New and Need some advice

[Chain]

Im new here to Living Reefs, but not to reef keeping in general. I have been looking for a pico tank for a good while now, and am completely frustrated at this point. Any help will be greatly appreciated and what follows is what i have pretty much narrowed my choices down to. I want a tank anywhere from 4-9 gallons. Here are the links to the tanks I am still considering. I would like the ability to keep all ranges of coral. SPS included. I understand the difficulty in keeping multiple coral types in such a small tank with such specific light needs. I have the ability to remove any and all that aren't doing anything but wonderful into one of my larger systems or one of my frag tanks. Basically the only equipment I have purchased so far is actually old equipment I have never used. I have a hydor pico 180 GPH powerhead I bought a few months ago for some reason with a deflector, and a finnex 50 watt titanium heater with external controller. I also have 2- finnex 21 led lights that are still in their boxes and of course I have the standards (testing kits, thermometer, refractometer, tons of salt, sand, media, etc.) Any help or input would be greatly appreciated. As I said before im completely spent as to what will work best, and If you have another tank you would like to throw out there please go right ahead. Ill look into anything and everything.

https://www.finnex.net/index.php?pa...ategory_id=37&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=61
The 6-1 setup. For lighting I was considering a ecoxotic par 38 20K.

https://www.finnex.net/index.php?op...e.tpl&category_id=37&product_id=270&Itemid=61
The 9-2 setups. Same lighting configuration as above.

https://www.finnex.net/index.php?op...e.tpl&category_id=37&product_id=275&Itemid=61
The Px-Bw model. I love this tank design; however I would like a refugium irregardless of any tank selected. The HOB 1 gallon fuge finnex makes is listed as 10.25 in and I don't think with the lights at the back of this tank there would be enough room. (My main reason the other two are listed higher then this tank is because the fuge will work with them). Also these three tanks are open topped and with a HOB fuge It would be difficult to place any top on them. Evaporation will be a big issue especially here in dry western oklahoma.

https://www.finnex.net/index.php?op...ge.tpl&category_id=5&product_id=268&Itemid=61
Here is the HOB fuge for anyone interested in looking. I already have two of the finnex 21 light led lights as I bought them on sale a year ago and never unboxed them.

NEW Star Fire glass Euro Pico 8G LED reef system [8GLED-65] - $169.99 : CAD Lights, Thinking outside the cube
I prefer the filtration system here and the ability to incorporate a refugium into the filtration system makes for a clean AIO look. I don't like the light. Too white and doesn't look strong enough for my needs. Stock pump doesn't seem to good, but planned on replacing anyways.

Innovative Marine
I like this better then the cadlights, and could incorporate a refugium into the filtration system.

Ive considered using an aquaclear filter for a fuge, and still might in the case of the tanks without built in filtration systems as that HOB fuge might not fit on the 4 gallon schuber tank. Ill definitely do a build thread, but first I have to kick this head clog:frustrat:. I emailed finnex about the crustacean star system and the HOB refugium fitting on the back, (because the dimensions put the measurements VERY Close), but I haven't heard back yet.) Any help I will GREATLY:bowdown: appreciate as I wasn't expecting this decision to be so difficult. Thank you all again for taking the time to reading this rambling mess.

 

[R3verb]

This is the nano tank I have seen all of the LFS using. They seem to work really well and the skimmers in these things are suppose to be amazing. You I am guessing you could add a fuge thought I am not sure.

Aqua Medic - KATALOG

 

[Bifferwine]

I have only heard good things about the CAD Lights systems. The Crustacean Star one looks nice too, but I am not digging the lights. I personally like the Innovative Marine one the best. It looks like that would provide you with the best option for filtration and a fuge.

 

[kbuser92]

Have ou looked at the JBJ Picotope? Its only 3 gallons, but its $40 from Drs. Foster/Smith.

My setup is a 5.5 AGA with a PF10 (Tetra) filter, 50 watt submersible heater, 24" T8 with a 15w 50/50. Im thinking of adding a small powerhead and a skimmer from a biocube, bit everything is doing great so far.

P.S. Im not a fan of them, but JBJ also has 6 and 8 gallon biocubes.

 

[Chain]

Thanks so much for the quick replies. I like the look of that yasha tank alot so much thanks for posting tank.

Yea I'm leaning towards the innovative marine too. The light is my only worry at this point but I suppose I'd have plenty of time to look for a replacement or supplement. I like the ecoxotic par 38 bulbs, so I suppose I could supplement with an actinic.

Yea I've checked out the JBJ and truthfully almost have bought it a couple of times...it looks really nice, my only concern was back space on the tank for a fuge/filtration system and the ability to hide the equipment.

I should probably say that the Aesthetic value is just as important as functionality. My other tanks are all in my man cave, wife doesn't enter there except on rare occasions. This one will be on a small pedestal in the entryway. Appearance is more important than cost. Doesn't hurt the casinos been good to me lately

 

[little_fish]

Hello and Welcome!!

 

[kbuser92]

Does the pedestal have a cabinet you could put a small sump in? Id say get a 5 ot 10 gallin glass tank and drill an overflow in a bottom corner and plumb it straight down to a 2.5-10 gallon sump/fuge to hide a skimmer, heater, etc...

 

[Chain]

Yea the stand doesn't have any area below it for a sump or I would definitely go that route. I was told the stand "Matches the decor" haha. I suppose as long as it matches it doesn't matter how useful it is. I actually have changed my mind about 30 times since yesterday and Im almost set on this setup. Tell me what you think.

Mr. Aqua 7.5 gallon rimless low iron glass aquarium tank
Finnex HOB 1 gallon refugium. (will work with this tank barely)
Ecoxotic Par 38 20K led bulb with this fixture Victory Architect Desk Lamp, Black

I will put the 50 watt finnex heater in the fuge and use 2- 21 watt finnex led bend lights to light the fuge.
The tank measurements for the 7.5 are 12 x12 x 12 so Im pretty sure a single ecoxotic bulb will light the entire tank. If not then i will have plenty of time to purchase additional bulbs. Ill use the 180 gph hydor pico for an in tank powerhead ( i also a have a 240 Gph nano koralia that I could feasibly use if the 180 + the return pump for the fuge isn't enough flow). Live rock and live sand will be my filtration means, along with daily top offs and weekly water changes of at least a gallon or 2. In the small fuge I will put a bag of chemi pure elite, cheato, and the heater if it will fit. Trying to go simple here. Hoping the fuge isn't that noticeable. Stocking is a long ways away and Im not sure I will put any fish in the tank at all at this point. Maybe after I get what I want in here. I plan to stock with a few zoas, ricordae, lps, and some sps. Haven't quite decided on coral yet and I may completely change my mind. I have some orange, green, blue, and rainbow ricordae already fragged and ready to go in a frag tank so at least I have that going for me.

Tell me what you recommend or think about this setup. Be harsh lol I welcome it. Anything I might be missing be sure to mention. Again thank you all for the help and recommendations + the welcomes. I will never turn down free advice especially when its coming from people who have been there and done that.

 

[kbuser92]

Sounds good. I think itll look great.

 

[Bifferwine]

You could put a small fish in -- like a goby -- and some shrimp. That's what I'd do.

 

[kbuser92]

Can you pm me a link to that tank and stand?

 

[little_fish]

On the heater, I have found that the tetra brand from walmart seems to be most reliable of the tiny heaters and its cheap too.

I think you should stick either just SPS or LPS and softies, the chemical warfare in such a small tank might prevent the SPS from doing well.

 

[Chain]

Yea if I go with any fish life it will almost definitely be a goby, maybe a helfrichi firefish or a small clown goby. Already have green and yellow clowns in two of my other tanks. Id love a bluespot jawfish but tank isn't large enough for him. Ill cross that bridge I suppose whenever I get to it. Ill be fine with no fish at all if thats what it comes to.

Heres the link to the tank Mr. Aqua Cube Frameless Low Iron Glass Aquarium Tank
Dont have one for the stand as she purchased it previously from some local store. Its not a designated aquarium stand so I may have to adapt my plans around it working or just build my own. It looks sturdy enough to hold the the aquarium but I won't know for sure until I can do a stress test.

Yea I was hoping to get a bit larger then 7.5 gallons, but I think your right as far as sticking to one type of coral. Probably go strictly sps with this. Might try some zoas and ricordae with them just to see how they do in such a small water volume, the 1 gallon HOB fuge will give me a little extra water volume to work with at least.

HMO Series
Thats the link to the heater I have for the tank. I use a few of the other finnex heaters in my sumps and I like them. The temp readout is really nice and has been accurate. The temp probe is kind of tight on some models, so if too much evap occurs and its left out in air then you might have a problem. I use aquacontrollers on my large tanks to prevent that from happening.