Batman’s 4.1 Pico

[I'm Batman]

Here’s the end game... Run a pico mixed reef, stuff mixed LPS & SPS - marvel in the growth. Do whatever it takes to succeed. No budget but if I go over $1,000 I’ll just get a lagoon with an external sump (Which I probably should have just done instead) however this is what I wanted to do. 

 

After a ton of research and planning this is what I’ve come up with:

 

- Lifeguard Aquatics 4.1 gallon Pico (I may switch to the 3.8 gallon peninsula style)

- Kessil a80 blue 

- Marineland Precision 50w Heater

- Instant Ocean Reef Crystals. 
 

I’m probably going to get blasted for this - and I hope I do if I’m doing something wrong, I’m all ears. We can build this together - leave suggestions in the comments below!! 
 

I forgot to do an unboxing video but I was anxious to see if this thing made it through shipping. Here’s the water hold test.

 

 

Here’s set up where we need to go with salt.

 

 

Shipment of corals ready to go.

 

With blues

 

Didn’t want to be WWC dominated so threw a trumpet frag in there.

 

Got the blues playing tonight...

 

[PicoSavvy]

I currently have both the 3.8 offers more display surface area, but the 4.1 has much more filter space to hid your stuff close to twice as much as the 3.8. 

[I'm Batman]

Sooooo... looking at a few baskets, I built my 20 long around the dimensions of an InTank Nuvo 30 basket. Problem is, there’s no basket for this yet. Any 3d printed basket I’d be weary because of the PLA plastic, who’s done research in long term saltwater exposure eh?  
 

The waterbox 7 cube basket by InTank is so close...

 

https://intankaquatics.com/intank-chamber-one-media-basket-for-waterbox-cube-7/

 

I need 3 1/4” (82mm) x 2 1/8” (53mm) and the top basket rack has to be 7 inches - the top glass is 8 3/4”
 

IM Mini Max reactor should fit perfectly should I ever need it. 

 

[I'm Batman]

Ordered some Fiji Pink Dry sand - I’m going to use a the JBJ for the quarantine since nanobox fell through and I can’t find a retrofit to grow corals.
 

We’ll make this Lifeguard a little picotope with some requests I’ve received I have a few surprise corals on order to make this amazing!
 

Any livestock suggestions for a tank this small? A shrimp or something?

 

Would a shrimp/ goby pair work with a deep sand bed? 

Below: Working some rubble into rock shapes...

[I'm Batman]

Surprisingly this tank came with the Lifeguard 400 instead of the 200 which I thought was going to be enough for flow.

 

just upgraded to the Hydor Pico 260gph pump. The water now rushes over the weir instead of barely dripping over like before. That added about a 1/4” or more to the display water level, so I’ll have to be extra careful, it’s pretty close to the top. 

[I'm Batman]

Super pumped about this.. IM small filter socks fit in the 1st chamber... LLLLLLLiiiiikkkkeeee a gglloovveeeeEee...

[Chaozu]

On 11/5/2020 at 9:15 PM, PicoSavvy said:

I currently have both the 3.8 offers more display surface area, but the 4.1 has much more filter space to hid your stuff close to twice as much as the 3.8. 

What’s the filter chamber dimension for both the 3.8 and 4.1 gallon? 

[I'm Batman]

9 minutes ago, Chaozu said:

What’s the filter chamber dimension for both the 3.8 and 4.1 gallon? 

For the 4.1 gallon I have pics above. 3 1/4” (82mm) x 2 1/8” (53mm) and the top basket rack has to be 7 inches - the top glass is 8 3/4”

[I'm Batman]

Frogspawn looking bright in the natural sunlight from the window

 

[PicoSavvy]

1 hour ago, Chaozu said:

What’s the filter chamber dimension for both the 3.8 and 4.1 gallon? 

Rough inside dimension for the 3.8 are from side to side 7 1/5 inch by 2 1/4 front to back. For the 4.1 they are 11 3/4 inch from side to side and front false wall to back it is 2 1/4 inch.

[Chaozu]

4 minutes ago, PicoSavvy said:

Rough inside dimension for the 3.8 are from side to side 7 1/5 inch by 2 1/4 front to back. For the 4.1 they are 11 3/4 inch from side to side and front false wall to back it is 2 1/4 inch.

 

What about each chambers?  

[PicoSavvy]

5 minutes ago, Chaozu said:

 

What about each chambers?  

rough dimension (they are actually slightly bigger then this but I am not home for a couple of days to measure the exact size) in the 3.8 there is just 2 one that is 3-inch side to side and another that is 4-inch side to side which is where the return pump is. batman can give you the ones for the 4.1

[I'm Batman]

On 11/15/2020 at 4:38 PM, PicoSavvy said:

front false wall to back it is 2 1/4 inch.

It’s a tad smaller than 2 &1/4”

 

Precisely 2 & 3/16”. I’d stick with 2 & 1/8” to be safe. 

[PicoSavvy]

30 minutes ago, PicoSavvy said:

Rough inside dimension 

^^^^ there isn't really a big difference between 1/4 and 3/16. It around 1.5mm of difference

[I'm Batman]

27 minutes ago, PicoSavvy said:

there isn't really a big difference between 1/4 and 3/16.

Yes it’s a small distance however if you found a basket that was 2 & 1/4” it wouldn’t fit. Roughly 2” x 3” would be the safest dimensions.

[PicoSavvy]

I don't use basket but if i did i would just 3d print one to fit snuggly. So at least in my case rough dimensions are ok.

[I'm Batman]

On 11/15/2020 at 7:07 PM, PicoSavvy said:

I don't use basket but if i did i would just 3d print one to fit snuggly. So at least in my case rough dimensions are ok.

🤣 love it! 
 

 

[I'm Batman]

[I'm Batman]

Well we hit the ugly stage... hopefully I didn’t transfer Dino’s over from my 20 peninsula but have weird growth on the rocks but not the sand... 3 weeks up and tested nitrate at 10 or 50? Not sure of the color but went ahead and did a water change and here’s an FTS. Frogspawn loves the flow, getting bigger by the day it seems. dKH and Ca in check, running Duetto XP ATO in the 3rd chamber. 
 

 

[The Rainy Day Aquarium]

Hooray! Ugly stages are so underrated IMO 🙃 

Also I can't believe I haven't seen this build thread yet 😅 tank is looking good! (especially that clown haha!)

[I'm Batman]

Here’s a closeup if the clown... he’s a bit more aggressive than my 20g clown and even attacked the tongs!! 
 

[Daniel92481]

Oh nice! It doesn’t look like dinos to me from what I can see. I would definitely keep an eye on your nitrate and phosphate levels just to be sure.👍🏼

 

[I'm Batman]

3 minutes ago, Daniel92481 said:

I would definitely keep an eye on your nitrate and phosphate levels just to be sure.

I know right. I didn’t think I’ve have to keep up on Po4, but No3 for sure with the volume. This tank got dirty quick with the clown, 2nd week 2.5 ppm Nitrate, 3rd week 10+ 

 

Definitely don’t want to bottom out. If it comes down to it I can manual dose NeoPhos to keep a balance.

[farkwar]

3 hours ago, I'm Batman said:

hopefully I didn’t transfer Dino’s over from my 20

It just takes one cell

 

On one coral, frag plug, snail or hermit shell

 

I don't think its possible in the hobbyist environment to prevent that one cell from staying out of a tank

[farkwar]

42 minutes ago, Daniel92481 said:

It doesn’t look like dinos to me

It looks like new tank algae to me