thoughts on shallow pico reef tanks

sarahbobeara

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I really like the shallow reef tanks. The one by reef casa is the one ive found so far that im interested in. What are peoples thoughts? ANYONE have a similar one ?
16” x Length 15” x Height 7”

https://reefcasa.com/product/pico-reef-tank/?currency=USD

Can i see peoples tanks that have same dimensions? Im having a hard time envisioning the tank size

how do people like the height of 7 inches?

I have an 11 inch tall freshwater and I HATE PUTTING MY HANDS IN IT. I have very sensitive skin/eczema so i just dread putting my hands in. So i want a shallow wide tank. But is 7 inches TOO short for anything to live in?

I have thinking just 1 nemo and invertebrates and soft corals. I have no interest in large fish. I mainly just want corals.

Im deciding between the 16” x Length 15” x Height 7” and the Height 11" tall one. but the 11 inches makes me scared i wont do as much maintenence on it because of my exzema.
 
Welcome to R2R!

Just want to forewarn you that this would be considered more of an expert level tank in the saltwater hobby. With is being roughly 7 gallons, minus displacement from rocks and sand, it will need to be monitored carefully.

The smaller the tank, the easier parameter swings happen. As far as being concerned with having to put your hands in the tank, you don't really have to... I have a 90g and it's been years since I got my hands wet.

The only time you need to is when adding coral or removing algae. Both can be done with tools or gloves. Algae after the first year of a tank maturing is basically a non factor. You can even skip a lot of that time frame by using ocean direct rock.

Also just saw you mentioned wanting a clownfish. These require a 20g tank and won't be happy at all in this size.
 
I love the look of shallow tanks but if you put a lid on it, it doesn’t look so great since there’s not much viewing area from the front. If you are more of a coral person then it could certainly make an awesome display. You can even have rock above the water.
 
I really like the shallow reef tanks. The one by reef casa is the one ive found so far that im interested in. What are peoples thoughts? ANYONE have a similar one ?
16” x Length 15” x Height 7”

https://reefcasa.com/product/pico-reef-tank/?currency=USD

Can i see peoples tanks that have same dimensions? Im having a hard time envisioning the tank size

how do people like the height of 7 inches?

I have an 11 inch tall freshwater and I HATE PUTTING MY HANDS IN IT. I have very sensitive skin/eczema so i just dread putting my hands in. So i want a shallow wide tank. But is 7 inches TOO short for anything to live in?

I have thinking just 1 nemo and invertebrates and soft corals. I have no interest in large fish. I mainly just want corals.

Im deciding between the 16” x Length 15” x Height 7” and the Height 11" tall one. but the 11 inches makes me scared i wont do as much maintenence on it because of my exzema.
6g is too small for a clownfish. Only fish that comes to mind is either a small two spot blenny or a small goby (okinawae, etc).
However I would recommend stocking such a small tank with inverts instead. A porcelain crab. Maybe some hermits, sexy shrimp ect.
 
Stinking noob here.
Yes, I have a shallow lagoon tank: L:17.71 x W:11.02 x H:7.09.
(5 gallon tank - but I have about 3.5G of water)

I have the tank since July last year. Tried to do a macro-only tank with some mangroves. Failed miserably.

Then, switch to something simpler after 3 months. I have 2 gobies (one yellow gumdrop goby and one green clown goby - both are very cute). Got the usual CUC of snails and hermit crabs. Got two sexy shrimps and one peppemint (in a vain attempt to control aiptasia - it won't touch them).
I have only very-easy-to-keep softies - a few gsp's + pulsing xenia + kenyan tree and some mushrooms. I have three nems - condy, RFA, and maxi mini. Got a few feather worms.
 
just my opinion but that is the last type of tank in the world that i'd want to be dealing with if i'm new to the hobby... and realistically the last one i want 40 years into the hobby.
Instability will be the only consistent thing.
The first year of any tank is challenging enough, the view will be considerably less exciting than you might assume and you're limited in what you can add.
To each their own but its the hard way of doing things
 
I really like the shallow reef tanks. The one by reef casa is the one ive found so far that im interested in. What are peoples thoughts? ANYONE have a similar one ?
16” x Length 15” x Height 7”

https://reefcasa.com/product/pico-reef-tank/?currency=USD

Can i see peoples tanks that have same dimensions? Im having a hard time envisioning the tank size

how do people like the height of 7 inches?

I have an 11 inch tall freshwater and I HATE PUTTING MY HANDS IN IT. I have very sensitive skin/eczema so i just dread putting my hands in. So i want a shallow wide tank. But is 7 inches TOO short for anything to live in?

I have thinking just 1 nemo and invertebrates and soft corals. I have no interest in large fish. I mainly just want corals.

Im deciding between the 16” x Length 15” x Height 7” and the Height 11" tall one. but the 11 inches makes me scared i wont do as much maintenence on it because of my exzema.
What did you decide on?
 
I really like the shallow reef tanks. The one by reef casa is the one ive found so far that im interested in. What are peoples thoughts? ANYONE have a similar one ?
16” x Length 15” x Height 7”

https://reefcasa.com/product/pico-reef-tank/?currency=USD

Can i see peoples tanks that have same dimensions? Im having a hard time envisioning the tank size

how do people like the height of 7 inches?

I have an 11 inch tall freshwater and I HATE PUTTING MY HANDS IN IT. I have very sensitive skin/eczema so i just dread putting my hands in. So i want a shallow wide tank. But is 7 inches TOO short for anything to live in?

I have thinking just 1 nemo and invertebrates and soft corals. I have no interest in large fish. I mainly just want corals.

Im deciding between the 16” x Length 15” x Height 7” and the Height 11" tall one. but the 11 inches makes me scared i wont do as much maintenence on it because of my exzema.
Halo! I also love shallow pico tanks—you can check out my build thread if you’re interested. My tank is only 1.75 gallons (though it’s likely closer to 1.5 gallons). It’s a beautifully custom-made tank with a branded-like finish, featuring small dimensions of just 25cm x 20cm x 15cm.
 
Having done a few pico tanks in the last 3-4 years and some being only coral tanks or min fish. I can say that I got pretty board with the tank fairly quickly not having any fish. Shallow reefs are the only thing I like to keep but found having something in the 24-36” length made the tank much more enjoyable. 4’ was even better. My most favorite size that I ever had was a 33 long.

As for maintenance and skin. I also suffer when I put my hands in the tank. I use acrylic rods as often as I can. I also purchased long plastic gloves when putting hands in the tank is absolutely necessary.
 
Halo! I also love shallow pico tanks—you can check out my build thread if you’re interested. My tank is only 1.75 gallons (though it’s likely closer to 1.5 gallons). It’s a beautifully custom-made tank with a branded-like finish, featuring small dimensions of just 25cm x 20cm x 15cm.
Where's the thread
 

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