Ivan's pico reef!

Iván Olalla · May 18, 2018

Hello fellow reefers, i've been an avid reader on this forum for a while, and tought it was about time to share part of my journey in the hobbie, so this is the progression of my pico reef build.

Excuse my english, not native speaker here. Feel free to ask questions and critique is foremost welcomed!

Iván Olalla · May 18, 2018

I've been in the hobbie for a while, freshwater and planted tanks first like many of us, then moved to saltwater and predatory fish and the reef bug bit me hard after that.
I've a bigger tank in my house but wanted a piece of the ocean in my office, seeing some amazing nanos here inspired me to start one of my own....

Requirements:
-small enough to be set in a desk
-silent operation for a work environment
- easy to maintain
-somehow with a level of automation, due to been away from the tank for several days at any time
-mixed reef with a couple of fish

Equipment:

-8 gallon tank with built in sump (22 liter after rock and equipment)
-sw2 Jebao wavemaker
-aquaeon 50 watt Heather
-coral box nano skimmer
-mini chiller
-kessil a80 tuna Blue
-small return pump (enough to feed the chiller and return)
-DA Reefkeeper Lite with a tomlifter for ATO
-caribean sea Hawaian black aragonite
-base rock cured for a clean start

Iván Olalla · May 18, 2018

Progression pic

Iván Olalla · May 18, 2018

The tank is 9 months old (including first cycle)
Filtration

Mechanical: skimmer
Biological: chaeto in a retrofited canister to reactor along with a small amount of biopellets, two bags one Gfo one carbon and a little bag of Purigen

Water changes: 20/25% weekly

Water paramethers:

Temp 25.5 to 27 celsius
pH 8.2/8.3
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 10/15
Salinity 1.026
Kh 9.5/11
Ca 440
MG 1400
Phospate .020

Feeding: once a Day Pellets, once a week coral smothie and reef snow, once a week chopped squid, fish por other for the anemones

2 gallon ATO refilled once per week

Lighting schedule:

10 hours (only 6 at 100%)
Chaeto reactor inverted cycle 12 hours

Ranjib · May 18, 2018

Love it.
And welcome to reef2reef

JBKReef · May 18, 2018

Gorgeous, and welcome!!!!

Iván Olalla · May 18, 2018

Ranjib said:
Love it.
And welcome to reef2reef

Thanks Ranjib, glad to be here!
Will upload pics of the corals and livestock during the weekend

Iván Olalla · May 18, 2018

JBKReef said:
Gorgeous, and welcome!!!!

Thanks JBK!

JBKReef · May 18, 2018

I dont see any livestock in the photos, what fish are hiding from the camera?

Iván Olalla · May 18, 2018

JBKReef said:
I dont see any livestock in the photos, what fish are hiding from the camera?

Camera shy livestock...
Will upload some pics later
Current livestock:
-gladiator clown
-tailspot blenny
-rainford goby
-two sexy or anemone shrimp

And cleaning crew: 3 Blue legged hermit crabs, two turbo snails, 7/10 nassarius snails, copepods, amphipods, and various worms

JBKReef · May 18, 2018

I have two A80's on a 20 long right now which I use for coral QT that I want to turn into a nano/pico reef but cant decide on what tank to buy.

This looks like its very simple and healthy.

Iván Olalla · May 18, 2018

JBKReef said:
I have two A80's on a 20 long right now which I use for coral QT that I want to turn into a nano/pico reef but cant decide on what tank to buy.

This looks like its very simple and healthy.

It was a basic requirement: simplicity...for now the kessil has worked for me, at a time had an Ai Prime in there but fan noise was really an issue, so i downgraded to the kessil and i've no regrets...coral growth is slower but not an issue for me, coloration is very good