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4 Gallon pico, input wanted! (1 Viewer)

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scubaspew

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So this is my first pico tank and I thought I knew what I was getting myself into! An all inclusive system that I would need to buy nothing for other than water which I already have for the main tank, right wrong! So far it has been something I regret until I let go and realize this isn't going to be like any other tank I have ever run, it's going to be a lot harder! So on that note, I'd love to hear some input on water changes, sponge filters, other things I could easily do with this that would help. It's a rimless biocube with LED's, just like my 29 gallon but this one is 4 gallons, it's not actually a biocube but an easily similar design with three chambers in the back, right now chamber one contains the return pump, chamber two contains a piece or two of rubble and a thermostat control heater, unfortunately I couldn't find a small one that had thermostat control, they are all preset to 78 degrees and well that may be exactly what I run it at but I may need to to go cooler or warmer depending on house temp and I don't trust heaters or anything that is "preset" more importantly! Chamber three is a three stage sponge filter, three sponges layered above one another on a pull out rack. Should/how can I turn this into a successful refugium and would this be a better idea? I got a mini powerhead, only 95GPH but you'd be surprised how hard it is to find mini things in this hobby without going online and I didn't want to wait. I believe my return is 110GPH, so I got what I would hope is plenty of flow for my 4 gallon and it's creating a cross flow. I've been running the LED's and 8-9 hours a day and the moonlights 24/7, thoughts? The lights are 14,000k 3 3watt whites and 2 1watt moonlights. As far as water changes, what I have found is a half gallon a day or every other day is much more attainable than a large one once a week, opinions on this? I somehow feel like a total volume change once a week is what more of you that run picos do. 1/2 gallon plus seems manageable every day to every other day worst case scenario. Thoughts? I have two fish, both tiny goby's. I few zoas, and a tiny kenya frag to eat nitrates. I have a large cleanup crew, about 5-6 hermits and 4-5 snails(all mini snails), About 5lbs of live rock.
 
Sounds like you'll be fine, to me. If you have saltwater pre-mixed, take a couple cups/glasses out of the tank and replace it with fresh saltwater every day. Should be just fine, and easy to keep up on!
 
Alunai said:
Sounds like you'll be fine, to me. If you have saltwater pre-mixed, take a couple cups/glasses out of the tank and replace it with fresh saltwater every day. Should be just fine, and easy to keep up on!
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Are you basing your response on experience? Just curious because I have no experience and should have not decided to run one without more proper research, seems to me you have run a pico before, so just curious as to what your experience is with them. Thanks!
 
Thank you BadOmen :)

Yes, I've run a 2.5, the 5.5 mentioned in the prior links, a 10, and I also have the same 2.5 up as a betta tank now. That's what I do for my betta, Figaro (or more accurately, what I need to do more often). Take one glass of water out and replace it with new water every few days.
 
Cool, that makes me feel better, I was thinking small changes like that may be less effective without a skimmer or refugium.
 
Small, frequent changes are easier on the system than large occasional ones. It better replicates the stability of the ocean environment that the inhabitants are likely used to. Moonlights can be run 24/7 if you'd like. I do that on all of my tanks if I have the option to. There are some that say that complete darkness is required for fish to be able to get the sleep that they need, but I don't know how true it is. I think if the moonlights are dim enough, they'll be just fine.

As for flow, that's both personal preference as well as that of your inhabitants. On my 2.5 I run a simple filter (the typical beginner filter for a 10 gallon tank) and that is all I need for flow. My betta Figaro absolutely loves the rate of flow. In my 5.5 gallon, I use an AC50 filter and a koralia nano, and my clowns enjoy it.
 
whoa pump your brakes man this pico isnt rocket science/sps tank lol. i wouldnt run a fuge in c3 not enough space to be efficient imo. just carbon or a poly filter or both. id change a gallon a week all at once if it were mine. and just top off for evap daily. feed lightly and load it with zoas and softies. i ran a biocube 8g exactly like i stated successfully for almost 2yrs till i upgraded. you have a lot more flow than i did which is great. i really dont think small tanks are all that hard. religious water changes and evap topoff go along way. big tank=big problems and big $...small tanks=more $ for beers. good luck im sure youll do fine judging by your biocube no worries man
heres my old 8g
IMAG0165_zps1a7db494.jpg
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zwalk1839 said:
whoa pump your brakes man this pico isnt rocket science/sps tank lol.
i wouldnt run a fuge in c3 not enough space to be efficient imo. just carbon or a poly filter or both.
id change a gallon a week all at once if it were mine. and just top off for evap daily.
feed lightly and load it with zoas and softies. i ran a biocube 8g exactly like i stated successfully for almost 2yrs till i upgraded. you have a lot more flow than i did which is great.
i really dont think small tanks are all that hard.
religious water changes and evap topoff go along way. big tank=big problems and big $...small tanks=more $ for beers. good luck im sure youll do fine judging by your biocube no worries man
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I agree with Zwalk here, while running some chaeto in the filter chambers won't do any harm, on a 4 gallon it won't make a huge difference.
This is alright, but the smaller the tank, the more frequently you will want to do maintenance. I definitely agree about topping off daily. However, I personally would recommend doing smaller quantities of water more often, like every other day.
I agree here, as well. On my 5.5 gallon, I'll feed a tiny pinch of food to my two clowns multiple times a day. You can feed as often as you want as long as it's just enough for the inhabitants. I don't even feed enough for them to be full each time I feed. Since I feed multiple times daily, they will get just as much as they need and none will be wasted.
That depends on who you ask. They can be easier in the fact that they are smaller amounts of water that could end up on your floor, and fewer fish to care for. However, the smaller the tank, the more consistent you need to be with the maintenance. Parameters can change drastically in a small tank over a very short amount of time. For this reason, Scuba, I would highly recommend testing regularly (a couple times a week at least) until you are confident that the system is stable, then you could lower the testing frequency to maybe once a week or so.
Exactly. Consistency is key to successfully maintaining a small aquarium.

By pump the breaks, I think he means to put your mind at ease. :) I do think you'll be alright, as long as you are diligent and come to us for advice when you need it. :)
 
AAhh!!

Alunai said:
I agree with Zwalk here, while running some chaeto in the filter chambers won't do any harm, on a 4 gallon it won't make a huge difference.
This is alright, but the smaller the tank, the more frequently you will want to do maintenance. I definitely agree about topping off daily. However, I personally would recommend doing smaller quantities of water more often, like every other day.
I agree here, as well. On my 5.5 gallon, I'll feed a tiny pinch of food to my two clowns multiple times a day. You can feed as often as you want as long as it's just enough for the inhabitants. I don't even feed enough for them to be full each time I feed. Since I feed multiple times daily, they will get just as much as they need and none will be wasted.
That depends on who you ask. They can be easier in the fact that they are smaller amounts of water that could end up on your floor, and fewer fish to care for. However, the smaller the tank, the more consistent you need to be with the maintenance. Parameters can change drastically in a small tank over a very short amount of time. For this reason, Scuba, I would highly recommend testing regularly (a couple times a week at least) until you are confident that the system is stable, then you could lower the testing frequency to maybe once a week or so.
Exactly. Consistency is key to successfully maintaining a small aquarium.


Was that yellow really necessary? Reading this for hobby fun - not brain seizures. ChillAX YELLOW!
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Sadly I am already thinking about taking it down, it was an impulse purchase and not well thought out in the sense that I already feel overwhelmed. I barely have enough time and patience for one tank right now. I am really finding it already difficult to keep on top of two. Between my work schedule, looking for a new job, the dog, the house and the one tank, I am already overwhelmed. I should have thought this through a bit more. I bit off more than I can chew. I can hardly afford to buy stuff for one tank, let alone two. Any interest in a sweet deal on a pretty much brand new set up if I do decide to sell it? It's a pretty sweet little tank and I could include whatever or part it out. My main tank is doing well and I'd rather keep my focus on that than split it between two tanks.:doh:
 
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