Anyone familiar with Pico Aquariums , also would like opinions on this tank plz

[Outlets710]

I think i am going to purchase a custom tank from Pico Aquariums, extremely impressed with there AIO nano tanks and the filtration setup. just curious if anyone has ever dealt with them and has any feedback.

I'm going w this design but a 29 gallon, any feedback,thoughts, suggestions on filtration would be much appreciated.


http://www.picoaquariums.com/SHOP/ridge/24-ridge.html

[reefsahoy]

I just got a tank from pico. They are a good company to work with. Aquarium quality pretty good. They answer you emails almost instantly! I think chris has his phone ring whenever you get on his thread so he's easy to contact. I really like the fact that i can control the display water height.

[Outlets710]

I agree you can't beat their customer service, Chris does call back rather quick.
Which tank did you get and would you change anything about it? I'm getting the ridge.

[Outlets710]

Your 100 g is unbelievable. That's gorgeous. What kind of lights r u running and what do you plan on putting on the new on?

[reefsahoy]

I agree you can't beat their customer service, Chris does call back rather quick.
Which tank did you get and would you change anything about it? I'm getting the ridge.

I got the DB18. i probably wouldn't go with the starphyer glass and save like $40. the glass is only 1/4" thick so i don't think it would really made a difference had i gone normal glass. the tank is pretty much as described on his home page.

[reefsahoy]

Your 100 g is unbelievable. That's gorgeous. What kind of lights r u running and what do you plan on putting on the new on?

thanks. the 100g has since been retired and then i got the itch to get back into the hobby!:clown: I donated the entire 100g's livestock and all equipment to the local museum here in miami. they eventually got a $100 million grant to build a new public aquarium by the arena in downtown. this darn hobby is so addictive it's hard to pull away. i got the DB18 with AI's nano LED's to give that type of light a try on a small scale. we'll see how that goes. here's a pic of that setup that i assembled 2 days ago.

http://i892.photobucket.com/albums/ac125/reefsahoy/Nano%20rimless/IMG_0991.jpg

http://i892.photobucket.com/albums/ac125/reefsahoy/Nano%20rimless/IMG_0992.jpg

http://i892.photobucket.com/albums/ac125/reefsahoy/Nano%20rimless/IMG_0996.jpg

[Outlets710]

are you running anything in the refugium chamber of the filtration system.
i love all the extras you have , unfortuantly mine is going on a kitchen counter so im limited on space and accessories. I think I am going to take a look at the light u have, looks grt. thanks for the pics.

[Darth Wader]

I have a pico aquariums tank and I love it. Build quality is awesome and I love how the AIO is setup. Great quality for price!!!

[reefsahoy]

are you running anything in the refugium chamber of the filtration system.
i love all the extras you have , unfortuantly mine is going on a kitchen counter so im limited on space and accessories. I think I am going to take a look at the light u have, looks grt. thanks for the pics.

If you get the ai light i stongly recommend some kind of controller! The light is very powerful and your eyes cannot detect the power. The brightness will throw you off because at 20% power i cooked some frags. As far a gadgets, i only have a dosing pump and ato under the stand. Personally i'd never do a tank without an ato simply because the constant fiddling with topping off drives me crazy. The filter wall is kinda thin so if you use the bracket for the light you will have to add some kind of thickness to the wall. I added a 1/4inch piece of plexi to accomplish this. At the moment i'm not running a fuge but will probably run a gfo filter instaed.

[E.intheC]

Reefsahoy that looks really nice! Where did you get that stand?

[reefsahoy]

Reefsahoy that looks really nice! Where did you get that stand?

LOL, Thanks! if i got a $ for everytime someone ask me that question i'd retire! the stand is RA-4200 Ecoxotic Black Wood Aquarium Stand. They are discontinued and are very difficult to find. google it and see if you can locate one. thats how i did it but i'll tell you it's a hard find!

[Cluckr7]

reefsahoy,

Where did you get that stand? I've been looking for an 18x18 stand and they are not easy to find.

[reefsahoy]

reefsahoy,

Where did you get that stand? I've been looking for an 18x18 stand and they are not easy to find.

that would have been another $! lol. i got the last one made from premiumaquatics! eco doesn't make it anymore! the stand is actually nice because it's not the regular cheap presswood stand. it's quite dense! i don't think you'll be able to find anymore out there unless they are under a rock in someones wearhouse

[reefsahoy]

try here! http://www.thatpetplace.com/black-wood-aquarium-stand-ecoxotic-25-gal

it shows in stock, if they have it jump all over it because it will go fast!

[Cluckr7]

Hahaha sorry, I saw the picture and didn't bother reading the last post (the one immediately before mine that asked the exact same question).

Thanks!

[Cluckr7]

Does that stand have a solid top (i.e. entire tank bottom is supported) or an open top (i.e. only edges of tank are supported)?

And if the latter, do you know if that's an issue with these rimless tanks?

[reefsahoy]

solid top. i would buy this again in a heart beat! it's built real solid!
http://i892.photobucket.com/albums/ac125/reefsahoy/Nano%20rimless/IMG_0867.jpg

http://i892.photobucket.com/albums/ac125/reefsahoy/Nano%20rimless/IMG_0866.jpg

http://i892.photobucket.com/albums/ac125/reefsahoy/Nano%20rimless/IMG_0864.jpg

http://i892.photobucket.com/albums/ac125/reefsahoy/Nano%20rimless/IMG_0865.jpg

[reefsahoy]

elos mini $1750
http://cse.f3images.com/IMD/feeds/EO7311_50.jpg

my chinese knockoff $500! lol:cool::cool:

http://i892.photobucket.com/albums/ac125/reefsahoy/Nano%20rimless/IMG_0991.jpg

i was gonna do the sump thing but the AIO is so easy to upkeep i couldn't resist!

[Outlets710]

I have a pico aquariums tank and I love it. Build quality is awesome and I love how the AIO is setup. Great quality for price!!!

Are u running one of his skimmers or atos? I'm just worried about it getting here in one piece. Going from coast to coast.

[Outlets710]

Darth, my tank is going to be 30x14x16 do u think the nano light u have will be enough to cover what I have and get food growth

[Maximus]

Two thumbs up for Chris at PicoAquariums. I have his DB18 and it's just full of quality.

[jmsalt1]

I'm just worried about it getting here in one piece. Going from coast to coast.

I recently ordered a smaller pico (12L" x 11D" x 13H") from Chris and I will say it was packaged very well. If it is a concern at all, let Chris know and I'm sure he will take every precaution to get it there with no issues. I'm sure it is something he has dealt with in the past. I was in state so not traveling far but it arrived with no issues and I was impressed with the way it was packaged. Numerous levels of precaution taken in the packing of the tank.

Here is a picture with some of the packaging still in place. There were additional layers of protection beyond this as well, foam peanuts galore.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=1608&pictureid=40401

[Cluckr7]

Are you guys happy with the return pump's flow rate?

If I understand correctly, the return pump on the DB is a MiniJet 606 with a max flowrate of 152 GPH, which I'm assuming is greatly reduced by the L elbow and bulkhead.

Can you guys that own these tanks give an estimate of what the actual flowrate is?

[Cluckr7]

Reefsahoy, is that a JBJ ATO I see in your picture? If so, was it difficult to get the floats to fit in the 3rd chamber?

[Outlets710]

Are you guys happy with the return pump's flow rate?

If I understand correctly, the return pump on the DB is a MiniJet 606 with a max flowrate of 152 GPH, which I'm assuming is greatly reduced by the L elbow and bulkhead.

Can you guys that own these tanks give an estimate of what the actual flowrate is?

[reefsahoy]

Reefsahoy, is that a JBJ ATO I see in your picture? If so, was it difficult to get the floats to fit in the 3rd chamber?


Yes its a jbj and the float fits easily. I only used 1 switch and config the jbj to turn off a few seconds after the switch is deactivated. I think the flow rate is fine but i also added a small powerhead.

[Darth Wader]

Hey Outlets710, I have the AI Sol regular not the nano. I'm not sure if the nano would cover the tank size you have, feel like it wouldn't have enough spread. The Picoaquarium I have is 15x15x15 and the nano would do but I feel like over and 18" cube the nano wouldn't be enough.

[rk_tek]

I have Ridge 15 that Chris built as a prototype for the ridge series. I was very impressed with the quality and live the tank. When I upgraded my other tank, I had Chris ship cut glass(the tank was too big to ship economically assembled) and then put it together myself. All the glass was superbly packed and arrived no problem.