snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
I played cards with friends today and went to a movie. I guess I'll do it one day after work this week.
Starting a pico tank
- Thread starter snakeblitz33
- Start date
snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
Pico tanks are a lot more difficult than I had originally thought. lol. I'm going to try to get a handle on this.
Ok, where did I go wrong? I think I went wrong when I added pure ammonia to the tank. Yep... I'm going to empty the entire tank out again and buy a couple more pounds of live rock to start it again. This time I am going to do a soft cycle. I have time this morning off of work, and that is what I think I am going to do with my time.
Also, I am going to silicone up all the way around the top rim of the tank to try to create a better seal around the top to keep the salinity more stable. I bought a 4" personal fan that I am going to turn on pretty soon when I start increasing the air temp inside the house to 78*F for the Summer months.
So, I have temperature and salinity that I am going to stabilize. I am not putting a bunch of really calcerous corals in the tank so my chemical balances should be fine week to week. I am only adding distilled water to the tank to top it off when and if it evaporates before the next water change. I am using a refractometer to measure the salinity on a weekly basis. I am thinking about possibly adding a small temperature gauge to fit inside the tank. I know there isn't a whole lot of room inside a tank this small, but I think that a temp gauge is pretty important at this point.
Coral stock list...
xenia, anthellia, zoanthids, mushrooms, aleveopora perhaps... a small frag of frogspawn, maybe a trumpet coral. I have to have a few things that eat meaty bits at least once a week so that the algae screen can grow properly.
Invert stock list...
1 skunk cleaner shrimp... no place to hide... muhahahaha
1 sexy shrimp for the frogspawn
2 green mythrax crabs
fish????
If I get a fish at all,... I have always had a small obsession with blue stripe neon gobies. I don't think it is necessarily a bad idea to add a small fish. He can eat when I feed the shrimp and everything else in the tank.
By the way, I am excited to start Banjo lessons this Friday!! woot woot!
Ok, where did I go wrong? I think I went wrong when I added pure ammonia to the tank. Yep... I'm going to empty the entire tank out again and buy a couple more pounds of live rock to start it again. This time I am going to do a soft cycle. I have time this morning off of work, and that is what I think I am going to do with my time.
Also, I am going to silicone up all the way around the top rim of the tank to try to create a better seal around the top to keep the salinity more stable. I bought a 4" personal fan that I am going to turn on pretty soon when I start increasing the air temp inside the house to 78*F for the Summer months.
So, I have temperature and salinity that I am going to stabilize. I am not putting a bunch of really calcerous corals in the tank so my chemical balances should be fine week to week. I am only adding distilled water to the tank to top it off when and if it evaporates before the next water change. I am using a refractometer to measure the salinity on a weekly basis. I am thinking about possibly adding a small temperature gauge to fit inside the tank. I know there isn't a whole lot of room inside a tank this small, but I think that a temp gauge is pretty important at this point.
Coral stock list...
xenia, anthellia, zoanthids, mushrooms, aleveopora perhaps... a small frag of frogspawn, maybe a trumpet coral. I have to have a few things that eat meaty bits at least once a week so that the algae screen can grow properly.
Invert stock list...
1 skunk cleaner shrimp... no place to hide... muhahahaha
1 sexy shrimp for the frogspawn
2 green mythrax crabs
fish????
If I get a fish at all,... I have always had a small obsession with blue stripe neon gobies. I don't think it is necessarily a bad idea to add a small fish. He can eat when I feed the shrimp and everything else in the tank.
By the way, I am excited to start Banjo lessons this Friday!! woot woot!
E
eric b 125
Guest
I'm rooting for you on this man. Looking forward to some pics!
E
eric b 125
Guest
So....?
snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
It's cycling.
The whole tank turned green. Good sign. This weekend I'm taking a water sample to the store and doing a water change. The coralline is still dark purple. Good sign.
Banjo lessons are going well.
The whole tank turned green. Good sign. This weekend I'm taking a water sample to the store and doing a water change. The coralline is still dark purple. Good sign.
Banjo lessons are going well.
E
eric b 125
Guest
Good to hear, on both accounts! I'd love to learn to play the banjo. My girlfriends bandmate can pick a little...thats an instrument that sounds especially good when it's played well, but exceptionally bad if it isn't, lol. I got to see The Kruger Brothers a month or so ago and the banjoist in that group can PLAY boy!
snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
I have been looking at the tank recently. The green growth and slime algae has passed. It's kinda running on auto pilot right now.
I found that it evaporates about a half a gallon of water every four weeks.
I'm taking a water sample to the Lfs this weekend to have it tested. If everything checks out I'll be adding a few very easy corals.
By the way, a friend of mine gave me back a 110g show tank. I might be doin a fish only tank soon.
I found that it evaporates about a half a gallon of water every four weeks.
I'm taking a water sample to the Lfs this weekend to have it tested. If everything checks out I'll be adding a few very easy corals.
By the way, a friend of mine gave me back a 110g show tank. I might be doin a fish only tank soon.
E
eric b 125
Guest
Quote:
Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33 http:///t/397427/starting-a-pico-tank/100#post_3546244
By the way, a friend of mine gave me back a 110g show tank. I might be doin a fish only tank soon.
Make sure to stock it with reef safe fish just in case...lol
Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33 http:///t/397427/starting-a-pico-tank/100#post_3546244
By the way, a friend of mine gave me back a 110g show tank. I might be doin a fish only tank soon.
Make sure to stock it with reef safe fish just in case...lol
snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
It's possible later on that I might upgrade to some corals. But a large fish tank is something I have never done personally.
E
eric b 125
Guest
What are the dimensions of the tank?
snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
18.5"x48.5"x31" tall.
It's pretty difficult to clean, but for some reason I like tall tanks. A tall 280g is really pretty.
It's pretty difficult to clean, but for some reason I like tall tanks. A tall 280g is really pretty.
E
eric b 125
Guest
That is tall... I like tall tanks too, as long as they are also wide, lol
snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
18.5" wide is much wider than my old 90g show tank I used to have.
My wife is currently debating me about setting it up or not.
My wife is currently debating me about setting it up or not.
E
eric b 125
Guest
If you set it up, what will become of the pico?
snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
Qt? I don't know. Maybe keep it.
I have to pay for a banjo.
I have to pay for a banjo.
snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
My algae bloom has went away.
I'm getting water tests done today and doing a water change.
If all looks good I'll get a peppermint shrimp and a few frags.
I'm getting water tests done today and doing a water change.
If all looks good I'll get a peppermint shrimp and a few frags.
E
eric b 125
Guest
Quote:
Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33 http:///t/397427/starting-a-pico-tank/100#post_3546547
My algae bloom has went away.
I'm getting water tests done today and doing a water change.
If all looks good I'll get a peppermint shrimp and a few frags.
Sweet!
Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33 http:///t/397427/starting-a-pico-tank/100#post_3546547
My algae bloom has went away.
I'm getting water tests done today and doing a water change.
If all looks good I'll get a peppermint shrimp and a few frags.
Sweet!
snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
Going to the Lfs at some point today. )
I'm thinking about getting a very tiny powerhead. Really tiny. I wonder if they make them that small. I'm looking but can't really find anything. Help?
The screen in the back of the tank has leveled off and stayed green. I'm not going to bother it, just let it do it's thing.
The front of the tank is looking really good. No algae in front at all. The coralline is staying purple but not spreading. I think it has more to do with bein a new tank than chemical deficiencies.
If the tests turn out fine today, I'll be putting something living in the tank. My wife told me if I didn't soon, she wants it packed up and gone. Pfft.
Anyways, pics to come.
) I'm thinking about getting a very tiny powerhead. Really tiny. I wonder if they make them that small. I'm looking but can't really find anything. Help?
The screen in the back of the tank has leveled off and stayed green. I'm not going to bother it, just let it do it's thing.
The front of the tank is looking really good. No algae in front at all. The coralline is staying purple but not spreading. I think it has more to do with bein a new tank than chemical deficiencies.
If the tests turn out fine today, I'll be putting something living in the tank. My wife told me if I didn't soon, she wants it packed up and gone. Pfft.
Anyways, pics to come.