If you're taking pictures.... where are they?!
My 5 gallon Ecoxotic Ecopico build
- Thread starter NemusMaximus
- Start date
If you're taking pictures.... where are they?!
craftytony
OT Godfather
Very cool! How much is just the tank and stock light?
NemusMaximus
I LIKE TURTLES!
Cnseekatz- I got an Ecoxotic 12k PAR38.
Tony, Big Kev is correct. Once you buy the extra strips and power source youre looking at like an additional $50. Youre probably better off starting with a PAR bulb in a color combo you like, or building your own LED kit if you want to save money.
Tony, Big Kev is correct. Once you buy the extra strips and power source youre looking at like an additional $50. Youre probably better off starting with a PAR bulb in a color combo you like, or building your own LED kit if you want to save money.
NemusMaximus
I LIKE TURTLES!
Havent updated this in a while.. so here are a couple of recent pics!
Ever since I added the Mp10, Ive noticed that my zoas are happier, and the surface agitation is keeping the water super clear. This has been my favorite tank Ive ever kept, and surprisingly easy to maintain. Thanks for looking.
Ever since I added the Mp10, Ive noticed that my zoas are happier, and the surface agitation is keeping the water super clear. This has been my favorite tank Ive ever kept, and surprisingly easy to maintain. Thanks for looking.
Caragol
Caragol
I'm thinking of swapping out my Aquaclear for another Koralia to get surface agitation. That waterfall is creating irritating microbubbles. Can't drop the hundos on an MP10.
-edit... I just realized I responded to a post from 9/26. Still, great looking tank. I'm modeling my 29g after your reefkeeping habits and so far the tank is looking great (minus some microbubble haze) Still too empty to get cool shots of it though, maybe after the swap.
-edit... I just realized I responded to a post from 9/26. Still, great looking tank. I'm modeling my 29g after your reefkeeping habits and so far the tank is looking great (minus some microbubble haze) Still too empty to get cool shots of it though, maybe after the swap.
NemusMaximus
I LIKE TURTLES!
jmsalt1: The tank is doing great! Thanks for asking. Im getting an Ecoxotic controller for it soon, so Im pretty excited about that. As for the lighting, I really like my current setup. I have the 5 strips on doing a dusk/dawn effect, and in the middle of the day for about 4 hours I run the PAR bulb. I have noticed Im getting some hair algae (tiny little strands here and there) since the addition of PAR bulb, so Ive been really stingy with food additions. I used to feed Rod's Reef food every other day, but now I do just enough flakes for the fish and some ground up ones for the corals to snag.
Caragol: I understand your frustration. While the water is really clear, I know there is still a ton of debris that has settled on the rocks and sand. A filter would be great, but there just isnt any room lol. Also, Im flattered that someone would model their tank after my habits lol. Ive always really enjoyed the hobby, but this small tank has really made me fall in love with reef keeping again.
Caragol: I understand your frustration. While the water is really clear, I know there is still a ton of debris that has settled on the rocks and sand. A filter would be great, but there just isnt any room lol. Also, Im flattered that someone would model their tank after my habits lol. Ive always really enjoyed the hobby, but this small tank has really made me fall in love with reef keeping again.
Hey man,
Good to hear it! You'll see I posted about some challenges I'm having with my current lighting in another thread someone posted today asking about lighting for the EcoPico where you posted as well.
Can you do me and some others a big favor? I would be interested to know which corals have done their best under the LED's on this 5 gallon tank and which ones have survived but not thrived, and finally any that just didn't make it in your experience.
Good to hear it! You'll see I posted about some challenges I'm having with my current lighting in another thread someone posted today asking about lighting for the EcoPico where you posted as well.
Can you do me and some others a big favor? I would be interested to know which corals have done their best under the LED's on this 5 gallon tank and which ones have survived but not thrived, and finally any that just didn't make it in your experience.
NemusMaximus
I LIKE TURTLES!
Sure thing. Just the background stuff: I change the water once a week, 1.5 gallons. The actinics are on from noon-1pm. At that point, the whites (3 stock strips) come on until 9, and then then the actinics stay on until 10pm. I added a small Tunze 5024 pump which is rated at 80 gph, which is the same as the stock pump. As far as feeding, I was giving TINY amounts of Rod's food to the tank every other day. After every water change I would also add 2 drops of Azox coral diet.
With that setup, I was able to easily keep, and GROW:
Acans (echinata and lordhowensis), Favias, Chalice, lobophyllia, Duncans,and Rhodactis mushrooms. (I did notice that while they did grow and look great, some of the intensity of certain colors, mostly reds, would fade a little... and become an orange color in the acans).
I was able to maintain alive, but saw little to no growth in:
Zoas, Palys, Ricordea. (zoas and palys were REALLY stretching even though they were at the top of the tank, ricordea was stretching, and always trying to relocate).
I was unable to keep:
Leptastrea. I got a frag as a freebie in a purchase, and it just died, slowly over the course of maybe 3 months.
Since I have added the PAR bulb and the mp10, I have noticed a large improvement in my zoas, palys and ricordea. I also received a piece of orange digitata from Bennyblanco and it is also doing great, with awesome color and polyp extension.
Hope that helps. I wish I had some SPS info, but I haven't really tried them.
With that setup, I was able to easily keep, and GROW:
Acans (echinata and lordhowensis), Favias, Chalice, lobophyllia, Duncans,and Rhodactis mushrooms. (I did notice that while they did grow and look great, some of the intensity of certain colors, mostly reds, would fade a little... and become an orange color in the acans).
I was able to maintain alive, but saw little to no growth in:
Zoas, Palys, Ricordea. (zoas and palys were REALLY stretching even though they were at the top of the tank, ricordea was stretching, and always trying to relocate).
I was unable to keep:
Leptastrea. I got a frag as a freebie in a purchase, and it just died, slowly over the course of maybe 3 months.
Since I have added the PAR bulb and the mp10, I have noticed a large improvement in my zoas, palys and ricordea. I also received a piece of orange digitata from Bennyblanco and it is also doing great, with awesome color and polyp extension.
Hope that helps. I wish I had some SPS info, but I haven't really tried them.
NemusMaximus
I LIKE TURTLES!
Here are some growth comparisons under the 5 strip combo, about 9 months apart.
NemusMaximus
I LIKE TURTLES!
Thanks! Glad to hear that the PAR is working out for you. I have definitely noticed that the z/p growth has been much better under it as well. Also, let me know if you notice more nuisance algae. I have little bits of green hair coming here and there. Ive upped my water changes and ordered some phosban and a reactor from TLF. Im not sure if its the increase in white light from the PAR or just over feeding, etc.
I did notice algae issues after I switched the lights, but mine wasn't hair algae, it was red slime. I recently cut an hour and a half out of the light cycle, and actually lowered my water temp about a degree, and the algae is disappearing. Thank goodness, having dirty sand is super frustrating.
How's the tank doing now? Did you get the reactor set up? I have a tough time with my phosphates, but I'm pretty against having an external hardware.
How's the tank doing now? Did you get the reactor set up? I have a tough time with my phosphates, but I'm pretty against having an external hardware.
chiblackhawks4
In Memoriam
magnificent looking little tank. These small builds are so fun and really can turn out quite beautiful like yours has. Is that a clown in there?
NemusMaximus
I LIKE TURTLES!
cnsee- I got the reactor, and some media. However, I have not set it up. I think on a tank this small it would be difficult to set it up without it looking very weird on the tank. What Im thinking of doing is running the media on a small HOB filter. However, Ive stopped feeding the tank as much as I used to, picked most of the little tufts of hair algae off, and spot feed using a "Julian's Thing" from TLF.
Also, I got the lighting controller from Ecoxotic, and Ive set my day lights on a shorter time frame. Ive noticed the algae has stopped growing. Tank is looking great now!
Chiblackhawk- Thank you very much for the compliment! Yes, thats a Rod's Reef Onyx clownfish in there. He should be about a year old soon.
Also, I got the lighting controller from Ecoxotic, and Ive set my day lights on a shorter time frame. Ive noticed the algae has stopped growing. Tank is looking great now!
Chiblackhawk- Thank you very much for the compliment! Yes, thats a Rod's Reef Onyx clownfish in there. He should be about a year old soon.
Reef Doctor
New member
Subscribed. Cool Tank!
NemusMaximus
I LIKE TURTLES!
It's looking alright! I had a set back with some of my corals, though. Apparently I had set the PAR bulb too close to the corals, and for too long. I was slowly bleaching my LPS. Since then, Ive raised the bulb, and reduced the light cycle to only 2 hours a day, with the LEDs on for the rest of the day. I lost some of the newer heads on my acans, but they are already starting to recover. I also think I got zoapox from a trade, and I lost almost all of my Rastas. Salt water problems I guess... haha. That being said, everthing else is doing great!
I'll try to get some pics up soon.
I'll try to get some pics up soon.
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