Picotope 3g upgraded=10g

[somewhatshocked]

That's the perfect plan, as the stock light will be great on your AC70 refugium.

But about the PAR38 bulb... you may even find there are better/cheaper options for your specific tank that won't have to be mounted a foot + above the tank. Just be sure you shop around and browse through a bunch of the pico journals on Nano-Reef.

[Neatfish]

What's a good site to find a good reef light?

[somewhatshocked]

Your best bet is to browse through Nano-Reef.com for ideas. There are waaaaay too many to begin listing sites. Everything ranging from $20 to $2,000.

[Neatfish]

I'm still thinking of just doing a planted tank better it would be less of a headache.

[somewhatshocked]

Honestly, on a tank this small? You're gonna have the same amount of maintenance - if not more - in a planted tank.

Planted tank = trimming, fertilizing, monitoring parameters, top-offs.

Reef = water changes and top-offs, primarily. Along with supplemental feeding (depending upon what's living in the tank), occasional cleaning, monitoring parameters.

Originally Posted by Neatfish

I'm still thinking of just doing a planted tank better it would be less of a headache.

[Neatfish]

Your probably right. I'll just take it slow. Tested the ammonia it's at .5 and dropping.

[Neatfish]

Did a w/c today before the ammonia was at .5 now we wait. salinity is 1.024. I'm trying to make a lid for my pictope but it's not easy as it looks. Went to a hardware store they don't cut glass so I got a piece of acrylic and that tool to cut it but it's junk.

[Neatfish]

Some new pics and a quick video.





http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOzkd...ature=youtu.be

[somewhatshocked]

Looking nice so far!

Maybe you could add in some caulerpa and such so it will be a real planted tank.

I'm betting you're going to end up really loving the tank as it matures.

[Wicket_lfe]

Cutting acrylic is usually just scoring with a blade a few times, then breaking it off. It sounds "easy" but i always have a hard time with it. I have a dremel that i use to cut acrylic, but it tends to warp if you water is warm, unless its thicker acrylic.

Originally Posted by Neatfish

Did a w/c today before the ammonia was at .5 now we wait. salinity is 1.024. I'm trying to make a lid for my pictope but it's not easy as it looks. Went to a hardware store they don't cut glass so I got a piece of acrylic and that tool to cut it but it's junk.

[Neatfish]

I hear that stuff spreads like a weed and it's not a good idea. I'm going to keep looking online to see if somebody could build me a lid for it. I can't work with that stuff plus it scratches easy too.

[Neatfish]

Just ordered all this for my picotope

Item
AquaClear Power Filter 70 (300)
Hydrometer 1.000 to 1.030 specific gravity
Digital Thermometer 2-1/4" x 1-1/2"
Hydor Koralia Nano 240

[somewhatshocked]

In a small tank, I highly recommend you pick up a refractometer. They're about $25 on eBay and are invaluable for making certain your salinity is on-point. Hydrometers only help you get kind of close (frequently way off).

[Neatfish]

I read all the reviews on it before I bought it. I think it will do fine for now. This is the one I bought.

[somewhatshocked]

As long as you understand that it's less accurate than a refractometer, it'll be fine.

I still recommend that you pick one up as soon as you can swing it in your budget.