My new Ecoxotic EcoPico 5 Gallon Pico Reef Tank

[bigbunk03]

First, I need to say thanks to a lot of folks on this site for all of your info! I used a lot of that advice, as well as tips from my LFS to get this new setup running. I got an Ecoxotic EcoPico which is a simple 5 gallon rimless setup with LED lighting. I got extra LED's for a total of 5 strips, 15 lights, 10 white & 5 blue. It has a glass top to help with evaporation too. The pump is simple and includes some media inside to catch large stuff. I cut half of it out and am rinsing it out with each water change. There is also a 25w Cobalt heater behind the rock. I started about 5 weeks ago with live rock and live sand. I just added the coral which includes a torch, ricordea, and zoas. The zoas are in the top left but they have not opened yet. I'm not sure if it is the lighting is too much or what but we'll see with some more time. I'm doing 2 light bars on from noon-8pm and the other 3 light bars on from 2pm-6pm. I'm using water from my LFS and adding buffer to get the KH to 10-10.5 dKh as well as adding iodide with one drop of Iodion per water change. I'm now doing 2 water changes of 1 gallon each per week. I'm going to feed a very small amount of Rod's original food blend every other day and 2 drops of Azox coral diet each week.

I will soon be adding a percula clown as well as 2 astrea snails, 2 margarita snails, 1 nassarius snail, 1 blue-leg hermit, 1 scarlet reef hermit, and maybe 1 porcelain anemone crab. I'm not sure if I'll do an anemone yet but realize I might need 2 so the clown and anemone crab don't fight over one.

I'll try to keep this updated with new adds and any problems I run into so I can share a little info like some of you did for me. Feel free to give me any more advice as I'm new to nano/pico tanks.

 

[ryeguyy84]

Looks good so far but I wouldn't add an anemone. Most clowns are captive bread and have never seen an anemone.

Also unless you are testing for iodine I wouldn't add it.

Otherwise very nice

 

[bigbunk03]

Thanks for the tips! I did some research on anemones today and came to the conclusion that they aren't a good idea for my tank. I got a test kit for iodide but not sure how accurate it is so I'll go even lighter on dosing it, if I do at all.

 

[dublo8]

Looks good so far but I wouldn't add an anemone. Most clowns are captive bread and have never seen an anemone.

Also unless you are testing for iodine I wouldn't add it.

Otherwise very nice

It doesn't matter if the clowns are captive bread or wheat bread. It's wired into their DNA. A majority of the clowns you get these days are captive bred anyways and almost all of them will be hosted by a nem if the clowns so choose one as their home.

But I do agree with you on the iodine.

 

[ryeguyy84]

It doesn't matter if the clowns are captive bread or wheat bread. It's wired into their DNA. A majority of the clowns you get these days are captive bred anyways and almost all of them will be hosted by a nem if the clowns so choose one as their home.

But I do agree with you on the iodine.

I meant that they would not miss an anemone because they were not pulled out of one in the wild. But yes If one was offered they would go to it if they wanted to.

 

[dublo8]

Thanks for the tips! I did some research on anemones today and came to the conclusion that they aren't a good idea for my tank. I got a test kit for iodide but not sure how accurate it is so I'll go even lighter on dosing it, if I do at all.

Yes, good choice. The tank is a little small for a nem. I have seen clowns hosted by frogspawn, hammer coral, powerheads etc. Cool tank though, I always enjoy seeing these tanks. I think I'm going to break down and buy one eventually. Keep us updated.

 

[ladybugs]

Nice setup tank

 

[bigbunk03]

Update 2

Update 2

So after a couple weeks of the water parameters being where they should be, it seemed stable enough to start loading the tank up a little. I had some green and brown algae as well as hair algae popping up so I figured it was time to add some cleanup crew. Last week I ended up adding 3 astrea snails, 3 blue leg hermits, 2 porcelain anemone crabs, and one sand sifting sea star. I also fell into the trap of buying some more coral that was on sale at the LFS. I got a nice rock of full of zoas and neon orange mushroom. I haven't found a final resting place for them but need to do that soon and glue the mushroom down.

I wasn't planning on getting the sand sifting star but it is very cool to watch and is doing good work on my sand. My 2 year old loves it more than anything so that makes it worth it. I'm waiting until Christmas to get him a percula clown which will be the last addition for a while.

All of the new additions seem to be happy and healthy so far. The cleanup crew did fast work of most of the algae. My water tests have come out perfect so far with one exception. I have two test kits for KH. I have an API test kit and another brand that I got at the LFS. I was using the one from the LFS and I was perfect, about 10-10.5 dkh. Then I decided to give the API test a shot since I was already doing the others. It came out around 12 or maybe 12.5 dkh. I was scared so I did them both again and even used 10ml for each one for a third try to see if I could be more accurate. They are still very different and both came out with different results. I tried using the same test tube to make sure the water amounts matched too. Any advice?

 

[brianspider]

Not to rain on the parade, but you might want to reconsider the sand sifter. They are constant eaters, and from what I hear often starve to death in much more sizable and established sand beds let alone a new 5 gal system with little fauna in the sand. Maybe look into a fromia starfish. Its colorful and has decreased feeding requirements.

 

[bigbunk03]

Thanks for the info brianspider. Like I said, I wasn't planning on getting it but the LFS basically gave it to me and thought it would be alright. I did some quick research when I got home and saw the same stuff you said. I'll keep my eye on it and step up the feeding a bit and see what happens I guess. Does that sound like a good plan given my situation?

 

[brianspider]

Thanks for the info brianspider. Like I said, I wasn't planning on getting it but the LFS basically gave it to me and thought it would be alright. I did some quick research when I got home and saw the same stuff you said. I'll keep my eye on it and step up the feeding a bit and see what happens I guess. Does that sound like a good plan given my situation?

Do you have any other tanks?

 

[bigbunk03]

No, I don't have any other tanks to relocate the sand sifter star. I'm not a fan of killing stuff so I'll probably just keep a very close eye on it and the first sign of stress I'll find a better home for it.

 

[ryeguyy84]

get rid of it, the first sign of stress is going to be a missing leg. been there, I tried to keep one in a 50G. Luckily I was able to find someone with a 150G and he's still alive and doing well.

if you have a smart phone do some research in the store. I don't trust what they tell me because I've been burned.

 

[bigbunk03]

Thanks, I'll just take him back. I thought I could trust the owner because he supposedly has a PhD in Oceanography but it seems like the advice to get the sifting star and to dose iodide are the wrong direction for me. Thanks again for the advice!

 

[bigbunk03]

Alright, so the fromia starfish that brianspider mentioned...I see differing opinions on if they'll work. Does anyone have some experience with these in a small tank that can provide another opinion?

I think the answer is probably no on this question based on my research but I like the look of clams, specifically the maxima clams. Does anyone have experience keeping these in a small aquarium with success or have another suggestion for another clam that will look good in the tank?

 

[Dexters Reef]

I would also lean against the sand sifter star, had one in a 46g with a dsb and after about 8 months he started to die...I dont think it would last more than a few months in a 5g. Also, I have a 46g thats been running for 6+ years, a 75 with SPS thats almost a year old, a 14g biocube, a 28g nanocube, and a 5.5g nano...I have never dosed or tested for iodine.

I do dose alkalinity and calcium solution, maintain magnesium when needed, and supplement my tank with amino acids and carbs for the SPS.

As for the starfish, that species grows to be 5-6 inches, and some sites reccomend a 30g aqarium for them, which I feel is still on the small side for long term success. A full grown starfish will deplete its food source quickly in a 5G tank unfortunately.

Why not get a nice cleaner or blood/fire shrimp? They are easy to feed and care for, and have great personalities and are peaceful.

 

[ryeguyy84]

I would also lean against the sand sifter star, had one in a 46g with a dsb and after about 8 months he started to die...I dont think it would last more than a few months in a 5g. Also, I have a 46g thats been running for 6+ years, a 75 with SPS thats almost a year old, a 14g biocube, a 28g nanocube, and a 5.5g nano...I have never dosed or tested for iodine.

I do dose alkalinity and calcium solution, maintain magnesium when needed, and supplement my tank with amino acids and carbs for the SPS.

As for the starfish, that species grows to be 5-6 inches, and some sites reccomend a 30g aqarium for them, which I feel is still on the small side for long term success. A full grown starfish will deplete its food source quickly in a 5G tank unfortunately.

Why not get a nice cleaner or blood/fire shrimp? They are easy to feed and care for, and have great personalities and are peaceful.

I second the cleaner. I have one in my biocube and he's got the best personality.

 

[iwishtofish]

Your little tank looks very nice! Have you considered getting a photobucket acount to display your pictures? From your photobucket photo library, you'd just copy and paste the image link into your Reef Central post. Loads faster, and without an extra click!

I'm keeping a 15g tank with just rock and an HOB filter - no skimmer. The biggest challenge in a nano is that of keeping water parameters stable. Even a little evaporation in a 5g tank is going to affect your salinity, so you'll have to really watch that. A glass cover can be helpful, but it can gather condensation, salt, dirt, etc and block some precious light, and can hold in heat. It can also affect gas exchange from the water to the air, so make sure your HOB filter has enough flow.

I have a maxima clam in my 15g, and am successful thus far. Maxima clams require LOTS of light and consistently good water quality. I have an Ecoxotic PAR 38 LED spotlight shining directly on the clam...low enough to probably fry any other coral, but I had to be careful to acclimate the clam to that. I also do daily water changes - just a couple party cups out and then a couple cups in (much more slowly). My purpose for very small frequent water changes is to hopefully reduce big parameter swings when I change the water. I believe this is what keeps my nitrates in check, along with frequent turkey-basting of the rocks and changing of the filter floss. High nitrates woud not only be bad for the clam, but also for the corals.

I'd wait on a clam...perhaps find a type that is more forgiving once your tank is very well established and you have a good system down.

I am glad to see you are starting to research everything heavily. No doubt LFS people are great to have around, but sales are their survival, so in many cases they will not tell you to avoid an animal that you should.

EDIT: Oh, forgot to ask what salt you are using? Unless you are heavily stocked with hard corals, I don't recommend dosing anything at all. No Ca, ALk, Mg, Iodine...nothing. There is no need, provided you are doing regular water changes, and you'll prob send your parameters all over the place and make your animals unhappy. I use reef Crystals, as the Ca, Alk, Mg levels in that mix are a bit higher than in some other mixes.

 

[sponger0]

I know others have said this, but Im going to give my input.

No anemone. Too small of a tank.

Iodine is not needed to dose. Once a week water change will replenish that plenty. I wouldnt waste my time dosing it.

You said you got 2 anemone porcelain crabs. Blue or white? Im asking for a reason.

Just avoid the sand sifting star. Your tank wont have enough food to last it even a month IMO.

 

[bigbunk03]

Thanks once again for the input and questions! I took the star back to the LFS and got my percula clown tonight. They apologized for the bad advice on the star and the owner gave me full credit back. They also took my iodide supplement back. I'm getting my water from them 5 gallons at a time.

I'll look for a shrimp and add one in soon. I'll definitely just wait on the clam since my research and your suggestions lean against it for now. I got 2 porcelain crabs.

I asked for one blue porcelain but got 2 plain ones I think. They are kind of gray and pretty small so I assume they don't have a color in the name. I was getting a few things and didn't get a chance to see them before they got put in my bag. They sit there and wave their claws around all the time. Do these sound okay sponger0?

I was wondering why the pics were an attachment and not like many others I see on here. I'll get photobucket setup soon.