My new Ecoxotic Ecopico

cheetofingers · Nov 29, 2011

I finally decided to get one of these tanks, after debating it for a while. The tank is 10x10x12 holds a little under 5 gallons of water. The light is provided by 6 white LEDs and 3 blue LEDs mounted on an aluminum arm that sits on the frameless tank. I added about an inch of dry sand from a previous tank I had (after rinsing it like 1000 times) and added about 6 pounds of base rock. Once I added the water and adjusted the salinity, I dumped a cup of LS from an established tank in there. The heater is a Hydor Proquatics 150w, but I plan on switching to a smaller 25 or 50w one to be able to hide it better. Here's what I have so far, let me know what you guys think.

(Sorry about the phone pics, Its all I have right now)

With flash

without flash (tank does light up kind of purple.. nice shimmer provided by the LEDs)

the aquascape I'm going with

Cycle day 1 lol. Let me know what you guys think.

Dowtish · Nov 29, 2011

looks great so far!

Reef UP · Nov 29, 2011

Looks nice I've been thinking of trying one as well

racerw · Nov 30, 2011

I absolutely love these tanks. I had one as well. Looks great so far

dallas reefer · Nov 30, 2011

I got an aqueon mini heater for mine. I was told it just came out. And I put it in a whisper overflow I bought off another kit. Fits nicely. Even with a filter pouch.

Downside--- it reached 86 before I put an aqua logic on it. Now it's perfect.

cheetofingers · Nov 30, 2011

Dowtish, Reef UP, racerw : Thanks guys!

dallas reefer: Is this the same one? Aqueon Mini Heater - 10W | Aquarium Heaters | Fish Tank Heaters | Aquarium - ThatPetPlace.com Is it temperature adjustable? I dont see a dial.. my concern is that I dont regularly heat my computer room (where the tank is located) and the site says it raises the tank temp 5-10 degrees above the ambient temp. Im not sure that will be enough considering I live in Chicago... lol.

What (if any) reef safe fish you think would work with this tank? My main focus will be corals, however. Mostly LPS and zoas.

cheetofingers · Dec 2, 2011

RacerW, I was reading around on some forums and people were saying that the 3 light strips werent enough to grow softies. Can you verify this, since you said that you had one? I was thinking of adding 2 more actinic strips because I like to observe the tank under the actinic only lights... but actinics dont increase PAR values right? So I should add white LED strips? I want to be able to not only sustain but grow the corals in the tank.

revhtree · Dec 2, 2011

Sweet tank!

Flake · Dec 2, 2011

i love the ecopicos but I haven't seen any of these stock so I don't trust the light. Are you upgrading or are you just rolling stock and seeing what happens?

racerw · Dec 2, 2011

Hope the pictures works I took it with my cell phone

Here is a picture of mine. I used the 3 strips of light for awhile with no issues growing softies. I did add an RGA LED just for the coolness of it.

dallas reefer · Dec 3, 2011

cheetofingers said:
Dowtish, Reef UP, racerw : Thanks guys!

dallas reefer: Is this the same one? Aqueon Mini Heater - 10W | Aquarium Heaters | Fish Tank Heaters | Aquarium - ThatPetPlace.com Is it temperature adjustable? I dont see a dial.. my concern is that I dont regularly heat my computer room (where the tank is located) and the site says it raises the tank temp 5-10 degrees above the ambient temp. Im not sure that will be enough considering I live in Chicago... lol.

What (if any) reef safe fish you think would work with this tank? My main focus will be corals, however. Mostly LPS and zoas.

Yes that's the one. I'm not sure exactly how it works. I never could find info on it. I got it cause it fit nicely in this whisper overflow/return. Now I'm wanting to get a different pump. (want a wittle more flow

) l

cheetofingers · Dec 9, 2011

Thanks revhtree!

Flake- Right now Im rolling with the stock system. The tank is still cycling (diatoms started blooming today) but I plan on adding an additional 2 blue strips to beef up the lights. If that doesnt work, I'll either invest in a Kessil, or throw on my old 150w HQI MH. I hope it doesnt come to that...

racerw- NICE tank! Post more pics man! Would you say that they corals thrived? As in, are you getting good growth from them? I dont want my frags to stay frags... I really enjoy watching frags grow and take over the tank! Can you link me to the additional light you installed?

dallas reefer- Do you have any pictures of the overflow/return youre talking about? Id like to see what you have setup, as Im looking to maximize this little tank. What are you thinking in terms of the pump? I saw a guy with this tank on another forum, and he was running an mp10. He said it worked great, but for that price Im sure there are many better options.