Pico Mania

[gerryo]

I know that there is some controversy as to what constitutes a PICO tank.  Some EXPERTS say that a Pico is 2 gallons or less.  Others work up to 10 gallons, because a reef tank don't work as anything less. 

Don't ask me.  I just play with tanks.  I think that the neatest Pico that I have seen is the one started by Rybren (Jerry) in Orleans.  His 3 gallon Cookie Jar is fantastic.  He even made his own LED lighting.  WOW. 

Anyway, here I go with mine.

Starting with a 5.5g tank, how do you go about this.

I needed a self contained system that could more or less look after itself.  OK, that's not possible.  My 54g works very well with its sump system and plenty of live rock for filtration.  Now, how in blazez do you attach a sump to a 5.5g tank.  OK, I'll tell you.

The headboard of our bed has a top shelf, and a compartment under for the storage of books and other junk.  This compartment is a natural for a sump hole.  Pics will come later.

Then I had to drill the back of the 5.5 to install the drain and return line.  I already had the Nano Kit from Glass Holes, so the process began.  I had tried to drill 2 previous small tanks without success.  The glass in small tanks is very thin so "cracks happen".  Very nerve racking, but it worked this time.  ( I have a couple of cracked tanks, for sale, CHEAP )

So now I got most of the fittings, and a 2.5 gallon tank for the sump, and now need to get these two tanks hooked together.

More to come later.

[gerryo]

These are pics of the tanks, and where they wiil be situated.

[Severum]

That'll be fun. Looking forward to the build thread. I hope you dont ever end up with a leak. That'll be a wake-up call for sure.

[gerryo]

Got the glass cut for the bubble trap and now comes the slow process of siliconing the pieces in place. 

Had to make a couple of fittings for the drain and return lines.  Apparently the sizes used in the USA are different than what's used here so had to glue things together.   

I am going to start off using the Rapid LED Par 30 bulb unit.  This has 2 bright white LEDs and 3 blues.  Let's see what this does, and if not sufficient then I will get their Par 38 and add it on.  I already have a fixture partly built for this set up. Their Par 38 has 7 LEDs including their new Royal Blue Actinic.

[HappyGuppy]

I'll be lurking this thread with interest.  I've seen Rybren's amazing pico.  I've spent time looking at picos online and just love the concept.  Good luck with yours!

[gerryo]

So far the sump is quite a mess.  With it being so small, it was difficult to get the bubble trap installed cleanly.  Lots of extra silicon to seal things up and it sure looks a mess.  But it works.

I have encountered a couple of minor leaks around the drain and the return at the DT.  More silicon around here will seal these up as well.  Gotta keep the silicon company in business.

I have used new sand, used water, and lots of dry rock rubble.  With the use of coral rock from my other tanks this should work out just fine.

[Rybren]

Good luck with the build Gerry.  It seems like every time I turn around, you've started a new build.

Keeps ya young.

[gerryo]

Yes, and frustrated, and broke, and in the dog house.

I'm a glutton, I know.

[gerryo]

I also forgot to mention that part of the reason that I am always starting new tanks is that the ones that are discarded did not work.      

Yes, that's nobodys fault but my own.  And I promise to do something about that.

There should be some kind of oath that we reefers have to make that prevents us from experimenting with the lives of our corals, inverts and fishes.

This one will be different in that I will be using the KISS Principle and will only put in those things that I know how to manage.

Simple corals like Shrooms, Zoos, and Buttons.  Simple CUC like Blue Legs, Astrea and Sand Burrowing Snails.  And 1  or 2  small fish like the Little Gobies. 

[gerryo]

OK.  I've got water in, all drains and return sealed, even an LED light over it, 10 lbs. Live Sand from Carib Sea, some dead rock, and lots and lots of hope.   

I'm looking for some way to re-seed the rock to make it active again.  I don't have room for more new live rock so have to find some way to restart the bacteria and pods etc.  Can this be bought live from our LFS's?   

I thought that maybe with the tank and sump so close to my head, that the water gurgling down the drain would bother me at night.  Not a sound !!  Maybe that's because I'm deaf, but my wife can't hear it either.  I guess I did something right, at last. 

Now I need a couple weeks of patience and good luck.   

[gerryo]

OOPS.  I forgot the pics.

[Rybren]

Gerry,

Looks good.

You may want to reconsider using the metal hose clamps - they likely won't last and may cause some issues for you down the road.  I just use Zip ties.

It looks to me like you have some room for a couple of small pieces of live rock in the tank or in the sump.  They'd eventually help populate the tank.  I can give you some chaeto as well.

[gerryo]

Hi Jerry.

All my hose clamps are the "all stainless variety".  I have used these for quite some time and have no problems with them.  They usually last much longer than my tanks.  LOL

Has anyone got any good ideas on how to start the cycle?  Nothing is happening in here.  All the live rock that I will be putting in here has Corals on it, so I don't think I should be putting this in just yet.  I have been using a filter sock in the sump and it has really worked at clearing up the water.  The sand that I put in is called "LIVE SAND" but I don't see anything live in there.

Maybe something dead will get the cycle going??

[Rybren]

Gerry,

You could add a cup of sand from the 54G tank.  You could also add a small piece of shrimp.  Are you measuring the ammonia, 'trites, and 'trates?

[gerryo]

That cup of sand idea sounds good to me.  Thanx Jerry.   

No, I'm not measuring yet.  I usually wait until I have a diatom bloom in the tank before I comit to having a cycle.  I guess that it couldn't hurt to know for sure.

[gerryo]

The Params. are;

Temp.         76.1
S.G.            1.026
Ammonia    0
Nitrite         0
Nitrate       5.0

Looks fairly good. 

[gerryo]

Tried the cup of sand.      No change in parameters.

Maybe I'm too impatient.   

[gerryo]

I made a mistake !!!   Now, that's not easy to admit.

When I had the baffles cut for the 2.5g sump, I had them cut too tall.  I know why I did that.  Everything seemed too small so compensated a bit.  NOT GOOD.

With the water and bubbles rising in the sump there was actually some spray overflowing the tank. 

Cut one of the baffles out this morning and will need to have an inch cut off the top.

But first, a question.  Is it better to have 4 baffles rather than 3.  What I mean is, is it better to have the water and bubbles rise from the overflow pipe, then travel down, up, down, and up again before the return?

While I had just the three baffles in there, there were no microbubbles into the DT.

[gerryo]

When I redone the baffles and got the water levels down to a reasonable height I also put that useless little skimmer into the sump.  All that did was prove just how useless the skimmer is.  I have never seen so many microbubbles.  Even with the baffles improved and decreased flow (these MJ return pumps have a precise flow adjustment) the bubbles were unmanageable.

I have removed the skimmer and will wait for the canister filter to remove the last bits of "dust" from the DT.  I will also add carbon and GFO into the canister.

I am finally seeing a very little bit of cycle in the tank but don't think this will last very long.  I will start adding corals and live rock when the filter comes.

[gerryo]

Something I keep forgetting about is a CUC.

If I am not going to have any fish in here, what should the CUC consist of.  Just snails and blue legs?