Pico aquarium all-in-one filtration question

[Timothy Bateson]

Hey everyone,
relatively new here. I live in Mission Hill, MA 01210
I just got an amazing Pico tank from a friend in Chelsea. It has a perfect stand, I would say the tank is 16"x16"x16" (?), 20(+)gallon-ish. I need help figuring out how the back of this tank will be set up..

Here are some miscellaneous specs..
- Back of tank has about 6-8" of space, divided into three sections
- Looking to get a VorTec Controller and wavemaker from same friend
- Venturi Rio+ 800 connected to return pipe on the right side
- Kessil A80
- 3lbs of Miracle Mud
- 5lbs of Rubble Zone rubble rock
- 250 mL of Purigen
- 1L of PhosGuard
- Unused activated carbon bag that came with my AquaClear70 awhile ago that I never used
- LiveAquaria Reef Salt (Up to new suggestions? Work okay so far)
- No media bags yet for either of the above synthetic polymers (Need help with micron size for Purigen? I have tried the bag that comes with the Purigen and they suck)
-Quality heater that the guy pitched in
- 5 lbs. live rock from my big 35 gal
- Big three part stand about 10" high to stage 3-step filtration? Goes in the middle chamber

I am looking for an all natural approach. I need some help

I am thinking Miracle Mud on far left side (2"-3"), Eggcrate, Rubble Rock. Rubble rock stuffed in the middle, and then the heater and return pump on the far right. But what about the chemical filtration? Where do I put it?

 

[Timothy Bateson]

I also have a nice CHAETOMAX light from awhile ago for the back,if I end up going that route.

 

[aresangel]

Never used miracle mud, let me know how that works for a pico and what Benefit over sand or rock rubble.

I think the vortech would be a bit overkill but would give you more space for sure.

The set up looks good, I would forgo the cheato since water changes are simple enough with that small volume for nutrient export but ultimately that is your decision.

Have you thought about using a chamber for a nano skimmer or perhaps a hang on the back skimmer?


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[Timothy Bateson]

I have a ReefGlass skimmer i am planning on using. Everything is curing in a back of clean freshly made saltwater. Running the skimmer on that going back into the same bucket just to get a feel for it

 

[Timothy Bateson]

Bucket*

 

[jdeb101]

I agree with aresangel. I personally would do without the miracle mud & chaeto for pico. I'd have rubblerock in first chamber, carbon/chem filtration in second chamber, heater, return pump.

 

[Timothy Bateson]

I agree with aresangel. I personally would do without the miracle mud & chaeto for pico. I'd have rubblerock in first chamber, carbon/chem filtration in second chamber, heater, return pump.

Hi jdeb101, aresangel
Thank you for your input. I made a mistake and have learned about the term Pico. It is about a twenty-ish gallon nano, not a pico aquarium. I guess pico means 5 gallons and under. Let me post this picture and you all can hopefully help. I want some sort of substrate in order to house anaerobic bacteria.. but I want a bare bottom tank because I am hoping to watch a bonded pair of clowns breed. I purchased Joyce D. Wilkerson's text on clownfish and so far it is very informative.

Any other advice is always appreciated

Thanks,
Tim

 

[Timothy Bateson]

Never used miracle mud, let me know how that works for a pico and what Benefit over sand or rock rubble.

I think the vortech would be a bit overkill but would give you more space for sure.

The set up looks good, I would forgo the cheato since water changes are simple enough with that small volume for nutrient export but ultimately that is your decision.

Have you thought about using a chamber for a nano skimmer or perhaps a hang on the back skimmer?


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When you say more space, what do you mean?

 

[Timothy Bateson]

Unfortunately, all the photos i am trying are too large. I want you to see the tank before I put water in it. I have learned this stuff takes some serious planning if you want it to last.

 

[aresangel]

Never used miracle mud, let me know how that works for a pico and what Benefit over sand or rock rubble.

I think the vortech would be a bit overkill but would give you more space for sure.

The set up looks good, I would forgo the cheato since water changes are simple enough with that small volume for nutrient export but ultimately that is your decision.

Have you thought about using a chamber for a nano skimmer or perhaps a hang on the back skimmer?


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When you say more space, what do you mean?

For the powerhead. The vortech would be on a lower setting for it to not blow away everything. As opposed to a jabao pp-4 or 6. The lower profile of the vortech would give you more room to work with in the tank and still be good for upgrades. But you would have significant savings on the jabao pumps.


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[aresangel]

I use tapatalk to upload photos. Very easy to do and pics are straight from your phone/iPad so there is no transferring the photos to the computer and worrying about resizing etc.


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[Nixperience]

I wouldn’t use mud or rubble or sand in the chambers at all. They will be a detritus trap and develop into a problem instead of being helpful. I would use some chemical (chemipure elite) and floss until the tank is matured and you can cut back on chemical media. Anything under 5g is considered Pico. 5-40 is Nano.

 

[Matt W]

I am testing the marine pure balls in my hang on back power filter that I use on my 7 g mixed reef (using for ~9 mo). Detritus is much less of a problem.

I only wish I could find a less powerful powerhead wavemaker or DC. I have the jebao pp-4 and it's small enough but borderline too fast.

 

[Nixperience]

I am testing the marine pure balls in my hang on back power filter that I use on my 7 g mixed reef (using for ~9 mo). Detritus is much less of a problem.

I only wish I could find a less powerful powerhead wavemaker or DC. I have the jebao pp-4 and it's small enough but borderline too fast.

The pp-4 tends to be more of a focused jet, which makes it seem more powerful. I like the mp10 because it has a very wide flow and moves a lot of water, but doesn’t seem to blast a specific point. The new aqamai pumps look like a good in between.