[Goodwood]

I have decide to scratch an itch that I have had for some time. I have been listening to a a few aquarium related podcasts while at work. On of the more stand-out topics was about vases and jars and I was forced to scratch that itch.

From what I have gathered, most pico reefers are allowed to skip dosing with frequent large water changes. The salt mix used is usually enough to supply corals with the required nutrients until the next water change. I already do weekly water changes and have an RODI unit, so the only change to the routine would entail preparing water before to match temp and salinity.

The tank is a Imagitarium 3.7 gallon All-in-one that has been setup as a small shrimp tank for the past few years. It was regularly neglected and recently exploded with hair algae, so I threw in the towel. I rehomed shrimp to my 12 long and carried on. The only things I had to do to to tun this marine was a stonger pump, add a heater, and light specifically for corals. I still need to hammer out the details to the light and will update soon. Currently cycling and monitoring its progress.

 

[minorhero]

Super interested! I totally failed at my one attempt at saltwater. So if you can make it work, and it be easy, it would be super cool to see. Are you thinking any love stock in there or just coral?

 

[Goodwood]

Super interested! I totally failed at my one attempt at saltwater. So if you can make it work, and it be easy, it would be super cool to see. Are you thinking any love stock in there or just coral?

I am hoping that it is as simple as I have heard. Keeping salinity stable and large water changes while keeping water parameters similar seem to be great obstacles. I hope for good things.

It would be rad to keep a small goby, but the main focus would be corals and a few invertebrates. So far the only organism that is definite is some Green Star Polyps. Had a forest of that in a 300 gallon reef as a youth and I remember it being mesmerizing to watch.

 

[zdrc]

I am hoping that it is as simple as I have heard. Keeping salinity stable and large water changes while keeping water parameters similar seem to be great obstacles. I hope for good things.

It would be rad to keep a small goby, but the main focus would be corals and a few invertebrates. So far the only organism that is definite is some Green Star Polyps. Had a forest of that in a 300 gallon reef as a youth and I remember it being mesmerizing to watch.

Shouldn't be too hard!

I have a 12 gallon nano reef that's almost a year old, and for a while I just did large water changes to dose and it worked OK. Recently I ran into a problem where my nutrients were too low from all the water changes + macroalgae growing in my tank, NO3 < 1ppm and PO4 ~ 0 ppm, and I start to develop dinoflagellates. I stopped doing water changes for a bit to let NO3 and PO4 creep back up, but my kH started to tank as a result. Lowest it got was about 5.7 deg, which is pretty dang low. I've started doing large weekly water changes again and dosing coral up to raise kH back up and neonitro and neophos to keep my nutrients from bottoming out despite the water changes. Despite all this instability my corals are doing great (some LPS, a chalice, and a couple softies.

I used maricultured live rock in my tank, and I super recommend it. I started reefing for the shear diversity of organisms and live rock will introduce an incomparable amount of diversity into the tank. I looks like you've already got some rock though. I like the aquascape as it is now.

I would greatly recommend an auto-top off to keep salinity in the tank stable. I have this one and I like it. Also, be sure to calibrate you're salinity measuring device regularly. I calibrate my refractometer with a 35 ppt standard every time I use it. They can lose calibration really fast if they experience any temp changes or knocks.

 

[Goodwood]

I would greatly recommend an auto-top off to keep salinity in the tank stable. I have this one and I like it. Also, be sure to calibrate you're salinity measuring device regularly. I calibrate my refractometer with a 35 ppt standard every time I use it. They can lose calibration really fast if they experience any temp changes or knocks.

Thank you for the suggestions! I have a lid for this tank and evaporation was minimal when this tank was setup as a shrimp tank and I dont want to dive head first into this quite yet. Once I grow a few corals I will check out some gadgets. The plan is to check water daily and add as necessary.

I was basically gifted live sand and "live" rock from my LFS. It happened as a "right place, right time" and also because I am a bit of a regular. I sort of just ran with it.

 

[zdrc]

Thank you for the suggestions! I have a lid for this tank and evaporation was minimal when this tank was setup as a shrimp tank and I dont want to dive head first into this quite yet. Once I grow a few corals I will check out some gadgets. The plan is to check water daily and add as necessary.

I was basically gifted live sand and "live" rock from my LFS. It happened as a "right place, right time" and also because I am a bit of a regular. I sort of just ran with it.

Sounds good, a tight fitting lid should work well for keeping the salinity stable. With tight fitting lids, I think you can develop problems with poorly oxygenated water causing higher than normal CO2 concentrations which push down the pH of the water, but I think this problem is a little overblown. I ran my tank with a tight fitting lid for months before I upgraded my light, and I had no problems.

It's had to beat free rock and sand, especially when I spent about $200 for just 10 lbs of live rock.

 

[Goodwood]

Got a light bulb that is reasonably priced. The ABI Tuna Blue 12w bulb is a PAR38 style bulb and seems to be a common choice amongst pico reefers. The picture makes it look completely blue, in person it looks totally different. I may have play around with an actual camera to get the color better.

 

[zdrc]

I believe they make clip-on orange filters for phone cameras that fix this.

 

[Goodwood]

Update thus far...

Evaporation has been minute during this season, about 1oz a day. We shall see what spring and summer are like. If I can make this work, I will most likely splurge and get an auto-top-off. The experiment..... continues.

I also had to replace the the replacement return pump because it was keeping the water at a toasty 84° and was hecka noisy.

Also... Corals!

Hoping to have a wall of Green-Star. Isolating to the back wall will help to keep it from taking over.

The coral shop near me was having a buy one, get one free sale. Everyone is opening up and looking great after a thorough "Dip"

 

[minorhero]

Update thus far...

Evaporation has been minute during this season, about 1oz a day. We shall see what spring and summer are like. If I can make this work, I will most likely splurge and get an auto-top-off. The experiment..... continues.

I also had to replace the the replacement return pump because it was keeping the water at a toasty 84° and was hecka noisy.

Also... Corals!
View attachment 1050983
Hoping to have a wall of Green-Star. Isolating to the back wall will help to keep it from taking over.
View attachment 1050984
View attachment 1050985
The coral shop near me was having a buy one, get one free sale. Everyone is opening up and looking great after a thorough "Dip"

Looking awesome!

 

[somewhatshocked]

the main focus would be corals and a few invertebrates.

Oooh, what kinda hermies are you going to have? Snails? Thoughts on smaller macro algae varieties?

Some nice branching coralline would be great in a tank like this. There are some pinkish-purple varieties that melt my brain every time I see them because they're so cool.

 

[Goodwood]

Oooh, what kinda hermies are you going to have? Snails? Thoughts on smaller macro algae varieties?

Some nice branching coralline would be great in a tank like this. There are some pinkish-purple varieties that melt my brain every time I see them because they're so cool.

Im thinking of one or two Blue legged hermits due to the size and/or some cerith snails also due to size. I have also been eyeing Sexy Shrimp, but they could eat some of the Zoanthids I plan to keep.... I would really like to keep the scale of this tank looking appropriate. A peppermint shrimp in here would look like Godzilla against everything else!

 

[somewhatshocked]

I have also been eyeing Sexy Shrimp, but they could eat some of the Zoanthids I plan to keep

Mine have eaten or murdered pretty much every zoa I've had with them and have harmed each other on occasion. Marine shrimp are true cleaners. If they can eat it? They will. But they're so colorful and active.

Hermits should work really well as long as you give them a metric ton of shells to go through. Could easily sprinkle a hundred or so in a tank like that and they wouldn't be a distraction - especially in the rear of the tank. Even my most jerk-y, fight-y hermits have been okay with each other as long as they have enough shells and some good hidey holes. Really wish there were freshwater versions.

 

[Goodwood]

Mine have eaten or murdered pretty much every zoa I've had with them and have harmed each other on occasion. Marine shrimp are true cleaners. If they can eat it? They will. But they're so colorful and active.

This could be the nail in the coffin I need to just stick with snails or crabs, but at this point I am still all over the place so, TBD. My somewhat local frag shop mentioned I could do a pistol shrimp/goby pair, so that is in the mix too.

Hermits should work really well as long as you give them a metric ton of shells to go through. Could easily sprinkle a hundred or so in a tank like that and they wouldn't be a distraction - especially in the rear of the tank. Even my most jerk-y, fight-y hermits have been okay with each other as long as they have enough shells and some good hidey holes. Really wish there were freshwater versions.

May have at least one hermit, still sort of leary about snails and hermits being tiny bulls in a micro china shop. I am having a hard time with commiting and gluing frags down, I have been moving them around quite a bit.

 

[zdrc]

This could be the nail in the coffin I need to just stick with snails or crabs, but at this point I am still all over the place so, TBD. My somewhat local frag shop mentioned I could do a pistol shrimp/goby pair, so that is in the mix too.

May have at least one hermit, still sort of leary about snails and hermits being tiny bulls in a micro china shop. I am having a hard time with commiting and gluing frags down, I have been moving them around quite a bit.

Pistol shrimp and goby pair could be cool. They will probably do some major excavating though which can be a pain if you're trying to keep any corals on the sand. I got a hitchhiker pistol shrimp on my live rock and he seems intent on moving all the sand to the back of the tank for some reason.

I have a scarlet hermit, and while he does knock a frag or two over every once in a while, it's not so bad. I have cerith, nassarius, and trochus snails and they never knock anything over. Don't get an urchin,I hear they have a real knack for making a mess.

 

[somewhatshocked]

This could be the nail in the coffin I need to just stick with snails or crabs, but at this point I am still all over the place so, TBD. My somewhat local frag shop mentioned I could do a pistol shrimp/goby pair, so that is in the mix too.

May have at least one hermit, still sort of leary about snails and hermits being tiny bulls in a micro china shop. I am having a hard time with commiting and gluing frags down, I have been moving them around quite a bit.

Keep in mind that in a tank this small, you can easily pull the entire rock mass out for a quick clean and 100% water change. In a way, it gives you an insane advantage over those with much larger tanks.

I don't think hermits and snails will do any damage. They're about the only thing I keep in salt and I usually have them in more numbers than most would ever consider. Like @zdrc suggests, it's other crawlies you have to be a bit concerned about in a tank that small. I'm confident having a few hermits and a few snails would work really well.

 

[Goodwood]

I appreciate the input! The last experience I have had with a reef tank was about 20 years ago and it was a 200 gallon, so there was tons of real estate. Moving frags into position with tweezers because your hand wont fit in the tank, or putting your hand in overflows the tank, is a challange.

Pistol shrimp and goby pair could be cool. They will probably do some major excavating though which can be a pain if you're trying to keep any corals on the sand. I got a hitchhiker pistol shrimp on my live rock and he seems intent on moving all the sand to the back of the tank for some reason

The only corals I have in the sand permanently is a little frag of Green Star in an attempt to grow it up the back wall.

 

[Goodwood]

I snagged a few more frags for this tank, I wanted to contrast to cooler colors a bit and throw in some yellow/red.

Leptoseris "Jack-o-Lantern"
The photo doesnt do this justice, it is very bright neon salmon color.

Mystery Ricordea

Zoanthid "Purple Hornet" this one is looking a little upset. The proprietor of my somewhat local frag shop had informed me that he just fragged these, so I am hoping it is just stressed.

I also am noticing a bit of red diatom/algae like growth on my rock and background. Tomorrow is water change day so we will scrub a wee bit.

 

[minorhero]

I snagged a few more frags for this tank, I wanted to contrast to cooler colors a bit and throw in some yellow/red.
View attachment 1051230
Leptoseris "Jack-o-Lantern"
The photo doesnt do this justice, it is very bright neon salmon color.
View attachment 1051232
Mystery Ricordea
View attachment 1051231
Zoanthid "Purple Hornet" this one is looking a little upset. The proprietor of my somewhat local frag shop had informed me that he just fragged these, so I am hoping it is just stressed.

I also am noticing a bit of red diatom/algae like growth on my rock and background. Tomorrow is water change day so we will scrub a wee bit.

Any updates with this tank? Seriously considering doing this as well. I am in initial negotiations with The Wife. Currently, The Wife is asking for rights to more cats after the current cats live out their natural life in exchange for a < 5 gallon tank. I would like rights to a 10 gallon tank if I want to expand to that size down the road.... Marriage is about compromise

BUT this is all premised on me being able to keep a pico tank looking good while enjoying the maintenance. How are you finding the maintenance routine on this tank?

 

[Goodwood]

I have been meaning to update this post. Everything is going quite well still. I have moved a few corals around due to lighting exposure. I have been digging deep into the reefing arena and have found that most reputable reefers suggest vaccuming the sand, if want it, to keep it from becoming a nutrient sink, so I have been doing that with water changes. Vaccuming and water changing 50% have basically been the only maintenance I am doing... along with cleaning the glass and top-off. The hardest part is mixing/dissolving salt and matching the temp before water change. No dosing, but you have to setup a water change beforehand. I feel like it is as easy as a planted tank so far.

I hope you can finangle a 10 gallon! I already am in process of finangling a 15 cube.... which I already bought and scaped (SHHHHH!)