My DIY 4.5g Pico Vase Project
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- Thread starter ReefMP
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btkrausen
Fish Hoarder
Holy crap...that is awesome man. My buddies and I always joke about using like a 3gal tank into a reef, but never have done it.
Loving how you painted the back and made that overflow. Did you plumb that into your normal system? haha
Loving how you painted the back and made that overflow. Did you plumb that into your normal system? haha
Hyprviperx
Well-Known Member
that is sweeeeeeet.... great job on an outside the box build. fantastic
btkrausen
Fish Hoarder
But thats the best part about it, something like that doesn't cost hundreds of dollars to buy another if something goes wrong.
juicemonkey
Active Member
Speechless!!!!!!!!!!!
OP
OP
ReefMP
Active Member
Thanks for the kind words everyone. It was a cool mini project that allowed me to think outside the box and I didn't have to worry too much about breaking things and running up the cost. I had some other ideas but got lazy 1/2 way through the build, maybe one of these days I'll add some improvements. The most expensive thing was the BoostLED bulb at $70, all other materials cost me under $50. LR and and frags came from my main tank. The anemone was a split off the one in my main tank too.
Yeah, it's plumbed into my main 55g sump which makes for easy maintenance, I just have to clean the glass once a week:
The vase sits on my basement bar, here's a pic of both tanks...it's an old pic, I've changed the vase a bit since.
Yeah, it's plumbed into my main 55g sump which makes for easy maintenance, I just have to clean the glass once a week:
The vase sits on my basement bar, here's a pic of both tanks...it's an old pic, I've changed the vase a bit since.
sprinklerdudes
Valuable Member
thats pretty slick on the overflow and return, real top notch job on the mini even the aquascaping is pretty cool
btkrausen
Fish Hoarder
Thats just awesome man, what a great idea. Got me thinking about wanting to do one now, but not sure where I'd keep it, haha.
I wonder if you could do this and then just do like a gallon water change each week and be fine?
I wonder if you could do this and then just do like a gallon water change each week and be fine?
btkrausen
Fish Hoarder
sprinklerdudes
Valuable Member
Lowes had some of those bulbs and they where around $65 plus tax, they had a few that where in the $80+ range as well,
lps1212
5000 Club Member
I have seen one of these pico tanks similar to yours in action and gotta say when stocked rght look real nice but one thing is certain u have to be very picky with corals 1 should only put gems in there goodluck with yours looks very nice more pics por favor :bigsmile:
kingfisherfleshy
Well-Known Member
Man, the light on that thing is harsh.
Sweet build though, and +1 to the scared about drilling...especially on a round edge like that. Holy smokes...I thought I was a chicken not wanting to drill a 125g. Like Bt said....at least cost of replacement wouldnt be bad.
Im not sure if its just the picture, but the lighting on that tank is so intense it almost looks like a washed out B&W photo. Still kinda rad though.
Sweet build though, and +1 to the scared about drilling...especially on a round edge like that. Holy smokes...I thought I was a chicken not wanting to drill a 125g. Like Bt said....at least cost of replacement wouldnt be bad.
Im not sure if its just the picture, but the lighting on that tank is so intense it almost looks like a washed out B&W photo. Still kinda rad though.
OP
OP
ReefMP
Active Member
Thank you, yeah I wanted it to be very clean looking, no visible overflow/return, PH, heater, etc. I modified the pump off a Aqueon10 HOB filter that I'm using as a PH in there, it's hidden but I could still see the wire...if I had gone with my original plan even that would have been hidden but I got lazy
If you do a search on Pico Vase on youtube, you'll see some even smaller stand-alone ones from Brandon. He does regular almost 100% water changes....but that's too much work for me
It's a PAR30 bulb from BoostLED
I've seen the ones at Lowes, not sure it's the same spectrum LEDs
Thanks, I don't have a build thread here but I have a thread with a few pics taken the beginning of the year, here's a link:
https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/member-tanks/55163-my-mixed-reef.html
I like them, my original plan was to build one just to test out LEDs, but I think I'm keeping this one. I think I'll fill it up with zoas.
The light is strong no doubt about it but because it's mostly Actinics (4xblue, 1xwhite LEDs) makes it difficult to take pics but it looks great in person. I also have a 3xb, 2xw LED, I get better pics and growth with this bulb but it doesn't looks as great in person...trade off I guess.
Man, I'm really thinking about trying something like this
The vase cost me $12 at the local AJ right....unfortunately it was the only one they had in stock and I've stopped by there a few times since because a few people have asked, but they didn't bring in any more this size. You could try a store like Target, "Bed, Bath and Beyond", or Home Goods if you have these in your area.
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