thoughts on pico tank

biomekanic · 08-25-2004, 06:06 PM

I've been thinking about a desktop system for here at work, and was considering one of those little tanks with a 9w light and a tiny HOB filter. My original idea was to get a sun coral. I could turn off the HOB, feed it, and then do a small water change. Light wouldn't be an issue.
I just had a somewhat heretical idea... mojanos. While a pest in a normal system, in this one, they'd be easy to keep, and attractive.
Thoughts/ideas/comments/flaming torches?

ricky1414 · 08-25-2004, 07:34 PM

I have the 3/4 gallon pico you are talking about. I upgrade to a 20 watt screw-in pc bulb. I don't know about keeping a sun coral in there. Seems like a good idea, but the amount that they would need to be fed could possibly cause your pico to crash. I have heard of some people actually removing the sun coral from their tanks, and placing them in a brand new tupperware container in order to feed them. I don't believe that is an option for us, as the water volume of the tupperware would most likely exceed the total of our picos. Try it out, see if it works. My best to your endeavor.

Rick

ckreef · 08-25-2004, 08:33 PM

Why not totally douse the pico with food then do a 100% water chage after the feeding was over. You would need to have pre-heated, mixed and properly aireated SW for that method to work but it might be worth a try.

OodleyBoodely · 08-26-2004, 02:04 AM

You could use a standard swing-arm type desk lamp fitted with one of those spiral flourescent replacement lamps and then just keep photosynthetics. Phillips almost always lists the K rating on all their lamps and they have a daylight lamp that is 6500K. With that lighting you could keep zoos, palys, leathers and gorgos, as well as 'shrooms and even some lps. 'Course, you couldn't keep all those in that tiny thing, but it would give you choices.

biomekanic · 08-26-2004, 09:18 AM

I'm trying to avoid photosynthetics to keep the evaporation down. I do have an autotopoff, OTOH, going on vacation and relying on one of my coworkers to watch the tank makes me kind of nervous.

reiple · 08-26-2004, 09:40 AM

are mojanos also aiptasia? i've seen 3/4 gallon tanks and they do look fascinating. I guess polyps or mushrooms or even a ricordea would do fine in one? daily water change should keep one alive?