Work Pico Part Deuce

fijiblue · 11/08/2010, 01:47 PM

Well, I had to move offices due to construction which means I had to move my work tank as well. Here is a picture of the old one:

I wanted to go with something that was a little smaller and more contained. Luckily my buddy and I found these little picos (!Q3) and so far they kick butt! Total water volume is less than 1.5 gallons. Lighting is two LED panels that have decent PAR per panel.

The tank is about a week old so things should start looking really good in a few more weeks.

SaraB · 11/08/2010, 02:14 PM

Good thing you down-sized as the maintenance on the first one looked like it was far too much work for you

Keep us posted with pics so we can see this pico develop and fill in

Looks great Justin!

fijiblue · 11/08/2010, 02:25 PM

Thanks Sara. Hopefully this is it as im not sure I want to trying keeping one under 1 gallon!

This one is more manageable or at least that is what I am hoping for - time will tell.

gig · 11/08/2010, 02:39 PM

very kewl, you should put a couple tangs in there!

fijiblue · 11/08/2010, 02:50 PM

Quote:

very kewl, you should put a couple tangs in there!

I was thinking an Achilles would look good in there.

gig · 11/08/2010, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fijiblue

I was thinking an Achilles would look good in there.

that or a small school of yellows would be a nice effect...

arioch · 11/08/2010, 04:29 PM

I think you can buy a vlamingii tang at around 2" that'll do nicely in there

Drag Racer · 11/08/2010, 09:45 PM

That is a cool looking Pico. Very nice.

arioch · 11/09/2010, 10:53 AM

I have a new idea for this tank .... an octopus!

BADGUS · 11/09/2010, 11:02 AM

Nice looking pico.

arioch · 11/09/2010, 11:20 AM

Nicer now, I put my par38 over it instead of 2x of the stock lights which don't have enough blue. Also, massive shimmer.

Yo fiji, take another set of pics

fijiblue · 11/09/2010, 11:54 AM

Shrimp is being a butt head and wont come out.

BADGUS · 11/09/2010, 12:03 PM

What kind of shrimp?I bet a panda gobie would look nice in there

fijiblue · 11/09/2010, 12:48 PM

Cleaner - I found out the hard way with the last pico - NO FISH! They are way too dirty and will make things more difficult. Perhaps if I happen to find a cool looking one I might change my mind, but for now I am still hesitant on fish.

S13<3 · 11/09/2010, 03:02 PM

what kind of tank is that?

arioch · 11/09/2010, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by S13<3

what kind of tank is that?

The Dymax IQ3, made in Hong Kong, distributed in the US by Big Al's Online. We bought two of them for use as office tanks.

There are a couple of problems with the tank as it stands:

1) No lid, leading to increased evap, and most nano fishes can/will jump (this will be rectified with a shipment in December, but I don't know if the new lids will be sold separately from the new IQ3 tanks).
2) Lighting is basically cool white, so you're going to want something different for fluorescence. One panel of lighting isn't really enough, either, we only really got satisfactory lighting in terms of soft coral response (and I mean with zoos and other light-loving corals) not in terms of color pop, with both our panels on the same tank. Switching to the Par38 (my loadout on that is 3 royal blues, 2 CW LEDs) improves things markedly in terms of response and pop (and shimmer effect).
3) Evap is bad. It's horrible. With one panel of light and no lid, it seems to do about 1 cup a day of evap in our office areas, and since the total water volume comes in under 2 gallons, that's quite a bit, particularly as it hits the back chambers really hard. If you use rock rubble it might well get exposed to air leading to die-off and a miniature cycle--which his has done. (I'd recommend removing the drip tray and foam filter block inside entirely and use rock rubble, then figure out some form of ATO.)

Those are my thoughts, anyway. I haven't put mine together yet, but I will probably get/make/make him make a lid for mine, and do a yasha haze goby and Randall's pistol shrimp combo, plus some miscellaneous inverts. I plan to combat the bioload by loading down with cooked rock and 2-3 mangrove pods in the back. Also softies, probably neon green sinularia, some GSP, etc., maybe a small frogspawn colony. Lighting will be with that Par38.

ayckorea · 11/09/2010, 05:26 PM

It seems Dymax is a Singapore company and their aquarium supplies are made from Guangdong, China.

A same look copy product is also made in China, and is about US$13 less overthere.

ayckorea · 11/09/2010, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drag Racer

That is a cool looking Pico. Very nice.

+1

fijiblue · 11/22/2010, 09:46 AM

UPDATE: I made a few changes to the system. First, the lighting as previously discussed needed more blue. The PAR was there, but the color was so so. I took the fixtures apart and soldered in (6) 5mm 450nm LED's I had laying around.

I also boosted the flow up to the maximum of the pump. The water is very close to the edge (close as in 1/4 of an inch), but the added benefit to the inhabitants was well worth it. At this point, the weekend evaporation is the biggest issue, but not necessarily a problem since these corals are very forgiving. The anemone, on the other hand, can't get comfortable and may need to come out. Here are a few more pics - please excuse the algae as I have not had a chance to clean it yet from the weekend.

Jeff · 11/22/2010, 09:56 AM

Very cool looking tank Figi

.

SaraB · 11/22/2010, 09:57 AM

Now that's some lighting over that pico! Tank is looking great Justin!

11/08/2010, 01:47 PM	#1
fijiblue Moved On Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: unfortunately here Posts: 1,895	Work Pico Part Deuce Well, I had to move offices due to construction which means I had to move my work tank as well. Here is a picture of the old one: I wanted to go with something that was a little smaller and more contained. Luckily my buddy and I found these little picos (!Q3) and so far they kick butt! Total water volume is less than 1.5 gallons. Lighting is two LED panels that have decent PAR per panel. The tank is about a week old so things should start looking really good in a few more weeks.

11/08/2010, 02:14 PM	#2
SaraB Coral Killer Join Date: May 2005 Location: Lemont, IL Posts: 4,461	Good thing you down-sized as the maintenance on the first one looked like it was far too much work for you Keep us posted with pics so we can see this pico develop and fill in Looks great Justin! __________________ Sara

11/08/2010, 02:39 PM	#4
gig Registered Member. Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Hawthorn Woods, IL Posts: 3,003	very kewl, you should put a couple tangs in there! __________________ It's ILLIE!!!!!!!!!!! Current Tank Info: Current Tank Info: 180G RR in wall mixed reef moving toward SPS dominated (247 gal total system), 300lbs+ LR, VHO/T5 mix of lighting, X3 MP40w ES.

11/08/2010, 04:29 PM	#7
arioch Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: S. Elgin, IL Posts: 795	I think you can buy a vlamingii tang at around 2" that'll do nicely in there __________________ Current Tank(s): 1) Custom 35gal shallow tank, mixed reef w/ acros 2) Custom 20gal AIO, anemone and softies 3) JBJ Nanocube 8RL tank, softies 4) Innovative Marine Fusion 10Gal, macroalgae

11/08/2010, 09:45 PM	#8
Drag Racer Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: West Bend, Wi Posts: 1,280	That is a cool looking Pico. Very nice. __________________ Why did I start this addictive hobby???????? Its not like I didn't have anything better to do. Link to my DIY HOB Fuge for 4 gallon tank http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1971283 Current Tank Info: 75gal fresh 4 Gallon Pico

11/08/2010, 02:25 PM	#3
fijiblue Moved On Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: unfortunately here Posts: 1,895	Thanks Sara. Hopefully this is it as im not sure I want to trying keeping one under 1 gallon! This one is more manageable or at least that is what I am hoping for - time will tell.

11/09/2010, 10:53 AM	#9
arioch Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: S. Elgin, IL Posts: 795	I have a new idea for this tank .... an octopus! __________________ Current Tank(s): 1) Custom 35gal shallow tank, mixed reef w/ acros 2) Custom 20gal AIO, anemone and softies 3) JBJ Nanocube 8RL tank, softies 4) Innovative Marine Fusion 10Gal, macroalgae

11/09/2010, 11:02 AM	#10
BADGUS Moved On Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Chitown Posts: 2,038	Nice looking pico.

11/09/2010, 11:20 AM	#11
arioch Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: S. Elgin, IL Posts: 795	Nicer now, I put my par38 over it instead of 2x of the stock lights which don't have enough blue. Also, massive shimmer. Yo fiji, take another set of pics __________________ Current Tank(s): 1) Custom 35gal shallow tank, mixed reef w/ acros 2) Custom 20gal AIO, anemone and softies 3) JBJ Nanocube 8RL tank, softies 4) Innovative Marine Fusion 10Gal, macroalgae

11/09/2010, 11:54 AM	#12
fijiblue Moved On Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: unfortunately here Posts: 1,895	Shrimp is being a butt head and wont come out.

11/09/2010, 12:03 PM	#13
BADGUS Moved On Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Chitown Posts: 2,038	What kind of shrimp?I bet a panda gobie would look nice in there

11/09/2010, 12:48 PM	#14
fijiblue Moved On Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: unfortunately here Posts: 1,895	Cleaner - I found out the hard way with the last pico - NO FISH! They are way too dirty and will make things more difficult. Perhaps if I happen to find a cool looking one I might change my mind, but for now I am still hesitant on fish.

11/09/2010, 03:02 PM	#15
S13<3 KeepItSuperSimple Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: S Fl. Posts: 797	what kind of tank is that?

11/09/2010, 05:26 PM	#17
ayckorea Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Aurora, IL Posts: 112	It seems Dymax is a Singapore company and their aquarium supplies are made from Guangdong, China. A same look copy product is also made in China, and is about US$13 less overthere.

11/22/2010, 09:46 AM	#19
fijiblue Moved On Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: unfortunately here Posts: 1,895	UPDATE: I made a few changes to the system. First, the lighting as previously discussed needed more blue. The PAR was there, but the color was so so. I took the fixtures apart and soldered in (6) 5mm 450nm LED's I had laying around. I also boosted the flow up to the maximum of the pump. The water is very close to the edge (close as in 1/4 of an inch), but the added benefit to the inhabitants was well worth it. At this point, the weekend evaporation is the biggest issue, but not necessarily a problem since these corals are very forgiving. The anemone, on the other hand, can't get comfortable and may need to come out. Here are a few more pics - please excuse the algae as I have not had a chance to clean it yet from the weekend.

11/22/2010, 09:56 AM	#20
Jeff Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Chicago Posts: 11,907	Very cool looking tank Figi . __________________ Always remember.... any time you reef, you also reef with every reefer that reefer has reefed with. Mitch 2/18/10 IWNFT343F Current Tank Info: Innovative Marine 20

11/22/2010, 09:57 AM	#21
SaraB Coral Killer Join Date: May 2005 Location: Lemont, IL Posts: 4,461	Now that's some lighting over that pico! Tank is looking great Justin! __________________ Sara

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