John001
New member
Please let me open saying I'm an amateur; been doing reef tanks for 1.5 years now. At the bottom is my BioCube29, and once I give away some of those extra xenia, I'm happy enough with it for now.
TL;DR, please go down to Setup Question
One mistake I made early into my reef hobby was starting a five gallon nano (EcoPico) when quite honestly my BioCube was not even well established yet and I had near zero experience.
However, things went extremely well! I had everything running at home. Some xenia, a toadstool mushroom, a really nice rock of colony polyp, and a candy cane. I let it run for 4 months at home, water parameters were fine, and all was happy.
Then I brought it to work"¦
Things went fine for a good ~6 months. There was a little more algae growth then I was used to, but figured it was because the office gets a little warmer than my home is, but it was completely manageable.
Then "œsomething" happened. I clearly remember it started when I came back from vacation, and there was a lot of hair algae. Still somewhat manageable. I started by using a toothbrush to scrub the algae off the rock, and when that was done all went back to normal. But then it happened again, I repeated the massive cleaning, okay for a while, and then again"¦ it got to the point where I had to scrub with a tooth brush weekly. At this point many of the corals have died, and I salvaged the rest leaving just the fish.
I've tried everything. 100% water changes with known good water from my BioCube in the course of 3 days, several times. I tried several chemicals, but the phosphate was always high, just days after it was clear.
Some of the other reef guys at work feel it's the substrate (arag-alive black) somehow adding to the phosphates. Don't want to dwell on the past; it is time to start over!
(I did let it sit for awhile untouched at this point =)
My issue with the EcoPico was it's not like the BioCube. I need a media basket, larger/separate filtration system like on the BioCube; the all in one powerhead the EcoPico stunk.
So I settled on the NUVO Pico 4. I know the 8 would be better for my experience, but the work desk cannot handle the weight (I think, but not chancing it).
I'm coming in Memorial Day Weekend to work to set it up. Using Arag-alive substrate, live rock of course, and everything else stock from the Pico 4.
Setup Questions
1. I think I should use the good water from my established BioCube, but not to fill the whole tank. I was thinking 50/50 BioCube/New Water. I make my own RO water so anything is possible. I also plan on doing ALL water changes 50/50 going forward.
2. What is the difference from the "œnormal" live rock, that is mostly white, and the live rock I see that is covered is something red?
3. Should I put the live rock in first, and the substrate around it, so the rock is directly on the glass more or less? Thinking in such a small tank, substrate under a rock can get "œinteresting" down there. it looked rather nasty when I took the rock out of the EcoPico.
4. I really want a tiny UV sterilizer. If I can fit one of the nano's out there in the pico 4 I'm doing it, but I don't think I'll have enough space. Is there a hang-over UV sterilizer out there that would work good for a nano this small? Or am I taking it too far, and will my 50/50 BioCube water/new water strategy work (BioCube does have UV and Protein skimmer). Or is there another idea? It's my understanding UV = less Phos, and that was the problem last time.
(Not my best shot, but all I have on me atm)
PS: replaced the lighting of course. If you have the BioCube 29, check this out: http://current-usa.com/aquarium-led-lights/orbit-marine-fixtures/orbit-marine/
The 18"-24" fits PERFECTLY on top of the BioCube, and you can still close the lid. I did gut the lid though.
TL;DR, please go down to Setup Question
One mistake I made early into my reef hobby was starting a five gallon nano (EcoPico) when quite honestly my BioCube was not even well established yet and I had near zero experience.
However, things went extremely well! I had everything running at home. Some xenia, a toadstool mushroom, a really nice rock of colony polyp, and a candy cane. I let it run for 4 months at home, water parameters were fine, and all was happy.
Then I brought it to work"¦
Things went fine for a good ~6 months. There was a little more algae growth then I was used to, but figured it was because the office gets a little warmer than my home is, but it was completely manageable.
Then "œsomething" happened. I clearly remember it started when I came back from vacation, and there was a lot of hair algae. Still somewhat manageable. I started by using a toothbrush to scrub the algae off the rock, and when that was done all went back to normal. But then it happened again, I repeated the massive cleaning, okay for a while, and then again"¦ it got to the point where I had to scrub with a tooth brush weekly. At this point many of the corals have died, and I salvaged the rest leaving just the fish.
I've tried everything. 100% water changes with known good water from my BioCube in the course of 3 days, several times. I tried several chemicals, but the phosphate was always high, just days after it was clear.
Some of the other reef guys at work feel it's the substrate (arag-alive black) somehow adding to the phosphates. Don't want to dwell on the past; it is time to start over!
(I did let it sit for awhile untouched at this point =)
My issue with the EcoPico was it's not like the BioCube. I need a media basket, larger/separate filtration system like on the BioCube; the all in one powerhead the EcoPico stunk.
So I settled on the NUVO Pico 4. I know the 8 would be better for my experience, but the work desk cannot handle the weight (I think, but not chancing it).
I'm coming in Memorial Day Weekend to work to set it up. Using Arag-alive substrate, live rock of course, and everything else stock from the Pico 4.
Setup Questions
1. I think I should use the good water from my established BioCube, but not to fill the whole tank. I was thinking 50/50 BioCube/New Water. I make my own RO water so anything is possible. I also plan on doing ALL water changes 50/50 going forward.
2. What is the difference from the "œnormal" live rock, that is mostly white, and the live rock I see that is covered is something red?
3. Should I put the live rock in first, and the substrate around it, so the rock is directly on the glass more or less? Thinking in such a small tank, substrate under a rock can get "œinteresting" down there. it looked rather nasty when I took the rock out of the EcoPico.
4. I really want a tiny UV sterilizer. If I can fit one of the nano's out there in the pico 4 I'm doing it, but I don't think I'll have enough space. Is there a hang-over UV sterilizer out there that would work good for a nano this small? Or am I taking it too far, and will my 50/50 BioCube water/new water strategy work (BioCube does have UV and Protein skimmer). Or is there another idea? It's my understanding UV = less Phos, and that was the problem last time.
(Not my best shot, but all I have on me atm)
PS: replaced the lighting of course. If you have the BioCube 29, check this out: http://current-usa.com/aquarium-led-lights/orbit-marine-fixtures/orbit-marine/
The 18"-24" fits PERFECTLY on top of the BioCube, and you can still close the lid. I did gut the lid though.
