One of the benefits of my job is I get first call on any resale/damaged items. I picked up a 1 gal. pico tank, filter, lights for only 20 bucks because the tank was chipped at the flared spot on base,(no leaks,) and the filter had a chip on the intake. It sucks air, but I'm working on that, and I can always get a new pipe for dirt cheap. The kit retails for 50 bucks. I got it for 20, and already have it set with live rock, 2 mushroom corals, and some zoo polyps, and 2 tiny reef hermits,(well fed...). It looks excellent...
1 gallon or less nano deal, mua ha ha ha ha...
- Thread starter celticveil
- Start date
ok update...I siliconed the inlet that cracked, hope when it films I can test fire it to see if it will still suck in air bubbles. The corals already seem to be expanding after the first few hours in, and the crabs are going ape over the gravel bed. And the ive rock is interesting, I think I have some small tube worms, or at least their casings. I know I have some kind of red macroalgae, it's starting to grow on the back corner...iiiiinteresting...
Well, I encountered my first problem. My mini filter leaks through the o-ring at the base of the pump/impeller, and I had to disconnect it due to going to work/not enough time to repair immediately. So now I siliconed it in after work, but one,(if not both, not able to tell yet,) of the mushroom corals is completely dead, the water a nice dingy color and smells bad. Found a bristle worm eating the corpse, so I figure thats more than likely what fragged him. Needless to say, said worm is no more...(freshwater dip anyone?). So now I'm waiting on the silicone to solidify enough to re-inster filter. I did a 50 per cent water change, and added a pura pad to the system in the filter so when it goes back on all nitrates/nitrites/ammonia plus a ton of other stuff will be pulled out of it. My girlfriend has a nano filter, same brand, and has never had any trouble, she's going to loan me hers if I can't get mine working by tonight.
But the hermit crabs seem OK!
And no pics, sorry, no camera access at this present time.
But the hermit crabs seem OK!
And no pics, sorry, no camera access at this present time.
Denton, TX currently. Maybe moving to carrolton soon though, closer to work.
I'll see if my GF still has her digi cam, not sure, haven't seen her playing with it recently,(like within the last year...).
I threw away the nano filter that came with the tank, it leaked like a sieve,(or, for you car people, it leaked like the power-steering pump on a ford aerostar mini-van...lol...). So replaced with with my GF's nano, different brand,(original one was acco, this one is red sea,) and it's functioning perfectly. From what I could see on the first one:
1 The intake had a crack and was taking air in, fixed with a little silicone.
2 The pump housing was intact, but there were no plastic lips for the o-ring to snap into, i.e. it was a smooth-lock...how the heck did they figure that would ever work? What a piece of crap! And the adjustment flow valve worked the same way, but the air/water pressure would force it open as well.
I need to buy my own nano filter and give this one back to her, but it's on loan till I can afford it.
I'll see if my GF still has her digi cam, not sure, haven't seen her playing with it recently,(like within the last year...).
I threw away the nano filter that came with the tank, it leaked like a sieve,(or, for you car people, it leaked like the power-steering pump on a ford aerostar mini-van...lol...). So replaced with with my GF's nano, different brand,(original one was acco, this one is red sea,) and it's functioning perfectly. From what I could see on the first one:
1 The intake had a crack and was taking air in, fixed with a little silicone.
2 The pump housing was intact, but there were no plastic lips for the o-ring to snap into, i.e. it was a smooth-lock...how the heck did they figure that would ever work? What a piece of crap! And the adjustment flow valve worked the same way, but the air/water pressure would force it open as well.
I need to buy my own nano filter and give this one back to her, but it's on loan till I can afford it.
Oh, and a tid bit of info, before I knew there were problems today when I got home, I brought with me a rock bearing a single aiptasia anemone for kicks and giggles, only to discover...IT'S COVERED IN BABY COLONY POLYPS!! And I got a free trbo snail with it, in fact, the whole thing is covered in life, and was free,(about 4 inches long total,) because it was in the bottom of a tank returned to the store for re-sale and credit, and was going to be thrown away with the rest of the original gravel. I lucked out, as did the little buggers on the rock itself. I know my waters not where it should be, thanks to the bristle worm,(who I hope is enjoying his little trip to bristle worm hell...). But it's better than drying up and dying outright! At least I'm giving him a chance. *celebrate
New update: Went to the old store I worked at and picked up a frag of live rock with mushrooms on it to replace the one devoured by the worm,(may he rot in wormy-hell...) for 12 bucks, came with a nice assortment of caulerpa,(great natural filter material,) green and red mushrooms, all perfectly sized on this one tiny, round flat rock. Exxxxxxcellent...smithers, the shotgun! ::blink blink:: Sorry, lost my concentration there for a sec...
I also got some tiny reef starfish, about 1/8 to 1/4 inches long from a display tank. These are good for cleaning up, and are the only echinoderms that size for such a small tank,(I like starfish,).
The smell has gone down a lot, and I did another 50 % water change after adding the new coral/starfish. I also realized the flow control on the filter was turned way down, so I opened it up fully, and now the zoo's seem to be a little more happy with that,(a few were opening up afterwards,).
I'mactually going to encourage the growth of the aiptasia for now, as long as it doesn't interefere with my corals. If he does, it's a good dose of joe's juice for him. Micro critters for this tank are cool. Does anyone know of any specific types of shrimp I might be able to put in there? I was thinking about a peppermint shrimp juvenile, I know he'll get bigger, but my job takes them back no problem for credit. Always a good market for the lil' guys.
I also got some tiny reef starfish, about 1/8 to 1/4 inches long from a display tank. These are good for cleaning up, and are the only echinoderms that size for such a small tank,(I like starfish,).
The smell has gone down a lot, and I did another 50 % water change after adding the new coral/starfish. I also realized the flow control on the filter was turned way down, so I opened it up fully, and now the zoo's seem to be a little more happy with that,(a few were opening up afterwards,).
I'mactually going to encourage the growth of the aiptasia for now, as long as it doesn't interefere with my corals. If he does, it's a good dose of joe's juice for him. Micro critters for this tank are cool. Does anyone know of any specific types of shrimp I might be able to put in there? I was thinking about a peppermint shrimp juvenile, I know he'll get bigger, but my job takes them back no problem for credit. Always a good market for the lil' guys.
Uhh...if the dimentions are okay, I don't see a problem with leaving the peppermint shrimp in. Don't take my word on it. Maybe a bumble bee shrimp would be possible (or better). They eat echinoderm tube feet, but it isn't their sole source of food like harlequin shrimp, they can get by on mysis, too.
Sounds like everything is on the right track now. Be sure to keep the aiptasia under control.
Sounds like everything is on the right track now. Be sure to keep the aiptasia under control.
Oh yeah, don't want that lil' guy to get outof control...and when he divides, his progeny won't live very long, I'll be sure to dispose of him quickly.
I don't want to risk it with the shrimp eating the starfish's feet, the starfish are one of the primary reasons I wanted the tank in the first place. A client of mine has tons of them almost an inch long, perfectly formed,(the tiny stars usually have feet length differences, and look funny,) and is willing to give me a couple of my collection. Another customer will give me a baby gonipora when his drops ones again,(it's 3 yrs. old and has dropped several over the last year, very very strange for a gonipora to last at all, much less reproduce.).
I don't want to risk it with the shrimp eating the starfish's feet, the starfish are one of the primary reasons I wanted the tank in the first place. A client of mine has tons of them almost an inch long, perfectly formed,(the tiny stars usually have feet length differences, and look funny,) and is willing to give me a couple of my collection. Another customer will give me a baby gonipora when his drops ones again,(it's 3 yrs. old and has dropped several over the last year, very very strange for a gonipora to last at all, much less reproduce.).
I'll see if I can do a combination of the two, the filter currently in use puts out a lot of power...and I thought it was full blast when I put it on, now it's really pumping away, plus the o-rings are surpeior to the original filter,(different brands,). Red sea makes some good stuff, I'm not too-worried about it now that I disposed of the acco brand filter.
Any idea how much those mini-powerheads run, and if there's any point/ability to convert it into a mini spray-bar?
Any idea how much those mini-powerheads run, and if there's any point/ability to convert it into a mini spray-bar?
I'm sure there's an ability, not sure if there's a point or not.
Drs. Foster & Smith have some on sale right now:
Water Pumps and Powerheads: Hydor PICO Water Pump
Azoo Powerheads (the small one)
Micro•Jet Pumps
Aquarium Water Pumps & Powerheads: UL-Listed Mini•Jet Pumps
Drs. Foster & Smith have some on sale right now:
Water Pumps and Powerheads: Hydor PICO Water Pump
Azoo Powerheads (the small one)
Micro•Jet Pumps
Aquarium Water Pumps & Powerheads: UL-Listed Mini•Jet Pumps