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Part 12: Secret Techniques + Maxima Clam + Florida Ricordea + More Updates

PART 12: SECRET TECHNIQUES + MAXIMA CLAM + FLORIDA RICORDEA + CHAETO + MORE UPDATES

Initial Note:
I understand the delicacy of Maxima Clams and Coco Worms (among other awesome salty goodies), so I have been and will be doing daily water changes (if not, then every other day), checking my parameters, and doing everything possible to keep the tank in best shape!


My "Secret" Extra Health Booster Techniques:

Priority) Daily Water Changes + Keeping Water Parameters Stable & Healthy

1) Use BOTH Catalina Water & Synthetic Saltwater (50/50)
- Reason: Catalina Water is good ocean water, but synthetic saltwater has extra trace elements and other goodies that Catalina water has limited of.
2) To Feed, I Mix Zooplanktons, Phytoplanktons, Selco, and Oyster Eggs (and sometimes Cyclop Eeze)
- I also randomize the type of food on different days to mix & jazz it up
- The point is to have some variety and to keep the water clean
- After feeding, wait for half an hour, watch for detritus, and siphon out all the unwanted.
- I'm also thinking of adding some nutritional enhancements (I'll let you know what kind soon)
- Note that different organisms eat different food, research beforehand!
3) Modify the filter to fit Chaeto in it (for mine, I just took out the pad and inserted the chaeto)
- I have 2 filters, one normal filter with pad and the other with Chaeto
4) Bought Copepods for my internal "sump" (modified filter)
5) Constant Researching! lol

6 - Observed) I also heard mimicking the sun/moon cycle may be beneficial too, but I'm just barely looking into that. I'll let you guys know! (In the meantime, I have a timer that turns the lights off & on instead)

(I know these aren't really secrets, but it's good to know!)

HOPEFULLY, with these different techniques, I'll be able to keep a healthy tank and healthy inhabitants!!! (crosses fingers)

I also want to add that Quarantine Tanks (QT) are really important. I unfortunately sold my QT tank before I received the EcoPico, so there are some risks involved which has made me obsessively careful!


The Timer for my Lights has ARRIVED!

Intermatic Multi-Purpose 2-Outlet Digital Timer
Price: $23.00 (Amazon)

My Review: So far, it's working great. I like the fact that you can adjust the timer with a knob. You can customize the days and time too. There are... around 25 unique schedules/settings or something like that. That means, you can get real specific if you want to. The only thing that was "eh" is that there when it turns off, it turns off BOTH of the outlets. Can't seem to leave one on and the other off. Other than that, I have no complaints. Will let you guys know if I experience anything weird!

Timer in the Box


Out of the Box


Plugged In




Livestock Time!

Here are the goodies I got today:

- Maxima Clam
Price: $45.00
- Florida Ricordea (Christine & my cousin picked out a nice vibrant one!)
Price: $15.00
- Bag Full of Chaeto
Price: $10.00
- Copepods
Price: $15.00


Bags of Goodies


Copepods!




In the Tank!

WAIT WAIT, WHAT????

I see SOMETHING...

It's a BRISTLE WORM!



After HOURS of waiting for the worm to come out of the live rock, I finally caught the little guy. Luckily the EcoPico was on my desk, so I wasn't in a rush to catch him.

Here's the Bristle Worm again, caught!


Here's his REAL size



Chaeto in Sump


THE Porcelain Anemone Crab Picture Update
(Chuck Norris's Former Pet Crab, I'm sure)
Update: Today, she grabbed a hermit crab next her, picked it up, and the hermit crab slid off into oblivion. +1 to Epic Anemone Crab.


This Thing Has Been in My Tank Since Day 1 (finally got a picture of it!)
I have no idea what it is, it looks like a snail of some kind. ID anyone?



Florida Ricordea
You wouldn't think this thing has any parasites, but when I dipped it, boy, there were a lot of stuff! Always dip!


Maxima Clam!


Another Pic of the Maxima Clam


Hermit Crab Greets Clam (by picking off detritus from the clam)!


Updated Pic of Tank Inhabitants 1


Updated Pic of Tank Inhabitants 2 (the tiny dots you see are Copepods)


Quick ID of the Few Inhabitants


Picture of the Updated EcoPico







COMING UP NEXT:

NAMING + WALLPAPER + MORE CORALS + MORE INVERTS + MORE INFO + CYCLED TANK PARAMETERS + LIVESTOCK DECISIONS + ADDING LIVESTOCK + FINALIZED TANK!



Stay Tuned! MORE TO COME!!!!!



;D

 

Ohh boy, whatever kind of fish you end up adding is gunna LOVE munching on those pods. My clowns are constantly roaming around picking them off the glass. Congrats on the new adds btw! The maxima looks awesome, be sure to post a pic when its opened up a little more! I just love how every time someone (or myself) gets new adds in a new tank, it just seems to "fill" out the tank more and looks better and better.. If ya get what I'm saying.. lol

So have you made any decisions as to what fish you'll be adding? Or any other inverts?

 

Hey aw1447, I really want a baby clown! I might get a baby clown and nurse it until it outgrows my tank and trade it in for another baby clown at my LFS. If not, then I might end up with a Yasha Goby. As for inverts, my friend is going to get me some sexy shrimps! And yeah, I agree, I love it when people add stuff to their tanks, it livens up the tank a lot.

 

NOTE: I will be adding Desktop Wallpapers soon (for your computer)!

Stay Tuned!

 

Awesome thread.

EcoXotic LED strips for EcoPico come in:
- 12K White
- 12K White / 453nm Blue
- 453nm Blue

Which of the 3 comes stock with the tank?
What color mix do you have now?
Do you like it or would you change up the colors?

Also, can you explain what filters you use and how exactly did you make that cheato sump?

Thanks

 

Great adds, congrats

 

amazing tank! there are some beastly "nano" blennies on the DD! I want one sooooooo bad!
Do you think they could fit into a 6 gallon nano cube anyone because there's lots of algae that would be nice for him to eat.

 

Looks great. I always look forward to your updates.

 

Awesome Questions!

Which 3 comes in stock?
Hey Jbraslins, the stock EcoPico comes with only 1 12K White/453nm Blue, but, fortunately, Ecoxotic and 3Reef were nice enough to upgrade mine to 3 LED strips (all 12K White/453nm Blue)! The lights are AMAZING right now. I think they balanced it pretty well. If you're going to do reef, I would definitely suggest at least 3 LED strips. Your tank will shimmer radiantly regardless of how many strips you have!

Also, for the moonlight, I would suggest all blue LEDs (it looks a lot nicer!).

What color mix do I have now?
3 LED strips (ALL 12K White/453nm Blue)
1 White LED Lunar Light (this one: Current USA TrueLumen LED Lunar Light Module 3 x12,000K White(2"))
(Although, as mentioned above, I would get the blue ones)

Do you like it or would you change up the colors?
Lovin' it. I love the shimmer and the mix of blue and white. You can't go wrong with Ecoxotic's Lighting! AND, their LEDs last 50,000+ hours! It's pretty amazing.

Also, can you explain what filters you use and how exactly did you make that cheato sump?
It's actually really easy, I bought Marina i25 internal filter, took out cartridge and inserted Chaeto! I use this in junction with the EcoPico's stock filter. It's pretty effective. A lot of people use the HOB (hang on back) filters too, but I find them too big and clunky, so I opted for an internal filter.

The best type of filtrations for picos & nanos is natural filtration with live rock and live sand. (a pound of live sand/rock per gallon)

Granted, with Nano & Pico tanks, the main filtration should be through water changes since the system is so small!

Lemme know if you have any other questions!

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Hey 2in10, thanks!

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I'm looking at the Diver's Den right now and you're right, they have some pretty cool blennies!
The rule of "fin" thumb, is that you want an inch of fish per gallon. If their max size is between 1"-2" (like the Red Jewel Nano Blenny on the Diver's Den), then they should be fine for your tank. If their max size is 4-6", they may be too big for your tank. A lot of people will say they might be too big after the 3" mark for picos (you may be able to keep them when they're small and sell them back when they're too big for your tank), but I've also personally seen a few blennies thrive in 5-6 gallon tanks even at 3-4" long (of course, they were the only ones in the tank)! Also, I would do some extra research too to see if and how people are keeping their blennies in nanos/picos!

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Hey Brianlow, thanks!

 

Yay for the update! You gotta stop by soon!! ( even though I know you were just there the other day) we just put up the seahorse tank!!! ;D and yours truly aquascaped it. I will try to have pictures up soon! Oh and we got pretty cute clowns in so yeah.

Ps - make sure you don't disturb the clam until the leg is fully attached. Everything looks great!