Pico vase

I've been toying with the idea of setting up a 1.5g pico vase on my wet-bar. It would be plumbed into my main system so I don't expect the small volume to be a major pain maintaining. Looking for some good examples of these that you guys might have.

I'm thinking some LS, a few pieces of LR drilled and attached with an acrylic rod or zip ties to create some sort of a structure. Some zoas, xenias, kenya tree, shrooms, some sun coral, a few snails, maybe a fire shrimp...what do you recommend for a colorful, active fish that would be happy in this small home? For lighting I'm thinking one of those screw in LEDs that fit a regular socket? For circulation I may just use the return line....thoughts?

 

I have seen this one vase nano that was incredible. guy had several mini tanks that were absolutely incredible. I dont know the site but I did post a link for it at one time here.

 

If I go hrough with this, it has to be cool looking. No visible wires/cables/hoses/powerhead/heater. I'm thinking maybe machining a piece of aluminum (or wood) to make a base for the vase, drill a hole through the bottom of the glass vase for a bulkhead, attach a piece of 1/2" rigid tubing as my overflow and drill holes through all my rock so the rocks go over the rigid tubing to hide it, same for the return.

for lighting I was thinking of a 5xLED Par38 screw on bulb (3xwhite, 2xroyal blues)

I'm thinking if I can get enough flow from the return, I probably don't need a circulation pump.

For the return from my main system sump, I could t-off from my existing MAG9.5 return that I had to restrict a bit due to too much flow....now I can open it up a bit more or all the way.

My only concern with having this on my bar is that when we get drunk, someone might get the great idea of getting the fish drunk too.

 

well, I do know that lots of people are dosing Vodka in their tanks.

New pico reef, 3 years old 1 gallon vase

there are vids in that link to what I was talking about.

http://www.instructables.com/community/Reef-Globes-worlds-smallest-balanced-reef-aquariu/

 

I'm thinking you shouldn't get fish, because after rock, sand, coral the fish will have what .5 gallons to swim in.

 

I'm thinking of a small diameter but tall rock piller in the center just to hide the plumbing that will come up through the center of the vase, I wouldn't be filling it up with rock so a small fish should be OK.

The 5-LED PAR38 screw in bulbs are kinda pricy ($120), I might have to make my own. Anyone know what LED driver I should use if I'm trying to run 4-5 CREE LEDs? What are my other options for a cheap LED spot light that would give some color and grow some soft corals?

 

BoostLED

they are only 60 bucks right now!

 

boost led is half that price although they are new.

 

thanks guys, one of those would do the trick...I'm thinking 3xRoyal Blues, 2xWhite....now I just need to find a cool vase ~2-3 gallons and get it drilled.

I'm thinking this guy might make a nice addition:

http://www.saltwaterfish.com/zoomify.asp?catalogid=552&img=assets/images/534_purplebackpseudochromisnjbeacher.jpg

 

if you HAD to get a fish, i would say clown goby, (yellow or green) or a gecko goby (white with blackish stripes) both only get 1 inch long