New to Pico tanks, old to the game....,

[DrHarryLopez]

Hello everyone,

I've been into reefkeeping since 2000, starting witha 40G, then 90G, and currently have ~ 400G system with a 220G main display tank.

I will be starting my first Pico reef tank and i'm a little nervous about it, so here I am to learn from ya'll. Along the way, maybe I can offer some of my experience, but as far as Pico size reef I have a few questions.

I plan to frag off a piece or two from any of my colonies to start. Not sure which corals I should start with, but I guess the lighting would be the first piece of equipment I need to address.

I'm looking at the Fuval Edge 6 g tank. Its lighting is terrible for reef, but i really like the tank. First I guess i have to pick the color...

Pewter

Black

I welcome any advice.

 

[DrHarryLopez]

Here a pic of my current 220

 

[DrHarryLopez]

Well This past weekend I picked up a Fluval Edge 6 gal tank system thanks to Gennaro.

I have a lot of work to do on this build. Auto topoff is the most important. I need some ideas. Most likely I'll make a mini version of my office system.

 

[DrHarryLopez]

PicoD sent me this link to these LEDs. LEDs for a Fluval Edge

 

[DrHarryLopez]

Might cost too much for this tank's budget.

 

[andrewkw]

Check out my pico thread.

The biggest challenge with a pico is aquascaping both initially and when you try and add corals. My tank is now full and many different types of corals are thriving in my 2 gallon tank (some did not) but if any fall off the rock it's at the point where I'd have to knock 3 things over to pick one up.

For a light I recommend a par 30led bulb. They're about 70$ and you can use any light fixture its a standard bulb. I use a 6$ walmart desk lamp. You can really use anything depending on how classy you want to be. You could suspend it from the ceiling or use a desk lamp.

I don't know if you do frequent water changes on your larger systems, even if you do they probably could go a lot longer, on the pico tank you pretty much have to do water changes, especially if you don't plan on dosing.

Once a week with decent salt should be fine to replace trace elements unless its SPS crazy then you might want to dose a bit of calcium and alkalinity.

There aren't many options for pico skimmers and any you could fit in probably aren't the best. I've found 2 mangroves work great as a fuge. Easier then cheato since it doesn't need to be trimmed and they need a lot less surface space.

Basically since you are able to keep big tanks you should have no problems maintaining a pico, there are just slightly different challenges that need to be addressed. If you are just going to take a bit of live rock from one of your other tanks you should be good to go and start adding stuff within a few days.

 

[DrHarryLopez]

Check out my pico thread.

The biggest challenge with a pico is aquascaping both initially and when you try and add corals. My tank is now full and many different types of corals are thriving in my 2 gallon tank (some did not) but if any fall off the rock it's at the point where I'd have to knock 3 things over to pick one up.

For a light I recommend a par 30led bulb. They're about 70$ and you can use any light fixture its a standard bulb. I use a 6$ walmart desk lamp. You can really use anything depending on how classy you want to be. You could suspend it from the ceiling or use a desk lamp.

I don't know if you do frequent water changes on your larger systems, even if you do they probably could go a lot longer, on the pico tank you pretty much have to do water changes, especially if you don't plan on dosing.

Once a week with decent salt should be fine to replace trace elements unless its SPS crazy then you might want to dose a bit of calcium and alkalinity.

There aren't many options for pico skimmers and any you could fit in probably aren't the best. I've found 2 mangroves work great as a fuge. Easier then cheato since it doesn't need to be trimmed and they need a lot less surface space.

Basically since you are able to keep big tanks you should have no problems maintaining a pico, there are just slightly different challenges that need to be addressed. If you are just going to take a bit of live rock from one of your other tanks you should be good to go and start adding stuff within a few days.

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, this is great infomation. Gonna ck out your thread...

 

[spartyblaze]

I just got that baby fluval tank, the spec.

Doc - post some pics, I think that I am going to suspend a pendant over mine as I planned to put it on a shelf and think it could look pretty cool.

Good luck!

 

[ir_danno22]

that's a pretty penny for such a small light and it does not have a controller. you can probably have one custom or diy built for less.

 

[Agu]

Not to be overly negative or otherwise nasty but IMHO the Fluval Edge is a a worthless nano reef tank. Lighting sucks, flow/filtration sucks, access sucks and in general it looks better than it works as a nano reef tank.

I wish you the best of luck but before you get in too deep you may want to reconsider the tank you're using.

jmo,

 

[DrHarryLopez]

Dont know what happened to this picture from an earlier post but anyway here it is again.

Build is slow cause I'm busy on the my larger main display at the office.

Plan is to have two plastic about 10" wide X 15" tall X 6" deep (front to back)
One will be a sump, the other the topoff.

Sump will support the heaters, probes (bringing my AC3 from my office controller as i upgreaded to the apex,) and float switch.

Planning to mod the small aqua filter with two bulkheads (3/4" overlow, 1/2" inflow)

Just some ideas

 

[DrHarryLopez]

Slow grass build, but I finally put sand water and some coral into the tank. I have a heater and I'm using 3 LED Puck lighting. each LED Puck is directly over each of the three corals.

 

[DrHarryLopez]

The rock on the left is permanent, while the center and right corals are from my stock main display.

The rocks are cultured live rock established from my main display tank.

 

[DrHarryLopez]

3/12/11
Gave up on SPS in the pico
Brought back to the two birdsnest colonies.

3/17/11
Arrived home and smell of death was in the house. The smell came from the pico tank. Immediately I checked the temp, 91! The water was cloudy, and corals were in bad shape.

Sinuleria colony DOA
Nephtia colony critical condition
GSP critical condition
Ricordia critical condition
Toadstool in guarded condition
Scarlet Hermit Survived stable
Clownfish Survived stable

50% water and carbon change today, heater removed. Temp now stable at 78 degrees.
20% water change tomorrow

 

[ange062]

Ouch, that's tough!! Really makes me want to put my heater on a controller as insurance.

Hope everything pulls through for ya.

 

[brandon429]

I think the lighting intensity would have killed the corals even if the temps didnt.

the tanks I see using these LED's have to have them raised up really high, my friend Matt found a reading of 500 par in a similar setup with the led's right over the top I think its a double danger for your setup but just guessing.

what caused the temp spike>?

 

[preef40]

I hope that everything has survived..

 

[DrHarryLopez]

Ouch, that's tough!! Really makes me want to put my heater on a controller as insurance.

Hope everything pulls through for ya.

I have a dual stage controller, but I must be stupid or something because I just can't figure the thing out.

I think the lighting intensity would have killed the corals even if the temps didnt.

the tanks I see using these LED's have to have them raised up really high, my friend Matt found a reading of 500 par in a similar setup with the led's right over the top I think its a double danger for your setup but just guessing.

what caused the temp spike>?

Heater went faulty

I hope that everything has survived..

Thank you.

So far temp is stable and the water is clear.
Sinuleria colony Died
Zoa's on a frag plug Died
Nephtia colony critical condition - transferred to my office frag tank.
GSP critical condition - Intensive Care
Ricordia critical condition - transferred to my office frag tank.
Toadstool in guarded condition no change
Scarlet Hermit Survived stable
Clownfish Survived stable

 

[NEK-ap24]

Don't give up, the Edge is an amazing looking Pico tank. what happened to the sump? Get the heater down there and on a controller and get back on that horse

Cheers

 

[DrHarryLopez]

Don't give up, the Edge is an amazing looking Pico tank. what happened to the sump? Get the heater down there and on a controller and get back on that horse

Cheers

Thank you.

The temp has been stable and the water is clear.
Nephtia colony - transferred to my office frag tank - Died
GSP is now in guarded condition - a few polyps are now extending
Ricordia - transferred to my office frag tank - Died
Toadstool in guarded condition no change
Anthelia colony is doing well
Scarlet Hermit doing well
Clownfish doing well

Not going to give up. Gonna continue and maintain a stable environment before I add any new coral.