2.5 Gallon Pico Build

[Ethan789987]

Hello! I have been a long-time lurker, but this will be my first post here!

I’ve wanted to put together a bedside pico for a while, and now I have finally had the chance

This tank is sitting on my nightstand, and I plan to fill it with "higher-end" zoas and mushrooms, a blue-legged hermit, and a snail (NO FISH). I may look at Sexy Shrimp later down the line. My 13.5 is full of corals I just grabbed because they were cheap, and I want to be more deliberate with this tank, only adding corals I really like, with a ton of color.

​

Current equipment:

• 2.5-gallon rimless NICREW tank
• Fluval AC20 HOB running filter floss and live rock rubble
• 15W mini heater
• NICREW clip-on reef light
• Useek ATO (Use one on my 13.5 and it works great)

Planned additions:

• Temperature controller
• DIY polycarbonate lid
• 3D-printed media basket for the AC20 for better media organization
• Possibly a better light, though I think this budget light will be fine for softies.

I'm hoping the AC20 will provide enough flow for everything

Aquascape:

I am using excess dry rock from my 13.5 and some that I had removed and thoroughly cleaned, though it still has some algae staining. I tried to stay at least 1" from all sides of the glass. Trying to build an aquascape in such a small tank turned out to be a challenge, but I am pretty happy with the results!

I would like to fill the back wall with GSP at some point, but I am not sure. I don't want it making its way to the main rockwork at some point, but I love the effect it gives on the back glass.

Cycling:

I was originally planning to do my cycle with Dr. Tims, but instead opted to grab some "live" rock from the LFS. I didn't want to use any rock from my 13.5 to avoid transferring anything over. I broke it down into rubble and am running it in the HOB as well as some filter floss. Once I print my media basket, it will look much better. I'm hoping this rock is "live" enough to seed my tank, so we shall see. I dosed four drops of Dr. Tims Ammonium Chloride, shooting for .5ppm of ammonia. Hopefully we see a test of 0 soon. Once we stabilize at 0, I will dose once more and test after 24 hours. If all is good, I will be introducing galaxy pods and some phyto from AlgaeBarn to build some biodiversity in the early stages. I'm hoping in doing this, I will avoid a portion of the ugly stages and issues that plagued my 13.5 in the beginning. I plan to take things very slow and easy with this tank. I will be cycling without any light.

Maintenance:

Here is where I start having questions. It would be fairly easy for me to do a couple of large water changes each week to keep this tank pristine, but after dealing with Dinos in the past, I am uneasy about it. I have read that a lot of pico keepers do it with great success, and some say they keep water changes minimal. So I just want to know how others keep their nutrients balanced in their pico?

If anyone out there has any comments or advice for me, it would be much appreciated! I will keep the thread updated as I move through the process.

Thanks!

 

[Baldyreef]

Hello! I have been a long-time lurker, but this will be my first post here!

I’ve wanted to put together a bedside pico for a while, and now I have finally had the chance

This tank is sitting on my nightstand, and I plan to fill it with "higher-end" zoas and mushrooms, a blue-legged hermit, and a snail (NO FISH). I may look at Sexy Shrimp later down the line. My 13.5 is full of corals I just grabbed because they were cheap, and I want to be more deliberate with this tank, only adding corals I really like, with a ton of color.

​

Current equipment:

• 2.5-gallon rimless NICREW tank
• Fluval AC20 HOB running filter floss and live rock rubble
• 15W mini heater
• NICREW clip-on reef light
• Useek ATO (Use one on my 13.5 and it works great)

Planned additions:

• Temperature controller
• DIY polycarbonate lid
• 3D-printed media basket for the AC20 for better media organization
• Possibly a better light, though I think this budget light will be fine for softies.

I'm hoping the AC20 will provide enough flow for everything

Aquascape:

I am using excess dry rock from my 13.5 and some that I had removed and thoroughly cleaned, though it still has some algae staining. I tried to stay at least 1" from all sides of the glass. Trying to build an aquascape in such a small tank turned out to be a challenge, but I am pretty happy with the results!

I would like to fill the back wall with GSP at some point, but I am not sure. I don't want it making its way to the main rockwork at some point, but I love the effect it gives on the back glass.

Cycling:

I was originally planning to do my cycle with Dr. Tims, but instead opted to grab some "live" rock from the LFS. I didn't want to use any rock from my 13.5 to avoid transferring anything over. I broke it down into rubble and am running it in the HOB as well as some filter floss. Once I print my media basket, it will look much better. I'm hoping this rock is "live" enough to seed my tank, so we shall see. I dosed four drops of Dr. Tims Ammonium Chloride, shooting for .5ppm of ammonia. Hopefully we see a test of 0 soon. Once we stabilize at 0, I will dose once more and test after 24 hours. If all is good, I will be introducing galaxy pods and some phyto from AlgaeBarn to build some biodiversity in the early stages. I'm hoping in doing this, I will avoid a portion of the ugly stages and issues that plagued my 13.5 in the beginning. I plan to take things very slow and easy with this tank. I will be cycling without any light.

Maintenance:

Here is where I start having questions. It would be fairly easy for me to do a couple of large water changes each week to keep this tank pristine, but after dealing with Dinos in the past, I am uneasy about it. I have read that a lot of pico keepers do it with great success, and some say they keep water changes minimal. So I just want to know how others keep their nutrients balanced in their pico?

If anyone out there has any comments or advice for me, it would be much appreciated! I will keep the thread updated as I move through the process.

Thanks!

as someone who has kept pico tanks before (unfornutely I eventually broke them down) I would say get a glass or plexiglass lid, it does wonders for pico tanks and evaporation

 

[Ethan789987]

as someone who has kept pico tanks before (unfornutely I eventually broke them down) I would say get a glass or plexiglass lid, it does wonders for pico tanks and evaporation

That's the plan! I have some 1/8" plexiglass that I will be cutting down and fitting.

 

[Baldyreef]

as far as livestock I know you said no fish but if you do break and want to get one for the tank a neon goby or flaming prawn goby could be perfect, as far as corals I've found oddly enough that scolies thrive in small tanks, for zoa's I personally love my great owls which are on the higher end, they're hardy and grow pretty good same with burning embers zoas, Duncan's to pretty awesome in any tank in general as well, they grow very fast and add nice texture to any tank, as far as mushrooms I would recommend any kind of Yuma and especially rainbow Yuma's as they are at a okay price point and add very nice color while being peaceful and hardy, and for the higher end shrooms Godzilla's are nice and bright and og bounces are a timeless piece but both are best bought at a show or from another reefer, if you do end up getting sexy shrimp a rock flower anenome can host them and comes in all kinds of color combos.
sorry for so much to read

 

[PolypPocket]

Following, can’t wait to see how it progresses

 

[Ethan789987]

as far as livestock I know you said no fish but if you do break and want to get one for the tank a neon goby or flaming prawn goby could be perfect, as far as corals I've found oddly enough that scolies thrive in small tanks, for zoa's I personally love my great owls which are on the higher end, they're hardy and grow pretty good same with burning embers zoas, Duncan's to pretty awesome in any tank in general as well, they grow very fast and add nice texture to any tank, as far as mushrooms I would recommend any kind of Yuma and especially rainbow Yuma's as they are at a okay price point and add very nice color while being peaceful and hardy, and for the higher end shrooms Godzilla's are nice and bright and og bounces are a timeless piece but both are best bought at a show or from another reefer, if you do end up getting sexy shrimp a rock flower anenome can host them and comes in all kinds of color combos.
sorry for so much to read

I will keep those in mind! A Flaming Prawn Goby would look amazing. I actually have a rock flower and a yuma in my 13.5 that I might transfer over one day. I had never seen the Godzillas before but those colors are insane. I will put them on my list. Thanks for all of the tips!

 

[Fish Fan]

Looks like an awesome pico build!

I'm looking to do similar with some RFA's and Sexy Shrimp, I think those shrimp would look great in this sized tank.

Good luck!

 

[Ethan789987]

Looks like an awesome pico build!

I'm looking to do similar with some RFA's and Sexy Shrimp, I think those shrimp would look great in this sized tank.

Good luck!

Thank you!

I agree and hope to see how yours comes together!