Before even starting my pico as a SW entry I decided to return that tank and go in another direction more long-term to be able to keep the things I want. I am almost finished gathering everything I need to start a high-tech planted tank, I just need my in-line heater and CO2 valve. I have a CO2 reactor, SunSun canister with an upgraded Eco-396 pump, and a UV sterilizer. The tank is a National Geographic 15.8 gallon bowfront.
In the meantime I have had a growing riparium that I am having fun with and running out of space for more plants. It is a National Geographic 8.5 gallon bowfront, I could double my size if I used the 15.8 gallon. The idea was to have a low-tech "Jungle Style" tank with driftwood and leaf plants being this riparium...then have a "Japanese Style" tank with just rocks, carpeting plants, mosses, and grasses with open spaces using small schooling fish. I will have to combine them eventually and just keep one freshwater tank; a high-tech riparium. At least this way I can stop using Excel daily if I transferred the entire external system to my riparium, CO2-UV and all in-line hardware.
To replace the 15.8 I started looking at slightly larger new tanks, I ended up finding this SeaClear 36 gallon bowfront acrylic tank that fits the stand I was using perfectly. That is when I thought about going saltwater again after just backing out of the pico idea. If I went through with my freshwater tank merge I will have a spare glass 8.5 gallon bowfront that I would really like to use as a sump/refugium for the 36 gallon reef.
I happen to have a spare 8.5 gallon for this photo that I am selling, this would be the plan BUT instead of the 15.8 gallon on top in this photo it would be the 36 gallon tank. I would divide the 8.5 gallon sump tank the long way so I can square the back off and have a bowfront display on the sump. I would use the shallow front bow section for microalgae, anything alive that may help the sump such as inverts/fish, I would repopulate my pods in the sump and hide the equipment in the rear using a wall of mangrove trees along the divider. Heater, mechanical filtration, skimmer, etc will go in the rear I can even use hang on units such as a skimmer as long as none of this is seen in my display tank above. Ultimately with 36 gallons in the long term after it is established I want a pair of trained Mandarin Gobies, the key will be pods in the pump and trained to eat prepared foods. Not sure if I can keep a pair of Clown Fish with the Mandarins, and an Anemone all in a 36 gallon?
In the meantime I have had a growing riparium that I am having fun with and running out of space for more plants. It is a National Geographic 8.5 gallon bowfront, I could double my size if I used the 15.8 gallon. The idea was to have a low-tech "Jungle Style" tank with driftwood and leaf plants being this riparium...then have a "Japanese Style" tank with just rocks, carpeting plants, mosses, and grasses with open spaces using small schooling fish. I will have to combine them eventually and just keep one freshwater tank; a high-tech riparium. At least this way I can stop using Excel daily if I transferred the entire external system to my riparium, CO2-UV and all in-line hardware.
To replace the 15.8 I started looking at slightly larger new tanks, I ended up finding this SeaClear 36 gallon bowfront acrylic tank that fits the stand I was using perfectly. That is when I thought about going saltwater again after just backing out of the pico idea. If I went through with my freshwater tank merge I will have a spare glass 8.5 gallon bowfront that I would really like to use as a sump/refugium for the 36 gallon reef.
I happen to have a spare 8.5 gallon for this photo that I am selling, this would be the plan BUT instead of the 15.8 gallon on top in this photo it would be the 36 gallon tank. I would divide the 8.5 gallon sump tank the long way so I can square the back off and have a bowfront display on the sump. I would use the shallow front bow section for microalgae, anything alive that may help the sump such as inverts/fish, I would repopulate my pods in the sump and hide the equipment in the rear using a wall of mangrove trees along the divider. Heater, mechanical filtration, skimmer, etc will go in the rear I can even use hang on units such as a skimmer as long as none of this is seen in my display tank above. Ultimately with 36 gallons in the long term after it is established I want a pair of trained Mandarin Gobies, the key will be pods in the pump and trained to eat prepared foods. Not sure if I can keep a pair of Clown Fish with the Mandarins, and an Anemone all in a 36 gallon?
