3 gal Pico build at Tech

[gtkolenko]

Hello All,
After studying abroad to Australia and diving in the GBR, and seeing my mom's coworker with a Picotope on her desk, to knowing that I wanted to get into reefing atleast a year ago, I finally did it. I purchased a Three gallon Picotope from Marine Depot and got about 5 lbs of LR and 4 lbs of LS. I have gotten some critters including a pom pom crab and emerald crab along with a Firefish (I saw his cousin while I was diving on the GBR). I just purchased a AC70 filter to throw on the back and turn into a fuge. Now I am in debate for what type of lighting to up grade to. I have narrowed it down to two models one LED other PC.

LED 5.1 NanoCustom:
http://www.nanocustoms.com/product_info.php?cPath=19&products_id=28">http://www.nanocustoms.com/product_info.php?cPath=19&products_id=28</a>

OR

Current USA PC Dual Satellite 36w
[IMG]http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~action~view~idProduct~CU01011~idCategory~FILTFIPCTI~category~12_Inch_Fixtures-Power_Compact-Light_Fixtures-Lighting-Saltwater_Aquarium_Supplies~vendor~.html">http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~action~view~idProduct~CU01011~idCategory~FILTFIPCTI~category~12_Inch_Fixtures-Power_Compact-Light_Fixtures-Lighting-Saltwater_Aquarium_Supplies~vendor~.html</a>


I am leaning to the LED product cause less heat. Right now there is no Coral or a clam. I'd like to get those in the future. But let me know what ya'll think and here is a link to my tank pics.


[IMG]http://picasaweb.google.com/davidkolenko/3GallonPicotopeSaltwaterFishTank#">http://picasaweb.google.com/davidkolenko/3GallonPicotopeSaltwaterFishTank#</a>

 

[gtox44]

Hey that pico is really cool. I like the little tanks. I have a 29 gallon that I just set up about a month ago. It is way bigger than yours but still tiny in the reef world. By the way I go to Tech too. It great to see some more jackets on here.

 

[tokejr]

My daughter goes to Tech.

Big Tech fans in this house.

No reef for her though.

 

[Reefplumber13]

<span style="color: Red">go dawgs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</span>

lol sorry i had too

 

[ryanh487]

go with the dual sattelite, that mass-produced LED light isn't going to give you enough punch to keep anything other than low light softies. or you could look around for a minute and probably pick up a used 70w viper metal halide fixture for about the same price.

 

[steve]

Get a top for that thing, cause the first time that Firefish is spooked he will land on the carpet.

Welcome by the way.

 

[ryanh487]

Steve;344783 wrote: Get a top for that thing, cause the first time that Firefish is spooked he will land on the carpet.

Welcome by the way.

^ this too.

nano-reef.com is having a group buy right now for glass picotope lids if your interested. just look in the marketplace forum.

 

[weaglereefer]

Sorry, but keeping a firefish in that small of a tank is torture.

 

[Reefplumber13]

au01st;344845 wrote: Sorry, but keeping a firefish in that small of a tank is torture.

i was just thinking that.

 

[gtkolenko]

So I thought I needed to update this. So after so many months here is what's up:

Joined ARC (Full paying member but unable to get the student rate even though I go Georgia Tech, They said that I needed to be in high school to count as a student. Maybe if I was a Georgia student then I could get that rate since we know how hard those classes at the dawg school can be.) Had to get the bashing in.

Also since I will be graduating in May, I went ahead and purchased a JBJ Nanocube 28 with HQI 150w bulb. Excited to get this thing started when I get out of the fraternity house. I think I am going to go for a Pacific theme for everything in the tank. Looking already to purchase a protein skimmer from Marine depot along with a cooling fan.

As for the tank on this thread, It's still alive and all is well....well since my tank crisis of July 4th from being out of town. Currently the tank has stong pulsing xenia, Randall Goby, Tiger Pistol Shrimp, Pom Pom Crab, 2 snails and 2 hermits.

 

[gtkolenko]

Since people love pictures, Here is one about month and a half ago of the randall goby and Pistol Shrimp. Enjoy.

 

[gtkolenko]

Dawgdude,
Thanks for the recommendation, congratulations to you as well for graduating in may. I thought about doing an upgrade to the light, maybe not at the beginning but later on, once I have the funds for a light upgrade. Phoenix seems to be the top of the line bulb from what other peoples forums have posted. I thought about putting a fuge in the cabinet, but I haven't researched it enough yet between here, nano-reef, and reefcentral. I will probably go that route, since I can beef up some more water volume.

What does your dad do with his NC28, protein skimmer or sump/fuge?

 

[exodas]

Hey GTKolenko I go to Ga Tech as well and am jealous that your graduating :] I will be graduating next year and it seems like it wont come fast enough! Anyway I really like your nano and I myself have to wait until I graduate to get a bigger tank. Good luck with your new tank and congrats on graduating!

 

[skybird]

He went to tech, he can engineer his own skimmer.

Then come to the UGA grad to help market it and make him money off of it at which point we make him sign the 75/25 clause

GO DAWGS