going smaller...

[NateDogg]

So, I was talking with the neighbor yesterday. He joked about me doing his yardwork for $50. Long story short.. I did the work for $60. Check out my picotope! I don't know what I am going to do yet, more to come..

[Big_Pun]

nice I love mine welcome to the pico club

[NateDogg]

have you or are you going to add fish to yours?

[NateDogg]

The water, ls, and some rock went in tonight. I found some rock that would make a pretty cool "chamber" to hold some cheato. It would allow plenty of flow and light but hold it in place. Planned on putting the cheato right next to the intake of the filter. I am kind of wondering if the filter will pull the chaeto in.
The only plans we have for now are plenty of mushrooms. My wife is taking a liking to this tank. She is going to make most of the decisions. Kinda cool I think.

[NateDogg]

All the live rock is in! Brandi(my better half) aquascaped for the first time! BTW, This tank is so cool to me because she is really into it! Pics are from left to right. On the right, we were thinking of using some rock work to hold and concele some cheato. Thoughts?

[Big_Pun]

I have no fish but I keep mine at work and they shut off the ac on weekends when I take it home over break I plan on keepin here and add fish

[lakers10]

Nice Nate

[NateDogg]

I have no fish but I keep mine at work and they shut off the ac on weekends when I take it home over break I plan on keepin here and add fish

she wants to put our mandrin in there. 2 things: he is still very small but we would have to dose with pods very frequently(expensive) AND he could jump out. We have had him for a year and I know she would be upset if we lost him.

Mark- thanks! We are excited. We won't put any corals or fish in there until mid Nov. So we have plenty of time to figure out what we want to do.

[Big_Pun]

mandarin will jump, especially chasing pods, looke for a trimma goby, panda goby, I have a trimma very cool peaceful fish, or do a sexxy shrimp

[NateDogg]

mandarin will jump, especially chasing pods, looke for a trimma goby, panda goby, I have a trimma very cool peaceful fish, or do a sexxy shrimp

I have heard that Pandas are very difficult particularly because of their diet

[jlh81]

one of those is going to be my next tank. Any new pics?

[NateDogg]

I'll try and take some this weekend. we aren't putting much in it. I guess my wife is a minimalist when it comes to tanks.

[Mr Cob]

I like it! Looks cool....I'm a big fan of less crowded tanks.

[NateDogg]

it's been a long time with out an update. I have my kryptonite frag in this tank so I figures I should update.
5869

5870

5871

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5873

[GoneReefing]

Looking good! I'm going to get one of these for my work desk soon.

[Big_Pun]

nice, if you ever wanna do the LED conversion let me know

[NateDogg]

actually, chris... i am having a similar problem.. do they not sell replacement bulbs for this?! curious how much it would cost though. I am sure the Brandi doesn't want her stuff dying.

[Mr Cob]

I love your Yuma / rics....!

[Big_Pun]

i looked but no luck not even on the jbj site, also mine was rusting up, total cost lil over $100

[NateDogg]

I love your Yuma / rics....!

thanks rob! A couple of them got stung pretty bad by the torch coral. I am still trying to teach Brandi what works well together. She sees something she likes and wants to have it. It's hard in a pico!

i looked but no luck not even on the jbj site, also mine was rusting up, total cost lil over $100

Man. This little tank gets more expensive every day! Chris, what type of filter are you getting for yours now?

[Big_Pun]

the aquaclear70, bigalsonline has a version that doesnt come with all the filter media as the regular one so its cheaper, just takes about a week to get from canada http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS/ctl3684/cp19169/si4408841/cl0/powerfilter70

ill will be doing the fuge mod and running the heater,cheato in it

[NateDogg]

FTS. Taken today, right after lights came on.
8120
This shrimp is too cool!
8118
It's bigger than the only fish, so it comes out whenever it wants.
8119
They don't bother each other though.
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8122
So... We had some rough times. My advice... no torch corals in a pico! It doesn't work. We almost lost some zoas and rics. So, the torch corals are gone. We have added a sinlge Current Satellite. Makes it look much better. We had to go with a new light, but we weren't up for a led project.

So here is where we are.... Top offs every day!; Water changes at a minimum of once a week(now); currently running a non modified penguin 100 in back. I am sure my parameters are all over the place:what_smile:

Where we would like to be?...
1. We would like some sort of auto top off. I have seen some pretty cool ones done with water bottles and even some using battery powered pumps.
2. I would like some type of fuge.
3. I would like to make this a little easier to maintain before the baby gets here.

I have seen and heard of many people modifying aquaclear hob filters for these tanks. If we are going to be putting any type of work in to this we may as well go for it while we still have time. I am thinking of building a stand for this tank. That way I can hide wires, a fuge(no aquaclear), and an auto top off. I also figure that is going to allow it to be more baby friendly(proof). I have seen one person drill this tank before... that would make it look much more clean and I would like to go that route. So, our little pico is turning out to be much more work than the 29g biocube?!? All suggestions are welcome and appreciated! This will be the first time I ever do anything other than open a box and hook something up.

[Big_Pun]

do the aquaclear fuge, I have chemi pure, cheato and my heater in there. I'm also having good luck with led and sps. I just top off and dose 2 part twice a week. the pic is about a month and half old and the sps is almost double all ready. so many pods in the pico my trimma goby lives off them pretty much, it's fat and happy

[NateDogg]

I have seen several of these drilled now... I am thinking a 1" bulkhead through the bottom. should look very clean!