TheLittleMermaids Spec-tacular Pico

[TheLittleMermaid]

Well I decided to put together and run our 2.5 Fluval Spec again after visiting our LFS today. We have had great luck with these mini tanks and growing corals but we had to build a custom hood/light for the corals to grow. Hopefully during the next few months this tank will do just as good as our first two!
Tank: Fluval Spec 2.5 Gallon
Light: Two 10W 50/50 Compact Florescent Coral Life
Moonlight: Custom LED/Actinic
Filter/Pump: AIO (All In One)
Live Rock: 1.5 lbs LFS
Inverts: 2 Blue Legged Hermits, 1 Scarlet Hermit, 3 Astrea Snails

[TheLittleMermaid]

Well it definitly took me about an hour to aquascape the LR together. I used AquaScape Construction Epoxy that I bought from Aquacave. It seemed to work pretty good this time. I haven't had the best of luck using the putty, but I did follow the trick of putting it in the mircowave for a few seconds. Once I had the rock scape done I placed it in the pico and assembled the filter/pump/heater and lights. I forgot to get live sand while I was at the store, so I just scooped out a bit from my fuge. Nothing like fresh/live sand! While my husband was scooping out the sand he found a loose yellow polyp from a frag plug so I will plug it and try it out in the pico. I used approximately a gallon of water from my established rimless and topped off with fresh SW. Once all plugged in and running I dropped in my hermits, snails and the lost yellow polyp head. So excited! Now all I have to do is just be patient! A few pics of the new build...

http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd456/pknight719/TheLittleMermaid%20Pico/bc572603.jpg
http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd456/pknight719/TheLittleMermaid%20Pico/e9035469.jpg
Left:
http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd456/pknight719/TheLittleMermaid%20Pico/30f1d72c.jpg
Right:
http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd456/pknight719/TheLittleMermaid%20Pico/ba2fe22f.jpg
Center:
http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd456/pknight719/TheLittleMermaid%20Pico/f4eccaac.jpg
Moonlight:
http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd456/pknight719/TheLittleMermaid%20Pico/19659a9e.jpg

[MizTanks]

How sweet is that. I love it! Yer putting thoughts in my head :)

[Sir Patrick]

Very nice start!

[larryandlaura]

Very nice pico. I need one for my night stand.

[Nano-Newb1983]

very very nice.. i love it, you did a awesome job... i cant wait for more pics of this badboy

[TheLittleMermaid]

Thanks everyone! This was one of our first picos that we took down and put in our big rimless...http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/members-reefs/badfishs-reefer-madness-13333/
My husband just challanged me this morning that we are going to have a race with picos. (He got jealous of my build.) So watch for his pico build too!


Very nice pico. I need one for my night stand.
It would make an awesome mini night-stand tank!

[larryandlaura]

Awesome looking forward to the pico race.

[TheLittleMermaid]

I have a few new things added to the mini and some updated pics. Everything that has been put in the pico has been fragged or split from our rimless tank.

Corals:
Three Baby Yumas
Two Yellow Polyps
Three Neon Green Zoas
One Green Mushroom
One Blue Metallic Mushroom
One Green Hairy Mushroom

http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd456/pknight719/TheLittleMermaid%20Pico/9e375d70.jpg
http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd456/pknight719/TheLittleMermaid%20Pico/226acddd.jpg
http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd456/pknight719/TheLittleMermaid%20Pico/76fadbb8.jpg

Posing together for the camera!
http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd456/pknight719/TheLittleMermaid%20Pico/77a85aaa.jpg+++

[bluwc]

Very nice aquape. You might want to get that aptasia off that rock before it gets out of control.

[rcombs]

no way, aptasia are sweet, lol. jp jp

[TheLittleMermaid]

It looks like Aiptasia but those are actually some yellow polyps growing out. I am using just an iphone camera nothing fancy so the color is not that clear and they are recently fragged. But thanks for the look out I hate aiptasia and do not want it in my tank. There is a baby one I did find though under a rock. I'll be taking care of that tomorrow for sure!

http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd456/pknight719/TheLittleMermaid%20Pico/10212011.jpg

[TheLittleMermaid]

Corals:
Three Baby Yumas
Two Yellow Polyps- Died
Three Neon Green Zoas- Died
One Green Mushroom
One Blue Metallic Mushroom
One Green Hairy Mushroom
One Blue w/white stripes Mushrrom
One Pink w/white stripes Mushroom
One Green w/white stripes Mushroom
One Green Ricordia
One Green w/Orange spots Mushroom

http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd456/pknight719/TheLittleMermaid%20Pico/1ee44721.jpg
http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd456/pknight719/TheLittleMermaid%20Pico/76ed82ad.jpg
http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd456/pknight719/TheLittleMermaid%20Pico/7b228bdc.jpg
http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd456/pknight719/TheLittleMermaid%20Pico/f3b54a39.jpg

[Badfish]

Wow, I really like your tank. Where did you get all those cool mushrooms? They almost look like the babies that WERE growing in the rimless before someone stole all of them. WEIRD!?!:confused:

[TheLittleMermaid]

Stole is not quite the word...I think its because I have become the fragging queen.
http://i353.photobucket.com/albums/r387/Hayleynh/crown.jpg

[MizTanks]

Your pico is awesome! Newbie question-what's the netting for?

[TheLittleMermaid]

Your pico is awesome! Newbie question-what's the netting for?

The netting just around a rock with a loose mushroom so it can attach and will not get lost somewhere in the tank and die. A neat little trick I think my husband found in a reefer magazine. I just use tulle (you can find it in rolls for a buck at joann fabrics) and tiny rubber hair ties.

[MizTanks]

Great idea! I'm sure my lil tonga shroom would appreciate something like that :)

[TheLittleMermaid]

Its about time that I update my Mushroom Pico! I added a few more mushrooms. I also have a sexy dancing around and a Porcelain Crab as well with my hermits and snails.
http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd456/pknight719/TheLittleMermaid%20Pico/0b216948.jpg
http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd456/pknight719/TheLittleMermaid%20Pico/0d0bbc3d.jpg

[TheLittleMermaid]

Time for an update!
I found a new Yuma at the swap :)
http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd456/pknight719/TheLittleMermaid%20Pico/c311cf48.jpg
http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd456/pknight719/TheLittleMermaid%20Pico/a759d4fb.jpg
http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd456/pknight719/TheLittleMermaid%20Pico/bb014b2f.jpg
http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd456/pknight719/TheLittleMermaid%20Pico/2ec5634d.jpg
http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd456/pknight719/TheLittleMermaid%20Pico/3cb2b6d8.jpg

[Heidi]

So this little Pico is SWEET I must say this is the first time I stalked it :) So I must ask how many tanks do you and hubby have up in there? WOW.. I am counting 5ish??? It is cool that you guys do it together as a couple and have something to compete at hehe It was cool meeting you guys on Sunday!
Heidi

[Sidewinder]

Very nice setup - Looks great!