3 gal picotope (build thread!)

[dingusplease]

I added a bunch of frozen brine (without rinsing, as I usually do )

They decompose quite quickly, however it did create 0.25 phosphate (my method probably isn't the best way to go.) For a tank this small, one tip I have is if you use a raw shrimp like one does with a larger tank, make sure to get it out of there before you have an ammo overdose (they can create way too much ammo if you aren't careful.)

I would suggest pure ammonia, or frozen brine and frequent WCs after the cycle to remove phosphate. 3/4 of a cube of hikari frozen brine shrimp worked for me nothing to remove afterwards. I peaked at 5ppm ammo.

[DaveMc]

Originally Posted by dingusplease

Thank you! Looking forward to seeing your tank being stocked

Me too lol! Gonna check params again today. May be heading to the LFS tomorrow since I have to take my son over anyways for a laptop. Would love to bring something home for it.

[dingusplease]

Originally Posted by DaveMc

Me too lol! Gonna check params again today. May be heading to the LFS tomorrow since I have to take my son over anyways for a laptop. Would love to bring something home for it.

Saw you new adds! Love the firefish

[dingusplease]

Instead of creating a new thread, I just thought I'd post everything that's happened since I last updated! I think the last update was the toadstool and sexy shrimp pair...

Since then:
- A Porcelain crab

- A Pom Pom crab


... And that's it in terms of livestock!

Clown goby seems happy


I may be looking for some small frags on my trip to Indianapolis in a few weeks, but overall there's not much room for any more coral (sad face.) I'm amazed at how fast everything is growing, particularly the GSP and Ricordea Yuma (which has so far produced 3 little baby ricordeas, rather exciting! )

I got a nano mag cleaner, and in the next month I'm going to be buying a hydro smart level ATO. I tried building one with a traditional float switch, but it just seems too unreliable based on my tests, so I'm getting the hydor one. I've been manually topping off since day 1, but this summer I'll be going away for a 2 week period, and I'll be needing someone to feed everybody in the tank, as well as an ATO. With regards to WCs, I haven't come up with a solution yet... Hmm

And finally, an FTS (yes, toadstool is leaning, but there's polyp extension so I'm fine with it)



Along with a top down, lights up, pumps off pic for your viewing pleasure haha


As always, thanks for reading! Any and all comments, questions, and suggestions welcome.

P.S. In two minutes spare time I came up with a little profile pic :p

[10gal_nano]

Looks great!

[Macscale]

Looks great.
What's going on with the 20g you were planning?

[dingusplease]

Thank you both! I haven't been working too much on the 20g lately really, but I have been doing some planning. Unfortunately, that build will probably be starting later this fall just bc of the time and money needed. Right now, I'm busy with this tank, as well as attending marine biology programs all over the country (reefkeeping is a great way to learn about marine science in Illinois, where we don't have too much ocean to study )

[DaveMc]

Awesome Dingus! Love how everything looks.

[dingusplease]

Thanks! Unfortunately, my refugium just developed a leak... rather annoying but I guess everyone has this problem eventually

[DaveMc]

Ack! Hope it isn't a bad one.

[dingusplease]

Thanks, I just fixed it, I think I used plumbers putty + aquarium silicone

[10gal_nano]

Hi dingus, not trying to thread-jack or anything but is the largest coral on the left hand side of you tank is a toadstool right? What care do they need? I just got a small one that looks just like yours. Thanks!

[dingusplease]

Not thread jacking at all and yeah that's a yellow toadstool, same kind as you have from the pics I saw of yours. Very easy to keep, they get everything they need from light, mine does well in medium flow with medium-high lighting. Your tank is looking great btw, very nice coral placement and cool zoa garden!

[10gal_nano]

Originally Posted by dingusplease

Not thread jacking at all and yeah that's a yellow toadstool, same kind as you have from the pics I saw of yours. Very easy to keep, they get everything they need from light, mine does well in medium flow with medium-high lighting. Your tank is looking great btw, very nice coral placement and cool zoa garden!

Thanks for the great info and complements! I can't wait until my toadstool is like yours! You have the nicest pico I've ever seen

[bribo12]

I really like that orange Yuma in the front! Really nice job!

[dingusplease]

Originally Posted by 10gal_nano

Thanks for the great info and complements! I can't wait until my toadstool is like yours! You have the nicest pico I've ever seen

Thanks and you're welcome! this toad actually arrived in a nearly dry, completely leaked soggy cardboard box, but has slowly recovered. It was less than 2 inches tall when I added it to the tank, but it's really recovered well, I'm happy about it Your toad is looking happy despite being so new to the tank!

[dingusplease]

Originally Posted by bribo12

I really like that orange Yuma in the front! Really nice job!

Thanks bribo! Appreciate it! It's producing tons of little baby yumas, I think I'm going to start sending them to people for free soon :p. No kidding, I thought it'd be cool to send them to people while they're still kind of small. Do you know if young corals are as hardy as larger ones for shipping?

[10gal_nano]

Originally Posted by dingusplease

Thanks and you're welcome! this toad actually arrived in a nearly dry, completely leaked soggy cardboard box, but has slowly recovered. It was less than 2 inches tall when I added it to the tank, but it's really recovered well, I'm happy about it Your toad is looking happy despite being so new to the tank!

How fast did it grow?

[bribo12]

Most shrooms are indestructible or close to it ime. But I've never shipped coral so I don't know for sure.

[10gal_nano]

Originally Posted by dingusplease

Thanks bribo! Appreciate it! It's producing tons of little baby yumas, I think I'm going to start sending them to people for free soon :p. No kidding, I thought it'd be cool to send them to people while they're still kind of small. Do you know if young corals are as hardy as larger ones for shipping?

I would think so. I got a small ricordia from online that was fine until the shrimp took it.