Going from Nano to Pico

Actually, that light is available on eBay for $34.95 including shipping. It is made by a company called "Catfish Lighting". Here's a link to one of the eBay auctions:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=011&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=320012587781&rd=1&rd=1

This is a "buy it now" price and looks like a pretty good deal. I have seen the Aqualight in stores for $49 and about $30 online, but it would have to be adapted to sit on these little tanks. This one looks good to go. Let me know if you get it. I'm not running lights right now cause we don't have a/c at the moment. I'll probably be shopping again this week when the a/c is running again.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8331037#post8331037 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Ding2daDong
I would recommend getting a bigger filter like one of the aqua clear ones so that you could actually stick a small heater in the filter and still have filter media along w/carbon or what not. Thats a cool little tank, makes me want to start one... well actually almost everyones tank makes me want to start another one. lol Lighting I would go with the small clip on ones ment for pico tanks, they are usually really cheap. Hope this helps and keep us posted.

-Matt
Click to expand...

What size Aqua Clear Filter would you guys recommend for a tank this size of 2 1/2g?
 
Thanks for the interest! I haven't posted in a while and am glad to see people still looking at this thread.

Here's today's pic (before the powerhead & fish addition):

DSCN3952.jpg


I am thinking that someone recommended the Aqua Clear 30, but looking at it on the internet, it seems a bit powerful for this little tank. I think it's rated for 150gph, which is what I have on my 15. They also have an Aqua Clear Mini which looks more appropriate. I don't know how much room there is in the mini though for heater and such.

I did find a very small heater (as you can see in the right side of the tank) that is pretty inconspicuous since it's all black. I also found a super small powerhead today that gets some nice circulation going. It actually had some sort of little filter attached to it, but I took that off to run it only as a powerhead. I picked up my first fish too, a super small Yellow Chromis. I think he'll be it for fish though...since he's a damsel, I don't think I'd have the room for anything else.

I did a whopping 2 cup water change today...man was it a task (not!!!). I figured out that 1 tsp of salt per cup makes it just about right. All in all, it's looking pretty good. Oh, and I also picked up the tiniest mag float cleaner they had...it works great.

I'll get more pics of the fish, etc. later. Enjoy in the meantime. Hopefully someone will chime in about that Aqua Clear filter, as I'm not sure where I read it.
 
Yes Nanokat very interested!!! Looking good too!!! I'm actually going to follow Takimoto's design and setup a second 2.5 behind it as a fuge and will hide all equipment in there such as heater, fission skimmer, etc...


Keep the pics coming...
 
I think I've found the AquaClear filter on eBay people have been modifying to be a refugium. It looks like this...

44_1_b.JPG


I believe it's the 70 or 300 gph model. The dimensions are 8.5" long, 8" tall, & 6" deep. Funny thing is that the tank is only 12" long, 8" tall, & 6" deep...but the filter sits up a little, so should sit on the back of the tank just fine. The filter also has a flow control that will adjust it as low as 1/3 of the original volume. So that's still 100gph, still wondering if that's too much...
 
I use the bigger one (100) on 3 of my tanks as the sole filtration and it works great. The modification is very easy. I have a little bit of sand, LR rubble and cheato in them, and lots of pods!
 
i use that same setup for my hang on fuge, set up exactly like speckled grouper. gutted the system and threw in sand rubble and chaeto. worked out very well
 
Hey JessP and Speckled Grouper...what are the dimensions of that filter you are using? My concern is how tall it is (as far as what sits behind the tank), since I only have so much vertical space on this little bugger. It definitely sounds like a great option...maybe I'll throw one on my 15 too (since I've been to lazy to setup my under tank refugium).

I've solved my lighting dilemma...I broke down and ordered the Catfish light from eBay...I'll post about it once I receive it...I just didn't see many other options anywhere else that seemed to be powerful enough and look as good. Right now I'm running a "daylight" desklamp (has a quad 9600k pc) and it's a pain cause I keep knocking it over when I mess with the tank.
 
Hey your set-up seems to be coming along nicely. If you decide to actually do the bigger AC HOB filter, I would suggest looking into a very small submersable heater to shove in it. It makes a huge difference to look into a tank and not see a heater or a powerhead IMO.
Just FYI if you have any questions about my 2.5 set-up please feel free to ask, I have set up 4 of them now all pretty much the same way. I love the simplisity and the price of them. Some have had little differences but all have been a success, you have seen my current but if you want look at my gallery. That is the pic of the first 2.5 I ever set up. the exact same lighting that I have now just a different filter, but same heater.
 
Got my light...but it doesn't work:mad: . I was so excited too...here's a pic of how it'll look on the tank...perfect fit! Too bad it doesn't work though...looks like a corroded contact on the switch. Am sending it back to exchange for another...gonna have them check that one very thoroughly before sending too!

DSCN4023.jpg


I also picked up an AquaClear AC-50 last nite. The other models just seem so huge and I still can fit some chaeto and a heater in this one, so it'll do for now. I may still get a larger one for my 15 though. I immediately put the AquaClear on last night when we got home (even though it was late) because the other filter seemed to be getting air bubbles in it and making horrific noises during the night (this tank sits on a bookcase right next to our bed, so it has to be quiet). The AquaClear ran quiet and smooth all night long. I put a heater and some chaeto in it already, so it's working out well.

Here's a shot with the Catfish light flipped up and showing the AC-50 on the back of the tank.

DSCN4024.jpg


Can't wait to get a light that works!
 
Yes, the pico is still humming along. I've been fighting a bout with red (slime, maybe) algae...been doing a water change every weekend, but haven't found the balance yet. Don't know if it's still cycling or what, but seems like it's been too long to still be doing that. I need to do some water tests to delve a little deeper. I'll post more pics soon. I also haven't had alot of time to poke around in it with the holidays and all, but now should be able to get back in the groove again soon.
 
Just did a water change and added a couple of little conchs...I've heard they'll eat the dreaded slime. If the water clears enough before the lights go out, I'll get an updated shot. I just realized that those last pics are from before I got a functioning light. Now I have it and it works great. I would highly recommend it for picos or refugiums.
 
Okay, got some updated pics tonite. Ignore the dirty glass, I didn't want to stir things up before I took these shots. You can see the traces of the red slime across the sand...still a little left. Most of what was growing on the rocks is gone and the conchs seem to be enjoying eating whatever algae they can get their little probscii latched onto.

Overall tank shot with new light...it fits great and even hinges back to do tank maintenance...an unexpected bonus with such a little light.

DSCN4790.jpg


My "red" shroom, that doesn't look so red under pc's, but is nice anyway...

DSCN4791.jpg


These two odd types of macro algae look quite red though...don't mind the look of it much, so I won't cut it back unless it gets out of hand.

DSCN4792.jpg


An odd creature that inhabits the liverock...

DSCN4793.jpg
 
Some more pics...

Another odd "creature"...some type of lps I believe...

DSCN4794.jpg


The xenia loves the pico!

DSCN4795.jpg


Red macro algae also seems to love the pico!

DSCN4796.jpg


Cute little feather duster...used to be on a rock with a ricordea, but the ric shrank almost to nothing, so I put it back in the nano...

DSCN4797.jpg


Enjoy the photos!
 
Compulou...that's a nice little setup you got going there! I had used a good bit of water from my nano, but not the liverock, so I think that's why I may have had this cyano bloom. At least it seems under control for now.

And to RedDawg...I did not modify the filter at all, actually. It came with a little basket type of thing that normally would hold the filter media, so I just placed my chaeto in there. The flow seems to move pretty well through it, so It'll definitely do for now. I may get more adventurous later on and do the bigger filter as a refugium like others have.
 
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