Pico reef startup.

[cdemoss01]

Hello all. I recently today got a free tank. It is a peninsula design comes with heater and outflow pipe system. But its 10-15 gallons still waiting on clarity from old owner on size. Do you guys think I should start a Pico reef and if so what lighting should I use? Budget light. Had no livestock its just an empty tank with some equipment in it. Nothing too fancy just your regular amazon tank so I wanna see what the community thinks.

 

[ryanjohn1]

Heck yeah go for it. I’ve got a 7 gallon pico going besides my big tank I run. I’ve you only wanna softy’s get a Amazon light

 

[lil sumpin]

Picos have even less water volume, I believe below 5gal. Check out maritza the reef vase or Brandon429’s picos. They’re some of the longest running and successful picos out there

Some of the main concerns in starting up picos and nanos often involve temperature, salinity and parameter swings. A lot can happen rather fast in these systems but once you make it past the start up hurdles, it will be very rewarding!

In order of price low to high I think the noopsych k7 mini, reef breeders nano led and ai prime are probably the best bets for all around lighting

 

[cdemoss01]

Thank you all. Definitely want to go for this. Trying to do softies, maybe a hammer, and a rose anemone.

 

[ryanjohn1]

Maybe wait till it’s been running successfully for like a year before a nem till you see how it handles swings

 

[cdemoss01]

Maybe wait till it’s been running successfully for like a year before a nem till you see how it handles swings

True I was not planning on adding a nem for a while after it cycles and has one or two fish in it with a leather coral or something.

 

[ryanjohn1]

In my 7g I’ve got
Kenya tree
A huge toad stool
Finger leather
Some other kinda toad stool

 

[cdemoss01]

Stocking ideas? I dont want to put a fish in this tank and it not have enough room to swim. This tank is above ten gallons just not sure the exact.

 

[ryanjohn1]

And yeah it’s a toad stool growing on the glass

 

[ryanjohn1]

Mines
1 clown fish
1 zebra bar goby
1 clown goby

 

[cdemoss01]

And yeah it’s a toad stool growing on the glass

Dang crazy toadstool... I think I maybe wanna do a red striped goby or a pair of clowns. Not sure about inverts yet.

 

[cdemoss01]

Mines
1 clown fish
1 zebra bar goby
1 clown goby

Ok so officially the tank is 10 gallons, the dimensions are 20L 12W 10D/H

 

[lil sumpin]

start up a build thread when you get the chance

great way to watch the journey unfold over time

 

[cdemoss01]

start up a build thread when you get the chance

great way to watch the journey unfold over time

Yup thats the plan. Waiting for the SMATFARM light and coming up with aquascape. I posted a thread asking for pictures of nano tanks for inspiration so ill see what I get.

 

[cdemoss01]

start up a build thread when you get the chance

great way to watch the journey unfold over time

An update.
Im afraid ive scrapped the idea due to budgeting and my two other tanks AND a crested gecko. It will possibly be setup in the future. I still have it so in a year or two.