moonyguy Posted April 7, 2005 Share Posted April 7, 2005 Hello Fellows Here are some details about my new pico. Has been running for about 10 days. Tank: 1.6 gallon/hex Cost: 20$ from walmart Lights: 10w 50/50 PC Bulb Cost: 10$ from BigAls Live Sand: 1 lbs Cost: 5$ from LFS Live Rock: 2.5 lbs Cost: 15$ from LFS Water movement: Aqua Clear HOB Nano Cost: 13$ from Petco Current residents: 1 Cerith Snail Comments welcome. Vishnu Link to comment
neanderthalman Posted April 8, 2005 Share Posted April 8, 2005 interesting aquascaping - it's always difficult in a small tank. That's some great coloration on that LR on the right....what's that green thing in the sand in front of it? Link to comment
moonyguy Posted April 8, 2005 Author Share Posted April 8, 2005 Thanks a lot. I was really inspired by your tank and felt confident that I can give it a shot. The green thing in the sand is a shell that came in with the LS but it was empty so I it sit there. Right now my temperature has stabilized to 84F and my evaporation is not terrible (1/4-1/2-inch) per week. My params are ph ~8, Nitrites 0, Kh 180, Nitrates 20 ppm. I was wondering about the Nitrates. Will they come down to 0? I ask this because anything below 20 ppm in FW is pretty acceptable. Just curious. Thanks again. clear skies Vishnu Link to comment
patio Posted April 8, 2005 Share Posted April 8, 2005 nice set up! how much did all of that cost you i am thinking of starting a pico and wanna know how mush monmey i should set aside just to start it off! Link to comment
moonyguy Posted April 8, 2005 Author Share Posted April 8, 2005 So far my cost has been ~70$. But the tank is pretty empty as far as life forms go. So I am expecting at least another 100$ for anything alive I drop in there. Unless I get some local donations from my school buddies here who have large 40-150 gal reef tanks. Details below: Tank: 1.6 gallon/hex Cost: 20$ from walmart Lights: 10w 50/50 PC Bulb Cost: 10$ from BigAls Live Sand: 1 lbs Cost: 5$ from LFS Live Rock: 2.5 lbs Cost: 15$ from LFS Water movement: Aqua Clear HOB Nano Cost: 13$ from Petco Thermometer: 3$ from Petco Hydrometer: 4$ from Petco Total: 70$ Link to comment
Carinya Posted April 8, 2005 Share Posted April 8, 2005 Nitrates probably won't drop to zero. This would require anerobic bacteria and tanks this size (or even regular nano-sized) usually don't have enough anerobic space. Nitrates typically managed via water changes. 84 degrees is too high IMHO for a reef. I like the aquascaping. C Link to comment
moonyguy Posted April 9, 2005 Author Share Posted April 9, 2005 Thanks a lot Carinya. I am working towards getting the temperature problem solved. Any idea what will be an acceptable level for Nitrates? Vishnu Link to comment
Daemonfly Posted April 10, 2005 Share Posted April 10, 2005 84F is a bit on the higher side, but fine IMHO, as long as it stays there. Link to comment
moonyguy Posted April 10, 2005 Author Share Posted April 10, 2005 I check and record the temperature twice every day before I turn on and off my lights and it pretty much stays there. I will want to continue watching this till the tank cycles and see where to go from there. Link to comment
neanderthalman Posted April 12, 2005 Share Posted April 12, 2005 Try increasing airflow against the OUTSIDE of your tank. I had similar temperatures last summer, and a desk fan worked perfectly. A small fan pointed at the tank from across the room should drop the temperature by at least a few degrees. If the temperature drops too much you may need to pick up a little heater. Link to comment
moonyguy Posted April 21, 2005 Author Share Posted April 21, 2005 Hello fellows, With everything under control I added a couple of Astrea snails and a small Bule Damsel to the tank. I am waiting for my first frags this weekend sometime. A local reefer was trimming his tank and he offered to give some free. Damsel has been busy digging holes. clear skies Vishnu Link to comment
Addicted to Nano-Reefs Posted April 21, 2005 Share Posted April 21, 2005 You shoudn't put a Yellow-Tailed Blue Damsel in a 1.6 gallon not to mention a 1.6 gallon hexagon, they get to around three inches, get a cool shrimp or crab. Cool Live Rock though. Link to comment
moonyguy Posted April 21, 2005 Author Share Posted April 21, 2005 Thanks a lot for the advice. Since I have it in the only way to get rid of him is get a bigger tank for him. So will watch and see if I upgrade. For now he stays in there. Link to comment
reeferboy89 Posted April 23, 2005 Share Posted April 23, 2005 thats way too much of a bioload. u need to take out the damsel Link to comment
calvin Posted April 27, 2005 Share Posted April 27, 2005 yep. crazy to keep a fish in a 1.6 gallon Link to comment
moonyguy Posted April 30, 2005 Author Share Posted April 30, 2005 Okay guys. The damsel is gone:) Thanks to your advice. The store would'nt take him back so I put him up for adoption there. So my tank is back to where it was.. 2 happy snails. I am getting my first donation of frags from a local reefer this weekend. Thanks for the advice and patience. Link to comment
moonyguy Posted May 7, 2005 Author Share Posted May 7, 2005 Hello Fellows, Just to update that of the three frags I got, the leather coral and the mushroom are doing fine. The mushroom fully opens with the lights and shrinks out at night and has found a home in the LR. One tree coral has not shown any signs of life so far but I am leaving him in there for a couple of weeks to give him a chance. So far so good and the tank is doing just fine. clear skies Vishnu Tank as of now: The red mushroom: Leather coral? Off topic we managed to train our 10-inch oscar to hit ping pong ball out of the tank. Some low-res video here (1 MB) Oscar playing ball Link to comment
patio Posted May 7, 2005 Share Posted May 7, 2005 that is one of the most beautiful oscars i have ever seen, but the trick thing is kinda stupid! but NICE FISH! Link to comment
moonyguy Posted May 7, 2005 Author Share Posted May 7, 2005 Off topic here are more images of the oscar: Oscar Tank 10 month-old Oscar 10-inch-long Oscar Sorry for the pollution. Link to comment
moonyguy Posted May 9, 2005 Author Share Posted May 9, 2005 Hello everyone, Got done with my finals today so it was time to revisit the LFS. I have added 4 tiny blue legged hermit crabs to the tank. So the current residents of the tank include: 2 cerith snails 1 astrea snail 4 hermit crabs 1 red mushroom 1 leather coral 1 tree coral Just wondering if I have too many things in the tank...especially the crabs? clear skies Vishnu Link to comment
neanderthalman Posted May 9, 2005 Share Posted May 9, 2005 Are those blue-leg hermits? They aren't much of a bioload - same with the snails...you've got more than enough of a cleanup crew, but it shouldn't be a problem. Sucks that the LFS didn't take back the damsel for store credit...but at least it's out of your tank. Link to comment
moonyguy Posted May 9, 2005 Author Share Posted May 9, 2005 Thanks a lot nean. I got lots of green algae growth in the tank and the snails seem to love it and feeding off them. I am not sure what to feed my mushroom and other corals. I got a bottle of DTs phytoplankton but just dropped 5 drops once 10 days ago. Is it necesary to feed the coral anything? If so how much? Thanks for the advice about the damsel...we were happy to get rid of him. LFS has credit policy only for FW returns... clear skies Vishnu Link to comment
aquariumgirl Posted May 19, 2005 Share Posted May 19, 2005 Hehe, I think the ping pong ball trick with you Oscar is great, very funny actually! You should think about getting some sexy shrimp! I have one in my 0.75 gallon pico cube, they are so much fun to watch. You could probably get away with having a yellow clown goby or even a pygme goby in your tank. Link to comment
moonyguy Posted May 19, 2005 Author Share Posted May 19, 2005 Thanks a lot for the advice. I will explore that option. For now I am happy that my three frags are doing great and am looking forward to adding a couple more next week. Vishnu Link to comment
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.