Opinions Needed on Picotope As First Tank?

[psteinmetz]

I have been out of the hobby for 20 years. I was thinking about a Picotope 3 GA then a Nano Cube 28 quad. I would then use the Picotube for quarantine or coral growth.

Is that a good plan?

Are their other set ups to consider for similar cost? I could go to a 6 GA.

With the stock light and filter, what can you grow?

I am open to suggestions.

Thanks,

Pete S

[YLChik]

Pete,

what exactly would you QT in a 3 gallon tank

I think if you want to try it go for it, but I dont' think as QT will be a very good use of it - to unstable.

Stock lighting
I would try mushrooms, zoas, colt coral, xenia, green star polyps, anthila ( I didn't spell that right) maybe some of the other leathers - devils hands, toadstools, finger leathers....

anything that says it's low light would be worth a shot and with that small a tank you would need to do a few small frags.

[aquawolf]

Welcome to TRT!!!

[firsthesitation]

Given you've had previous experience I'd say you might be able to do a pico, but I dono, there are so many variables that come into play with that little amount of water. Bigger tanks are typically easier due to the sheer water volume making potential mistakes easier to deal with. At best I'd just start with the 28 and add the pico later if you still want it.

As far as corals go, it depends on if you're gonna keep the stock lighting. Nano customs makes retro kits for almost all the cubes.

http://www.nanocustoms.com http://www.nanotuners.com

[kv2wr1]

I actually started with a picotope. The one thing that you have to make sure of is to stay on top of your water parameters. You might have to dose if you get pH swings or do twice weekly water changes. You could use it as a quarantine. I plan on using mine as a qt when I get my 24G aquapod up and running. If you plan on having a fish in there, twice a week water changes are almost a must as well as upgrading the filtration.

Here are some pics of mine:

[kv2wr1]

Well that post didn't turn out that well.

If you have any questions, let me know.