Zach's 3 Gallon Pico

Got myself a good deal today. Picked up (2) 3 gallon pico tanks, all glass, rimless with a curved front, each with a small HOB filter and 9 watt 50/50 CF lighting for $30, perfect condition. Each came with some nice rock rubble and sand. I'm only setting up one and giving one away.

I plan to have the tank at work, and I don't plan to do any fish except for maybe one tiny goby, maybe a small watchman, or a clown goby. Not sure yet. Otherwise, I'm going to do soft corals - lots of mushrooms and zoas and Xenia, etc.. easy stuff that's colorful.

I've never kept a tank this small before, but will only be running the HOB for filtration with some carbon and phos guard.

Do you think the single 9 watt compact fluorescent 50/50 will be sufficient lighting for softies? If not, what's suggested What about flow, any pico powerheads available?

K+ to any suggestions!

 

I would leave it just the way it came. Seed it with some sand and rock from your bigger tank and use some water from it to fill and do water changes. Giving one away? I assume you mean me since that is what Im planning on for my next tank lol.

An option for lighting if you do decide to change it:

Azoo Neo Light LED
absolutely no heat output so you wont have to worry about that. I have one on a 20 gallon tall and it penetrates all the way to the sand with ease.

 

Seems like a good light - how's the growth on the corals with the LED?

Do you think the HOB will be enough for flow?

 

I think it should be plenty of flow. Never had corals under it only fish in there. Ill throw a frag of star polyps in there for a couple of days and see if they even stay open for you. Ill PM you on Sunday to let you know how they react.

 

Put a frag in my in tank fuge about the depth of a peco. Ill let you know what happens.

 

although it's only 9 watts of PCs, i definitely think it'll be enough for a 3 gallon pico tank. i use to have 3 watts per gallon to my 40G breeder when i first started the hobby and i was growing mushrooms, xenias along with some LPS left and right..
however, i did own a 5 gallon nano, and it was VERY hard to keep up with the monitoring of the water parameters.. salinity and temperature changes very rapidly, and things can go downhill fast.. i would think it's easier to maintain a pico tank without any live stock but if you do go with a goby.. i would keep up with the water changes..
seeding that tank with existing live sand and rock is definitely a good idea
good luck and have fun with it!

 

My idea would be to let me pay u for shipping and send me the other one

 

I just set up a 3g pico yesterday What's HOB?

 

Looks awesome. HOB is hang on back.

 

That's the exact model I bought HOB is hang on back.