Remove the Bio balls?

[wonderd]

Hello everyone. I bought the petco 3.7 cubic and it came with a sponge, filter and bio balls. I am curious if the bio balls,filter and sponge can be used with salt water? The filter and bio balls slide into the first column in the back of the tank and the sponge goes in the second. Appreciate the input!

 

[Cory]

I would, then put something useful there Like a refugium

 

[wonderd]

Do i keep the sponge and the carbon filter? What would be the best way to set up a refugium in the back of this tank? What should go in each section? Appreciate the help!

 

[Supurderek]

Keep black filter sponge for pre filter from overflow. Then you can place some chemical filtration like chemipure blue nano(carbon and gfo combined) and rubble in mid chamber. May want to build a makeshift container with egg rate for rubble for easy cleaning if needed. Can grow some macro also in mid chamber with a refugium light source.

 

[Justiful]

I have that exact tank I used it for a Betta. It is sitting idle at the moment. But I have considered making it a salt water pico tank.

Things to know about the tank.

1. Those petco filter media suck and replacements are overpriced. Take one of those two cut off the screen, remove the media place it in the back space. Fill that front chamber with a sponge between the plastic media part you placed in and the overflow.

2. The pump that comes with it is under powered. Get an ajustable speed 70gph+ pump. It comes with a 40. 40 will work for a fresh water betta fish, but not a saltwater tank.

3. At some point you may want corals. The light that comes with it is not for corals. You will need to replace it with a PICO reef lighting solution. The light is fine for fresh water, but not reef. It will however work for non-photo synthetic corals, and low light corals like mushrooms probably.

4. in the second chamber you want to place in a home-made caddy. Something like this. but really it just needs space for two pieces of egg crate spaced apart and hanging to the side. so water runs over it. On them you will place a bag of carbon, or a bag of purigen, or phosguard or seachem matrix depending on what you need. I would use chemipure elite for one and seachem matrix for other. Reason for chemipure is it is a two in one solution, basically carbon and purigen type material all in one.


5. The tank is too small for most salt water fish. But if you check the PICO section of forums they should give you ideas on what will work in the tank.

PS.. Super Derek basically has the same advice for the chambers. first sponge, second media.

Anyway good luck. I am sure this tank will make an amazing PICO tank. It is very high quality for it's size. One of my favorite tanks.

 

[wonderd]

So I am still a little confused. I remove the carbon filter and the media cartridge and place the sponge in the first chamber? I would like to keep macro algae in one of the chamber, however what type of additional light would I need for this? Also what is the best type of macro algae to have?

 

[Justiful]

I wouldn't put the refugium, chamber is too small. I would use it for filter media.

 

[reefwiser]

This small a tank with need large water changes to do good. I wouldn't run this tank without a heater controller. Because if that heater sticks on it will take just a few minutes to kill everything in that tank.

 

[wonderd]

I have that exact tank I used it for a Betta. It is sitting idle at the moment. But I have considered making it a salt water pico tank.

Things to know about the tank.

1. Those petco filter media suck and replacements are overpriced. Take one of those two cut off the screen, remove the media place it in the back space. Fill that front chamber with a sponge between the plastic media part you placed in and the overflow.

2. The pump that comes with it is under powered. Get an ajustable speed 70gph+ pump. It comes with a 40. 40 will work for a fresh water betta fish, but not a saltwater tank.

3. At some point you may want corals. The light that comes with it is not for corals. You will need to replace it with a PICO reef lighting solution. The light is fine for fresh water, but not reef. It will however work for non-photo synthetic corals, and low light corals like mushrooms probably.

4. in the second chamber you want to place in a home-made caddy. Something like this. but really it just needs space for two pieces of egg crate spaced apart and hanging to the side. so water runs over it. On them you will place a bag of carbon, or a bag of purigen, or phosguard or seachem matrix depending on what you need. I would use chemipure elite for one and seachem matrix for other. Reason for chemipure is it is a two in one solution, basically carbon and purigen type material all in one.


5. The tank is too small for most salt water fish. But if you check the PICO section of forums they should give you ideas on what will work in the tank.

PS.. Super Derek basically has the same advice for the chambers. first sponge, second media.

Anyway good luck. I am sure this tank will make an amazing PICO tank. It is very high quality for it's size. One of my favorite tanks.

Is that cady in the picture made for this tank and could be ordered online?

 

[Justiful]

Is that cady in the picture made for this tank and could be ordered online?

It is not. But a tube of reef glue, 12x12 egg crate, some garden sheers, a piece of string, and a ruler you can make your own caddy. Take maybe a few minutes. Stuff like that caddy is overpriced online, that caddy is like 40 bucks for something a person with 15 minutes and 6th grade level arts and crafts skill level can make for a few bucks.

 

[wonderd]

What do you guys suggest for a return pump? I am not looking for something quiet and not over powered for the tank remember, its 3.6 gallons .

 

[Anbustx]

I would assume having a tank this small would be difficult.

 

[Kong]

I would assume having a tank this small would be difficult.

I would say any size tank has its own challenges. The basic criteria are still the same:

1) Adequate bio-load for the size
2) Adequate filtration for the bio-load
3) Adequate nutrient export
4) Maintain proper water parameters
5) Regular water change

Each line item takes a lot of trial and error (experience) to achieve an optimum state. And there are endless ways to get to there too! That is why all systems are kind of unique and fun for those who think only they have gotten it right!

 

[wonderd]

Guys please stop hijacking the thread.

 

[wonderd]

What do you guys suggest for a return pump? I am not looking for something quiet and not over powered for the tank remember, its 3.6 gallons .

 

[Supurderek]

You can go cheap dc pumps. Or go with something simple like rio plus.

 

[wonderd]

Anyone have any comment on the hydor pico 160 ?

 

[Supurderek]

Oh sorry forgot this was for nano. I have used that Pico on a hang on refugium before. No problems.

 

[Kong]

For a 3.6g tank, I think the most important factor to choose a pump is the ability and ease to change its speed. The circulation capacity mainly depends on what you have in the filter compartment and how loaded it is at any point in time. A Hydor Pico 1600 pump allows you to adjust the flow rate manually by controlling the water inlet cover. But it would be pretty inconvenience to reach into the bottom of the tank to adjust it when required. I would go for a DC pump with a convenient speed controller outside the tank!

 

[Chrisfish]

Anyone have any comment on the hydor pico 160 ?

Just FYI I had this pump for my 3 gallon pico and added the wave reflector from Amazon and it was great, granted it does not have a control unit but once I got it to the right flow other than cleaning it I did not have to mess with it. Just IMO but I have to admit I have gone from the 3 gallon to an 8 gallon and now I have a 30 gallon. It's very addicting .