2 1/2 gal Picco Reef Tank start up

[Ms. Joanne]

@ 1/2 gal Picco reef tank

I am not new to reef keeping but this will be the first time I have done anything so small. When it comes to reef keeping, I prefer the old, antiquated methods of long slow cycling this way the tank gets a proper opportunity to establish itself. I started with a bare bottom and a piece of dry live rock which I would later break into smaller pieces after I added the live sand which was about 2 weeks ago. we are currently in week 5 of the cycling process; there is a piece of shrimp rotting away given the diminutive size of the environment it is too small for a damsel fish to live in, so we are going to take the long route. I have not installed any equipment on it yet, mainly because it is not time. When I reach the 2-month marker I will do a slight water change, introduce a small wavemaker and a heater, lighting comes last but that won't be until after the 90-day cycling term, I have learned that you can avoid the ugly stage of algae if you just leave the lights off.

 

[CasperOe]

Does sound like a solid plan you have there!

I am currently cycling my new 125 gallon on day 5- using Dr. Tims. Once I measure 0 ammonia for a week I will add the first two fish.

The tank is in a well lid room, so my lights won't come on until after three months with the 1st month of light being on acclimation mode.

Fingers crossed- the ugly stage will short

 

[Mr Fishface]

Good plan! I have thought about doing a tiny tank like this, will watch how yours goes

 

[Ms. Joanne]

Does sound like a solid plan you have there!

I am currently cycling my new 125 gallon on day 5- using Dr. Tims. Once I measure 0 ammonia for a week I will add the first two fish.

The tank is in a well lid room, so my lights won't come on until after three months with the 1st month of light being on acclimation mode.

Fingers crossed- the ugly stage will short

That is a huge undertaking. I take it you have a ro/di unit, what size tank or container will you make water in? will there be a separate container for the ro/di water and one for the freshly mixed saltwater to aerate?

 

[CasperOe]

That is a huge undertaking. I take it you have a ro/di unit, what size tank or container will you make water in? will there be a separate container for the ro/di water and one for the freshly mixed saltwater to aerate?

It is a rather large project but I am sure we will manage

I run a 5-stage RODI unit to a mixing station with 2 x 250 liter containers (one for salt- one for RODI). Initially, both containers were used to prepare saltwater, but one has now been cleaned out to be used for RODI to supply ATO and saltwater mixing.

The saltwater container is hooked up to two pumps for automatic / continuous water change.

Note that my ATO container is build in to the back of the tank (Cade-style)