Jasonp87 pico tank

[jasonp87]

Well I've been on here a few months and haven't done a build thread so here goes. This is my fourth tank. I originally started with a 55 fowler then a 75 reef and then a 10 gallon reef for when I moved here from Colorado.

I am currently running an aqueon evolve 8 gallon all in one tank. I am using a different pump for the return than the one it comes with and I am using the stock pump as a power head in the tank. For lights I ditched the stock LEDs because of manufactures defects (they have now sent me two new ones in addition to the original one and they are all defective, consider this before buying the tank). I currently have a retrofitted 20k evo led spot light.

For livestock the tank has two clowns, a misbar and a snowflake as well as a tiny blue tang (when he gets bigger I'll need to trade him out), a peppermint shrimp, emerald crab and mostly zoas for corals. I just picked up some small sps frags from another member to see if I can be successful with them. There is also a good sized cabbage coral, an encrusting monti of some kind and a small rbta.

[50 cube]

Wow, that's a lot packed into an 8 gallon tank, would love to see pics!

[jasonp87]

http://i940.photobucket.com/albums/ad244/jasonp87/Uploads%20via%20Pixelpipe/EEDAF14E-D42E-46D0-A566-ECF135F7FADF.jpg

http://i940.photobucket.com/albums/ad244/jasonp87/Uploads%20via%20Pixelpipe/59A2E60E-28D5-4862-94AF-1E7E5B458B57.jpg

http://i940.photobucket.com/albums/ad244/jasonp87/Uploads%20via%20Pixelpipe/6CC7037A-24E7-41AC-8BDA-601A8136AB81.jpg

[jasonp87]

Wow, that's a lot packed into an 8 gallon tank, would love to see pics!

Was posting them as you were posting. :)

[50 cube]

Very cool tank ( but Still don't like the Broncos! )

[jasonp87]

Very cool tank ( but Still don't like the Broncos! )

Haha. That's ok. If you moved to Colorado I wouldn't expect you to change allegiances.

I have been trying to think of another fish to add the hugs the bottom of the tank. I have had two diamond watchmen gobies in other tanks in the past and they both jumped to their death. I could put the lid on but it stays cooler without it and temp is a problem with such a small tank to begin with. Any ideas? I would love another mandarin but I just don't have the food supply with such a small tank and no sump or fuge.

[50 cube]

How about a yellow watchman? There is always the urge for them to go carpet surfing. Mine once took the leap but I was able to save it! I lived in Denver for 7 years and used to bike down the platte river path. Would time my Sunday ride so I could give all the fans what for when they were crossing the path to get into invesco!

[jasonp87]

Cool. I lived south in Colorado Springs for 17 years.

I don't know why the gobies are such jumpers :( I like them but I also like not having a lid. It seems like I have to choose between one or the other. I saved my second diamond watchmen the first time but not the second. :(

[50 cube]

Yeah, it's a tough choice, every time something's jumps I swear I will put a top on mine but never get a round tuit!

[jasonp87]

Same here. I was thinking a scooter blenny and then realized I would have the same problem as with a mandarin.

[50 cube]

Yup, plus I have had 2 jump.

[jasonp87]

Anyone have any suggestions on how I could set up an ato on this tank? I have thought about putting a hole in the wall to go into the closet behind the tank but it's an apartment do it would have to be a small hole. Luckily there is a hole that was supposed to contain an electrical socket an it is covered by a blank socket panel. I could use that hole to go into the closet and just reinstall the cover when I move. I was thinking I could just put anothe cover opposite of it in the closet.

[50 cube]

That's what I did, holes can be patched.

[unbereefable]

Use the holes that are already there. One thing to think about on a tank this small, if you have a failure with the ato, water will be everywhere quickly. I use the Tunze osmolater. It is pricey, but it works awesomely well. Seems it might be easier to add, Im guessing about 1/2 gal, water daily by hand.

[leonel619]

If you don't mind having a lid on your tank then you won't even need an ATO. You can make one out of acrylic and you'll only have to top off maybe once a week.

[jasonp87]

I'm losing to much water even with the lid. I'm having to use a fan to keep the water from getting too hot and that is causing more evap. I have been adding by hand but I forget to do it too much. I'll have to check out the tunze.

[davocean]

Cool little nano.
Yeah, I would definitely stay w/ out the lid, or go w/ the birdnet lid if you do, and sounds like the outlet opening would be best for an ato.
I've been seeing those micro tangs around lately, like dime size, but that probably won't last very long, cool for now though.
I think those red headed gobies stay pretty small, would be cool.

[Esco reef]

Nice pico !!!

Sent from my SGH-T959 using Tapatalk 2

[jasonp87]

Well my older clown jumped ship last night so I am going to have to go with a lid now and just try other ways to keep the water cool.

I got the tang from Petco by my house and have been really happy with him. No disease and very happy. He is eating everything from nori to flakes. He will be a great aclimated fish for someone else when he out grows my tank so if anyone is interested just let me know and when he is ready he will be yours.

I'll have to look for the red headed goby. I have seen the Catalina gobies but those like cooler where than everything else.

I went ahead and broke through the other side of the wall and just kept the hole as small as possible.

[jasonp87]

Any ideas on keeping ph up? I am using aqua vitro 8.4 conditioner on my top off water and my alk tests good but I can't seem to keep the ph up. It is always going down to around 7.8 instead of the 8.3 I'm shooting for. I try to be careful about not over feeding so I'm not really sure what is going on with it. Any ideas on bringing it up and keeping it there?