FuEl's 5 gallon pico reef

[FuEl]

After finally getting myself to go about it, I dug up a spare tank that I used to keep freshwater shrimps in.

Bought $15 worth of distilled water today, topped up the tank and added Oceanic salt. Used a hang-on filter with some biohome from my other tanks. I aim to add another hang-on filter for more flow and filtration.

Will not be using a skimmer. Nitrate & phosphate control will be via biohome, NP-biopellets, water change and daily siphoning of detritus.

So far with the lights on for about 5 hours and the filter running, the water has not exceeded 26 degrees celcius. I am blessed to have the tank in an area with lots of breeze.

Now just need to get some nice branching Tonga liverock. Intended livestock I am thinking of is a pair of grissengeri gobies, and 2 Urocaridella shrimps. Coral wise I am aiming towards SPS, probably the slower growing species. I will need to figure out how I am going to maintain the Ca and kH values in such a small tank. I am aiming for bi-weekly water changes to settle this.

If the water flow from the additional hang-on filter does not seem to be sufficient, I may consider a Vortech MP10 as a normal powerhead in the tank will heat up the water. I will be hunting for a hang-on filter which can be modified to connect to a surface skimmer to remove oil film from the water surface.

Finally some pictures.

[yikai]

finally! the hang one clips are those from ikea that day??

[peacemaker]

Your area definitely has a ton of breeze...

[FuEl]

finally! the hang one clips are those from ikea that day??

Yes. I gave up looking for those wall mounts with detachable lamp shades. Somehow the one from IKEA can be detached. This is crucial as the lamps do get quite hot.

[planula]

Hi Bro FuEL,

Welcome to the PAR38 Club. I see you bit the bullet and bought the IKEA Tertial fixtures too Cheers Bro

[FuEl]

Hi Bro FuEL,

Welcome to the PAR38 Club. I see you bit the bullet and bought the IKEA Tertial fixtures too Cheers Bro

Yes Wilson.

Fixing up the IKEA Tertial fixtures looked kind of unsafe at the start. Kept worrying that somehow the lamps will fall in the tank. I left the lights standing over the tank for 24 hours before I actually filled the tank with water.

[planula]

Yes Wilson.

Fixing up the IKEA Tertial fixtures looked kind of unsafe at the start. Kept worrying that somehow the lamps will fall in the tank. I left the lights standing over the tank for 24 hours before I actually filled the tank with water.

I can understand Jun Kai The springs add some suspension and stability to the fixture. Mine seems very steady. Keep in touch. Cheers

[Fuzzy]

Bro FuEl running a pico tank?!

[FuEl]

Bro FuEl running a pico tank?!

What's wrong with a pico tank? Water change very affordable.

[FuEl]

http://glassbox-design.com/2009/np-bio-pel...-carbon-dosing/

Anxiously waiting for my bio pellets to arrive, should be arriving in the coming week. Ordered 1kg. Should last this pico tank a long long time.

[poomoon]

Yes Wilson.

Fixing up the IKEA Tertial fixtures looked kind of unsafe at the start. Kept worrying that somehow the lamps will fall in the tank. I left the lights standing over the tank for 24 hours before I actually filled the tank with water.

cool looking cute simple tank bro fuel

Hehe same concern bro wilson. Anyway after some thinking, figured out alrdy how. I used an existing philips CF lamp I alrdy had

[craftsman]

Interesting project, bro Fuel. I'm really keen to know if the bio-pellets helps in keeping your Nitrates and Phosphates in control. If it work, I'd be keen to start a pico tank in the office. Looking forward to updates!

By the way, 26 degrees sounds REALLY cold. You sure you're in Singapore?

[FuEl]

Interesting project, bro Fuel. I'm really keen to know if the bio-pellets helps in keeping your Nitrates and Phosphates in control. If it work, I'd be keen to start a pico tank in the office. Looking forward to updates!

By the way, 26 degrees sounds REALLY cold. You sure you're in Singapore?

I won't be relying solely on the bio-pellets. I have decided for a bare-bottom setup such that daily siphoning of detritus will be a breeze. Yes I am in Singapore. 25 storeys up.

[craftsman]

I won't be relying solely on the bio-pellets. I have decided for a bare-bottom setup such that daily siphoning of detritus will be a breeze. Yes I am in Singapore. 25 storeys up.

Wah.. 25th floor in Marine Parade sounds cold alright! Saw your adverts before.... Good luck Bro.

Oh.. by the way, when you say bi-weekly water changes, do you mean changing water twice a week or 1 water change every 2 weeks (fortnightly)? A little confused.

[FuEl]

One week change twice, maybe even more. Siphoning dirt has been my favourite past time.

[craftsman]

One week change twice, maybe even more. Siphoning dirt has been my favourite past time.

Wah.. you must be kidding right? Favorite past time? ha ha ha... you got OCD? hee hee....

[FuEl]

Wah.. you must be kidding right? Favorite past time? ha ha ha... you got OCD? hee hee....

I siphon an oceanic bucket full of dirt every day for my other tanks. What's another 5 gallon tank?

[marinebetta]

Looks nice.....The 12k's look like they still put out a nice amount of blue.

Somehow I don't really like those Tertial lights - maybe reminds me of studying Thinking of the barometer series floor lamps instead although those are much more than Tertials! Might have to use one of those PAR38s on my Dymax pico as the stock lamp sucks - only 30 PAR at the bottom and 40+ at the top!

FYI... if you could have waited, NP biopellets will be available here

[FuEl]

Looks nice.....The 12k's look like they still put out a nice amount of blue.

Somehow I don't really like those Tertial lights - maybe reminds me of studying Thinking of the barometer series floor lamps instead although those are much more than Tertials! Might have to use one of those PAR38s on my Dymax pico as the stock lamp sucks - only 30 PAR at the bottom and 40+ at the top!

FYI... if you could have waited, NP biopellets will be available here

Placed the order already. Oh well..

Now just trying to figure out which are the slow-growing sps species. If they grow slow by nature I don't have to be so strict in keeping up with the calcium and carbonates.

[marinebetta]

yah...but then look like pencils

[MOssrope]

seems you put in a lot of effort in daily maintenance!

anyway what are the replacement bulbs you are using for your lights?

those shouldnt be the ikea bulbs right?

[poomoon]

So bro fuel, u also plan to disguise the filter/skimmer similar to the tank in glassbox ? That was a cool idea

[FuEl]

Will not be using a skimmer. My bioload will have to be very very low, basically 2 fish and 2 shrimps. I might be trying out some sponges in the lower light areas to help with the filtration, they are the ancient filters of the sea. This is where the advantage of the spotlights come in, I can choose only to light certain areas while other areas I leave dark for the non-photosynthetic sponges.

As the topic mentioned, I am using CREE LED spotlights ordered in from the States.

You can read more about the lights at:

http://glassbox-design.com/2009/led-spotli...-customs-par38/

[poomoon]

Will not be using a skimmer. My bioload will have to be very very low, basically 2 fish and 2 shrimps. I might be trying out some sponges in the lower light areas to help with the filtration, they are the ancient filters of the sea. This is where the advantage of the spotlights come in, I can choose only to light certain areas while other areas I leave dark for the non-photosynthetic sponges.

As the topic mentioned, I am using CREE LED spotlights ordered in from the States.

You can read more about the lights at:

http://glassbox-design.com/2009/led-spotli...-customs-par38/

Ok, guess just have to do WCs.

yup, got the same PAR38 from Nanocustoms, using just one 12k now.

[FuEl]

Got my rocks today from Coral Farm. $36 for the rocks but it is well worth it. No smell, no fouling organisms and lastly no observable pests.