3 Gallon Desk top Pico

[danoreef]

lost all the image files in the old thread so I am starting a new thread with all the new images.

I bought this little set up online for fifty bucks. It has a nice little HOB filter with what they call a bio insert, supposedly it will generate some type of biological filtration... we'll see! it is also whisper quiet. it has a very nice 50/50 power compact light. I set it on a timer for an 8 hour light period.

I purchased a 25 watt submersible heater installed a small thermometer and set the temperature to 80 degrees. once that was established, I added approx. 4 pounds of live sand to begin the nitrogen cycle.

I epoxied the rock to form a nice little reef structure. as you can see the epoxy is easily seen right now but after some time and some Coraline algae starts to grow on it should become virtually invisible. I also added three hermit crabs, the cycle wasn't really getting started on its own so I added some life. I will monitor the parameters very closely.

the tank has finished cycling and all parameters are in check. Having a small issue keeping the temp on target. I added a cleaner shrimp a purple pseudo, and a small purple mushroom... Here's The Pictures

 

[danoreef]

Some more pictures;

 

[NemusMaximus]

looks like youre off to a great start!

 

[danoreef]

looks like youre off to a great start!

Thank you. I'm trying... I do two one gallon water changes a week to try to keep a handle on the parameters.

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

What a neat little tank! Is that a strawberry basslet?

 

[twiggyb]

I like your rock work for such a small tank. Nice!

 

[danoreef]

What a neat little tank! Is that a strawberry basslet?

Yes. But, I am very sad to report that he is no longer with me. He jumped out of the tank for the second time. The first time, I happened to have just entered the room and turned the room light on and he sailed right out of the tank, I was able to scoop him up and put him right back in... The second time I wasn't so lucky. I believe from this point I am probably gonna go fish-less

 

[danoreef]

I like your rock work for such a small tank. Nice!

Thank you. Its only three little peices and it filled this little tank. My LFS charges $7.99 a pound for Live rock and all three rocks cost about 6 bucks each.

 

[Mrrealmadrid]

can you lay the heater down in the back to try to hide it a bit? Cool little tank but that heater is killing it lol

 

[Mrrealmadrid]

Get a yellow tail damsel.... they stay small and are cheap.... I dont think they are jumpers either

Yes. But, I am very sad to report that he is no longer with me. He jumped out of the tank for the second time. The first time, I happened to have just entered the room and turned the room light on and he sailed right out of the tank, I was able to scoop him up and put him right back in... The second time I wasn't so lucky. I believe from this point I am probably gonna go fish-less

 

[danoreef]

can you lay the heater down in the back to try to hide it a bit? Cool little tank but that heater is killing it lol

You are so right about this heater. I have a 10 watt heater but it you can't adjust the temp its automatically set to 73 degrees but it doesn't get the temp past room temp and my basement is cold.

I am considering buying another one and put both 10 watt heaters in the HOB filter

 

[danoreef]

Get a yellow tail damsel.... they stay small and are cheap.... I don't think they are jumpers either

Thanks I will look into that.

 

[danoreef]

The little filter that came with the tank was not sufficient for a reef tank… It looked nice and it probably would be good for freshwater tanks around 20 gallons, but the flow just wasn’t there for the corals to thrive. So I purchased a filter that is rated for a 50 gallon tank yes a 50 gallon tank, Uhh… and yes this is only a 3 gallon tank. I hooked it up and it has great flow I think its just what the tank needed. It has an insert which hold a filter sponge, a small bag of activated carbon, and another small bag of ceramic bio-rings.

 

[danoreef]

Today I worked on setting up a gravity fed Auto top off system for the tank. Not for everyday use, just for when I go on vacation or anytime that I am away from the tank for a few days (which I know is a big no-no for reef tanks). Anyhow I found a thread on nano-reef.com on a ATO made from a ferrets water bottle and here's what I came up with. I made a stand out of plastic eggcrate light covers to hold the water bottle and the brackets that came with the bottle hook right onto it as if it were the side of a ferrets cage. Here are some pictures;

 

[Clavius]

Nice Pico! I used to have a similar pico that I was going to setup but I never got around to it and eventually sold it. I'd like to set one up again. Do you have much trouble with parameter fluctuations?

 

[danoreef]

thank you, I do a one gallon water change twice a week to keep a handle on the parameters. It seems to working good.

 

[danoreef]

I tested the parameters today... I did do a 1 gallon water change yesterday

Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 10
PH 8.3
SG 1.024

 

[RoganTerrance]

nice pico

 

[jpruitt]

Pico

Pico

I like your ATO very interesting.

 

[coraljunkee]

sweet nano