PEZenfuego's 4 gallon Pico Tank Diary

pezenfuego

pezenfuego

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33 http:///t/393113/pezenfuegos-4-gallon-pico-tank-diary/60#post_3497093
If you want a cheaper alternative to filter floss, try some acrylic felt in the quilting section. It's what I am using for my filter floss now - and I am loving it!! I think it's like 2.5ftx20ft of felt and you just use scissors and cut it into the shapes that you want. It's also much thinner than the blue and white bonded filter media, which may work better for your sump.
I'd definitely get a refractometer if you haven't already.
Hm. That's interesting and honestly that would probably be easier to find. Filter floss is difficult to get your hands on around here. I have a pretty big bundle, so it will be a while before I run out, but I'll keep that in mind. I have a refractometer. Salinity is stable.
 
pezenfuego

pezenfuego

Active Member
Ammonia has been stable over the past couple of days. I have 2 ammonia test kits, so I am testing frequently (because why not?). I will need them again when I move the tank, but that will be a while. I haven't tested for anything else yet.
 
pezenfuego

pezenfuego

Active Member
I just got a new heater. This one is smaller is size, but equivalent in wattage. Unlike the last one, you can't see it in my system. Unfortunately, it won't work with my thermostat for some reason...hm...I can't quite figure this out.
 
pezenfuego

pezenfuego

Active Member
UPDATE: I bought this live rock cured, so I was just expecting a mini cycle. I'm taking things slow, so I didn't really analyze this too much. I just let the tank run and waited. Well I tested today and got 0.25 ppm of ammonia (that is the result I have gotten every time-except the time I tested the batch of saltwater). Well, considering the amount of food I added to the tank (2 cubes of food-rinsed), there is no way that this is accurate. I have tested for nitrites a few times over the past week and have come up with nothing. I also have ten ppm of nitrates. So I am going out on a limb here and saying that this tank is cycled and that the ammonia is a false reading. I'll continue to monitor it and prepare for a very large water change. There is absolutely NO sign of algae in this tank, something that will undoubtedly change soon.
 
pezenfuego

pezenfuego

Active Member
I am still trying to figure out how to tackle this. I won't add a CUC until my tank has something to CU. I am a list-maker. It is a blessing and a curse. Okay, here is one possible plan:
1) Do a hefty water change
2) Come up with a feeding schedule for 1 fish (I need suggestions with that)
3) Ghost feed as if I had said fish
4) Continue to do water changes and track nitrates and phosphates (and also ensure that there is no ammonia spikes)
5) When diatom bloom occurs, add full CUC including shrimp
6) When diatom bloom ends, add fish (YCG)
7) When everything is stable, get some easy corals
8) Let everything mature a bit
9) Upgrade lighting
10) Watch the effects of the light
11) Get more coral (LPS)
12) Buy the remainder of the corals that I want (if there are any)
I also still need to come up with a coral list that will look good. I really don't want to get too much variety.
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
One thing to remember about corals, small tanks present a very real problem when it comes to coral war. Placement is going to be critical when dealing with the chemical and physical warfare between corals
 
pezenfuego

pezenfuego

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by florida joe http:///t/393113/pezenfuegos-4-gallon-pico-tank-diary/80#post_3497996
One thing to remember about corals, small tanks present a very real problem when it comes to coral war. Placement is going to be critical when dealing with the chemical and physical warfare between corals
That's a good point. I will be certain to keep it in mind as I plan out my placement in the upcoming weeks. What do you think of my general plan?
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
Looking at post 85 I would put number 8 at number 1. Let the tank stabilize. Why do a” hefty” water change? Allow the nitrifying and denitrifying proses to start to establish itself. As far as upgrading your lighting remember to take into consideration you have such a small tank that the shallowness must be factored in. You can in fact over light your tank and burn your corals. A thought about corals, look into the same coral but with different colors. You can get some really nice color variation with candy cane corals and have no coral war going on.
Quote:
Originally Posted by PEZenfuego http:///t/393113/pezenfuegos-4-gallon-pico-tank-diary/80#post_3497999
That's a good point. I will be certain to keep it in mind as I plan out my placement in the upcoming weeks. What do you think of my general plan?
 
pezenfuego

pezenfuego

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by florida joe http:///t/393113/pezenfuegos-4-gallon-pico-tank-diary/80#post_3498093
Looking at post 85 I would put number 8 at number 1. Let the tank stabilize. Why do a” hefty” water change? Allow the nitrifying and denitrifying proses to start to establish itself. As far as upgrading your lighting remember to take into consideration you have such a small tank that the shallowness must be factored in. You can in fact over light your tank and burn your corals. A thought about corals, look into the same coral but with different colors. You can get some really nice color variation with candy cane corals and have no coral war going on.
My plan was to get rid of the nitrates and then practice ghost feeding so that I can get an idea of how big of a water change I need to do each week and how that affects the tank as a whole. If you think I should wait to do that and let the tank mature more first, then I respect your advice and will go with that. Thanks Joe!
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
The hobbyist must remember the two ways of filtration are mechanical and biological. One way mechanically is to do a water change and this is very beneficial in many ways but in your case you are removing ingredients your tank needs to allow for expansion of nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria that is why IMO water changes at this time in your tanks evolution is not beneficial
Quote:
Originally Posted by PEZenfuego http:///t/393113/pezenfuegos-4-gallon-pico-tank-diary/80#post_3498100
My plan was to get rid of the nitrates and then practice ghost feeding so that I can get an idea of how big of a water change I need to do each week and how that affects the tank as a whole. If you think I should wait to do that and let the tank mature more first, then I respect your advice and will go with that. Thanks Joe!
 
pezenfuego

pezenfuego

Active Member
I guess those nitrates aren't hurting anything right now. I'll skip the water change and start in on a ghost feeding schedule.
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
IMO this combo may work for you in the future candy, blue Zoe and that’s a blue acro frag I just picked up But stay away from polys they will over run your tank. Remember to CORAL DIP
 
pezenfuego

pezenfuego

Active Member
As I am consumed with procrastination and boredom, I realize that I never posted pictures after the tank cleared up. Not that it is very spectacular to look at right now (it's rock in a glass box). I think this Nuvo looks pretty snazzy. I think it will be even better when I get a new light (Christmas). I'm still throwing around the idea of adding filtration to this tank (skimmer). There is room in the stand for something. Do I need it? No, but if I can afford it, it will fit, and it will be of benefit, then why not? I don't really have much to report. I kicked up the thermostat to 80 degrees and started a feeding regiment of a quarter cube every other day. I honestly think this will be adequate for the little guy (wherever he is and whenever I get him). That's about a cube per week of food. I think water changes and biological filtration should be able to handle that, but I still like the idea of having additional filtration. I am not able to find a heater that fits my needs. I have three currently (I really need to return one of them). This one is okay, but it sticks out of the top of the tank and I don't particularly like that. The first one I got was too weak, the second one had a thermostat built in that shut the heater off when it reached 76 degrees (which rendered it worthless) and this one is too big. Anyway, here are some pictures. My tank has no algae right now (which is kind of a weird thing to be able to claim). I do have spots of coralline algae though. They don't seem to be fading yet, but they certainly aren't flourishing in this tank. Anyway, few people actually read this, so I'll throw in the pictures.






 
pezenfuego

pezenfuego

Active Member
How do you combat chemical warfare with corals? You run carbon. What am I incapable of doing? Running carbon. So I came up with a solution. Back home I have a phosphate reactor (upflow filter). I have decided to plumb this into my setup and stick cheato in it. Then if I get chemical warfare with my corals/high phosphates, I can run carbon/phosban in addition to water changes.
-Captain Overkill
 
gemmy

gemmy

Active Member
I really like the look of the tank!!! Did I miss what little guy you plan on adding to the tank? The heater is a tough one. I will keep an eye out if I see something that will work. What wattage are you aiming for?
 
pezenfuego

pezenfuego

Active Member
I don't know! I'm oscillating between the green banded and yellow clown still. But I'll know soon. The problem is that the little heaters have preset temperaturesand the adjustable ones are too long. I need about 30, but can do with more. I have a digital temperature controller. I can live with this for now though.
 
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