Mike's new Pico....

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mikeguerrero

Active Member
Hey Reefers,

I've started a documentary on my pico just like I did for my 12 gallon DX cube. I'm going to be running this tank in my office at work. I just couldn't resist when I finally found a pico tank that fits my Coralife hood.

The aquarium is glass and I believe it's smaller than the melody edition since the hood I have is only 9 inchs in length and 18 watts of power 50/50.

I'm running as filtration my Aqua Clear 20, with 1/2 unit chemipure and sponge. So far no heater, since I believe the light will give good balance during the day.

I'll have to see how it drops in the night. I have live sand and catalina water.

Any thoughts on what would look good in my tank, would be glady taken.

Mike

P.S
This tank will be known as the Mbaby tank series, hehehe

















 
skipm

skipm

Moderator
Staff member
"Coral" would be a be a much better shade of lipstick :D

I am quite excited to see how this tank turns out. Keep the pics coming Mike.
 
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USP55

New Member
Hey that looks nice. cant wait to see some updates. Your usuing catalina water? what can u say about its quality and where do u buy it from. Does it have optimum calcium?
 
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dragon79

New Member
Catalina water has most the supplements you need already without having to add additives. (more so than mixing your own, you know what I mean?)

Go to your LFS and ask if they carry it. For me in so cal its like 36cents a gallon.


Mike:

Great startup, watch the evaporation, see if you can get something to cover it up well aside from the lights, cuz you'll get salt build up on your lights as well, real bummer. Good luck.
 
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mikeguerrero

Active Member
Need some help picking up a heater for this tank. During the day I know I'll be fine with the lights giving off heat. But how about in the night? I saw this mini heater at Dr. Fosters:

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/p ... =2004+2020

Can anyone steer me in the right direction, I like the fact that you can conceal this heater in the gravel or against the glass behind my live rock.

However, I don't see a temp gauge setting, and under more information, it says remove heater during the summer days if temp get to 76 degrees. I'm a little lost. :?

Any help would be appreciated.

Mike
 
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gojohnnygogo

New Member
I dig that tank mike, looks good, I have that same coralife hood I bought it for my redsea wave series but havent had much luck finding good positioning for it :) I was wondering, do you think i could put two 13 watt 50/50's in the corallife hood? mine gives off a sort of purple color rather then the white blue that i prefer, the actinic bulb in my coralife hood looks more purple then blue, but either way do you think two 13 watt bulbs would work or would it be bad for the hood? tank looks awesome
 
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mikeguerrero

Active Member
Johnny,

The hood is rated at 9watt capacity per bulb/ballast, so if you stick in two bulbs that are 13 watts it might not fire up, or will possibly burn out. I remember someone talking about that before.

The best bet is to get correct rated balast for the bulb wattage. Otherwise you are risking something happening in your home, not worth taking chances like that in this hobby.

What you could to is purchase a different spectrum light rated at 9 watts. They sell them at www.hellolights.com. Make sure you purchase the ones that are made through them and not coralife.

Hope this sheds some light.

Mike
 
skipm

skipm

Moderator
Staff member
Mike,
If I am not mistaken those heaters have no thermostat and put out a contant amount of heat whether it is needed or not, this could cause heat problems during the day when combined with the heat from your lights. ne of the hagen thermal compacts is the best choice as far as I know, it has a thermostat so it shouldn't overheat when combined with your lights. The only other thing I could think of would be to hook that heater up to a temp controller but that would involve alot of added expense. I also like the way you can hide that little heater I just don't think its practical for a reeftank. HTH, Skip
 
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mikeguerrero

Active Member
Skip,

I agree with you 100 percent regarding the mini heater. I went over to my LFS and took it out and read the instructions. You are right, it has no thermalstat and says in big letters, to disconnect heater if your room reaches 76 degrees.

Talk about cheesy, I don't have time to check the room temp and make those adjustments, this heater is good for someone who runs a pico in Alaska.

I then read you can purchase the temp contoller, great I said, but when I saw the price at like 80 dollars I said no way, thats more than my little tank and light and filter.

Anyways, thanks for giving me a heads up.

I will go with what my brother is recommending me, the submersible 7 inch heaters. You can get them at Walmart for about 12 bucks and they are very small that you could lie them vertical just above the sand, the rocks would conceal them perfect.

Mike
 
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mikeguerrero

Active Member
Dragon,

I'm not sure what type of theme this tank will be. But I will tell you this, I'm going to push the envelope on this mini tank, since it has a small distance from light to sand bed, I believe light intensity on coral will be greater.

Since I have two other tanks and one has space for room, if the coral starts to do bad I can transfer it to the tank. I never really had this option so I wouldn't experiment.

I know I only have 18 watts but it's really concentrated on one spot, so I'm going to be creative.

You know, I'm really inspired by your tank and the two other melodies I saw posted here.

I will give you a hint: Blastos and Acan Lords are headed here !!!!

Wish me luck,

I'm going to need it... Plus I have a new LFS on my side that is great: Aquascene in Hayward,,,, awesome stuff..... Great prices,,,,,


Mike
 
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mikeguerrero

Active Member
Hey Reefers,

Here is a continuous documentary on my pico. I picked up 1.5 lbs of premium live rock from Atlantis Aquarium in Fremont.

I have taken several pics of the rock so you can see the quality pieces I picked up.

The live rock only cost me $11.99. Now I will be monitoring the nitrogen cycle just in case the rock isn't cured. I made sure to ask for the cured rock, but you can never be safe.

Mike



















 
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mikeguerrero

Active Member
Here is the digital temp gauge that I purchased today. I'll be running temps in the night to see if I can go without a heater. The one I saw is kinda of bulky and if I can go without one it would be great.

Mike

 
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mikeguerrero

Active Member
You can pick up the Timex timers at your local Target store. Just go to the hardware section where you find the power strips.

Only $12.99 and you can program different settings.

Mike
 
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