The small size of the tank can make hiding filtration and life support difficult.Water parameter tests will need to be done regularly to monitor water stability.Water conditions can change quickly due to the small volume.You are limited to only keeping corals, invertebrates, and very small fish as the tank will not be able to cope with the bio-load of larger organisms.Water changes done one or two times a week will be required.

They are extremely cheap to set up if you are re-using equipment.

You can choose the shape and size you want, be as creative as you like – Even Mason Jars have been used!.

You will not need to rearrange your room to fit it in!.

Running smaller equipment will save money initial purchase and electricity costs.

Water changes are much cheaper – they use less salt mix than their larger aquarium counterparts.

Let us take a look at the pros and cons of setting up your pico reef tank. With the dedication and complications that can occur with keeping a pico reef tank, they are not recommended for beginners, but if you have a little experience and are up for a challenge, then why not? Depending on the tank you are looking to install, a micro Automatic Top Off system may be easily installed to automate this task.īefore these tiny tanks started to become known, it was thought it was impossible to house coral reefs in such a small body of water, however, aquarium hobbyists rose to the challenge and have proven this wrong! Careful monitoring of evaporation is required due to the possible rapid swing in salinity if left without corrective action. Water changes are advised every couple of days to control the ammonia, pH and salinity levels, as the water volume is so small. The most important ‘take-home’ message to anyone thinking about purchasing a pico reef tank is to not overstock it! Most hobbyists that have successful pico reef tanks usually opt for just hardy coral and small invertebrates such as shrimp, crabs, and snails.

Because of their size, it is not recommended to place larger fish into the aquarium, but something from the goby family is a great choice if you wish to put any fish in there. They require a lot of patience and ‘top-class’ husbandry care because of their small water volume.Īs pico reef tanks only hold 5 gallons of water or less, they require greater maintenance attention than larger aquariums, but the maintenance time is very minimal. Pico reef tanks are the smallest reef aquarium you can get. If you are not convinced yet, I guarantee after you read this article, you will be searching for them on the web! What is a Pico Reef Tank? More experienced aquarium hobbyists are venturing into the world of buying pico reef tanks and whether you are after your second or even third tank, these tanks are a fun challenge. Their small size makes them very susceptible to changes in their water parameters and the livestock added will need very careful selection to ensure success! Preferably for seasoned saltwater aquarists.Īlthough these aquariums look cute, I do not advise beginners to saltwater to attempt setting up a pico reef. Regular maintenance is required to maintain water stability as the small volume of water is very susceptible to parameter fluctuations. Pico Reef Tanks are small saltwater aquariums under 5 gallons consisting of coral, invertebrates, and small fish. They are not for the faint-hearted, but carefully looked after, can make an incredible ‘Desk Pet’! You may have heard of a fairly new trend of saltwater tanks called Pico reef tanks, but are not too sure what they are? Pico reef tanks are a ‘fun-sized’ reef aquarium and are great if you want to place a ‘mini ocean’ in your office or apartment.

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