Anyone done a 5.5 gal pico?

[klondike4001]

I'm working on a 5.5 gallon pico and looking to see what people have done to these to get some new ideas for mine.

Maxi-jet 400 powerwead for flow.
Coralife 18W Mini Aqualight 9W 10,000K daylight, 9W 03 Actinic
.92 gallon rear chamber for a fuge
3.6 gallonsof viewing space
5 lbs of black sand
1lb of LR rubble in back fuge chamber
2lb of Figi LR in front, more to be added.
1 orange ricordia
3-4 different zoas
1 feather duster(came on LR)
1 scarlett hermit
2 blue leg hermits
1 clown goby
2 nassarius snails

The current plan is to have softies in there and add a yasha Haze pair in there... any input?

http://jmastreptiles.com/images/DSCF0858.JPG

[cbianco]

Your pico is looking good so far. The stand and canopy look great!

Is the tank the only water volume that is included in this system (i.e. any sump...).?
I am under the impression that fish may be too much for this system.
Have you thought about going coral only in this tank?

Christopher :)

[villjr]

I set up one for my parents. It has about 7 lbs of LR. 2" sandbed. Same light. Two small hob filters. 7-8 various zoos, a few mushrooms, a green star polyp, various snails, hermit crabs, a small false perc, a domino. Only thing I would do is add another light, probably a second coralife 18w. The zoos are beginning to stretch for light. I do a weekly water change of 1 1/2 gallons. Everything is doing great. I'll post some pics for you this w/e when I go over.

[klondike4001]

I've had a clown goby in there for 2 weeks with every other day feedings with no nitrates, I'll experiment with the yasha haze, the goby's going into the cube later anyways. I'm tearing it down this weekend to redo the false wall and redo some seals within the tank. Does anyone have some extra chaeto to sell in the coming weeks?

As to the light I'm adding 2 9W 10,000K daylights, one on either side, I found them at a very reasonable price w/ a ballast, if you'd like one or 2 for your pico let me know and we can go in on it together. 'm also going to use one for the fuge on my cube and on the pico.

[villjr]

As long as you do a weekly water change you should be alrite on nitrates. My dad feeds his fish like twice a day and everything is doing fine. I don't test because it's a hassle on such a small tank. My dad doesn't want anymore light on the tank, he likes it the way it is. It's his tank I just do maintenance on it. There is not a canopy so I couldn't really add more light anyway.

[klondike4001]

you have a fuge on it?

[villjr]

No just hang on back filters. have some LR rubble in one of the filters, but thats about it. very basic and simple. since i don't live w/ my parents and don't see the tank everyday like i do my 37 gal. i try to keep it as simple as possible.

[lhoy]

I have a goby/shrimp pair in a 2.5 but I also do weekly water changes.

Lee

[lhoy]

Forgot to mention, get prepared for plenty of moving around by the shrimp. I lost a ricordia that he buried and some zoos!!

Lee

[klondike4001]

I'll keep an eye out.