Trumps 2.5 gal pico

Trump · 07/31/2013, 04:27 PM

So this is a Deep Blue 3B (3 betta) tank Using a Aqueon 10w heater, Aqua Clear 30 with chemi pure elite and a sponge and a 6x 3w bridgelux fixture 4 blue 2 white.

Custom mahgony and red birch stand

Was going to go bare bottom but the water flow moved the rocks too much

Size reference

Custom Canopy and final rock (I think) added. ORA Birds of Pardise added in but still deciding on what to put on larger rock. Eagle eye zoas in there as well for now. Thinking an orange setosa on the larger rock.

TimmyD16 · 07/31/2013, 07:49 PM

Great little tank! Love how it looks like a miniature tank...

Trump · 08/01/2013, 09:57 PM

Thanks thats really the look I wanted like it was a big boy tank but itty bitty. I decided to add the orange setosa in lieu of doing a mummy eye due to the current in the tanking being crazy strong.

squishifishi · 08/01/2013, 10:53 PM

im excited to see how this turns out! i LOVE picos! mine is a 2.5g too, running for about 7 months now. Please do check it out, it might give you some ideas. the thread is called "pictures at last!" and it is in the nano forums. id love to hear what you think anyways.
what do you plan to stock this with? I think your scape coud use a tiny bit more rock, but you do what ya like. I'm so excited for you!!! will be following along for sure

Trump · 08/03/2013, 06:47 AM

I am not really planning on much rock as I plan on really keeping this as an SPS tank with maybe a plate or something on the bottom. Fish wise I havent decided but will be looking into like some Halloween hermits, sexy shrimp, things that are a little less common but not to expensive. Once lights come on Ill get some pic s of the corals currently in the tank.

JillMTompkins · 08/05/2013, 03:24 AM

I have a tank about that size in a cabinet and have always wanted to try a pico, but I get lost with the lighting aspect of things. What do you have for yours and how is it mounted?

Trump · 08/05/2013, 06:45 PM

I got a light off of ebay waiting on the club par meter to check what Iam getting out of it for sure but so far the SPS seem ok. I ended up getting it off auction for about 8 dollars less than buy it now price shipping was free.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Star-6x3w-LE...item19e04a1171

Trump · 08/06/2013, 06:53 PM

Add a little more rock one that I found in my main tanks sump and decided it could move up, along for the ride was a small serpent star I noticed as I was placing it. Also stopped in at the LFS and grabbed to astrea snails, couple nasauris snails and a sexy shrimp. Please excuse the cell phone pic and slightly cloudy front glass.

Whysoserious · 08/06/2013, 08:31 PM

Nice! For a 2.5g, thing looks like a 10g

squishifishi · 08/06/2013, 09:31 PM

It's not proportioned likebabregular 2.5, so it looks bigger. The stand makes it look huge too lol

Trump · 08/07/2013, 06:19 PM

I may pick up more sexy shrimp too. I believe I may try a Harlequin shrimp if I decided my water is good enough and I can get enough star fish going in my sump to feed it properly.

The sexy shrimp is on the front right corner of the glass in that pic so you can see size.

squishifishi · 08/12/2013, 01:47 PM

I see him, cute

webersp · 08/13/2013, 01:11 AM

I'm really interested to see what this looks like after some time. I've been tempted to due a really small tank like this.

Trump · 09/09/2013, 03:55 PM

Well The tank was doing good but ran into a huge pothole with it. My aqua clear developed a stress crack from the mod I did on the intake side of the thing and leaked water while I was away for a week. The person watching just assumed it was evap and all but my sexy and hopefully the orange setosa died. Iam looking at new filters now.

Sugar Magnolia · 09/10/2013, 08:06 AM

Well that's a shame. What exactly did you do to the filter?

Trump · 09/10/2013, 08:56 AM

The tube that pulls water up was too long and I cut it to make it proper length but it was thicker there and it cracked the main box. I should have filed down the holders so it just sat there insteaded of being held in place.

KafudaFish · 09/10/2013, 09:39 AM

That is too bad and have never had one crack even though I have been using them since the 1980's. The ACs, eheims, MJ (now Cobalt) and Ebo Jager heaters are workhorses and I wish everything lasted like they do.

If you want, you can take the extension tube and cut the strainer off at the line and invert it into the intake pipe. It will stay in place as long as the power is on and is easy to remove to be cleaned.

Another suggestion is making a small "stand" like a piece of 2 x 4 for the AC to sit on so all the weight is not on the aquarium glass.

Finally if you stick something between the glass and the filter at the bottom like a paper towel or plastic bag it will change the angle and will cut down on the chances of the filter overflowing when the media becomes clogged.

Been there, done that.

The filter comes with a small plastic piece that inserts in the bottom but with the paper towel it will quiet down the filter too.

The only other complaint about the AC is after 10 years of constant use, if the power goes out it doesn't always restart so keep a chopstick handy and give it a good poke if the water isn't flowing.

Good luck.

Trump · 09/10/2013, 11:15 AM

I really liked the performance but may be going with a hob canister a club member posted.

Trump · 09/28/2013, 08:59 PM

So after all is said and done bought a deep blue nano filter. Will be doing a water change this weekend and pretty much restarting this bad boy.

Reefdiver77 · 09/28/2013, 09:51 PM

"Finally if you stick something between the glass and the filter at the bottom like a paper towel or plastic bag it will change the angle and will cut down on the chances of the filter overflowing when the media becomes clogged."

I added a piece of bubble wrap to tilt my filter slightly toward the tank and it works like a charm. I have had my 3 pico up and going for 5 years. Lots of mushrooms and cabbage leather where my two 3 year old Sexy Shrimp gather for me to feed them.

07/31/2013, 04:27 PM	#1
Trump Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Manchester, CT Posts: 1,574	Trumps 2.5 gal pico So this is a Deep Blue 3B (3 betta) tank Using a Aqueon 10w heater, Aqua Clear 30 with chemi pure elite and a sponge and a 6x 3w bridgelux fixture 4 blue 2 white. Custom mahgony and red birch stand Was going to go bare bottom but the water flow moved the rocks too much Size reference Custom Canopy and final rock (I think) added. ORA Birds of Pardise added in but still deciding on what to put on larger rock. Eagle eye zoas in there as well for now. Thinking an orange setosa on the larger rock. __________________ Wait what, you cleaned the glass with...., run just run. Current Tank Info: 45g Cube Reefbreeder LED, 100g sump Mixed Reef

07/31/2013, 07:49 PM	#2
TimmyD16 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Northern Michigan Posts: 280	Great little tank! Love how it looks like a miniature tank... __________________ ~TimmyD “Jellyfish are 97% water or something, so how much are they doing? Just give them another 3% and make them water. It's more useful.” Karl Pilkington

08/01/2013, 09:57 PM	#3
Trump Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Manchester, CT Posts: 1,574	Thanks thats really the look I wanted like it was a big boy tank but itty bitty. I decided to add the orange setosa in lieu of doing a mummy eye due to the current in the tanking being crazy strong. __________________ Wait what, you cleaned the glass with...., run just run. Current Tank Info: 45g Cube Reefbreeder LED, 100g sump Mixed Reef

08/01/2013, 10:53 PM	#4
squishifishi Hopelesly Addicted Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 972	im excited to see how this turns out! i LOVE picos! mine is a 2.5g too, running for about 7 months now. Please do check it out, it might give you some ideas. the thread is called "pictures at last!" and it is in the nano forums. id love to hear what you think anyways. what do you plan to stock this with? I think your scape coud use a tiny bit more rock, but you do what ya like. I'm so excited for you!!! will be following along for sure __________________ ><(((((°>squishifishi! if I say anything stupid...blame autocorrect ;) I love my pico! Come see for yourself, check it out! just search for "pictures at last" in the nano forums:) Current Tank Info: 2.5g pico reef: 5-15hob filter, 10w led light,Stock;neon goby,Pom Pom crab,hermits, astrea, margarita, nassarius, micro brittles, shrooms,palys, xenia, galaxea, zoas,ricordea, litho,chalice,leather,pocci,.WISH LIST:sexy shrimp

08/03/2013, 06:47 AM	#5
Trump Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Manchester, CT Posts: 1,574	I am not really planning on much rock as I plan on really keeping this as an SPS tank with maybe a plate or something on the bottom. Fish wise I havent decided but will be looking into like some Halloween hermits, sexy shrimp, things that are a little less common but not to expensive. Once lights come on Ill get some pic s of the corals currently in the tank. __________________ Wait what, you cleaned the glass with...., run just run. Current Tank Info: 45g Cube Reefbreeder LED, 100g sump Mixed Reef

08/05/2013, 03:24 AM	#6
JillMTompkins Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Syracuse, NY Posts: 16	Lighting? I have a tank about that size in a cabinet and have always wanted to try a pico, but I get lost with the lighting aspect of things. What do you have for yours and how is it mounted?

08/05/2013, 06:45 PM	#7
Trump Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Manchester, CT Posts: 1,574	I got a light off of ebay waiting on the club par meter to check what Iam getting out of it for sure but so far the SPS seem ok. I ended up getting it off auction for about 8 dollars less than buy it now price shipping was free. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Star-6x3w-LE...item19e04a1171 __________________ Wait what, you cleaned the glass with...., run just run. Current Tank Info: 45g Cube Reefbreeder LED, 100g sump Mixed Reef

08/06/2013, 06:53 PM	#8
Trump Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Manchester, CT Posts: 1,574	Add a little more rock one that I found in my main tanks sump and decided it could move up, along for the ride was a small serpent star I noticed as I was placing it. Also stopped in at the LFS and grabbed to astrea snails, couple nasauris snails and a sexy shrimp. Please excuse the cell phone pic and slightly cloudy front glass. __________________ Wait what, you cleaned the glass with...., run just run. Current Tank Info: 45g Cube Reefbreeder LED, 100g sump Mixed Reef

08/06/2013, 08:31 PM	#9
Whysoserious Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 230	Nice! For a 2.5g, thing looks like a 10g

08/06/2013, 09:31 PM	#10
squishifishi Hopelesly Addicted Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 972	It's not proportioned likebabregular 2.5, so it looks bigger. The stand makes it look huge too lol __________________ ><(((((°>squishifishi! if I say anything stupid...blame autocorrect ;) I love my pico! Come see for yourself, check it out! just search for "pictures at last" in the nano forums:) Current Tank Info: 2.5g pico reef: 5-15hob filter, 10w led light,Stock;neon goby,Pom Pom crab,hermits, astrea, margarita, nassarius, micro brittles, shrooms,palys, xenia, galaxea, zoas,ricordea, litho,chalice,leather,pocci,.WISH LIST:sexy shrimp

08/07/2013, 06:19 PM	#11
Trump Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Manchester, CT Posts: 1,574	I may pick up more sexy shrimp too. I believe I may try a Harlequin shrimp if I decided my water is good enough and I can get enough star fish going in my sump to feed it properly. The sexy shrimp is on the front right corner of the glass in that pic so you can see size. __________________ Wait what, you cleaned the glass with...., run just run. Current Tank Info: 45g Cube Reefbreeder LED, 100g sump Mixed Reef

08/12/2013, 01:47 PM	#12
squishifishi Hopelesly Addicted Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 972	I see him, cute __________________ ><(((((°>squishifishi! if I say anything stupid...blame autocorrect ;) I love my pico! Come see for yourself, check it out! just search for "pictures at last" in the nano forums:) Current Tank Info: 2.5g pico reef: 5-15hob filter, 10w led light,Stock;neon goby,Pom Pom crab,hermits, astrea, margarita, nassarius, micro brittles, shrooms,palys, xenia, galaxea, zoas,ricordea, litho,chalice,leather,pocci,.WISH LIST:sexy shrimp

08/13/2013, 01:11 AM	#13
webersp Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 74	I'm really interested to see what this looks like after some time. I've been tempted to due a really small tank like this.

09/09/2013, 03:55 PM	#14
Trump Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Manchester, CT Posts: 1,574	Well The tank was doing good but ran into a huge pothole with it. My aqua clear developed a stress crack from the mod I did on the intake side of the thing and leaked water while I was away for a week. The person watching just assumed it was evap and all but my sexy and hopefully the orange setosa died. Iam looking at new filters now. __________________ Wait what, you cleaned the glass with...., run just run. Current Tank Info: 45g Cube Reefbreeder LED, 100g sump Mixed Reef

09/10/2013, 08:06 AM	#15
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	Well that's a shame. What exactly did you do to the filter? __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

09/10/2013, 08:56 AM	#16
Trump Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Manchester, CT Posts: 1,574	The tube that pulls water up was too long and I cut it to make it proper length but it was thicker there and it cracked the main box. I should have filed down the holders so it just sat there insteaded of being held in place. __________________ Wait what, you cleaned the glass with...., run just run. Current Tank Info: 45g Cube Reefbreeder LED, 100g sump Mixed Reef

09/10/2013, 09:39 AM	#17
KafudaFish Cyprinius carpio Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 4,496	That is too bad and have never had one crack even though I have been using them since the 1980's. The ACs, eheims, MJ (now Cobalt) and Ebo Jager heaters are workhorses and I wish everything lasted like they do. If you want, you can take the extension tube and cut the strainer off at the line and invert it into the intake pipe. It will stay in place as long as the power is on and is easy to remove to be cleaned. Another suggestion is making a small "stand" like a piece of 2 x 4 for the AC to sit on so all the weight is not on the aquarium glass. Finally if you stick something between the glass and the filter at the bottom like a paper towel or plastic bag it will change the angle and will cut down on the chances of the filter overflowing when the media becomes clogged. Been there, done that. The filter comes with a small plastic piece that inserts in the bottom but with the paper towel it will quiet down the filter too. The only other complaint about the AC is after 10 years of constant use, if the power goes out it doesn't always restart so keep a chopstick handy and give it a good poke if the water isn't flowing. Good luck.

09/10/2013, 11:15 AM	#18
Trump Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Manchester, CT Posts: 1,574	I really liked the performance but may be going with a hob canister a club member posted. __________________ Wait what, you cleaned the glass with...., run just run. Current Tank Info: 45g Cube Reefbreeder LED, 100g sump Mixed Reef

09/28/2013, 08:59 PM	#19
Trump Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Manchester, CT Posts: 1,574	So after all is said and done bought a deep blue nano filter. Will be doing a water change this weekend and pretty much restarting this bad boy. __________________ Wait what, you cleaned the glass with...., run just run. Current Tank Info: 45g Cube Reefbreeder LED, 100g sump Mixed Reef

09/28/2013, 09:51 PM	#20
Reefdiver77 Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Beech Bluff, TN Posts: 1,567	"Finally if you stick something between the glass and the filter at the bottom like a paper towel or plastic bag it will change the angle and will cut down on the chances of the filter overflowing when the media becomes clogged." I added a piece of bubble wrap to tilt my filter slightly toward the tank and it works like a charm. I have had my 3 pico up and going for 5 years. Lots of mushrooms and cabbage leather where my two 3 year old Sexy Shrimp gather for me to feed them.