Pico - 2 Gallon Reef Vase

[ApoIsland]

For the last 10 years I have had a 120g mixed lps/sps reef and recently decided to try my hand at a pico.

Equipment
1) I ordered a couple cylindrical 2 gallon vase(7'' diameter and 12'' height) plus lid for about $50 each.
2) For the lights I went with the ABI 12W Par38 Tuna Blue for $25 plus flex holder w/clamp for another $30.
3) Heater is Aqueon preset 100W $11
4) Airpump is Alon USB $10
5) Pico magnet cleaner is a KASAN algae scraper for $11

All in for under $200. Could have been all in for under $150 if I would not have doubled up on the vases.

Corals will just be a few junk frags coming from the main tank so I won't be super disappointed if everything is dead in a month.
1) 4 diff types of zoas growing out of control in the 120g (not sure about names)
2) baby fungia
3) green hammer coral
4) green frogspawn
5) Orange leptastrea
6) Easter egg chalice
7) Birthday cake favia
8) Purple birdsnest
9) Green/blue birdsnest
10) Red monti


Inverts
1) 1 snail (need advice on which one to get please)
2) 1 hermit crab
3) 1 coral banded shrimp


Questions for the seasoned pico vets here:

1) The light seems very blue and I noticed ABI also sells a blue/white combo light. Has anyone tried that one and is it able to keep coral alive as well?
2) How high do you mount the light above the top of the lid?
3) Will just one of those air pumps on it's own be enough to provide adequate flow?
4) Any suggestions for a smaller submersible heater option? The one I just got is 6'' long and about 1'' diameter which isn't horribly big but does make the rock scape stick out an extra inch in an already cramped space.
5) would love suggestions on the simplest way to feed these corals. I have never dosed or specifically fed corals in the main tank so I'm completely ignorant to the subject. plan to do weekly 80% water changes on the pico. Probably drop some pieces of frozen mysis in a couple times a week for the shrimp and crab. I don't imagine that will be enough to feed the corals and will not have fish in the tank.

I'll post some pics when I get everything assembled.

Thanks in advance to everyone who participates/provides guidance.

 

[ApoIsland]

Glued the rock formation together this morning. Had enough pieces for two formations so thinking of doing two pico tanks since equip is so minimal and cheap.

 

[40g Nano]

Those look amazing

 

[Brandon3152134]

Absolutely love the hard scape

 

[92Miata]

Aquatop makes a 15w pre-set one - it isn't much smaller though - 3/4 x 7/8 x 5 3/8 inches.


100w is definitely way too much though.

 

[ApoIsland]

Aquatop makes a 15w pre-set one - it isn't much smaller though - 3/4 x 7/8 x 5 3/8 inches.


100w is definitely way too much though.

Thanks for the input. I'll give that heater a look. Filled the vase with fresh water to test the 100w heater and it seems to be working fine. Temp stays between 77.5 and 79. The "on" indicator light doesn't seem to click on for more than a minute at a time. Probably doesn't take long to heat only 2 gal.

 

[ApoIsland]

Those look amazing

Thanks. I couldn't decide which I liked better so just ordered another set of lights/pump for a second vase so I can use them both

 

[ApoIsland]

Since I have decided to start two vases I was thinking of doing some type of experiment with the two. Any suggestions?

Original thought was to start one with bottled bac and one with a few pieces of live rock rubble from my main tank to see if there is any discernable difference.

 

[Eric R.]

@ApoIsland Any update on the vases?

 

[ApoIsland]

@ApoIsland Any update on the vases?

Thanks for checking in. I really want to say yes to this soon. I have everything I need just need to add water. A couple issues holding me back:

1) having a hard time getting motivated to do the inevitable weekly water changes. Currently do a water change once every 4-6 weeks on the 120 and also the 16g quarantine tank.

2) I do enjoy the occasional date so I’m afraid I will look like a psychopath if I have the 120g main, 16g quarantine and two little reef vases at the same time. Really need to get rid of the quarantine tank. Just hard to say bye to that one as it has served me so well for so any years.

 

[LegendaryCG]

Looks great, im using a 25w heater on a 20g tank and can maintain 78 degrees. Ambient temp is like 70

 

[LBReefer]

Glued the rock formation together this morning. Had enough pieces for two formations so thinking of doing two pico tanks since equip is so minimal and cheap.

That's really impressive. Do you have an artistic background?

 

[LegendaryCG]

btw you can get a heat pad they use for plants and set your vase on top of it. Saves a lot of room in those little tanks, just get a heat controller to work with it.

 

[ApoIsland]

That's really impressive. Do you have an artistic background?

Thank you but no I don’t. Maybe numbers artist could be a new term for accountant.

 

[ApoIsland]

btw you can get a heat pad they use for plants and set your vase on top of it. Saves a lot of room in those little tanks, just get a heat controller to work with it.

This is brilliant. I will go this route for sure as I lose 1 inch in an already small jar due to the heater placement. Living up to your name with a legendary suggestion . Thank you!

Can you possibly suggest brands/models?

 

[Brand00995576]

Those tanks being so small I'd drill 2 holes and make one an overflow and one like a 50 gph return from the 120. That would save alot of space and equipment.

 

[LegendaryCG]

This is brilliant. I will go this route for sure as I lose 1 inch in an already small jar due to the heater placement. Living up to your name with a legendary suggestion . Thank you!

Can you possibly suggest brands/models?

I used a vivosun and riogoo. They usually have models that have a heat controller already included but you could easily replace it with any aquarium controller.

 

[ApoIsland]

Finally set these vases up this week. Just zoas for now.
Jar on the left is hours old. Jar on the right is almost a week old.

 

[ApoIsland]

Planning to do a once per week nearly 90% water change. Thinking of using 50% new water and 50% water from my 120g so there is some nutrients for the zoas. Someone in the local club suggested I add a small pinch of reef roids a few hours before the water change so may do that as well.

Still trying to figure out what to do about a good algae eating snail...

 

[ApoIsland]

Weekly update #2. Performed 90% water change on Sunday 08/15.

Vase #1 on the right has been up for 2 weeks and has a diatom bloom in full effect. I suppose that is to be expected as half the water comes from my display tank and always seems to get a good diatom dusting every few days. Sand bed is an ugly disaster in this tank already.

Vase #2 on the left up for 1 week. Added a juvenile Jewel Damsel to this vase which appears to be a pretty good algae eater.

Still trying to come up with a snail/hermit crab plan for algae control as the damsel will obviously not be a long term solution. Leaning more towards snails as I don't want the hermits crawling all over zoas.