My first pico!

Srkoe · Post by **Srkoe** » Wed Sep 28, 2011 1:56 am

I've been wanting a Pico reef for awhile now...took the plunge today and bought a Fluval SPEC. Cute little AIO tank. It's only 2 gallons so this is going to be fun. Doing some mods on it right now...I will start posting pics as soon as it's set up. The stock lighting sucked so I upgraded to a hydra Aquatics Retina i LED light...10000k/8 watts. It has 12 white and 8 blue LEDs...it's no blue enough for my taste but I'll deal with it. Trying to find a light for a pico is a pita! Gonna upgrade the stock pump from it's 40gph pump to an eheim pico evo 180. The back glass is frosted which is cool! I plan on turning the back into a fuge and will use the stock lighting as a fuge light. I plan on about 3lbs of sand and bought 4lbs of live rock. For stocking I'm planning on one blue legged hermit, an assortment of three snails, maybe three sexy shrimp and a panda clown goby OR a neon goby pair. As far as corals...only softies, it's all my light can support. Rics, mushrooms and Zoa's...maybe a small torch. Of course this will all be done slowly. I'll be getting most of my corals from my moms tank...we're gonna start fragging shrooms and rics Sunday. I'm gonna update this thread with pics and updates on the tank as I go for anyone who is interested to keep up.

DrKennethNoisewater · Post by **DrKennethNoisewater** » Wed Sep 28, 2011 2:10 am

im interested! i love these little tanks.

xrayjeeper83 · Post by **xrayjeeper83** » Wed Sep 28, 2011 2:16 am

awesome cant wait

Phoenix91 · Post by **Phoenix91** » Wed Sep 28, 2011 8:27 am

I'm definitely interested in seeing the progress. I've been looking at marine and was going to try and start a nano tank soon, hopefully your tank will give me inspiration.

pufferfreak · Post by **pufferfreak** » Thu Sep 29, 2011 1:58 am

Neat. Can't wait for the pictures.

Srkoe · Post by **Srkoe** » Thu Sep 29, 2011 2:02 am

Here is a shot of the tank next to a Pepsi can to help size it up.

Finally got the LR, sand and water in...still hazy.

Not horribly crazy about the rock work. It was really hard getting the LR in there. Doesn't help that the putty I have is walrus! I'll just deal though...it'll be fine once I get some color in there. Gonna seed the tank with a large shell from my moms tank. Hope to get it cycled quick so I can get my CUC in there soon. Used about 31/2 lbs of LR. There is also rubble in the back chamber. Gonna get my Chaeto this weekend I hope and might order some Mangrove stalks for the fuge. I want the light much bluer might see what we can do with some LED strips down the road. That's it for now. Not gonna test the params for a few days.

Arny · Post by **Arny** » Thu Sep 29, 2011 10:40 am

This would make a nice home for a Mantis Shrimp

peacock_mantis_shrimp_4.jpg

xrayjeeper83 · Post by **xrayjeeper83** » Thu Sep 29, 2011 1:16 pm

to small fo a mantis, unless there is some really small mantis I havent seen

Srkoe · Post by **Srkoe** » Thu Sep 29, 2011 9:17 pm

WAY too small for a Mantis! The bioload would be horrible and it would more than likely bust the glass. I saw a HUGE Mantis at my LFS...yellow and black stripes...was about 6 inches long and 2 inches wide! I think one would be cool to keep to watch it's behavior but I would keep it in a dedicated tank...they are meaner than walrus!

I seeded my tank some more with some sand from my moms tank. I'm gonna go ahead a check params and see if it's doing anything. Would be could to add my snails this weekend.

pufferfreak · Post by **pufferfreak** » Fri Sep 30, 2011 1:45 am

Arny wrote:This would make a nice home for a Mantis Shrimp
peacock_mantis_shrimp_4.jpg

If the mantis were extremely small, then yes. But this tank is not the correct size for one. Rather some other, small, species of shrimp might do well in here.

Srkoe · Post by **Srkoe** » Fri Sep 30, 2011 9:43 pm

Water clear, glass clean.

Srkoe · Post by **Srkoe** » Fri Sep 30, 2011 9:45 pm

The "giant" shell will be removed...being used for cycling purposes.

Nuclear_Glitter · Post by **Nuclear_Glitter** » Fri Sep 30, 2011 9:48 pm

i always thought about doing a small reef tank like that but i am scared it just wouldn't work right. Good luck! It's looking good.

Srkoe · Post by **Srkoe** » Fri Sep 30, 2011 10:06 pm

It's scary...lol. I've don't so much research and very few people have success with them. I already plan on changing the lighting to PAR 30. The tank is on my kitchen counter...I want to cut a piece out of the underneath of the cabinet that is above and mount the light flush. Not sure if the light would be too close to the tank though. I've already dropped $200+ into this tank...you better bet I'm gonna baby it...lol! I'm also seriously rethinking my Stocking....

Srkoe · Post by **Srkoe** » Fri Sep 30, 2011 10:08 pm

The shell is roughly the size of a ping pong ball...if y'all can believe that.

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