My Son wants a tank. So here we go.

ReeferMaddness843 · Jul 15, 2017

I recently acquired a 3.7gal aio. I'm at the very early stages of the build. Pretty much have the tank and a powerhead. I put the rock in so it doesn't look so empty while I get the rest together. That rock is coming out and going to add live rock from my well established 80 gallons sump so as to be able to skip cycle the tank. I'll also take water from a water change to get it rolling then once have made 100% sure all parameters in line and water has been changed to 100% clean will begin livestock. I plan to do a single fish. Haven't decided on what yet though. It'll probably end up being a total zoa garden and a hammer or my blasto colony as my other tank I'm planning out sps and wanting to remove my Zoas anyway. I need to acquire a light, ato, and heater then should be good to go. So here's where I'm at. Will update as I go. I know it's beaten into the ground, but anyone recommend a light for zoas and possibly lps in this tank?
Going to keep stock pump, idk how many gph it is, but I like more flow and a slower turnover. Will have a jabeo pp4 on loooow for flow.

PiscesPower · Jul 15, 2017

I have a similar little tank the IM 4g Nuvo Pico. I am using a Kessil A80 and its doing great. I have a hammer, zoas and even some stylophora. I have a Seneye Par meter and through the glass in the center of the tank I am getting 110 - 120 PAR with 79% PUR. Its a bit tough to maneuver to measure, but so far (its only been a up a month or so, its been doing well. I've added and moved a few things, but everything is doing well and I am only running it at about 60% intensity and mostly to the full blue end.

I have a hydor pico circulation pump tucked in behind the rock and its really a great little pump for the tank, the flow is adjustable and aim-able.

thaitopher · Jul 15, 2017

Isn't that powerhead way too much for such a small tank?

Jisko · Jul 15, 2017

Hello!

gonna tell you now.. that pump is over kill for that small of a tank. I use the same pump, I have two of them on my 55g.

SashimiTurtle · Jul 15, 2017

I'd use an old school surface skim pump at like 80gpm or a spin stream on the return nozzle. That PP4 is going to blast the crap out of that pico. Forget sand, heck forget water... it'll be over the side. lol

cracker · Jul 15, 2017

nice setups guys,. How old is your son? Is he watching with interest what you're doing?

Jisko · Jul 15, 2017

Robin Haselden said:
I'd use an old school surface skim pump at like 80gpm or a spin stream on the return nozzle. That PP4 is going to blast the crap out of that pico. Forget sand, heck forget water... it'll be over the side. lol

yeah that's what I was thinking haha

Ebbi Flow · Jul 16, 2017

I'd use A Rio 90 Pump Upgrade and Re-do Plumbing.
The lowering of the Powerhead can cause it to overheat or raise temp extremely in tank...I put one in just to see difference of running with Stock Pump and raised temp of tank 5°...

Reef man 89 · Jul 16, 2017

That's a nice little tank for ur son. The only thing I would do is take down the Seahawks symbol and put a patriots on there

ReeferMaddness843 · Jul 16, 2017

Thanks for the suggestions guys! I had the powerhead just laying around was why I thought to use it. Buuuuuuut, now that everyone mentions it, yeah, probably a bit much. Haha. I'll snag one more suited for this tank then. I'm sure I've already gotten most of the coral in my main DT that'd be getting transferred to this one.

@PiscesPower , great looking tank! I've had my days with my kessils. I know lots of people have great success with them, but don't think they're for me.

@thaitopher @Jisko @Robin Haselden Thanks for the powerhead suggestions and warnings. Lol. Noted!!

@cracker My sons are 4 and 9. My 4 year old stays with me and 9 year old is with his mom (I get him as much as I can and his mom and I have a good friendship where it works well) My 4 year old is the one who wants one. I'm sure since he sees dad working on the tank a lot. He has taken an interest as far as what things are and some of their habits. Asking a lot of questions, but when I and him later he seems to not retain it. In one ear and out the other. So not sure if a genuine interest or just knows how much I enjoy it and asking just purely to amuse me. Either way, I don't care, it's a chance for he and I to have some guy time and bond.

ReeferMaddness843 · Jul 31, 2017

Done away with the pp4, upgraded the pump to one I had lying around at 235 gph. He is so proud. Threw a piece of dry rock in and a few little pieces from my sump to seed and kick off the cycle.

Katrina71 · Jul 31, 2017

Have you guys thought about a Tailspot Blenny? My 9 year old picked him out and loves him!

ReeferMaddness843 · Jul 31, 2017

Have not even thought about stock that much yet. No sand so limits me a bit. I'll look into the tailspot blenny. Thanks! Always loved blennies. He's in love with my blue damsel and my yellow tail damsel. Of course he is. Lol. He wants a blue fish for his. Planning zoas and softies for his after upgrade lighting.

Srob · Aug 3, 2017

Good luck with the build

ReeferMaddness843 · Aug 22, 2017

Added his light today. Super slow build as its been cycling. Starting to see the uglies (hair algae and diatoms) setting in and ammonia is testing 0 after feeding so I think my biofilter is solid. Nitrates in the 30-40 mark now. 100% water chang. A KOTO Asta 20 Nano led. Figured wasn't going all out with coral on this one as it's my first actual Nano. We shall see how the light goes.

Katrina71 · Aug 22, 2017

Looks great!

Flippers4pups · Aug 22, 2017

ReeferMaddness843 said:
Added his light today. Super slow build as its been cycling. Starting to see the uglies (hair algae and diatoms) setting in and ammonia is testing 0 after feeding so I think my biofilter is solid. Nitrates in the 30-40 mark now. 100% water chang. A KOTO Asta 20 Nano led. Figured wasn't going all out with coral on this one as it's my first actual Nano. We shall see how the light goes.

Nice! We have a fluval nano down stairs collecting dust that the wife had African dwarf frogs in years ago. Must undust nano! Lol

ReeferMaddness843 · Aug 22, 2017

Thanks! He is so excited. He helped me do a top off on it today. He wants a yellow tail damsel, which I have 2 in my tank. He calls them "Electro fish". But, I'm going to try and soften the blow of the tank being too small when we go to the fish store and I point a few things out that'd work. (Still doing my homework on Nano fish) I may try and get him to do some shrimp or something unique.
I'm actually impressed with the light. It was $41 on amazon. Comes with a remote control, which is pointless unless want to place the transformer on the desktop. But, it remembers the setting it was on so you can run a wall timer for it (which is what I have done). It has 4 seperate channels. 1)actinic 2)12k white 3)green/red/yellow full channel 4)UV. It also came with an interchangeable 180' or 60' lens for it. As easy as unscrewing the lens cap.

The rocks to the left are seed rocks, so when I do the wc, they're coming out and it will be just the one rock structure. (Plan to vac all that sand out too when wc happens).