suggestions for starting 1g pico vase/cookie jar?

[living_waters]

I had a 5g pico with great success and tore it down due to way to much equipment in it. I want to make a simple pico I was thinking a vase with PVC pipe In the middle and sticking a heater inside the PVC with drilled holes and a bubbler inside the end of the PVC to distribute the the flow of the heater than gluing live rock from my rubble fuge in a stair case matter to the top leading to a collection cup on top of the PVC making the bubbler the main source for flow and also into a skimmer than 100% water changes a week from water from my main display than dose my only concern is top of water you guys think if I seal it the evaporated water will drip back in? Also will a seal cause ph/alk issues please chime in with any advice.thanks!

 

[brandon429]

my advise is dont use aged water

when you make 100% changes, use new mixed water. picos store and produce too many organics as they age to be importing more waste with each water change

also, cant seal an air bubbled tank but you can restrict the evap

use distilled water for topoff

good build pics in the article on google:

the history of pico reef biology

its not the only way to do it, just one way of many. it is the oldest established method.

 

[living_waters]

I was thinking the same about the aged water just thought it might be better considering the water quality in the display alk and cal would be spot on... What do you guys think of buying 5 pds of miracle mud and using it as substrate?

 

[brandon429]

harmless to try. has not been documented in a tiny pico before so its new ground. pretty much anything works for the first year in small picos

 

[living_waters]

I think I'll go with figi mud instead as its all natural and it applys to top off not replace every few years compared to miracle mud