Pico Reef Tank Build Thread - Lifegard 3.8

[kiswanson]

New Pico Reef desktop build using a Lifegard 3.8 gallon all in one tank. Also adding a Sicce nano pump, inTank media holder, and a Kessil A80 Tina blue light. I’ll be posting more soon!

#nanotank #nanoreef #picoreef #picotank #AIO #lifegard #intank #wiscoreefer #wiscoreef #sicce #kessil #Wisconsin #WisconsinReef
#wiscoreefers

 

[Weasel1960]

Keep us posted on the progress

 

[Viperdragon]

Can't wait to see what you put in there

 

[Zach B]

Awesome! Following along

 

[kiswanson]

So I the tank is the Lifegard 3.8 gallon all in one. It comes with a pump, some plastic biological filter balls, some sponge, a leveling mat, and pump. I basically only used the mat and the aquarium because I wanted better stuff for my pump and filters.

There is an overflow and also a lower inlet with a circular plastic screen. They do provide a cover if you want to cap the back off, but for now I’m leaving it open to decrease the chance of the overflow getting blocked.

I bought the inTank media basket and it fits perfectly. Eventually I plan to have filter floss in the top, a cube of marine pure biological media in the middle and Chemipure blue nano in the bottom. One thing is I will have to take that bottom circular inlet cover out to remove the filter basket. Fortunately I can just pull the filter floss out and put new stuff in and the other things will be replaced much less often. The bio cube just barely fits and will provide lots of surface area for bacteria.

#picotank #picoreef #piconanoreeftank
#intank

#lifrgard

 

[kiswanson]

Replacing the default pump with a Sicce nano pump. I love there stuff. I have have their zero ultra zero Utility pump, which is amazing at emptying containers and I just bought a Syncra ADV 9.0 Water Pump which has enough head pressure to allow me to pump water from my basement up to my main floor.
The nano pump has some suction cups to put on to hold it in place and decrease vibrations

 

[kiswanson]

The Sicce nano has a little grey wheel that allows you to adjust flow

 

[kiswanson]

The outlet tube that comes with the tube can also be twisted to adjust flow. It doesn’t attach to the pump so I needed some soft plastic tubing to make the connection

 

[kiswanson]

I used hot water to heat up the tubing to make the connection easier

 

[kiswanson]

Now the pump and outlet fit perfectly in the rear compartment

 

[KK's Reef]

Following along. I have the exact same tank. Check out my build thread.

I just posted about upgrading the return from the exact same Sicce Nano. The Sicce will provide moderate flow everywhere, but you might need more if you want to keep SPS.

By the way, did you have to cut out the hole on the In-Tank media basket? I've had to make mine bigger because it gets snagged when the Lifegard strainer is in.

 

[kiswanson]

I replaced the outlet nozzle with a random flow generator from vivid creative Aquatics
(1/4in Random Flow Generator)
#vividcreativeaquatics
#piconanoreeftank #picoreef #picotank

 

[kiswanson]

Following along. I have the exact same tank. Check out my build thread.

I just posted about upgrading the return from the exact same Sicce Nano. The Sicce will provide moderate flow everywhere, but you might need more if you want to keep SPS.

By the way, did you have to cut out the hole on the In-Tank media basket? I've had to make mine bigger because it gets snagged when the Lifegard strainer is in.

I’ve been following. I got the idea for the inTank media basket from your build. I didn’t have to cut anything yet. There was already a hole there

 

[kiswanson]

Following along. I have the exact same tank. Check out my build thread.

I just posted about upgrading the return from the exact same Sicce Nano. The Sicce will provide moderate flow everywhere, but you might need more if you want to keep SPS.

By the way, did you have to cut out the hole on the In-Tank media basket? I've had to make mine bigger because it gets snagged when the Lifegard strainer is in

Now that I’m looking at it, I guess cutting the green part would let me take out the basket without removing the Lifegard inlet strainer, so I may consider doing that.
#intank

 

[kiswanson]

Following along. I have the exact same tank. Check out my build thread.

I just posted about upgrading the return from the exact same Sicce Nano. The Sicce will provide moderate flow everywhere, but you might need more if you want to keep SPS.

By the way, did you have to cut out the hole on the In-Tank media basket? I've had to make mine bigger because it gets snagged when the Lifegard strainer is in.

I wasn’t planning on SPS and agree it would not be enough flow for them. I was thinking more mushrooms and rock flower anemones

 

[kiswanson]

A nice bucket, CaribSea Fiji pink “live” sand, a 5 gallon jug of salt water from the local fish store, filter floss, and a 1 gallon jug of RODI water for dealing with evaporation

 

[kiswanson]

Added on a Kessil A80 tuna blue LED with the spectral controller (which I had laying around from another tank). Perfect light for this setup. The controller allows for automating off and on, and ramping up and down during the day. It will be more blue in the morning and evening and whiter at mid day. While the tank cycles the lights will be off.

Due to the divider of the Lifegard rear compartment the light has to be attached off center, but the gooseneck holder for the Kessil (which unfortunately also has to be purchased separately from the light, allows the light to be still centered over the tank.

#kessil #kessila80 #piconanoreeftank #picoreef #picotank

 

[kiswanson]

Unfortunately the black on the back of the Lifegard tank is painted on the back of the glass and is very easy to scratch off. This came from attaching the Kessil light. It will be covered with the light in place, but is obviously not ideal.

 

[kiswanson]

Added this YukiHalu Small Submersible Aquarium Heater, Mini Fish Tank Heater 50W heater and placed it in the compartment next to the pump. Will set it to 79F. Added a hang on the side thermometer from ADA (high end freshwater aquarium maker) - this one is sleek and very small

 

[kiswanson]

Picked up a small Python siphon with a pump for starting. Washed out the tank with RODI water