Starting up a PICO

[Travis Savant]

Hey guys, what's up?

Well, Hurricane Rita caused my Nano-Reef to crash due to a power outage of several days.

So, I have decided to start a Pico! Standard AGA 2.5 to be exact.

I will be competing in the Pico Contest over on www.nano-reef.com

Here's the equipment that I have already purchased and is on the way!

- Hood and Base from www.HogsHoods.com which will be stained Red Mahogany to match my room.
- 2 x 18w PC Retro Kit (http://nanotuners.nanocustoms.com/nanotuners/product_info.php?cPath=24&products_id=34) to place inside the Hood.
- 2 x CurrentUSA Luner Lights (Nocturnal Blue) (http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=CU-USA01652&Category_Code=moonlight), that's 4 LEDs in total. 8)
- Nimble Nano Magnet Cleaner (http://nimblenano.com/)
- RO Unit, 75 GPD (http://www.buckeyefieldsupply.com/showproducts.asp?Category=90&Sub=103)
- DI Add On (http://www.buckeyefieldsupply.com/showproducts.asp?Category=39&Sub=104)
- Oceanic(TM) Natural Sea Salt Mix, 50g pack (http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441808411&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023693&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302030150&bmUID=1128873401889)
- AC 300
- Current USA "Fission" Protien Skimmer (http://nanotuners.nanocustoms.com/nanotuners/product_info.php?cPath=51&products_id=150), should be shipped in late October. The Skimmer will be in the AC 300
- 50w Marinland Heater

That's all Folks!

For this tank, I will be painting the Back and Bottom BLACK, and going Bare Bottom. To fill the Bottum, I will be using alot of Zoathids.

What do you guys think?

[MinibowMatt]

I would ditch the Oceanic Salt.. Its not trustworthy.. some batches are good some bad..

[Anthozoa]

Sorry to hear about your loss... I was just wondering why you were going with the black paint for the back of the tank? I am trying to decide what to paint my 29 gallon now and liked the blue in your 29. Did you use the Krylon Fusion Blue? Well best of luck with the pico...

[Travis Savant]

I thought that the Blue looked kinda cheesy.

I used Krylon Fusion

Matt, thatnks for the heads up on the salt mix.

[want2reef]

Sounds good to me!

I'm setting up a 2.5g too. Just finished the hood and the base.

Kevin

[Travis Savant]

Matt, I cancled the Oceanic Salt Mix and ordered the Instant Ocean.

[ToUcHoFeLeGaNcE]

sounds cool, NOW Lets see some PIX!!!!

Touch.

[Travis Savant]

Well, I havn't gotten all my stuff in yet, but when I do, I will post pictures :D

[Travis Savant]

Should I paint the bottum of the tank black like the background, or should I paint it white?

I'm thinking white would be cool...

[Conceyted]

white would probably look better. I have my qt tank painted black on the bottom and its very bland. BTW i think doing 2x those lunar lights will keep your tank inhabitants up all night. You should really only do one, as they are rated at 2ft of coverage per unit.

[Travis Savant]

The only inhabitants will be coral, so I don't think they will have a problem trying to sleep ;)

[Conceyted]

Corals need rest, my friend, stick with one.

[Travis Savant]

Any truth in that?

Where did you get your information from?

I know that some people say that haveing Moonlights reflect the real moon's cycle promots healthier corals, but how many tanks actually have moonlights? Wouldn't the coral be less healthy? No, I wouldn't think so.

Think about, how much PAR does 4 LEDs have? IMO, not enough to affect any coral. Sure, they are bright, but no intensity.

[Conceyted]

LED's put out serious intensity. At MACNA I was told there was a lecture on the effects of moonlights on corals. There they stated that corals did in fact need rest. But this comes second hand.

[Travis Savant]

Alright, I will conduct an experament :D

I will go on ahead and use both, then see what happens to the coral.

If nothing happens, leave alone. If they become sickly, only use one and see if they recover.

[Travis Savant]

Hypothosis: 4 Low Watt LEDs arn't enough to disrupt a Coral's rest period.

:cool:

[ToUcHoFeLeGaNcE]

u think that if you paint the bottom white it would reflect more light back up towards the corals as to where if it were black it would absorb more light then it reflects. Jus my .02 i could be wrong.

Touch.

[Travis Savant]

Yeah, it would reflect, just like with a sand bed :)

[kharn101]

Ha ha see you in the contest..

[Travis Savant]

You will be pwned ;)

[dhoffroad]

just throw the LED's on timers that's what I do with all my tanks since IMO they are just for looks anyway so why have them on all night ? mine turn off at midnight ( my old a$$ is usualy sawin logs by that time of night..LOL ).

[Travis Savant]

Yeah, will do somthing like that.

I was going to have them on a timer to be on only at night anyway.

[vanmo92]

use instant ocean not that other salt.

[Travis Savant]

Yeah, I am using the Instant Ocean.

I get my lights in tomorrow :D

[Travis Savant]

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b166/travis777/FS-SG.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b166/travis777/FS.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b166/travis777/SG.jpg

:D

[Travis Savant]

Tom, www.hogshoods.com, just sent me a picture of the Hood/Base I ordered from him :D

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b166/travis777/Hood-n-Base.jpg

[Travis Savant]

Lights came in today...

:D

[aklferris]

Looks like a good plan... I'm dreaming of a nano, but not until I graduate college in May.

Where'd u get the ATO? I actually have one w/ bare float switch. It had a suction cup attached, but that busted off. Any ideas on where to get one of those snail guards?

[Travis Savant]

I had a guy make it for me, but I never see him online any more. I can't even remember how to spell his name, SaltyDawg maybe? Something like that.

[KING OF THE REEF]

got any shots of the whole thing?

[Travis Savant]

Originally posted by Imareefer
got any shots of the whole thing?

Here ya go, here's what I have so far.

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b166/travis777/FDS.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b166/travis777/Looking-Down.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b166/travis777/Lights.jpg

[KING OF THE REEF]

nice, why do you have a water bottle with an air line? is this your skimmer?

[Travis Savant]

No, that's the FW resavior (spelling?) for the ATO

[KING OF THE REEF]

oh i got you

[Travis Savant]

I will be getting the Hood/Base in some time at the end of this week. It's going to look way better becaue it will hide al those wires :)

BTW, I realy like your Avitar, and I'm 17 too :cool:

[KING OF THE REEF]

thanks man . btw, i might be able to help you on stocking the tank with zoos and the like (btw her name i carmella desceaser)

[Travis Savant]

What color morphs of zoos do you have?

[Travis Savant]

Well, I figure it's about time for an update so...

Well, I got the Hood and Base in and WOW, very nice job by Tom, AKA Hogswinslow.

I still don't have water in the tank because Russ at Buckeyfieldsupply.com forgot to send the 75GPD Filmtec RO Cartrage, it should be here by Friday at latest.

Pictures...
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b166/travis777/PP-1.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b166/travis777/PP-2.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b166/travis777/PP-3.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b166/travis777/PP-4.jpg

Well, While adding onto my reflector, tin foil, I broke one of my Reeflux 18w 50/50 blubs so I had to order a replacement, but the Reeflux was out of stock so I ordered the JBJ, maybe it will give me a better color?
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b166/travis777/PP-5-L.jpg

That's all for now folks, I am thinking the rock will be in by the weekend or by next week. I still need to get a bag of IO.

Comments? Suggestions?

[Travis Savant]

Rocks are in...

http://savantcutting.com/Travs-Stuff/PP/Everything-PP.jpg

Here's another picture of the tank's rocks.

http://savantcutting.com/Travs-Stuff/PP/Looking-Down-PP.jpg

I "cooked" my rocks for about 4 weeks or so, so there shouldn't be TOO much die off. The rock looks VERY clean, no loose stuff :)

[clown fanatic]

no sand? *sigh* i know BB's are supposed to be cleaner, but i think tanks look so much better with sand. to each their own...

[Travis Savant]

The bottum will actually be covered with Rics and Zoos, COMPLETELY, so no need for sand. :)

[Travis Savant]

This is why you should ALWAYS cook your rocks...so...cleeean....

http://savantcutting.com/Travs-Stuff/PP/PP-Clean-Rock-1.jpg

http://savantcutting.com/Travs-Stuff/PP/PP-Clean-Rock-2.jpg

http://savantcutting.com/Travs-Stuff/PP/PP-Clean-Rock-3.jpg

Here's a FTS whith the water all cleared up...
http://savantcutting.com/Travs-Stuff/PP/PP-FTS-11-8-05.jpg

And here's the Left side of the tank...

http://savantcutting.com/Travs-Stuff/PP/PP-Side-11-8-05.jpg

[Travis Savant]

Anyone like my aquascape???

[MinibowMatt]

yeah it looks cool! I cant wait to see that bottom covered in a squishy fluffy mess of zooz and rics!

[Travis Savant]

Thanks Matt :)

I'm going to be waiting a few more weeks and then I will be placing an order with http://www.PlatinumReefs.com

[rbrice020378]

What can you tell us about the protein skimmer you bought?
Have you gotten it and if so do you like it?

[Travis Savant]

Havn'tgotten it yet, shouldn't be too much longer though :)

[loyalty]

hey, can you post more info or links about your auto top off? i just started a 2.5 and i underestimated evap. because of the lights

thanks

[Travis Savant]

Well, it's realy all DIY, I bought the float switch from www.floatswitches.net

The Snail Guard is also DIY, and the auto top off pump is an Aqualifter Air/Water pump.

[Travis Savant]

WOOT!

I got my first corals for this tank today!

Here's what I got from www.PlatinumReefs.com :

2 Heads of Blastos (Lime Green Center and Floruescet Pink out side)
1 Perple/Green/Pink Yuma Ric
2.5 Polyps of Orange Crush Acans
10+ Polyps of Eagle Eye Zoanthids
6 Polyps of Pink w/ white polka dot centered and Green Skirt Zoanthids
5.5 Polyps of Sun Coral

I'll post some pictures as soon as everything opens up all the way.

Oh yeah, on the Orange Crush Acan's rock, there's a small, 2 Pen tips sized Rainbow Acan. It's Green, Purple, and Orange.

[Travis Savant]

Pictures:

http://savantcutting.com/Travs-Stuff/PP/11-22-05/Zoa-1.jpg

http://savantcutting.com/Travs-Stuff/PP/11-22-05/Zoa-2.jpg

http://savantcutting.com/Travs-Stuff/PP/11-22-05/Acan.jpg

http://savantcutting.com/Travs-Stuff/PP/11-22-05/Blastos.jpg

http://savantcutting.com/Travs-Stuff/PP/11-22-05/SC.jpg

Here's a picture of everything being aclimated.
http://savantcutting.com/Travs-Stuff/PP/11-22-05/Bags.jpg

What do you guys think, Keepers?

[Travis Savant]

Here's a picture of the Yuma :)

http://savantcutting.com/Travs-Stuff/PP/11-22-05/Yuma.jpg

[Travis Savant]

Better Pic of the Blastomusa

http://savantcutting.com/Travs-Stuff/PP/11-22-05/Blastomusa.jpg

[angelfishlover]

How about a full tank shot?

[Travis Savant]

Hey Nick, after the Meeting Saturday when i pick up the Candy Cane from you, and those Zoas from that other guy, I'll post one then :D

[Travis Savant]

Added some sand...

FTS!


http://savantcutting.com/Travs-Stuff/PP/FTS-11-24-05.jpg

[NanoManMaster]

awsome

[AcroSteve]

I was going to say "ditch the eggcrate", but then I see you added the sand. Much better.

[Travis Savant]

Thanks guys :)

[eugimon]

wow... so nice. I also just started a little 2.5... but mine is basically hobbled together from stuff I had laying around or stuff I could uhm... re-purpose... must say you put mine to shame.
sob sob.

:)

[Travis Savant]

Haha, thanks!

I am going by the LFS to pick up some Mysis for the Sun Coral. While I am there, if they ave any small frags I may pick one up :)

[tapout]

sorry im a noob, but why/ how would you want to " cook " your live rock?

[Cluckr7]

Cooking is like curing it with no light so all the algae dies off and all the phosphate that is binded to the rock is shed out as the bacteria use it as food. Just put ur rock in a dark rubbermaid with high flow and change the water every other week for a few months. You get nice, beautiful, algae free rocks with coralline still on them and no phosphates bound to them.

[Travis Savant]

Update 12/14/05

FTS
http://www.savantcutting.com/Travs-Stuff/PP/12-14-05/FTS.jpg

These are doing OK, but arn't fully opened.
http://www.savantcutting.com/Travs-Stuff/PP/12-14-05/Zoas-Open.jpg

These have been closed since the "Big Mistake" discovery, but don't seem to be dead, they open alittle bit, but not for long.
http://www.savantcutting.com/Travs-Stuff/PP/12-14-05/Zoas-Closed.jpg

And this ric used to be Purple and about 5 times the size it is now...
http://www.savantcutting.com/Travs-Stuff/PP/12-14-05/Ric.jpg

[blacksh33p]

have you gotten that skimmer yet? im interested in how they work

[kevin21]

are those true yellow zoos!!!!!!
they looks amazing and there only half opened!!!!

[Travis Savant]

They have true yellow skirts, and baby blue rings around the orange eye. I think they are called Denam Zoas?

[Travis Savant]

The skimmer was kind of a joke, I only got it to make whater, no real skimmate. There's just not enough time for the bubles to form in the colar of the collection cup.

[victor6er]

What's the "Big Mistake discovery"? I'm following along getting ready for a baby tank for my girlfriend....

[Travis Savant]

Here's a thread all about it.

http://archive.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=719948

[Travis Savant]

http://www.savantcutting.com/Travs-Stuff/PP/12-20-05/FTS.jpg

I took 2 of the larger pieces of LR out to put in the 20H, I think it looks better this way :)

[Travis Savant]

Here's some pics of the tank after the move to my bedroom.

http://www.savantcutting.com/Travs-Stuff/PP/12-22-05/FTS-1.jpg

http://www.savantcutting.com/Travs-Stuff/PP/12-22-05/FTS.jpg

These Zoanthids still have yet to open, but they arn't transparent, so I know they arn't dead/dieing.
http://www.savantcutting.com/Travs-Stuff/PP/12-22-05/Still-Not-Open.jpg