Myka's 10L Pico Reef

[Myka]

Yes, certainly 100% water changes will be the norm. I'm using H2Ocean so that should help keep parameters in check.

I picked up a Fluval 106 canister filter today. The adjustable flow can be reduced all the way from 0-100% so I can actually crank it back far enough to use it. The media capacity of the canister is supposedly 0.3 gallons so this will double the water volume which will help significantly for evaporation. Hopefully it doesn't add too much heat. I won't have time to hook it up for a few days. I'll have to figure out how to hook it onto the tank in a clean manner. I'm going to get some sort of cabinet/side table to set it on so the canister can be hidden. I think I'll probably either put live rock and a filter pad/carbon in the canister or Siporax.

Corpusse, which pic is your former tank?

[corpusse]

Originally Posted by Myka

Corpusse, which pic is your former tank?

It's on page 33, 2 gallon pico Andrew from Ontario, Canada.

For heating your tank you could try a reptile ceramic heater instead of the mat. With a temp probe you could program it to come on / off then get rid of the probe if your house temperature is pretty stable. Adding the pump may push things up a degree or 2 which will get you into the comfort zone anyway.

You can really do a tank any size you want but after a while it just gets too small. That was the biggest reason why I took down my pico other then the fact the tank itself was in rough shape and with everything encrusting it would be difficult to just transfer it to a new tank. You get tired of knocking things over, trying to glue them back ect.

Think about how you're going to clean the glass, there is a tiny 2 little fishes magnet cleaner, but at least back when I had my tank they rusted out relatively quick.

[mseepman]

Looking good Myka!!! I like the challenge of the little pico.

[Myka]

I bought a little cabinet for it today to set it on, and the Fluval canister fits under it. Looks pretty good. The hoses on the Fluval are ugly as all get out though, so I ordered up some glass lily pipes. They're going to take a couple weeks to show up though.

Originally Posted by corpusse

It's on page 33, 2 gallon pico Andrew from Ontario, Canada.

For heating your tank you could try a reptile ceramic heater instead of the mat. With a temp probe you could program it to come on / off then get rid of the probe if your house temperature is pretty stable. Adding the pump may push things up a degree or 2 which will get you into the comfort zone anyway.

You can really do a tank any size you want but after a while it just gets too small. That was the biggest reason why I took down my pico other then the fact the tank itself was in rough shape and with everything encrusting it would be difficult to just transfer it to a new tank. You get tired of knocking things over, trying to glue them back ect.

Think about how you're going to clean the glass, there is a tiny 2 little fishes magnet cleaner, but at least back when I had my tank they rusted out relatively quick.

Ah ok, I thought that was yours! I think you shared it on here before didn't you? I think I recognize it.

Well, I hooked up the Fluval 106 canister filter a couple hours ago which added 5L of water, so that makes more water to heat. I'm hoping the pump on the canister helps. I'll see what it says tomorrow.

I am looking for one of those Vertex Simplex Mag-Cleaners for cleaning the glass. They are super slim. I have a Duplex one, but a Simplex would work better. Can't find them anywhere though. I might have to make my own using magnets from Lee Valley or something.

I imagine once it's grown in it will be a pain in the butt to have to trim all the time, so I will certainly keep in mind how easy or difficult a particular coral will be to keep in check.

Thanks for your tips!

Originally Posted by mseepman

Looking good Myka!!! I like the challenge of the little pico.

Thanks Mark! Still have your 10-gallon going?

[mseepman]

You might try the TLF nano magnet cleaner. It is flexible on the in-tank piece and should work for your curves. Check out you tube in boxing on it.