Pico 5 gallon (Build Thread)

[lordofthecoconuts]

Hey everyone! 5 months into my first tank now and figured I'd track the progress :) It's a marineland 5 gallon portrait tank with an AI prime light, a vivosun 240 gph pump and a spinstream nozzle. So far still trying to dial everything in since there's a few corals that don't seem all too happy. I had a wave maker in there for a while but just recently removed it since I'm thinking it was too much flow and took up too much space.. seems like there's not a lot on the market for tanks this size. Nitrates have been reading 0 for a while even with the introduction of this little clownfish, so might have to stock it a bit more. Anyway, I'm new to the hobby and never thought it'd suck me in enough to post on forums yet here we are Any and all advice is greatly appreciated!!

 

[CoastieCorals]

Nice tank! I like the Montipora Cap!

 

[lordofthecoconuts]

Nice tank! I like the Montipora Cap!

Thank you! That and the utter chaos zoas are about the only things that stay consistently open :)

 

[CoastieCorals]

Nice tank! I like the Montipora Cap!

Thank you! That and the utter chaos zoas are about the only things that stay consistently open :)

I’m thinking about adding a Monti Cap in my tank soon. Any advice?

 

[lordofthecoconuts]

Nice tank! I like the Montipora Cap!

Thank you! That and the utter chaos zoas are about the only things that stay consistently open :)

I’m thinking about adding a Monti Cap in my tank soon. Any advice?

Man I keep mine at around 150 par max with moderate flow. My hana checker always reads my nitrates at 0 which I’ve been told is bad for most corals but this one seems to not mind very much. Overall it’s been super resilient for me I say go for it!

 

[Bartanto]

If the monti closes we’re in trouble - ha. Cool tank! Are those pods on the glass? That would be cool.

 

[JumboShrimp]

Wow, you're doing a lot with a little, if that's only a 5-gallon tank. Great job!

 

[lordofthecoconuts]

If the monti closes we’re in trouble - ha. Cool tank! Are those pods on the glass? That would be cool.

True! Thank you and yup! Those are indeed pods.. got a ton of them. Pretty funny to see the clown go after them to just spit em out

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Always love seeing what people do with small tanks! Thanks for sharing!

 

[lordofthecoconuts]

Wow, you're doing a lot with a little, if that's only a 5-gallon tank. Great job!

Thank you!! Yeah I can’t deny i’ve become obsessed haha. The lack of real estate makes it interesting, especially with the “portrait” dimensions. Now i’m pulling my hair trynna figure out flow. I feel like the wave maker I had was too much but also now I’m noticing some dead spots with the spin stream nozzle. Anyone know of a happy medium with a tank this size?

 

[CoastieCorals]

Nice tank! I like the Montipora Cap!

Thank you! That and the utter chaos zoas are about the only things that stay consistently open :)

I’m thinking about adding a Monti Cap in my tank soon. Any advice?

Man I keep mine at around 150 par max with moderate flow. My hana checker always reads my nitrates at 0 which I’ve been told is bad for most corals but this one seems to not mind very much. Overall it’s been super resilient for me I say go for it!

Thanks!

 

[lordofthecoconuts]

Always love seeing what people do with small tanks! Thanks for sharing!

Of course! I’ll keep you guys posted as this thing progresses. Trying to figure out what to do with the top section of it :)

 

[lordofthecoconuts]

Nice tank! I like the Montipora Cap!

Thank you! That and the utter chaos zoas are about the only things that stay consistently open :)

I’m thinking about adding a Monti Cap in my tank soon. Any advice?

Man I keep mine at around 150 par max with moderate flow. My hana checker always reads my nitrates at 0 which I’ve been told is bad for most corals but this one seems to not mind very much. Overall it’s been super resilient for me I say go for it!

Thanks!

You bet!

 

[mosreef]

Your aquascape is beautiful! And I love that fox coral! Well done

 

[Bartanto]

Thank you!! Yeah I can’t deny i’ve become obsessed haha. The lack of real estate makes it interesting, especially with the “portrait” dimensions. Now i’m pulling my hair trynna figure out flow. I feel like the wave maker I had was too much but also now I’m noticing some dead spots with the spin stream nozzle. Anyone know of a happy medium with a tank this size?

You would likely benefit from more flow - either now or later. Maybe something super small on that lower right side? Would a Nero 3 fit? You could consider splitting the return and cranking the pump. What are the back wall dims?

 

[lordofthecoconuts]

Your aquascape is beautiful! And I love that fox coral! Well done

Thank you! Aquascape took a lot of time and cement that’s for sure. Can’t wait for it to get some coraline! Fox coral is another one that’s always happy and now it’s got a sexy shrimp that calls it home :)

 

[lordofthecoconuts]

Thank you!! Yeah I can’t deny i’ve become obsessed haha. The lack of real estate makes it interesting, especially with the “portrait” dimensions. Now i’m pulling my hair trynna figure out flow. I feel like the wave maker I had was too much but also now I’m noticing some dead spots with the spin stream nozzle. Anyone know of a happy medium with a tank this size?

You would likely benefit from more flow - either now or later. Maybe something super small on that lower right side? Would a Nero 3 fit? You could consider splitting the return and cranking the pump. What are the back wall dims?

Absolutely agree. I had a jebao sow-3 and even that was too powerful.. i ended up having to cut the prop to about half the original size with a dremel and used it like that for a while but a) took up too much space and b) the little clown had a really hard time staying in place :\. Also very limited in space around the tank as well since it’s actually sitting in a bookshelf I built out of crates.. like i said i’ve had to get very creative with this Back wall is 1.75”. I upgraded the stock pump to a vivosun that pushes 240 gph but the spinstream nozzle reduces the flow a lot. I like the idea of splitting it.. I just ordered a rfg nozzle and some loc-line so i’ll try that out in about a week and let you guys know. Anyway thank you for the advice I truly appreciate it!!

 

[AlyciaMarie]

Looking great, friend!

 

[lordofthecoconuts]

Looking great, friend!

Thanks! :)

 

[Indiana Reefin]

Very nice! Looks a lot bigger than 5 gallons! You scapes it well!