New Pico Tank Recommendations

[Snow Capped Reefer]

Hey guys, new to the forum and setting up a Eshopp Deskmate tomorrow. What basic corals would you guys recommend a pico tank?

 

[Spare time]

Depends. Is this your first tank?

 

[Snow Capped Reefer]

No, this is the second tank I’ve had.

 

[WalkerLoves_TheOcean]

No, this is the second tank I’ve had.

Are you cycling it? It sounds like you are going to add water and then go get coral right away...

 

[Spare time]

No, this is the second tank I’ve had.

I think anything that isn't super fast growing, encrusting, or plating would be a good idea.

 

[Snow Capped Reefer]

Are you cycling it? It sounds like you are going to add water and then go get coral right away...

I was thinking about doing so but I’ve never tried that method before so I’ll probably be patient and play the waiting game.

 

[WalkerLoves_TheOcean]

I was thinking about doing so but I’ve never tried that method before so I’ll probably be patient and play the waiting game.

With such a small tank, parameters are going to flucuate like crazy, so you really have to have a stable tank before adding some corals. Is it 4.8G?

 

[Snow Capped Reefer]

Yes it’s the 4.8 Deskmate. I’ve had multiple people in Colorado tell me that they cycle their tanks with coral in them and that it’s actually beneficial to the tank. I think reef builders sort of made this a thing a few years back but I’ll probably wait to add anything to the new tank.

 

[WalkerLoves_TheOcean]

Yes it’s the 4.8 Deskmate. I’ve had multiple people in Colorado tell me that they cycle their tanks with coral in them and that it’s actually beneficial to the tank. I think reef builders sort of made this a thing a few years back but I’ll probably wait to add anything to the new tank.

I don't see how it would be beneficial... Maybe by taking nitrates out of the water...?

 

[coralboi56]

Hey guys, new to the forum and setting up a Eshopp Deskmate tomorrow. What basic corals would you guys recommend a pico tank?

Since flow is gonna be hard, I recommend xenia, gsp, and zoas

 

[Snow Capped Reefer]

Since flow is gonna be hard, I recommend xenia, gsp, and zoas

Since flow is gonna be hard, I recommend xenia, gsp, and zoas

Since flow is gonna be hard, I recommend xenia, gsp, and zoas

I ordered a sicce pump that fits in the tank to up the flow as well as a random flow generator that is made for the Deskmate. From what I’ve read and seen on YouTube it’s the way to go to maximize flow.

 

[Snow Capped Reefer]

I don't see how it would be beneficial... Maybe by taking nitrates out of the water...?

How to Cycle a Reef Aquarium Right Away - With Corals First | Reef Builders | The Reef and Saltwater Aquarium Blog

Forever and a day we have been schooled in how to set up and cycle an aquarium. Set it up, wet it, add bacteria, test, add fish, test again, and then eventually add corals. But here at Reef Builders…

reefbuilders.com

 

[WalkerLoves_TheOcean]

How to Cycle a Reef Aquarium Right Away - With Corals First | Reef Builders | The Reef and Saltwater Aquarium Blog

Forever and a day we have been schooled in how to set up and cycle an aquarium. Set it up, wet it, add bacteria, test, add fish, test again, and then eventually add corals. But here at Reef Builders…

reefbuilders.com

Hmm... Interesting. I guess I never thought of it that way...

 

[Snow Capped Reefer]

Yeah, I’m still to new to the hobby to say it works but the theory they’re running off of seems sound enough. I did with my first tank and didn’t have a problem.

 

[VintageReefer]

1.1g pico here, water, sand, rock added Feb 7

Skipped cycle - due to the very small volume, I was able to take a few cups of sand from the sump of my 75g display. It was very dirty so I rinsed and stirred each cup of sand over and over until the water was clear before adding it. This is the rip clean method from Brandon429

One piece of tonga branch was taken from my 75g. One piece of new dry base rock was rinsed and added. Water is 50% from my 75g and 50% new

All corals added feb 7 and Feb 8. Two Hermits added Feb 9 and a small nassarius snail

And the Duncan colony is from my 75g, it started getting picked on by a fish a few days ago and stopped opening from stress. I had to relocate it yesterday. It’s still stressed from being nipped but it’s starting to come out today.

Bacteria came from: each corals plug, the sand and water I transferred, the piece of tonga branch, and I keep matrix media in a bag in my 75g sump, I took a handful out and put in the picos media chamber rack.

 

[Snow Capped Reefer]

1.1g pico here, water, sand, rock added Feb 7

Skipped cycle - due to the very small volume, I was able to take a few cups of sand from the sump of my 75g display. It was very dirty so I rinsed and stirred each cup of sand over and over until the water was clear before adding it. This is the rip clean method from Brandon429

One piece of tonga branch was taken from my 75g. One piece of new dry base rock was rinsed and added. Water is 50% from my 75g and 50% new

All corals added feb 7 and Feb 8. Two Hermits added Feb 9 and a small nassarius snail

And the Duncan colony is from my 75g, it started getting picked on by a fish a few days ago and stopped opening from stress. I had to relocate it yesterday. It’s still stressed from being nipped but it’s starting to come out today.

Bacteria came from: each corals plug, the sand and water I transferred, the piece of tonga branch, and I keep matrix media in a bag in my 75g sump, I took a handful out and put in the picos media chamber rack.

Thanks for sharing, everything looks super happy!

 

[VintageReefer]

Thanks for sharing, everything looks super happy!

Your welcome! The only thing I questioned was the torch. In my 75 my torches grow fast, 5-6 heads a year. But this purple one I bought online and was disappointed when I saw how tiny it was and it has basically no stem. I figured it would be good for the pico and so far it happy and open. If it gets too big I’ll move it back to the 75g

 

[Snow Capped Reefer]

Yeah I bet that, should be good as long as it can’t mess with any of your other corals in the tank.

 

[Spare time]

I was thinking about doing so but I’ve never tried that method before so I’ll probably be patient and play the waiting game.

You can add corals right away. I've done it. Just make sure to feed them.

 

[VintageReefer]

For pico tank my strategy is to avoid adding anything that needs to be fed regularly. Both our tanks are small, but mine is only a gallon, so there isn’t a lot of water to buffer any pollutants.