Floppy's Ecopico

[floppyfish]

Hello all :wave: This is my first attempt to get back in the hobby after 5 year retirement. I originally wanted a larger 60g cube... But recently picked up a Oceanic Illuminata 57g. I wanted to get a smaller tank to satisfy my craving for corals while planning out the larger tank.

Anywho a little bit about the plan and approach I am taking with the Ecopico. First, it's 5.1g with dimensions being 10x10x12. It comes stock with a LED arm with 9 1w LEDs(6 12k, 3 453nm) and a small ph/filter all for $150 shipped. Had I to do it over. I would have just gone with an ADA 30c and a Par30/38 bulb. But I digress... I didn't know/think about them at the time and now I have what I have.

The plan with this tank was primarily zoa/ric tank due to lighting restrictions and the enjoyment:ease of care ratio for them to me is beyond good. The dosing/water quality is to be kept in check by weekly/bi-weekly 1-2g water changes with ESV b-ionic seawater. Besides the daily top off with ro/di and once over with the magfloat. It has been relatively easy to take care of and the enjoyment level high.

Now, since there isn't much equipment to explain we can get to the pics!

The tank and parts all spread out. This thing was packaged like a tank for shipping. A box padded within a box padded within another box.

Planning where it will be residing...

The LED light with the 2 extra LED modules. 2 installed and the back side of the 3rd.

Tank fully assembled with glass lid. I decided I'll be leaving that off. 1 less thing to deal with/clean.

All lit up with power head and filter in place. I purchased a small in tank filter and I removed the media. I was going to use as a small fuge. But I just have rubble rock in there now(after this pic) waiting for corals.

Up and running with about 5lbs of dead rock and 5lb live sand on 7/25.

7/26 it had cleared up a bit. No pictures of tonight but it's a little clearer. Hopefully it gets crystal clear soon..

 

[floppyfish]

My first corals. I didn't go nuts on nice pieces as I hadn't tested the water at that point. But not much reason to have a cycle in my mind. Everything seems happy so far. The zoas were opened within minutes and the frogspawn was slowly expanding. Although it's a little guy to begin with...

Didn't ask what these are called, but they are a cool minty green color. Hard to get the color right in their location without a tripod.

FTS 8/02

I then got a few more frags of zoas, ric, capnella, blasto, nuclear green paly, brain, acan and some xenia that I all but killed. However is making a comeback.

FTS 8/12

 

[floppyfish]

So after a while, I noticed the eagle eyes were stretching a bit and the ric's color was morphing and also reaching. I decided I needed more oomph in lighting. Also, a bit more blue for some pop. So after looking around and researching... I decided to order a BoostLED par30 bulb. 3 3w 456nm, 1 3w cool white and 1 3w nuetral white. It should give me the power I want without being "too much" that I was worried a par38 would be.

I'm pretty happy with the results. Fast shipping too! Ordered on a Tuesday and it came on a Thursday! Giggity

So I came home last night and unwrapped it and off to Ikea I ran. I found a cool light fixture and I was back home hanging it inside of an hour.

Par30

The old -

The new(it's actually been adjusted since this pic. Here the bulb is placed high in the fixture. Too high, so I reversed it and now the light is 2" from the bottom of the fixture and much closer to the water. Also doesn't light up the fixture nearly as much or the end table around the tank) -

Old FTS -

New FTS(the new bulb really throws off the white balance ) -

 

[floppyfish]

8/26

Well I finally figured out how to take shots under the new LEDs. The color is back and definitely better than before!

I also folded like a ninny on the fish thing.. :gay1: I went out and got a clown goby on Monday. So far he's an awesome little guy. Clown gobies always seem to have awesome personalities. Also have a few new corals since the last update so I thought I would snap some new pics.

Here it is with the par30 lamp mounted lower in the shade with the lights off. Camera was a little dark but you get the idea

FTS. Don't mind the air bubbles I just did a big water change and never turned off the pumps

New yellow clown goby

 

[floppyfish]

Some coral shots...

purple rhodactis on the left, Ray's gold/blue(?) acan in the middle and xenia making a come back on the right

Purp Rhodactis and random acan

Kedds reds

Capt America palys, brain and a capnella frag. It fraged itself two weeks ago and it attached finally itself

Purple death palys

Tubbs blues

One of rays acans. Hard to get a good shot of the blood red mouth

That's about it. For now...

 

[mcmyeye]

pretty tank. love the new lights. looks like the goby hides. do you get to see him much? i have 2 fish that hide. i need something that will be out in the open. keep us up on the progress. enjoy reefing.

 

[floppyfish]

Yeah the goby likes to perch. He will come out and try to swim towards the TV when I turn it on. Otherwise he just likes to perch and watch for the most part. I'm really happy with him. Great personality!