Time to go small! Is bigger really better?

[Tecnomage]

I've gotten permission to pick up an EcoPico at Barrier Reef's upcoming sale!!!

But I need some of your guys help with stocking and setup. We've only setup a 90 gallon and I did months of research on what to stock and how to stock it but a pico is a whole different story.

I know it only comes with 1 string of leds, I assume I'll need to add 2 more for softies/zoas ? It looks like the default strand will give about a 14K look so 2 more of those on the 1 hanger.

Live rock and live sand is the best filtration for something like this right? Maybe toss some macro in the filter area? How much live rock? This will be a total new setup unlike my other one, dry sand, dry rock, maybe a small hunk of live rock or bottled bacteria to help start the cycle with a hunk of shrimp.

Can we put a firefish in 5 gallons? I've seen people do it online but I wanted to make sure it wouldn't stress him out too much.

I'd like a firefish, clown goby or other small goby, maybe 2 gobys.

Porcelain crab or two are on the list, maybe a sexy shrimp though I doubt it.

Feedback? Suggestions?

 

[ghofmann]

Sounds fun. If I were you I would use some sand, rock and water from the 90 to get things started in the little tank.

 

[Tecnomage]

Thanks! I thought about that but I'm going to go with black sand this time I think and all my existing live rock is covered in vermetid snails and I'd like to start fresh. If anyone knows how to get rid of those snails I'd love to hear it.

-Jim

 

[Chichas01]

If I were doing a tank like this, I'd do a Dracula Goby and pistol shrimp.

 

[1guydude]

+1 on the goby/shrimp combo... than u can get another clown,clown goby, or firefish or somethin... is this a 2gal?

I mixed the black caribsea sand with some sugar aragonite and it looks awsome...just something to think about!

Also as for light, rapids makes DIY kits for biocubes and stuff that may work with wat ur planning...

 

[keener1830]

the sexy shrimp are fun to have in a nano and I loved my clown goby in my 6 gallon.

 

[Tecnomage]

I think some type of goby is really needed, I'm a bit leery of a pistol shrimp though. Won't the thin glass be a problem if he decides to start banging on it?

Yeah I think the sexy shrimp are really cool, we might have to get a couple.

Here's what happened when I looked at the Dracula goby. "Wow, that guy looks really aweso..... holy crap look at the price!!!"

 

[Tecnomage]

the sexy shrimp are fun to have in a nano and I loved my clown goby in my 6 gallon.

Did you have a green clown? I was looking at those guys and they seem really interesting, but I've heard the greens can be more shy.

 

[Tecnomage]

+1 on the goby/shrimp combo... than u can get another clown,clown goby, or firefish or somethin... is this a 2gal?

I mixed the black caribsea sand with some sugar aragonite and it looks awsome...just something to think about!

Also as for light, rapids makes DIY kits for biocubes and stuff that may work with wat ur planning...

It's a 5.1 gallon, great little tank I've been drooling over one for a while. It has its own LED lighting strip that's expandable.

I just stopped by Red C and picked up some black sand and dry rock for the future tank.

The firefish is for sure, we had two in our 90 and one got kicked out when they matured. It's regrowing fins in our QT tank now.