fullmonti
now is the time
I have always been interested in pico tanks. Also always envied people who could collect their own livestock. I don't live near a coast & tropical live stock is pretty much available, so temperate critters seemed to be exotic. I gave up on the idea of having a temperate tank because I couldn't find a source for the livestock. Found a source for livestock recently (Coldwater Marine Aquatics) so decided to combine the two things.
Wanted to keep it small simple to start out. The first consideration is the temperature 55 degrees, so you need a chiller. In keeping with the idea of small & simple an ice probe seemed the way to go. That means 3 gallons max, probably should be less. Next if you make it out of normal glass it will sweat & drip on what it sets on. So decided to make it out of 1" thick acrylic.
I first thought I'd build the tank my self. Did a little research & found some types of acrylic are better for aquariums than others & didn't have a good source for acrylic locally. Long story short a RC member "Acrylics" (James at Envision Acrylics) built it for me. He did a great job too! I did the finish work on the edges because James said that would double the cost of the tank. I now know why, 12 sanding steps & then polishing.
This is it!
Inside display dimensions are 8" wide X 6" deep & water level is 12". As you can see there is a built-in HOB filter. This area has the ice probe coming up from the bottom (can bring another ice probe down from the top if needed) & houses the return pump, temp probe & any filter media that will fit in the small space.
Inside the HOB. The pump is a small 120gph Rio (looks like a good flow rate). I will shorten the pipe from the return pump to fit when I get the rock in place.
James made nice lids too.
Doing a temperature test, looks like one ice probe holds about 58 degrees. Will need the second ice probe in the summer at least. The round vase aquarium has the rock & sand for the new tank. I glued several pieces of dry rock together so the whole aqua scape will only be one rock, that way if/when I need to do anything in the tiny tank I can take the one rock out & put it in a bucket. The vase distorts some & looking at the rock form the side now, will be new pix when Its all together. It has been cycling for a couple months now (pretty much done). Will move rock, sand & water over soon & lower the temp slowly. Hoping it will be ready for startup critters soon after that.
I have one prototype LED light & another on the way from a new (to me anyway) manufacturer. I think they are perfect for nanos & picos, very small & custom features!
I need to build a small canopy more to hide the second ice probe more than anything. More photos when aqua scape is in & I have the lights & canopy in place.
More to come
Jim
Wanted to keep it small simple to start out. The first consideration is the temperature 55 degrees, so you need a chiller. In keeping with the idea of small & simple an ice probe seemed the way to go. That means 3 gallons max, probably should be less. Next if you make it out of normal glass it will sweat & drip on what it sets on. So decided to make it out of 1" thick acrylic.
I first thought I'd build the tank my self. Did a little research & found some types of acrylic are better for aquariums than others & didn't have a good source for acrylic locally. Long story short a RC member "Acrylics" (James at Envision Acrylics) built it for me. He did a great job too! I did the finish work on the edges because James said that would double the cost of the tank. I now know why, 12 sanding steps & then polishing.
This is it!
Inside display dimensions are 8" wide X 6" deep & water level is 12". As you can see there is a built-in HOB filter. This area has the ice probe coming up from the bottom (can bring another ice probe down from the top if needed) & houses the return pump, temp probe & any filter media that will fit in the small space.
Inside the HOB. The pump is a small 120gph Rio (looks like a good flow rate). I will shorten the pipe from the return pump to fit when I get the rock in place.
James made nice lids too.
Doing a temperature test, looks like one ice probe holds about 58 degrees. Will need the second ice probe in the summer at least. The round vase aquarium has the rock & sand for the new tank. I glued several pieces of dry rock together so the whole aqua scape will only be one rock, that way if/when I need to do anything in the tiny tank I can take the one rock out & put it in a bucket. The vase distorts some & looking at the rock form the side now, will be new pix when Its all together. It has been cycling for a couple months now (pretty much done). Will move rock, sand & water over soon & lower the temp slowly. Hoping it will be ready for startup critters soon after that.
I have one prototype LED light & another on the way from a new (to me anyway) manufacturer. I think they are perfect for nanos & picos, very small & custom features!
I need to build a small canopy more to hide the second ice probe more than anything. More photos when aqua scape is in & I have the lights & canopy in place.
More to come
Jim
