Pico tanks

[squirt_12]

What do people usually use pico tanks for???
Like can anything really go into one??
Can you fit any crabs or shrimp even into a 1-5g tank??

[cocoa_pleco]

you could get a few hermit crabs at the max, most picos are setup for a week just for pictures

[squirt_12]

yeah I didn't think that you could put much if anything into a tank that small.
I think that it would be pointless to stock a tank with stuff and then take pictures and tare it down. It it is up and going I would maintain it. lol.

[gem]

I had a 2.5 gal pico reef tank for over a year. Just took it down last week. I had a bunch of soft corals in it, a couple hermit crabs, an emerald crab, nassarius snails....and whatever hitchikers come on the lr. In all actuallity they can be alot of fun. At one time I had a pixie red spotted hawkfish in the tank. I don't recommend that though. The only fish I would recommend if you have to have a fish, would be a clown goby or a tiny neon goby. But.....the problem with a Pico is that in such a small environment, especially if you add a fish, it's extremely hard to keep all your levels in check. You have to stay on top of it constantly.
I plan to turn my Pico reef into a Pico planted tank now that I have a 46 gal reef. And not just long enough to take a picture.

[squirt_12]

Yeah gem...your pico tank was awesome. How often did you check the levels of the tank?? Daily??

[squirt_12]

gem...what was the lighting that you were using on your 2.5g??

EDIT - did you keep anything in the tank?? as in crabs, snails etc...???

[gem]

Corals - I had softies. Zoanthids, Palythoa, Mushrooms, Kenya Tree, button polyps. I had 2 hermit crabs, an emerald crab, nassarius snails (tiny ones) and at one time, a pixie hawkfish. (not suggested in a system that small). Like I said, you could do like one yellow clown goby in a tank that small once the tank is well established.
I only had a 10 watt compact flourescent 50/50 bulb in an incandescent hood (coralife makes a screw in bulb in a couple diff wattages. But the 10 watt is the only one that can be used in a hood for a 2.5 gal. You can get a coralife 18 watt CF light for about $50. If you use the incandescent light....you'll need to have a piece of glass between the light and the water and really watch the salt creep doesn't get up in the hood. It can cause a fire if it does.
Testing....I used to test daily...then went to every few days....then went to once a week...then less. I usually only tested when something wasn't doing well. The only thing I tested often toward the end was KH because it seemed to go down fast. I had to buffer with every water change and like once in between to keep it up to about 9. I did almost a gallon water change every week and topped off with RO/DI about every other day.

[gem]

Ohhhh almost forgot....I had also had a cleaner shrimp in there at one time too....but they are very sensitive to water quality and changes. He didn't fair well. Probably would have if I had gotten one later...but I never got another shrimp. I had him really early on.

[Tigerbarb]

My lfs has a small 1g tank with a red sea mini filter and one of those lights you attatch to the side and they hang over the top. There are a few small corals in it, about 3 lbs of LR, and hermits in the bottom. I was thinking of setting up one of those really soon. Inexpensive to set up, but the hard part is thet you will have to do very frequent water changes, so salt mix ill be an ongoing cost you have to except.

[squirt_12]

Is this (http://www.aloha-aquariums.com/servlet/the-28/Coralife-Lamp-50-fdsh-50-MINI/Detail) the bulb that you were using??? Can this bulb be screwed into a normal light socket?? Or do you need a special one??
So in a 2.5g that would have been 4wpg. and you kept alot of very nice corals in there.
For the KH that would only be for if you have corals correct??

Thanks for all of the help gem. I may think of another question later if thats alright. lol.

P.S.
Your 2.5g is beautiful and I love it.

[gem]

Yes, that's the one. It will go in a standard light socket. You just have to make sure the fixture is rated at 10 watts or more...which they are.
Ummmmm I'm not sure on the KH thing in regards to a tank with no coral. But.....I imagine you would still need it. You might want to PM Dave66 or IluvMyGoldbarb on that. I learned alot of what I needed to know to set up my pico....and my current 46 gal from both of them. Among others.....but alot from them.
As far as inexpensive to set up......that truly depends on what you consider inexpensive. By the time I took it down....I had well over $500 into it.
As for salt.....alot of lfs sell premixed SW. I used to buy premixed to do my water changes. 1 gal per week. $1.07 with tax. 1 gal of RO/DI $.50 every couple weeks. I actually kept a 5 gal jug of RO/DI handy, but it lasted a long time. You can also mix your own. I did that at one time. It's about 1/2 cup per gallon of water. You have to make sure it's at 1.025....don't trust that exactly 1/2 cup will get it perfectly. You also need to be extra sure it's the same temp as the water you take out of the tank. In anycase....like I said...I did 1 gal a week Water change. Wasn't too big a deal to do. then top offs every couple days.

[squirt_12]

ok. Thanks gem. This has been alot of help.

Yeah I already have a huge bag of salt (I bought it for my fiddler crabs since they are brackish) so it would be easiest for me to mix my own.
I think that I might take the plunge and try SW. For size of tank I am not sure yet but I think that it would be a pico. A little risky I know but I want to try it. I have had good luck with FW and BW so I think it is time for SW. lol. With the pico it would be a FOWLR for a little while and a few crabs but then after a while I think that I would try a few little corals and see how they do.


EDIT - would the 10w compact fluorescent 50/50 bulb also be good for a planted tank if the SW tank didn't work out or something?? Or if I upgraded to another bulb??

[Tigerbarb]

I was thinking of setting up one of those pico tanks too.
I found a good link to an aquarium you could use.
http://www.fish.com/itemdy00.asp?T1=701039%20BAY
Or, you could make one from scratch, which would be pretty cheap.
1. http://www.pet-shop.net/assets/images/le20060.jpg
2. http://source-www.petco.com/assets/product_images/3/3077388330B.jpg
3. http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3733+8154&pcatid=8154
I also found a site about someone's 2g pico reef tank>> http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3733+8154&pcatid=8154

[squirt_12]

Thanks Tigerbarb. I already have a tank and if I were to upgrade I have a friend who I can buy one off of cheap.