2.25 Gallon Pico Build

Ron99 · #1 02-19-2009, 11:30 PM

Here's a sneak peak at the pico I have started to build. I have had this idea for a tank for a few years and have decided to make it into a pico reef with zoas, mushrooms and softies. Maybe I will have some sexy shrimp and possibly a tiny goby of some sort if I get really ambitious.

In any case, I finally had the glass cut to shape and size and siliconed it together. It works out to a little over 2.25 gallons. The silicone is a bit messy but the edges of the tank will be obscured when all is built so it won't really matter in the end.

Attachment 3919

I was thinking about making LED lighting but after crunching the numbers the lighting alone would have cost me close to $100. So I picked up this Coralife Aqualight Mini for $35 and it will donate its innards to the project.
I figure 18 watts of PC lighting will be fine for 2 gallons of zoas etc. Maximum depth to the sand bed will be about 8 inches so it should work.

Attachment 3920

I'll post updates as I go but with my limited spare time this could take a while so don't hold your breath...

BlueAbyss · #2 02-19-2009, 11:55 PM

Ah, I love picos

bignose · #3 02-20-2009, 12:13 AM

Are my eyes playing tricks on me or is that pane of glass on a slope?

Ron99 · #4 02-20-2009, 12:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bignose

Are my eyes playing tricks on me or is that pane of glass on a slope?

Your eyes see true

All will become clear with time...

Ron99 · #5 02-22-2009, 03:51 AM

Okay, making a bit of progress. Evrything is pretty dirty and full of fingerprints though so forgive that...Have the rear bulkhead pretty much built. It will have three chambers. First chamber with the opening for surface skimming (that will have some mesh over it to keep residents out of it) will be for filter floss and some carbon or such. The second chamber will be a fuge with simple led lighting for chaeto. the last chamber will house a mini-jet 400 and I should be able to fit the heater in there too. I haven't drilled the hole for the return from the pump yet as I have to sort out the exact plumbing I will be using and the location for the return.

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