Mike's new Pico....

skipm

Moderator
Staff member
I have been using one of those thermometers in my 92 gal. corner tank for several months and just added one to my nanocube. I really like them and have comapared their readings with an electronic pencil type thermometer I have and they seem to be accurate. They almost seem as though they were designed for nano tanks.
 

incysor

New Member
I've got one on my main system at home. It think they're great. Only improvement I can think of would be an auto shut off on them...Like if they'd go off after 2mins of display that would be perfect.

B
 

mikeguerrero

Active Member
Hey Reefers,

Here is the heater that I purchased for my pico. I decided to go with a 50 watt titanium heater. It's super small and the thermo dial is on the outside. It hid well behind my rocks, better than any other heater in it's class.

And here are the first set of pictures of various mushrooms and polyps. I even added a very small torch frag. I have a baby size everything, including my litte yuma.

I plan on adding a very small feather duster worm and maybe a baby clam. Before you flame, I've successfully kept and continue keeping two crocea clams in both my 12 gallon cubes. :)

Mike

















 

yodatravis

New Member
I am in absolute awe. This is so inspiring ... you are making me want a pico real bad. Please keep us updated as it grows. WOW ... a phenominal looking tank. A baby clam should be great. Could this tank support a yellow clown goby or possible a coral banded?
 

dragon79

New Member
I'd guess a coral banded as a baby. I've seen them at Tongs like the size of a mini- paperclip, but alas they grow very fast. I've seen them at full size and would outgrow the little tank. The clown goby, mike has had, but it died in 6 months. I think he'd do better with a neon blue goby or that red neon goby.
 

mikeguerrero

Active Member
Hey Reefers,

Here is an update of my pico. I let the lights on a full day and then I started taking pics. I moved some pieces around and did my first frag from my nano to my pico.

I fragged out two heads from my candy cane coral from my larnie tank. Hope you guys and gals like my new look.

Mike







 

rbaby

New Member
Mike that is amazing, it is looking so killer! Let me know when that red/orange Yuma makes a baby :)...keep us updated!
 

mikeguerrero

Active Member
Hi Stephane,

The answer is yes, call 1 510 583-5167 and ask for James of Aquascene in Hayward, Ca. He has already shipped out one to the east coast. I'm sure he can do one for Canada. They are very cheap only $12.99 for the tank I have.

Tell him, Mike Guerrero sent you.... :)
 

mikeguerrero

Active Member
Hey Reefers,

Here is an update on my heating problem. Most of you know that when you have a light so close to the surface you trap air, and through convection that heat is transfered into the main tank.

I could've had my light hang through legs but I would've suffered too much evaporation. I thought about the ice-probe chiller but then it's too bulky for such a small tank.

Chris from nanocustoms gave me an idea, why not place a HD cooler against the glass on the back of the tank. Through small observations, I have seen the temps drop.

I will monitor my ambient temps in my room against what is marked in the pico. I will then post my results.

Also my new resident fish moved in today, he is a small red stripped goby. I hope you guys enjoy the pics I took of him. I picked him up from my LFS, Great bay Aquarium, San Leandro Ca. Ivan the owner gave me a great deal.

Mike













 

djconn

New Member
Man, I've been out of the loop for a few weeks and just stumbled upon your new tank Mike. All I can say is...HOLY CRAP!

Looks like you're off to a really nice start. I hope you figure out the temperature problem. What are the temps getting to? What kinds of temp. fluctuations are you seeing?

You really have a nice varaition of zoanthids in you tank. I know we keep saying this but we really need to do some thermos trades now that the weather will be good for us.

Are most of those coral frags from your cube?
 

mikeguerrero

Active Member
Hi DJ,

Thanks for compliments on my pico. I've actually put hardly any work into it, honestly. It's a frag of my two nano cubes, let me explain.

I've had a lot of little frags sitting in both tanks and then I also purchased some new frags from a new LFS I found.

The live rocks were also cured and so I just threw everything in after only running the tank for about 1 week, monitoring all trates, trites etc.

It was like they said in the movie Aliens, when Ripley is asks how colonist were placed onto the planet so fast. He replied, hey we just dropped in an atmosphere generator and bam, IT'S WHAT WE LIKE TO CALL, SHAKE AND BAKE COLONY.

DJ, I'm still working on the temp swings, more to come later....


Mike
 

dragon79

New Member
mikeguerrero said:
Hi DJ,

Thanks for compliments on my pico. I've actually put hardly any work into it, honestly. It's a frag of my two nano cubes, let me explain.

I've had a lot of little frags sitting in both tanks and then I also purchased some new frags from a new LFS I found.

The live rocks were also cured and so I just threw everything in after only running the tank for about 1 week, monitoring all trates, trites etc.

It was like they said in the movie Aliens, when Ripley is asks how colonist were placed onto the planet so fast. He replied, hey we just dropped in an atmosphere generator and bam, IT'S WHAT WE LIKE TO CALL, SHAKE AND BAKE COLONY.

DJ, I'm still working on the temp swings, more to come later....


Mike
And like in Aliens, if you don't take care of those temperature swings, then its like "Game over man!" LOL, j/k.
 

mikeguerrero

Active Member
Dragon,

As you can see, I've started the race to find a tool to keep my temps down. I'll know in a couple days the success of the HD cooler.

Tah tah for now....

Mike
 

mikeguerrero

Active Member
Hey Reefers,

Updated pics of my pico. I added three new frags. On the far right bottom corner you'll see two small branches of my red macro algae. I fragged this piece from my colony in my cube.

To the far left top of the tank, you'll see a fragged piece of an organ pipe that I purchased, from Aquascene. Thanks James.

Then to the very bottom left corner, you'll see some pink zoos, they are so nice. Also purchased from Aquascene.

I also picked up two more little fish to keep my other goby company. They are two neon gobies same size as my first stripped one. I got those from Great Bay Aquarium, thanks Ivan.

But to a sader note, my stripped goby jumped ship, he vacated the premesis, my wife and I were sad to see him dried up next to the tank.

I forgot to turn on the heater and in the morning the tank was 71.5 degrees and I found him dead. I don't know if it was the drop in temp that made him jump.

The other two gobies were fine. One was in the tank and the other had gotten sucked up through the filter, I had not yet modified the intake tube, since its' too long. I thought the fish would not go through that, but I was wrong, as I found him in the sponge. I freaked and rescued the goby, remarkably he didn't even suffer a torn fin.

I went to work on the modification of the Aqua mini 20. I got the extension tube to the length that fits the tank, used some super glue and bam, the problem was solved.

Tonight I can go to bed assured that my two residents will at least stay in the tank and not get sucked up at night.

I almost forgot, I got a great deal on a sexy shrimp for only 8 dollars from Atlantis Aquarium, thanks Ming....

Mike









 

SkiptomyLou

New Member
THAT IS ABSOLUTELY STUNNING!!!!!!

I'm still doing all my pre-research into getting a 12g Cube and I'm just collecting ideas and looking at as many pictures and reading as much as I can. I don't have another tang to frag like you did but I hope to come close to that!

It looks much bigger in those close up shots than the brain knows it is...

:smile:
 

Dave Angel

New Member
Hi Mike,

Regardless of size, I think this is one of the most beautiful tanks I've ever seen - in respect to both the choice of livestock and art direction.

It has been a huge inspiration in my humble pico endeavor:

http://www.pbase.com/chris_and_jen/aquarium

What do you have in the tank for the 'cleanup crew'? Due to my tank being a similar size, I wanted to know what worked for you.
 

mikeguerrero

Active Member
Dave,

I purchased 5 ultra small blue leg hermit crabs. They were the tiniest little critters I have ever seen. And they love to work like crazy. They did a great job on the clean up.

The only issue I had is heat and should've invented some type of chiller.

Mike
 
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