2.5G Office Pico - SPS recommendations

Oh no ! What happened it just blew?

I can only assume so, came in today to an empty tank, wet desk and floor. Stink of death. Heater was in pieces in the tank, the tank was cracked and the Pump on the HOB has burned out. All Macros looking really unhappy but think they'll be okay. People at work had pulled out whatever looked alive and placed in a bucket with Salt Water, heater and pump. I have my staff well trained lol

Oh no! :( I'm so sorry.

Thanks, popped out to Pets at Home at lunch time and picked up a replacement tank and heater (and FW Crappy filter). It is annoying as I was starting to transfer corals across to this tank next week. Took the HOB to my LFS and they replaced it for me no questions asked.

Fairly sure that the heater failure has affected the eggcrate and dry rock (due to heat) so have dumped that in the skip at work.

Re-Cycling with the surviving rock work
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Most likely bringing across the Zoa Rocks next week so lack of rockwork in main tank shouldn't be too much of an issue
 
So have been busy this weekend sorting out spares to keep at work incase of something similar happening again and stumbled upon my old Fluval Spec 3 on Friday night. So I have been busy. Will save one socket as well running this....

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So I have been looking at what I want to house within this little Pico, I want something that will pop as well as something that will provide interest to me throughout the day. I know that my LFS sell Sexy Shrimp as well as Porcelain Crabs and Rock Flower Anemone's so thinking that I may go this route.

I hope that the rockwork will allow plenty of placement for any Anemone's that I place within here. Just on the look out for a small bag (2kg) of reef sand, and a cup of crushed coral. I will be taking a frag of each of the Zoas and Palys that I have within the tank before they go to the LFS for store credit (to go towards RFA's), these will most likely end up in here as well. A small Florida Biotope of sorts
 
So I have been looking at what I want to house within this little Pico, I want something that will pop as well as something that will provide interest to me throughout the day. I know that my LFS sell Sexy Shrimp as well as Porcelain Crabs and Rock Flower Anemone's so thinking that I may go this route.

I hope that the rockwork will allow plenty of placement for any Anemone's that I place within here. Just on the look out for a small bag (2kg) of reef sand, and a cup of crushed coral. I will be taking a frag of each of the Zoas and Palys that I have within the tank before they go to the LFS for store credit (to go towards RFA's), these will most likely end up in here as well. A small Florida Biotope of sorts

Well sadly I think that this idea has been priced out, for me the Rock Flower Anemone's are just too expensive to obtain (approximately £40 each), for roughly the same price I can get 3 or 4 frags of either Montipora or Chalice.

Currently leaning towards Chalices, due to the vertical 'scape

Also really liking Leptastrea at the moment
 
Well i am stick stuck on my stocking, still really like the idea of a Chalice only Pico. However I have also seen some really nice little SPS Frags that have peaked my interest. Lately I have noticed that many frags that I buy (not from Reefers) come in with a lot of pest algae's on the plugs. Going to be setting up the 2.5G as a Pico Frag tank/Observation tank in the mean time.

So I pulled out some Eggcrate, Snips and Tie Wraps
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Have also been thinking a lot about the filtration of this tank. Now I really like the AIO tanks as I can hide the vast majority of the Hardware out of site and without the need to include a sump. However a lot of the AIO back sections seem to be either vastly under or oversized for the equipment that I want to use. So I have been wondering about making my own "Skimmer Box" Filter out of some 2.5" Square Guttering. A Hopper for the guttering to be precise.
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So the idea is, remove the back section of the Hopper glue to glass of tank, install Hydor Evo Nano Mag pump in the section for the downpipe and seal off bottom. Install heater into pump section. Cut Teeth into the top of the hopper to allow for better surface skimming, create media rack

I can then hide this entire thing with rock, paint purple to match coralline etc etc
 
So have the hopper and have cut it down roughly in half. Have to cut a comb into in next which is slightly daunting. Have dry fit a media rack and equipment holder for heater pad and pump. Just waiting on payday for some final items then can look at starting up both cycles.

Rockwall is progressing, I am playing with ledges and shelves, just need a final placement decision, glue and finish. Ignore the concrete frag plug holder that's my height riser for photos. Ran out of eggcrate

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Nicely done, love the wall. :)

Thanks, it looks so much better than my previous attempt. Use the correct stuff, lesson learned. Happy with the progress although I am starting to get impatient and want it wet soon. Sadly have to adhere to my budget, and pray that I got a decent bonus. Can order the final little bits tomorrow, but am currently debating picking up some corals while the sale lasts...
 
Just finished reading your thread. I loved the little pico, I got so sad when it crashed :/

Can’t wait to see version 2.0 up and running!
 
Just finished reading your thread. I loved the little pico, I got so sad when it crashed :/

Can’t wait to see version 2.0 up and running!

Thank you, yes it was really cute but I had several issues with it, and not just the heater exploding. The PAR38 was IMO too large for the set up, ended up just blasting everything with light, only the Macro and unwanted Algae's really seemed to enjoy that. Really wanted a 9W or 12W but couldn't find anything smaller than 21W which I had used.

If I could raise the light without blinding everyone in the office I would have done so, I am on the look out for a half moon/hexangonal that I can use the PAR 38 Over.

I am excited about the Spec 3, very much so. Was actually the first tank I ever bought (rest were hand me downs) so am happy that it is coming along nicely and fairly close to my imagining of how I want the layout to look.

I will be going a lot slower this time around, although I am working on the Mrs to let me have this at home so I can enjoy reefing on an evening, something that I am dearly missing

Also need to make a stocking decision Acans or Chalices at this point
 
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Thank you, yes it was really cute but I had several issues with it, and not just the heater exploding. The PAR38 was IMO too large for the set up, ended up just blasting everything with light, only the Macro and unwanted Algae's really seemed to enjoy that. Really wanted a 9W or 12W but couldn't find anything smaller than 21W which I had used.

If I could raise the light without blinding everyone in the office I would have done so, I am on the look out for a half moon/hexangonal that I can use the PAR 38 Over.

I am excited about the Spec 3, very much so. Was actually the first tank I ever bought (rest were hand me downs) so am happy that it is coming along nicely and fairly close to my imagining of how I want the layout to look.

I will be going a lot slower this time around, although I am working on the Mrs to let me have this at home so I can enjoy reefing on an evening, something that I am dearly missing

Also need to make a stocking decision Acans or Chalices at this point
Personally, I love acans! Their feeding response is just so wild :)

good luck getting a tank in your home where it belongs!
 

IF YOU HAD TO TAKE A REEFING EXAM, WOULD YOU PASS?

  • Yes!

    Votes: 32 45.7%
  • Not yet, but I have one that I want to buy in mind!

    Votes: 9 12.9%
  • No.

    Votes: 26 37.1%
  • Other (please explain).

    Votes: 3 4.3%
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