3 Gallon Pico?

[CAC]

Hi, im just wondering weather it would be possable to set up a small 3-5 UK Gallon tank...
i was thinking:
Tank: 33.5L x19.5W x23.5H cm, made from acrylic, thats 3 UK G alltogether.
Heating: Hydor mini heater, for use with tank from 1-5G, (i have one allready, that i use for my betta tank, and they work great.) they are flat, and can be positioned next to the tank edge, or even under the sand.
Filter: Hagen elite mini, good turnover of 220 litres per hour, so 10 times+ per hour, for a small tank.
Liverock: thinking maybe 1-1.25KG...

the things i dont know are weather this could work, or weather ill need tonnes of specialised equipment etc...

also what lighting i could use, could it be a desk lamp that is positioned over the top, or would it need to be specialised lighting etc.

I know i couldnt keep any fish in that tank, or any corals (i dont think...), but if i could have maybe a couple of shrimps, a sanil and a hermit crab, then that would be great.
im not planning on spending hundreds of pounds on this, but if i could have a go, then id love the oppertunity.

i have an LFS that specialises in marine, so i can get all LR and livestock from there.
If anyone has any surgestions, or info/advise, then id much appreciate it.

Thanks, mikey

 

[bunjiweb]

Yes It would deffinately work, you would just need to do regular freshwater top-ups.

I think in a tank that size I wouldnt bother with sand, or at least I would have very little sand. 1.5KG of LR, Fill the Elite Mini with carbon and crushed live rock or ceramic filter media.

Ben

 

[AMS]

Hi, im just wondering weather it would be possable to set up a small 3-5 UK Gallon tank...
i was thinking:
Tank: 33.5L x19.5W x23.5H cm, made from acrylic, thats 3 UK G alltogether.
Heating: Hydor mini heater, for use with tank from 1-5G, (i have one allready, that i use for my betta tank, and they work great.) they are flat, and can be positioned next to the tank edge, or even under the sand.
Filter: Hagen elite mini, good turnover of 220 litres per hour, so 10 times+ per hour, for a small tank.
Liverock: thinking maybe 1-1.25KG...

the things i dont know are weather this could work, or weather ill need tonnes of specialised equipment etc...
matterspecialised lighting etc.

I know i couldnt keep any fish in that tank, or any corals (i dont think...), but if i could have maybe a couple of shrimps, a sanil and a hermit crab, then that would be great.
im not planning on spending hundreds of pounds on this, but if i could have a go, then id love the oppertunity.

i have an LFS that specialises in marine, so i can get all LR and livestock from there.
If anyone has any surgestions, or info/advise, then id much appreciate it.

Thanks, mikey

With a volume this small, you are not into a nano tank, but rather a pico. As you already know, no fish should be housed in a pico, but inverts can be quite easily.

You can keep corals, but you will need suitable lighting. Your safest bet is to stick with soft corals, or LPS in a pico. Most people say keeping corals in a pico is risky which it is, but it can be done so long at temperatures remain stable and you have ample live rock and a stable pH. Though stability is your biggest issue, it can be done more easily than most people say. Also bear in mind that if you plan on corals, a refractometer is a much better option than a hydrometer.

Also bear in mind that unless your tap water perfect (which no tapwater is) you will need a source of RO, DI, or distilled. It would be a bit overkill to buy a Ro unit for a pico, but purchasing distilled water from a supermarket should be easy enough. You could also buy NSW from an LFS.

 

[bunjiweb]

My tap water still does me proud

 

[CAC]

Bunj, i dont get what you mean by doing regular freshwter top-ups....

i my granny (who is about 10 mins up the road) has a rainwter collecter outside, and shes got loads allways in there, but the inside has algae etc....would the wter be harmful???
i could put it through a sieve, to get rid of any dirt etc.?
If that wouldnt be suitable, then use disstilled yes?- but isnt that quite expensive...

AMS: "You can keep corals, but you will need suitable lighting"
what sort of lighting?
how much does it cost?
i dont think id attempt corals, as this would be my 1st attempt...but if its easily doable (and not too expensive) then id try....

Would that set-up work?
what inverts would you surrgest and how many?
what do you feed them etc.
(as you can see im abit of a novice lol.)

thanks for your help , Mikey

 

[CAC]

Ok, im going to phone my LFS today, but im wondering what i could put in it (what care they need and eat etc.)
I was thinking like:
Scarlet skunk cleaner shrimp
turbo snail
and maybe 2 blue legged hermit crabs.

But i dont know what the snail and the hermits would eat....so can anyone help, before i phone.

oh and also what PH, temp and SG would i need? would 1.020 be about right?

Mikey

 

[AMS]

Ok, im going to phone my LFS today, but im wondering what i could put in it (what care they need and eat etc.)
I was thinking like:
Scarlet skunk cleaner shrimp
turbo snail
and maybe 2 blue legged hermit crabs.

But i dont know what the snail and the hermits would eat....so can anyone help, before i phone.

oh and also what PH, temp and SG would i need? would 1.020 be about right?

Mikey

The Shrimp is carnivorous so some meaty foods should be fed. The turbo snail is a herbivore and will live off algae. There are a few species of hermits that are called "Bue Legged Hermit Crabs" so a scientific name would be best.

Inverts like a higher SG around 1.025.

I suggest reading all the pinned topics before you jump into this. Marine is far different from freshwater and you must start from square one.

 

[CAC]

Thanks alot AMS, i have been reading the pinned topics, but there all aimed towards the nanos with corals and mushrooms etc.
whereas mine wont have any in it....
Oh and also, how would i cycle it???

Mikey

 

[AMS]

Sorry I meant the pinned topics in all the marine sections, not just nanos.

Starting a Marine Tank will answer a lot of your questions, including cycling.