Another noob question

[Richard938]

Originally Posted by aquawolf

What were your original plans for the pico?

I thought it would be nice to have it on my desk with some mushrooms or something like that but I'm not sure the light is strong enough.

but it would look nice with a small live rock cave and a Coral Banded in it.

[aquawolf]

What type of lighting were you planning on putting over it?

The rock cave idea does sound cool enough on its own though.

[Richard938]

I was thinking of picking up this light for the Pico
https://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~action~view~idProduct~CU01011~idCatego ry~FILTFIPCTI~category~Saltwater_Aquarium_Supplies-Lighting-Fixtures-Power_Compact-12in_Units~vendor~.html

[aquawolf]

I don't think you would have any problems at all growing soft corals with that light. I would expect mushrooms, zoanthids, and such to be just fine.

Best of luck whatever way you take the pico.

[Richard938]

Originally Posted by aquawolf

I don't think you would have any problems at all growing soft corals with that light. I would expect mushrooms, zoanthids, and such to be just fine.

Best of luck whatever way you take the pico.

Thanks

[OneDummHikk]

I have a light very similar to that (2x18W PC) that is going on my 12G nano tank until I decide whether to put the 150W MH fixture on it. It would do awesome on a pico/nano tank with softies in it.

[Richard938]

Okay,
I have another question
How do I maintain a stable PH?
I can't seem to get mine above 7.7 I'll get it to 8 or so then the next day it will be down again.
is there a product I should use or the someone could recommend?

[OneDummHikk]

I use a pH buffer. Not sure whether thats a good way or bad way in the long term, but it keeps mine stable.

[Richard938]

Originally Posted by OneDummHikk

I use a pH buffer. Not sure whether thats a good way or bad way in the long term, but it keeps mine stable.

I tried Kent Marine ProBuffer dKH and it wont seem to hold at 8.3
I'll test at night and then the next day it's back at around 7.7
so I don't know whats going on.

[OneDummHikk]

Kent Marine is what I use and it keeps it at 8.3 for me. Not sure why yours isn't

[Richard938]

I'm wondering if it's the Chemi-pure elite holding my PH at 7.7

[OneDummHikk]

Try going without it for a few days. If the pH stays up, then you know. If it doesn't, then you can add it back.

[Richard938]

Yes

I think I'll be doing just that.

Thanks

[Richard938]

Originally Posted by aquawolf

Are you sure you want a Coral Banded Shrimp? They are not really cleaner shrimp and are more of an opportunistic feeder. Some have been known to go after small sleeping fish and coral polyps when they get bigger.

Well,
turns out aquawolf was right about that Coral Banded Shrimp,he was a murderer.

he killed one hermit crab and an ocellaris clown

so last night I spent 3 hours trapping him with no luck, then finally I put some dried plankton in a fish net and he went right in to get it.

So now he's in solitary confinement in a picotope on my desk

[Richard938]

Hello everyone
just wanted to show off my tank and thank everyone who helped me out with the setup.
I'm so happy with how it looks and everything seems to be doing fine with the exception of one head on my frogspawn coral that was damaged wile moving a rock and is now dead but there is still one head and it's doing great.
I got my PH problem all sorted out and now my corals seem a lot happier.
as you can see from the fifth photo I put my Coral banded shrimp back in the tank I felt sorry for him in that little pico, I think I'll just have to find a clown fish that can stand it's ground with him.


I also got an upgrade kit from nanocustoms so now I have 4 pc compacts, 2 50/50's and 2 actinics. 96 watts total

the last photo was taken today after moving my yellow polyp rock it just looked too crowded.