It’s jarring... 2g jar SPS Pico!

hart24601 · Nov 6, 2017

I appreciate the advise. I guess was hoping to keep it simple without a heater but it's probably better to add one. I do have a neotherm 50w, with the shape of the jar I think it would fit well and being flat not take up much space.

I can route the cord like the powerhead, just notch the silicone seal where the cord comes out. Should still seal up just fine. The drilling idea is pretty cool though. I will have to think on it. I guess could get another $13 jar to try it on...

I'm still stewing about the heater part. The coral look so good I hate to mess with it now!

Where do you get the small grommets?

hart24601 · Nov 6, 2017

Something like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Bosch-HDG14-...09994302&sr=8-3&keywords=diamond+hole+saw+1/4

and a 1/4" grommet? Or I guess could just silicone the hole and wire too since the wires are a bit oval shaped.

brandon429 · Nov 6, 2017

I got my grommets from radioshack I think our town lost most of them in the closure, 1 or 2 still open. I predict most RS wont even stock them anymore, it w have to be online I do think they'll still have the mixed small bag of grommets and if you get really hard pressed for an inlet one I bet there's a couple stilllaying around my reef drawer too

good idea on practice drill that's what I did and it works. online someone showed me to take plumbers putty, build a mound around the drill point so water stays in

then you lightly lightly hit it with a sharp-point diamond bit not that one above that's for larger jobs imo

the dremel version makes tiny tiny holes w a super sharp rock point, then we rasp out and as long as its wet its doesn't shatter even thin hobby glass, hope that helps

it works so well I put holes in the bottom of thin api testing tubes. clear clean holes no split, about ten of them.

hart24601 · Nov 6, 2017

I did put the heater in, I like the low profile of the neotherm. Cut the silicone and seems to have a great seal. Still thinking of drilling.

brandon429 · Nov 7, 2017

Those are the nicest starter corals I’ve seen in a vase or jar

We mostly all just stocked with common lps and worked up heh, that’s turbo frags right off the bat this w be neat to see n action. Number of posts online that say sps must start in an aged tank is ten thousand posts

but secretly your tank is old...aged lr brings in a tiny burgeoning food web which is supported by occasional power feedings and water changes / that’ll do

They don’t care how old the glass is

Sent ya a pm on my feeding of the bowl see if that’s enough cyclopeeze for a gallon

It took three complete pour-through water changes to flush all that back out. Polyps were fat full

hart24601 · Nov 7, 2017

Got the kessil set up. I think the a80 would have been fine! I ran it around 50% and noticed a little bleaching today so I am running it on min settings. I think the jar might reflect the light and give a higher PAR than an open tank. Heater seems a rock steady 78.

What would be cool with the a160 is I could put it a bit higher and run 4 jars easily. Would be fun to have sps jar, lps, softie jar and a maxi mini or rock nem jar. At least in theory to justify buying the kessil, haha.

The amazon par 38 bulb looks really nice with good spectrum, I probably should have saved money with that, but I worry about colored disco with the curves of the jar, I can't stand color separation.

Chrisfish · Nov 7, 2017

Also following, I did a planted fresh water tank out of one of those after I saw one on Pinterest ! Hmmm I still have the jar.... I'll definitely be following yours

hart24601 · Nov 7, 2017

Just FYI I found nano reef is having a pico contest. Good stuff there. Apparently I am not the only one who thinks this glass cookie jar is perfect for a pico...

Some amazing styles there, but I am 100% satisfied with mine. The jar isn't interesting on its own, but the shape is very nice for coral.

Bunnee911 · Nov 7, 2017

I run a par 38 light on my 10. It doesn’t disco.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CXTZN2Q/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

hart24601 · Nov 7, 2017

That looks like a great light and the one I was going to get.... And the one that makes sense to get!

I should have asked for more opinions to see if they had disco or not. What is the lid like on your pico? My concern is the curved top on mine with the knob might reflect colors but I do feel silly for spending so much...

hart24601 · Nov 8, 2017

Couple thoughts. The a160 is crazy strong for this. Running at min, was thinking a80 would be better. BRS said could return for -10% cost as they have been used which seems very fair. But looking at the a80 it has a much shorter gooseneck of 10" vs 24" so I am again not sure if I should do it or not. Right now at least the gooseneck can clamp to whatever the jar sits on and have enough height, with smaller neck it wouldn't I don't think.

2nd observation. Keep buckets and water mixing pump and heater clean and covered! I have a dog so hair gets all over and general dust. Big tank no problem. Pick it is! So I cleaned out two buckets, mixing pump and heater and keep them covered when empty so general "junk" doesn't get in.

Daniel@R2R · Nov 9, 2017

Cool! Following!

hart24601 · Nov 9, 2017

I can't wait for Sunday to pick up pretty much the last stocking of coral although I wonder if something could go on the sand in the front. Neotherm heater seems to be doing great as well. I got some chemipure nano, I think can put a bag of that right on top of the powerhead with no fuss and not take up any real space. I have changed all the water 3 times, aka under 6 gallons, but the salinity seems to hold steady with no salt creep so far.

One thing for someone setting up a new pico like this. Make the initial salinity slightly below what you want to keep, the condensation on the lid will raise the salinity a little but, however once that "coating" of condensation is present on the lid salinity will hold steady unless you wipe it all off. Even lifting the lid off enough condensation remains on the lid that the salinity doesn't seem to change.

Tokash23 · Nov 9, 2017

brandon429 said:
I bought new corals too from new lfs in town, had ta. His tanks are isolated pretty well and the hitchhikers in there looked to be the same rascals that grow on my glass, two new corals came home and were washed, scraped well around the plug/hard surfaces.

You bought all pro level corals first go for a jar that's exactly the type of rock n roll that is required for jar reefing heh. I have never seen a homewrecker in a jar, if we fail to cpr that thing into money earned back it could turn into a home troubler if the price of the frag has been disclosed lol.

on heating, especially with all star corals I must recommend thermostat heating. To not wreck your seal, I recommend cut the wire to the heater element with scissors as soon as you open it from the box, instantly voiding the warranty.

Then run the cut lines through grommet using a $10 diamond dremel bit cut into the glass lid, resolder the lines outside the tank and heat shrink all clean the connection (I chose to do this on the outside part of the line not up under the lid)

you still have your seal with full line incursion, some just make a notch in the lid seal part but this hole bit is much better/cleaner and with diamond dremel I was able to make my own holes having never tried it before.

https://oceanboxdesigns.com/product/ultra-slim-mini-50w-heater-wexternal-controller/

after that's installed the room can get as cool as needed I really prefer it this way for the sps in tow in my opinion. I use a neotherm 50 watt in my pico its too big, wedged in sideways, I prefer this one above and w switch to it soon.

I was just thinking about this before i came across this thread. Would it be close to the same thing to get maybe a serving jar or some sort with the spout on the bottom run your cords through that and the silcon around the cords to seal it? I suppose its not ideal but that was my original thought to avoid messing with the lid or drilling like you suggest.

And need a full jar shot!!

brandon429 · Nov 9, 2017

yes its clean but leaks/concern, someone run a 24 mo test on that type of setup that's cable-less drill holes in the stand technique it would look the best. mine loop over the top and come through lid, though Ive drilled vases in the past.

hart24601 · Nov 9, 2017

It would looks super clean and I guess the smaller the hole for silicone the better with that idea. Although if you already have a powerhead and heater in the container really the cord doesn't matter much since those other two items are pretty large. I am a big "clean" tank person, but a jar reef being just a simple jar the cord doesn't bother me much. Now if I was going to drill the bottom and have a sump or some other system it would be clean, but it doesn't quite have the same impact visually as a simple self contained jar to me.

hart24601 · Nov 10, 2017

Posting a few links here only because it's my active tank thread.

It's a few years ago but I am running with Reef Crystals because I had it Triton tested when that 1st became available, it was interesting and cool that ESV responded, but for the cost RC is cool with me:

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/reef-crystals-vs-esv-triton-test.176536/

My old TOTM if anyone is interested:

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/harts-120-3-4-starfire-expansion.178581/

The FW tank I built my GF:

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/33g-cube-glofish-tank-well-there-is-some-salt-in-the-water.281108/

My ill-fated cube now sold:

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/60g-cube-its-hip-to-be-square.292959/

And finally when I won the acro growout contest here:

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/harts-acro-growout.176670/

hart24601 · Nov 11, 2017

1st big feeding tonight. Instant ocean baby brine shrimp, and golden pearls 5-50 and 300um.

Will wait couple hours and 100% WC.

No change in salinity past week.

hart24601 · Nov 12, 2017

Frag fests are always fun. Spent $200 and got around 13 frags so jar is stocked. Will be interesting to see what all lives.

I don't pay attention to coral names but snagged several monties like forest fire and JF and WWC encrusting ones, JF burning banana, and three trypes of Ora birdsnest along with few other stylos and cyphastrea.

Sure is hard to get pics.