5g Nano

[serastor]

Quite possibly one of the smallest tanks I have ever set-up/owned!

I want to stock with Macro algae, some Mushrooms and some Zoanthids...

Still on the fence about adding fish.. have been thinking about adding a Rainfords goby, yellow striped cardinal, a bangai cardinal, a dwarf sp. of pipefish, clown goby, or maybe a black ray shrimp goby with a pistol shrimp--but still leaning more toward no fish..

I do plan on having a small clean-up crew.. regardless of whether I add a fish or not...a few blue leg hermits, 2 margarita snails, a star astrea, 3 nassirius snails. Not sure if I should have an emerald crab or not...

I have never set up a nano tank this small, so I am having trouble finding what I think would be a good filter... any suggestions??

[serastor]

Re: 5g Nano

thinking about using an Aquaclear filter..one rated for 20+ gallons--is there any such thing as too much flow? I am also going to put a Koralia 240 nano powerhead in there too--Kinda worried that the intake will be burried in the sand... And for lighting I want to use a 20" current T-5 light strip.

[CauseMisaHasTheEyes]

Re: 5g Nano

I'm pretty sure that no cardinalfish standard in the trade would be happy in a 5 gallon. Some of the tinier gobies, maybe, but even then probably only 1 fish.

[serastor]

Re: 5g Nano

After much debate.. I have decided to also include.. an Aquaclear filter retrofitted to be a Refugium :) Any good clamp lights out there that anyone would recommend for such a small fuge-- that of course doesn't cost a down payment on a new car? ;P



sOOOoooo....My equipment list for My Nano so far:
5 gallon Tank--(Check)
Glass lid-- (gotta keep the cats out)
18" Current T-5 OR Marineland double bright LED
Aquaclear 20 (filter)
Aquaclear 50(refugium)
Surface skimmer
Hydor LED blue aquarium accent light
Koralia Nano powerhead
Un-decided light for refugium...

Stock List:
Sand 5-10lbs ( 2inches in the front, 3inches in the back..maybe deeper)
Live Rock (roughly 10lbs--want an archipelago scape, not a back-filled look)
Refugium mud
Macro Algae for my Refugium
Red 'ribbon' kelp
Riccordia Mushrooms
Blue Zoanthids
Lemon kenya tree
Red Montipora, or some other encrusting coral (cant decide what/if to add)
Black Sun Polyp--maybe
Organ Pipe Coral
Blue Leg hermits
Nassirius snails
Star Astrea Snail
Margarita snails--or bumble bee snails

[serastor]

Re: 5g Nano

UPDATE :)

Its been up and running for a few months so thought I would post an update.

I went with the corallife 24" reef compatable LED light.
Using a Marineland Filter with bio wheel as my main filter, and using the Aqua clear as a refugium; chunks of LR and a nice clump of cheato. Also had to ad a heater now that its cold in the house.

Livestock:
Green Dragons eye zoos, Tubbs Blue Zoos, Florida orange ricordea, Galaxia, and
went with a black ray goby and a pistol shrimp for my fish. Planning on adding some more softies.. xenia, sympodium, and finger leather...

Parameters are pretty good actually--considering the tanks small size... Calcium is at 450ppm, Salinity maintains between 1.0022-- and 1.024 depending on evaporation.. Ph stays around 8.4- sometimes dips to 8.2 before a water change and nitrates/phosphates are kept low via weekily water changes...No room for a HOB skimmer... so I have made my own out of a small water bottle and air stone, and let it run for 3 days before I do any maint.

[kingfish]

Re: 5g Nano

Updates with some Pictures would be nice.

[Lakehouse]

Re: 5g Nano

:pics:

[serastor]

Re: 5g Nano

pic 1: with daylights on--complete with foggy glass that i forgot to clean...oops.

pic 2: moon lights on


pic 3: Green, yellow, and orange Ricordia