So I'm Thinking about getting a Pico For My First Salt Water Aquarium...

[saltwaterpsyco]

Is this a good Idea?
I was Thinking about getting a 3 Gallon Pico, With:
Hardware;
JBJ 3 Gallon Picotope
36W Dual Satellite Compact Fluorescent Fixture
Modded AC70 (refuge - nothing in it currently)
Marineland Visi-Therm Stealth 25w heater
Coralife Digital Thermometer
Home-made ATO
AquaClear 10 Powerhead
Nimble-Nano
(2) power strips
Dual-outlet timer
(2) 7g water jugs
LR/LS;
4.8lbs of Live Rock
3.5-4.5lbs of Ocean Direct™ Caribbean Live Sand
Livestock;
(1) Yellowtail Damsel
(2) Zoa frags
(2) Mushrooms
(1) Hairy Mushroom
Invertebrates;
(2) Blue-legged hermit crabs
(1) Red-legged hermit crab
(2) Cerith Snail
(2) Astrea Snail
for 150$
I know Its Only 3 Gallons and I will be saying "I need a bigger aquarium"
But, What Are You're Opinions

 

[gio28]

personally i like bigger aquariums...i wish i got something bigger than my 36 as my first tank. but i also like picos alot. i would pay $150 for all that stuff. they can look real cool...when stocked real nice with corals and a small fish. i would go for it IMO.

 

[meowzer]

I know nothing about Picos except what I have read...and it seems to me that as a beginnier...a bigger one would be better....
I started with a 225g...MAYBE too big..LOL...But that is what fell into my lap...was not planned...If I had it to do over...hmmm...YES I would still have bought it....

 

[kaingers]

Do you know how many fish are in this hobby? A $5 damsel is going to get old after 3 days! Go bigger than that! I would suggest 20-55. There is a lot more options and you'll have more wiggle room for mistakes and or flucuations with your water chemistry. I'm not going to tell you how to set your tank up, but I would suggest taking it slow. Do not buy live rock, sand or equipment or lighting or dry goods or.... ok the list goes on. Basically figure out what you want and order your equipment online or used. You'll save 50+%. Save your LFS for the fish and CUC, even then call around and find the best deal. And lastly, please dont pay $6.99 a lb for LR.

 

[aquaguy24]

I don't recommend picos for a firstimer but it looks like u got everything down. So I'd say go for it. Make u sure u stay on top of the water changes and wat not. I would also test the water often.

 

[scsinet]

Moreover than anything else, you should be aware that pico tanks are IMO the hardest possible saltwater tank to keep apart from exotic species tanks like octopus or jellyfish tanks. Starting out with reefkeeping is hard enough (vs fish only), but 3g...

They are very unstable from a chemical balance perspective.
IMO the minimum size any new hobbyist should start with is 30-40g.

 

[seschaefer]

I would have to agree. I started with a small tank (20 Gal). It got me so frustrated with all the up keep. With a larger tank, as you have undoubtedly read on here, you have a little more room for error. But, if you do decide to work with the smaller tank make sure you come here first with any questions. This is an invaluable resource.

 

[salt210]

I also started with a large tank(210) as my first. remember you are going to want to go bigger, so you might as well save yourself some money and go bigger now

 

[rlablan]

Also, beginners make mistakes. Even veterans do it. I know a guy who has a 300 gal and he went to do his water change and accidentally pumped like 30 gals of water in his system, without the salt. And when he realized, he went and tested. He said it effected his salinity like .09 %. The point to the story... If you forget to do a change, if something dies, if something goes wrong at all, it won't effect the tank as badly. If you do anything wrong in the Pico, the whole tank will be fouled instantly. It might save you a lot of sleepless nights to go bigger and worry a wee bit less.

 

[king_neptune]

but they look so damn cool on your desk or nightstand.

 

[number1gsxxr]

I started out with a 26 gallon aquapod and even that I couldn't keep looking nice. I never even attempted to put coral in it since I could never get the water right. In my opinion, bigger will be easier. Plus there are a lot of fish I would like that won't fit in my 46-gallon and it makes me want to go even larger.

 

[littlej2455]

Originally Posted by aquaguy24
http:///forum/post/3093259
I don't recommend picos for a firstimer but it looks like u got everything down. So I'd say go for it. Make u sure u stay on top of the water changes and wat not. I would also test the water often.
How would you even do a water change on a pico? haha Take out a cup? I replace 12 gallons of water every week on my tank.

 

[mopar9012]

get a 20 gal long...or 29