass said:

Yep, that's it.

Perfect! Thanks! Planning to try to do all this tomorrow 🙂

[ChristopherDido]

Got the move over done and added a bit more love Rock... First time chiseling a big piece, so that was fun. I'll probably start a new journal just for this tank, we'll see how everything holds up tomorrow as of right now everything is super pissed lol. But here's a quick pic of what it looks like. Let me know what you think

[debbeach13]

Looks good. I forget are you planning on fish.

[ChristopherDido]

13 hours ago, debbeach13 said:

Looks good. I forget are you planning on fish.

Nah... I already have a pom-pom and a clown goby in there. Thinking a trio of Sexy Shrimp would do great in there, and upping my CUC. And adding some RFAs. 

[seabass]

Looks nice.

[ChristopherDido]

19 hours ago, seabass said:

Looks nice.

Thanks! I think I'm gonna rearrange a rock on the right and one on the left basically move all GSP, some on backside of RFA rock, to one side and do something different on the other side some LPS maybe encrusting corals so two striking different sides. And more RFAs 🙂

[ChristopherDido]

As promised a quick photo update of the rescaped tank. I think I like it, wish it had a bit of differing height on both sides, but everything seems happy. Also, now my pom pom has settled into a spot where I can actually see him, granted he's still hiding in the rocks but can be seen. Love that the GSP mound looks more filled out now. Let me know what you think. Thanks

[seabass]

Looks good Christopher.

[debbeach13]

Well on your way. You could just sit back and watch it grow but I know your planning some additions can't wait to see them.

[ChristopherDido]

Hey all, figured it's been a hot minute since I've updated this. Really need to do better with that, you works think I'd have plenty of time being we're all stuck at home 🤷‍♂️. Anyway here's an update on the truffula tank. Everything is going well with it, I just decided today to finally "update" the lights. My teacher friend that I had set up a pico tank for at school is retiring end of this year and he and his wife want to travel with quite a bit, so he gave me a Zoox reef light that he had bought on Amazon. It's essentially a hipargero aqua-knight. It was growing corals pretty well in his little tank, so I changed out my par38 and built a little wooden stand to connect the light to, couldn't attach it to a rimmed tank. 

As for additions, I added four RFAs when I went to the frag swap here just before "stay-at-home" orders kicked in. All four are doing great and I did have a baby at one point appear on the glass, it has since disappeared, not sure if it got buried it what. Oh well it was cool thinking I may have babies but not sure now. 

I had a problem with this tank a few weeks ago when we started heating up, I think it was too close to a window in this 100 year old house and the temp got up to 84, thankfully nothing was effected negatively. Before the transfer I left out that I lost my Duncan Coral, the GSP over grew it 😞

My next additions are a few more RFAs whenever I can find a good deal and when my LFS gets some sexy shrimp in I'm buying three. 

So yeah sorry for the essay, here's some photos to make you all happy! 

 

First is with no filter, I went heavy blue on the settings 100% and 30% whites.

 

Here it is with the Polylab Coral vue orange lense.

Next couple are pics of my new RFAs

 

Old pink RFA

 

The Majanos are growing in well with the GSP

GSP

Solitary Hammer, will probably add another all green one next week from the retiring teachers tank that I through everything from into the classroom tank when I can get up to the school next week.

Tank has also become a holding tank for frags before I put them in my Nuvo 20, here's a flowerpot and rainbow cloves, need to clear of some bubble algae in my Nuvo soon and move these into there.

And one last shot that I'm not sure how to classify.

 

Thanks for checking in. Let me know if you have experience with the aqua-knight from hipargero and a 5.5 gallon and let me know how high I should turn the whites up to. Overall I think everything is happier, I haven't seen the Hammer open as much as it is since I got it.

[SliceGolfer]

Your build reminded me of this pink pico build

 

 

[Rehype]

Looks great tons of growth! Whats the evaporation like?

[debbeach13]

So glad to see an update about your tank. It looks great and is a fun tank. I hope you stop by more often. Stay well

[ChristopherDido]

1 hour ago, SliceGolfer said:

Your build reminded me of this pink pico build

 

 

His inspired me... I couldn't find a pink tank like that though 😞 i would've bought it off him if he could've shipped it. I loved that tank, if I every find one like that, I'll end up with 3 tanks in the house lol

[ChristopherDido]

54 minutes ago, Rehype said:

Looks great tons of growth! Whats the evaporation like?

Thanks! Evaporation is not too bad... I top up about every 2-3 days it could probably go close to a week. The top makes all the difference.

19 minutes ago, debbeach13 said:

So glad to see an update about your tank. It looks great and is a fun tank. I hope you stop by more often. Stay well

Thanks! I'll try to do better with it! Got some aptasia popping up here and there. But otherwise seems to be in auto pilot, I do about a 50% water change every other week. Which is shocking with a daily feeding of the clown goby. 

[ChristopherDido]

Hope Everyone is doing well in Quarantine.

Wanted to get an update in here on the little tank.  There was an issue with my Classroom tank (20Long,) basically they decided to move the tank into the hallway to make room for the new flooring, I was planning to go up there and clean out my room the following week, like we were instructed.  However, the "Movers" decided they needed all our teacher classrooms cleared out "NOW" so yeah, got a frantic call from someone about the fishtank on how to hook everything back up right (my number was right there that says if you have any questions about the tank or any problems with it, please call do not touch as it is a sensitive thing, that didn't happen til after the F-Up.)  Anyway thankfully they only knocked down a light, and very much thankfully it did not go through the tank or into the tank.  But it meant I had to make an immediate and unplanned trip up to the school to move the tank.  On the plus side, I was able to grab a few frags that I had not placed on the rockscape yet and bring them to my house to take care of in the Pico, so here's a few new additions, not sure if they will stay in there permanently or not, also managed to grab the hammer that I nearly killed in my neighbor teachers tank, which is where I got the new light and he is now saved!  

So yeah I've been productive lol...

First and FTS

 

Here's my Flowerpot which is doing exceptionally well, I was afraid I might have difficulty with it in such a small system and it being my first time attempting it.

 

Run of the mill Rainbow cloves, but they add more movement that is not just green

 

This Hammer was rescued after a mishap with school closing because of snow and me not getting a chance to top up a tank before leaving, so the water level on a 2 gallon got down to below half and it was out of the water, lost 4-5 heads, but saved two, seems be recovering nicely now.

 

Pic of a purple tipped hammer showing signs its about to split, which is nice because I have had it for quite a while and it just was meh... I think its the new light and upgraded flow in the tank!

 

Couple of my "Newer" RFAs, the red one I thought went walking behind, turned it it had just scrunched itself up real tight for a day or so.

 

My Long-time pink RFA, had this one for quite sometime now... He's the only one on the mountain with the Majanos, wondering what will happen if those two get too close?

 

Heres the Red RFA again and you can see how close he is getting to the Majano's reaching out

 

Next two shots are the RFAs on the top of the left "mountain"

 

Here's a shot of the rescued fat duncans from the classroom tank, they were being a little irritated by the Macro in there lol

 

And what I believe is a Bounce Mushroom I picked up for $15, correct me if I am wrong on that.

 

Lastly here's a shot of my YCG still kicking and enjoying life hanging in the Macros!

 

I post today because I have a question, I am also going to post it in RFA Appreciation Thread, but will Majano's Harm RFAs?  Anyone got any experience with that?  I'm getting some Pink-Tipped ones and am wondering if I should put them in the Nuvo 20 or in this tank... the Nuvo I am having issues with Alk staying stable and a horrible Bubble Algae plague lol.

 

Thanks guys, interested to know what you think on the RFA/Majano Question.

 

 

 

 

[debbeach13]

I can’t help with your question but the tank looks great.

[ChristopherDido]

3 hours ago, debbeach13 said:

I can’t help with your question but the tank looks great.

Thanks @debbeach13! I got some input over on the RFA thread! I'm impressed with how easy this set up has been. I have no extra filtration other than Rock and sand. I'm doing about 50-60% water change, currently every three weeks. Was doing it every other, trying to see what this tank is capable of doing. I top off with RODI about every three days. Only issue in concerned about currently is heat. With it getting warmer now, the tank is getting up to 82, but nothing seems to be affected. Fingers crossed.

[ChristopherDido]

So per my last question, I got some pink tipped Majanos shipped to me for this little pico. Sadly only 2 survived the journey, one I think was because when acclimating it stuck itself to the bag pretty good in the corner (hard spot to get them) another was melting when I put them in a holding tank till I was ready to put them in. So anyway here's the newest additions. They are huddled up nice and cozy next to one of my RFAs which seems to care less. Pretty excited to see these guys start growing and spreading. Thanks @TatorTaco for the great additions!

[debbeach13]

They both look nice now. Glad one didn't melt away on you.