Berlibee Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 Hi all guys, Several weeks ago I've ordered a Pico 20G from Chris and now I'm so happy that I've it! Received it in time with no problems and Chris was super helpful and professional with helping me and updating with the right information during the order, thank you very much Chris! And now, 2 days ago I've started my first nano reef ! Again huge thanks to Shaun for helping me with all the questions that I have hehehe. Setup: (Update 2, March 2016) Tank: PicO 20G Skimmer and air pump: PicO SkiM 2.0 with Tetra Whisper 40. Stand: PicO 20G stand Controller: Apex Doser: Kore 5th Main Pump: P10 Vortech Additional pumps for bare bottom: Hydor Koralia Nano 240 + Hydor Koralia Nano 425 ATO: Tunze 3152 Automatic Top off Nano Light: 24" T5 Dimmable SunPower Fixture x8. x2 Actinic. x3 Coral Plus. x3 Blue Plus. Zeovit info: - Zeolites in a mesh bag. Shaked daily twice. - Korallen-Zucht ZEOvit Activated Carbon in a mesh bag. Dosing: Mon: x1 Drop ZeoBak x4 Drops Sponge Power x1 Drop Coral Vitalizer 0.06 ml ZeoStart Morning + Evening. Tue: 0.06 ml ZeoStart Morning + Evening. Wed: 0.06 ml ZeoStart Morning + Evening. Thu: x1 Drop ZeoBak x4 Drop Sponge Power x1 Drop Coral Vitalizer 0.06 ml ZeoStart Morning + Evening. Fri: 0.06 ml ZeoStart Morning + Evening. Sat: 0.06 ml ZeoStart Morning + Evening. Sun: 0.06 ml ZeoStart Morning + Evening. Water change: 1g daily. Livestock: (Update 2, March 2016) x1 Fire Shrimps. x1 Pistol Shrimp (lost but it's there ...) x1 Anthias x1 Clownfish x1 Royal Gramma x1 Soon. CUC: (Update 2, March 2016) x12 Small Hermits. x12 Black foot trochus snails. Corals: Green Star Polyp. Many different Zoanthids. Golden Torch Coral. Favia Corals. Acan BattleCorals SPS ReefRaft SPS And other SPS. ... Some pictures: .... Last Update 02.3.16 : 1 year and 3 months later: (Update 2, March 2016) Index: Cycling Day 16 First corals and shrimps added. 25 days. Photos of new corals. Photos of new zoas and golden torch. Full tank view, first big order. New fish ! Christmas wrasse. Starfishes having fun! Favia close-up photo. New Live Rocks Radion Gen3 LED to T5 Fixture Problem Bare Bottom First Post: Day 2: (Cycling) ... First Post: Day 2: (Cycling) Fiji Pink with rocks from BRS. I'm using One & Only Live Nitrifying Bacteria for Saltwater Aquaria and Ammonium Chloride Solution from Dr. Tim's Aquatics also. After around 48 hours, ammonia is around 0.2ppm and Nitrates around 3ppm. And yes, this is super fun to you these test kits! The water is very cloudy at this moment, but also the glass is very dirty inside after the setup, need to get something to clean it ... P.S: Gnome like the tank too. Link to comment
kimberbee Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 I like it!! What are you using for a stand? Link to comment
Berlibee Posted December 18, 2014 Author Share Posted December 18, 2014 Thanks, yes I forgot about it. It's a PicO 20G stand also from PicO Aquariums. Link to comment
HIppieRose Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 Looks I lot bigger then 20 gallons. Nice start up. Link to comment
BriFran9 Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 Nice tank, should look great once up and fully running Link to comment
Berlibee Posted December 18, 2014 Author Share Posted December 18, 2014 Thank you, can't wait to finish the cycling. Link to comment
blazerino Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 Following along as well, should be a nice build. I'm super jealous though... my Pico SIII showed up yesterday cracked so my build is set back a few weeks...damn UPS. I am also starting with dry rock, I have been cycling it in a 5 gallon bucket for a few weeks using one & only and ammonium chloride. What airpump are you using for the Pico Skim? Link to comment
Berlibee Posted December 19, 2014 Author Share Posted December 19, 2014 I'm just back from the store, got a Tetra Whisper 40 for it. Link to comment
snowflake_clown Posted December 19, 2014 Share Posted December 19, 2014 Tank and aquascape look great! I used Dr. Tim's and Seachem's Stability for my cycle and had great results! Sounds like you're off to a great start. Link to comment
Berlibee Posted December 19, 2014 Author Share Posted December 19, 2014 I hope so! At this moment Nitrates don't drop but I'm sure they will in several days hehehe .... right? Link to comment
snowflake_clown Posted December 19, 2014 Share Posted December 19, 2014 My tank cycled on day 24, so it shouldn't be too long! Link to comment
Smithjm5 Posted December 19, 2014 Share Posted December 19, 2014 Sweet set-up, starting off with some great equipment! Link to comment
Berlibee Posted December 19, 2014 Author Share Posted December 19, 2014 Runned the skimmer on after 48 hours. Water is clean now! I'll run cycling with skimmer and no lights. Changed the pump placement also. It's now closer to the water level and in the middle. Still can't find the place where it will not washout the sand at the opposite corner of the tank. Changed the speed to 65%. Link to comment
Berlibee Posted December 21, 2014 Author Share Posted December 21, 2014 Wow in 3 days Nitrates growed up from zero to about 50ppm, you're sure they'll drop one day? Link to comment
blazerino Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 Wow in 3 days Nitrates growed up from zero to about 50ppm, you're sure they'll drop one day? Nitrates are the end product of the nitrogen cycle (ammonia --> nitrite --> nitrate) so you need to "export" them out of the tank via water changes. The nitrates generally won't drop on there own unless they are consumed by algae. I say generally because there are some additional biological processes and advanced techniques you can use to lower nitrates in the tank. Many people use a refugium to intentionally grow macro algae outside of the display area to help manage nitrate levels. What are your ammonia and nitrite levels? Link to comment
Berlibee Posted December 21, 2014 Author Share Posted December 21, 2014 I don't have a test kit for nitrites, ammonia is around 0.5ppm Ok, I'll see how it will change during the next week, in the Dr. Tim's guide it say that Nitrates must drop also after several days. Link to comment
Berlibee Posted December 22, 2014 Author Share Posted December 22, 2014 Oops, did a mistake. Dr. Tim is talking about Nitrites + Ammonia test kits and I did Nitrates + Ammonia. You're right, I need to get an other test kit and follow instructions. Thank you. Link to comment
snowflake_clown Posted December 22, 2014 Share Posted December 22, 2014 There is a video series on youtube that I found extremely helpful when getting my tank set up. In particular, one of the video's is on cycling the tank with Dr. Tim's and Seachem's Stability. He covers a ton of information on what to watch for and when the tank is fully cycled. Link to comment
Berlibee Posted December 30, 2014 Author Share Posted December 30, 2014 2 weeks now: Nitrites are still here. This is fun .... but c'mon guys, just leave my tank please. Link to comment
snowflake_clown Posted December 31, 2014 Share Posted December 31, 2014 Probably 7 to 10 more days. Almost there! Link to comment
Berlibee Posted December 31, 2014 Author Share Posted December 31, 2014 Sounds good! Happy New Year!!! Link to comment
Berlibee Posted January 1, 2015 Author Share Posted January 1, 2015 Hey guys, what is the best place to buy a cleaning crew please? Thank you. Link to comment
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