4.5 Gallon Pico

[Natsirt]

Hey guys, I am new to RC but have been lurking in the shadows following everyones amazing builds. I just finished redoing my Pico so I thought I would post some photos.

Hope you enjoy!

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af220/Tristan_1202/IMG_3003.jpg

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af220/Tristan_1202/IMG_3005.jpg

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af220/Tristan_1202/IMG_3008.jpg

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af220/Tristan_1202/IMG_3010.jpg

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af220/Tristan_1202/IMG_3009.jpg

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af220/Tristan_1202/IMG_3011.jpg

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af220/Tristan_1202/IMG_3013.jpg

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af220/Tristan_1202/IMG_3016.jpg

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af220/Tristan_1202/IMG_3015.jpg

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af220/Tristan_1202/IMG_3017.jpg

[x3thelast]

beautiful tank! it'll look even better once everythings grown out. really love the clam and your zoa collection :)

[truebeliever71]

Very nice! Care to post some of the details of the tank/build?

[Forrest3320]

Another great nano

[Natsirt]

Thanks guys. I have a few photos but not much.

I started out with an IQ3 tank at my office and decided I didn't like it very much. It was too much maintenance and I couldn't control the environment or stay on top of the parameters. I ended up tearing it apart and planed my new build.

A few digital mockups

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af220/Tristan_1202/Dymax%20IQ3%20Pico/Screenshot2011-07-04at110215AM.png

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af220/Tristan_1202/Dymax%20IQ3%20Pico/Screenshot2011-07-04at110200AM.png

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af220/Tristan_1202/Dymax%20IQ3%20Pico/Screenshot2011-07-04at110145AM.png

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af220/Tristan_1202/Dymax%20IQ3%20Pico/Screenshot2011-07-04at110114AM.png

The Rapid LED DIY light

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af220/Tristan_1202/Dymax%20IQ3%20Pico/IMG-20110726-00069.jpg

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af220/Tristan_1202/Dymax%20IQ3%20Pico/IMG_2116.jpg

I had wanted to use the IQ3 for this tank but then thought one that was a little bigger would be more beneficial.

[Natsirt]

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af220/Tristan_1202/Dymax%20IQ3%20Pico/ATT78315.jpg

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af220/Tristan_1202/Dymax%20IQ3%20Pico/ATT80696.jpg

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af220/Tristan_1202/Dymax%20IQ3%20Pico/ATT64018.jpg

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af220/Tristan_1202/Dymax%20IQ3%20Pico/ATT10169.jpg

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af220/Tristan_1202/Dymax%20IQ3%20Pico/ATT95626.jpg

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af220/Tristan_1202/Toronto-20120217-00309.jpg

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af220/Tristan_1202/Toronto-20120217-00308.jpg

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af220/Tristan_1202/Toronto-20120217-00307.jpg

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af220/Tristan_1202/IMG_2357.jpg

As you can tell by the various locations each item is photographed in, the tank has taken a while to come together. I probably should have just got a bio cube and saved a few bucks but hey mine is one of a kind!

[OnTheEdge]

I have some questions about Rapid LED if you don't mind.

I have a Fluval Edge 6 gallon is it easy to mount?
Is it worth it?
How was the set up?
How is the performance?

Really like the tank design!

[Natsirt]

Thank you, it took a while to find the right wood but my friend finally suggested African Zebra wood. It smells great and looks good!

Rapid LED was great. It is fairly straight forward but you need to be a little adventurous as far as soldering things together (unless you get the solder-less kit). This light was WAY overkill for this tank as I have two white lenses permanently covered and then dim the light to about 30% power. I am not sure how you would be able to utilize it on a fluval edge. I would think you would lose the look of the tank as the light would need to be mounted across the entire top no?

My Lps and zoas love the LEDS. I have heard of clams losing their fluorescence under LEDs but mine seems to be doing okay. It may be the amino acids I dose but who knows.

[OnTheEdge]

Thank you, it took a while to find the right wood but my friend finally suggested African Zebra wood. It smells great and looks good!

Rapid LED was great. It is fairly straight forward but you need to be a little adventurous as far as soldering things together (unless you get the solder-less kit). This light was WAY overkill for this tank as I have two white lenses permanently covered and then dim the light to about 30% power. I am not sure how you would be able to utilize it on a fluval edge. I would think you would lose the look of the tank as the light would need to be mounted across the entire top no?

My Lps and zoas love the LEDS. I have heard of clams losing their fluorescence under LEDs but mine seems to be doing okay. It may be the amino acids I dose but who knows.

The hood is 7 3/4 W and 9 L. It would probably fit too snug but I might be willing to spend less and make some modifications. I'm looking at the AI Nano but the price is steep.

[Natsirt]

The hood is 7 3/4 W and 9 L. It would probably fit too snug but I might be willing to spend less and make some modifications. I'm looking at the AI Nano but the price is steep.

Yeah my light including shipping to canada was $180. I am not sure how much the AI Nano is but its probably more than that.

[OnTheEdge]

Yeah my light including shipping to canada was $180. I am not sure how much the AI Nano is but its probably more than that.

It would be like 300 + 80 for a controller.
http://www.aquaillumination.com/nano/

[Natsirt]

I guess if you want to spend the extra money it will come in a sweet enclosure.

[corman1313]

Awesome setup, I really like the hood, a bit of a zen aspect to it haha

[Spirofucci]

Now that's one cool good looking build! Classy.

Nice job and it's gonna look really nice in a few when it fills in. I hope you keep us posted on he progress.

[NanoReefWanabe]

that is a very cool little tank, cant wait to see it grown out...i love the shape of it and how you incorporated the light/ stand into teh tank design

[Natsirt]

Thanks for all the compliments guys! I found a really cool mushroom at my lfs the photo doesn't do it justice, its about as orange as orange crush with a pinkish red rim.

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af220/Tristan_1202/IMG_3020.jpg

I also added a neon goby to the tank.

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af220/Tristan_1202/IMG_3021.jpg

[Natsirt]

A few new pieces..
True Perc
http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af220/Tristan_1202/IMG_3028.jpg

Candy Apple Red
http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af220/Tristan_1202/IMG_3030.jpg

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af220/Tristan_1202/IMG_3048.jpg

Fruit Loops
http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af220/Tristan_1202/IMG_3034.jpg

Blue Mille
http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af220/Tristan_1202/IMG_3037.jpg

Orange Crush Zoos
http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af220/Tristan_1202/IMG_3049.jpg

Pineapple Express
http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af220/Tristan_1202/IMG_3051.jpg

some good growth so far
http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af220/Tristan_1202/IMG_3033.jpg

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af220/Tristan_1202/IMG_3041.jpg

I like this shot but the silly clown wouldn't get out of the way..
http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af220/Tristan_1202/IMG_3025.jpg

[rk_tek]

Very nice work on the stand. Did you build the tank yourself or have it made?

[Natsirt]

The tank was made by a local Acrylic guy. His work is pretty good and he is a man of his word. There was an issue with the first tank (too much glue was used) so he made me a second tank for free and I got to keep both. The second tank was perfect and to be honest the first one wasn't really that big a deal but he wasn't happy with it.

[Chaotic Reefer4u]

Very nice natsirt, thanks for sharing ...

[Natsirt]

Well I went to Reef Raft here in Mississauga Canada (I think they just expanded to the States as well) and picked up two amazing pieces. A piece of Dynamite Chalice and an unknown piece of SPS...If anyone knows what it is please let me know.

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af220/Tristan_1202/IMG_3054_zps29a69dc8.jpg

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af220/Tristan_1202/IMG_3057_zpsa4e2ed0d.jpg

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af220/Tristan_1202/IMG_3058%20copy_zps602d7132.jpg