Smitten

[Gumbies R Us]

The absolutely awesome thing about Picos is cleaning. Tools of the trade, it takes me 5 minutes to clean.

Once again N/P are 0. Sure to be expected with no fish or inverts, but i do add Roids and Ammonium. Changing it up, started extremely small doses of Nitrate and Microbactor7. No water change this week.

Zoanthids are growing like crazy. Toadstool as well. With no nutrients the Xenia is struggling, it will go back to the nano I guess.

That's one of my favorite parts about having a pico! Maintenance and cleaning are so easy.

 

[Tahoe61]

Day 44

Picked up this Urchin last week. Feeding Nori on a clip. I sure hope the Maxi-mini don't give it any trouble.
I have had a number of Maxi-mini over the years and never had an issue with them eating fish or inverts.
Ordered a Hippopus from BRS, should be here Tuesday, I am so excited.
From Boom Corals I ordered King Midas and Utter Chaos Zoanthids, Forest Fire Digitata and 24k Lepto. That should fill up some space.
Dosing NeoNitro, Microbactor7 and AFR.
There is only corals in this tank, no snails or hermits. Hopefully once I add some inverts and a small fish the N/P values will go up.

 

[Tahoe61]

The quarantine tank for the Pico. Every thing goes in here 1st. It's an IM 14 peninsula, with the Bubble Magus, Hygger wavemaker and Viparspectra 165w, Tunze Nano ATO. Added more rock last week. Started it late November 2024. Both the Royal Gramma and Neon Goby reside here with a Coral Banded Shrimp.
Corals go here for observation. After introducing Aiptasia to my 45 JBJ display a couple yrs ago I decided i needed a QT tank. :)

 

[Tahoe61]

Absolutely!!!

Finally a Hippopus. Open Open.

I wish I knew the ID on these Zoanthids. Browned out Petco special i guess.

No FTS on a tank 7 inches deep.

 

[Tahoe61]

Hippopus is open. You can barely see the blue spots on the upper margins of the mantle. The coloration will become more pronounced. The Gold Maximas went on sale at BRS. I could not pass that up.

Alk 8
Ca 380
SG 1.026
Mag 1320
Phosphates not detected on Salifert.
Nitrates still not showing up.

NeoNitro 1ml QD
Microbactor7 1ml QD
AFR maintenance dose 2.5 ml
Roids small amount every other day.
One gallon water change weekly.

 

[dansyr]

Hippopus is open. You can barely see the blue spots on the upper margins of the mantle. The coloration will become more pronounced. The Gold Maximas went on sale at BRS. I could not pass that up.

Alk 8
Ca 380
SG 1.026
Mag 1320
Phosphates not detected on Salifert.
Nitrates still not showing up.

NeoNitro 1ml QD
Microbactor7 1ml QD
AFR maintenance dose 2.5 ml
Roids small amount every other day.
One gallon water change weekly.

Congrats on landing a hippopus! Best clam ever and yours looks like a nice one. Is that some hints of green in the bottom-left, kind of near the shell?

 

[Tahoe61]

Congrats on landing a hippopus! Best clam ever and yours looks like a nice one. Is that some hints of green in the bottom-left, kind of near the shell?

Thank you! Yes on the green. Right now it's somewhat olive. My older one turned a nice darker blue/green with age.
The clam moved very little the 1st night found it's spot.
Maxima arrives today. I am going stick it right up on rock. Briefly dial down the lighting for acclimation and hope it goes smoothly. If it does jump it's only an inch,
Lol.

:-)

 

[dansyr]

Thank you! Yes on the green. Right now it's somewhat olive. My older one turned a nice darker blue/green with age.
The clam moved very little the 1st night found it's spot.
Maxima arrives today. I am going stick it right up on rock. Briefly dial down the lighting for acclimation and hope it goes smoothly. If it does jump it's only an inch,
Lol.

:)

This is the perk of shallow tanks right? Cheap lighting, dry sleeves, and short fall distances for clams. What more could you ask for???

 

[Tahoe61]

This is the perk of shallow tanks right? Cheap lighting, dry sleeves, and short fall distances for clams. What more could you ask for???

I REALLY love this tank. It's different I know
It's coming along, more corals next week. Before I always just threw a tank together, no long term plans. I got my ducks in a row. Now to keep them lined up.

 

[Tahoe61]

It's little, but it appears healthy. Lucky it wasn't cold. That's a nice change. I should probably get some Phytoplankton, just ran out.

 

[Tahoe61]

The Maxima clam hasn't moved. The Hippos wanted more light so it moved up directly under light. The Hippos looks nice nestled in the Maxi-mini Anemones. Increased the fixture to 60%.
The rocks should start to color up next month.

Continue with AFR 5 ml. NeoNitro 1.5 ml, Microbactor7 1.5 ml. Reef Roids every other day. Weekly water change 1 gal.
Alk 8
Calcium 420
Mag 1320
Nitrate 5ppm
Phosphate 0.0
Sg.1.025

I know I am going to have to hook up the doser soon. Consumption is increasing as expected with the introduction of clams.

:)

 

[Tahoe61]

Coming up on 2 months. Still a very young tank. Only 2 more goal pieces and I am done stocking. Awaiting a Blue Maxima and Hawkins Enchinata.
Sps, Forest Fire Digitata, and 24k lepto added. Both acclimated really well.

Utter Chaos and King Midas Zoanthids.

Turned lighting back down to 50%.
I was pleasantly surprised they make chillers for Pico and Nanos. There is one that's white and rated for 7.9 gallons, that will be perfect.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Coming up on 2 months. Still a very young tank. Only 2 more goal pieces and I am done stocking. Awaiting a Blue Maxima and Hawkins Enchinata.
Sps, Forest Fire Digitata, and 24k lepto added. Both acclimated really well.

Utter Chaos and King Midas Zoanthids.

Turned lighting back down to 50%.
I was pleasantly surprised they make chillers for Pico and Nanos. There is one that's white and rated for 7.9 gallons, that will be perfect.

Your tank is looking amazing for only having it for 2 months!

 

[Tahoe61]

Your tank is looking amazing for only having it for 2 months!

Thank you!!!! The rocks need to turn color but other than that I am very happy with the progress. Still testing alk, nitrates daily. I will be happy when that gets dialed in.

 

[JerryB1232]

Your tank is looking great! The clams are a nice touch.

 

[Tahoe61]

Your tank is looking great! The clams are a nice touch.

Thank you, and thank you for stopping by. :)
It's literally the perfect Clam viewing tank.

 

[Tahoe61]

Happy 2 months to me!!!

 

[Rhetoric]

Sweet pico! Coming online super quick.

 

[Tahoe61]

Sweet pico! Coming online super quick.

Thank you!!!

I planned ahead and started many of the corals in another tank. No fish or cuc actually makes it easier. Water changes and a lot of testing. Rocks are getting some color finally.

Your tank is awesome. :)

 

[Tahoe61]

I love how furry the Red Digitata is, and the color of Bam Bams and Utter Chaos.