Hello all!

[humility13]

Day 4 - Our first pico experience! Very new to this!

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=9184&pictureid=63400

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=9184&pictureid=63410

[humility13]

Adjusted some water issues and revived the coral today! Lost a banded snail :sad2: ?

Any thoughts, other than their inherent fickleness?

[nanoreefer91]

That is pretty neat little set up you got going on…look forward to seeing your progress

[humility13]

I am having trouble with the coral. They seem to struggle in the morning and be strong in the evening.

Do I not have enough lighting?

PAR-30 5000-6000K / Actinic CFL / Warm CFL

[humility13]

I went with my hunch. Added a new light. Also someone suggest there may be nutrient deficiency (new tank / filtration / urchin snail) so I supplemented as well.

1hr later the coral seemed to perk up quite a bit. Any other suggestions?

[humility13]

Added 100W LED 5000K light over large tank. Placed the 60W 5000K over the small tank and the actinic in the stand.

I supplemented calcium etc... Someone suggested their could be nutrient issues.

Coral perked up quite a bit only 1 hr after new setup.

Any suggestions?

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=9184&pictureid=63430

BEFORE
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=9184&pictureid=63428

AFTER
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=9184&pictureid=63429

[SantaMonica]

There are polyps on the right, and what's in the left?

[humility13]

Just live rock a Snail couple hermits

And a small Goby!

The polyps came with the live rock.

[G_Sanab922]

What type of filtration are you running?

[pinguinoroja]

Not sure if you ever heard the advantages of 100% water changes as opposed to dosing.. but I've found this article to be quite interesting and compelling. reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-10/rhf/

For pico systems.. it seems to be a pretty common practice. The size didn't make it uneconomical; and it's pretty easy to overdose such a small system.

With that said, very cool array of pico systems. I would like to try a jar system sometime in the future.

EDIT: "large" water changes.. Not necessarily 100% :p

[pinguinoroja]

BTW.. I am no expert lol. Just sharing some interesting info with a fellow pico enthusiast. :)
Cheers and keep us updated!

[humility13]

Added a 'filter box thingy' I DIY'd out of a Marinelane Penguin 150.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=9184&pictureid=63450

Fluval foam with carbon and fluval filter stones in the basket.

Cut the back lid off to create a break.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=9184&pictureid=63449

Used fluval intake filter tube end to mate the hose and the impeller tube.

Used a piece of the old intake tube assembly to level.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=9184&pictureid=63451

Things seem much better. However, if the gorgonians stay alive it will be a miracle. I guess they are one of the more difficult corals to keep?


Bio loads in such a small tanks, I must be crazy ;).


All ghosty scrimps still alive. I guess that's a good sign.

[humility13]

Awesome article!

[G_Sanab922]

Wow ! Came out pretty good lol You should put this in the Ghetto Rig thread. haha That's pretty awesome

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1625418&highlight=ghetto+rig

[humility13]

Added 3 color LED frozen on the full spectum blue/white and place in box with algae.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=9184&pictureid=63452

SOURCED THE LED FROM ONE OF THOSE SILLY GLOWING MUSHROOMS!


Added two new small live rocks.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=9184&pictureid=63453

[humility13]

I have an established brackish tank that had the reptile style pump/filter. I used the same in the large pico tank. Seems to work fine. It does remove food quickly - a simple wiggle of the filter cartridge recirculates some.

The small one's bio load is high so I diy'd that filter box.

Water changes are essential to support proper buffering and water conditions...or so I read somewhere :p!

[humility13]

Added another pico tank today!!! :eek1:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=9184&pictureid=63587

NIGHT TIME!!!

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=9184&pictureid=63588

Here's the run down from left to right.

2.5ish gallon: red banded pistol shrimp, blue spotted watchman goby, snail or two, hermit or two, macro algae in tank and filter, live rock

5-6ish gallon: two green chromis, sharknose goby, tiger pistol shrimp, two snails, tuxedo urchin, two bumble snails, two or three hermits, green shroom anemone, green ricordia polyps, macro algae, live rock x 3.75

1.75 gallon: one yellow tail damsel, hector's goby, turbo snail, macro algae, live rock x 1.5

"knocking on wood"

Only lose thus far was hitch hiker coral and a trochus snail!!!

Wish us luck folks.

V/r,

Gabriel and Stephanie

[G_Sanab922]

Awesome!! Looks good! I want to do this! But idk if I should lol only feeds the addiction hah

[SantaMonica]

Stove top pico :)

[humility13]

Yes, but of course!