3 Gallon Marineland Pico Build

[dgphelps]

I just got my cube today - it was a steal on Amazon Warehouse for $32. I know I will need to upgrade the lighting and likely the pump to increase flow. My goal was to get something going that was relatively small to sit on my desk. I plan to only have natural rock critters (worms, feather worms, stars, pods) and some soft corals.

I already got a tiny frag of GSP and Xenia from Carlos to kick things off.

Currently, I have live rock (also generously given to me by Carlos) in a 2 gallon cookie jar with a heater and a cannister filter for flow. It has about an inch of sugar sand mostly because I don't like bare bottom. It has been running a month now.

I'll post photos and build info here when I do the move over to the slightly larger cube. I know smaller means more sensitivity and have not only had several reef tanks in the past, i have also done my research building up to jumping back into the hobby.

 

[dgphelps]

Set the new tank up last night and after sitting it's looking nice and clear already.

 

[Dragonvale]

Looking good

 

[d_carloo]

nice tank

 

[gonzalez78]

Looks good I really miss my nano might have to set up a new one I still have a brand new AC70 overkill filter I can throw on my Spec V.

 

[dgphelps]

Thanks! I'm itchy for a few more gallons sadly. Looking at a nice 5.4 gallon low iron tank and getting some acrylic to make an internal sump area if I go that route. My concern is how annoying to get the piece cut right, and also to get a top cut to block some evaporation. I might stop by tapp and explain what I want and see what it would cost to have them make it.

I'll get some more pictures and an update up this evening. Definitely liking the nano idea.

 

[dgphelps]

Some more recent shots of the tank and the new inhabitants. I picked up some very nicely priced Zoanthid frags and a piece of live rock with a beautiful GSP colored Majano and Zoanthids at Caesars. The Majano rock also had a gorilla crab both of which (and the rock) are in quarantine. I also noticed some Zoanthid eating nudibranchs which have been picked off and the frags dipped. It's a shame, they are really cool looking but I don't want to risk them in my main tank. I may keep them in my son's Gorilla Crab tank (which this tank will soon become when I get my 5 gallon next week). Yeah, I am upgrading already.

 

[dgphelps]

A few more photos.

 

[Steve Ruddy]

Nice work Daniel!

 

[d_carloo]

nice shots

 

[edward1096]

Sweet tank!