5.5 gallon questions (1 Viewer)

[Salty]

Looking to set up my first nano a 5.5g and have a couple questions.
Planning on putting maybe a bubble anenome, pair clowns or gobies, shrimps and snails, and maybe some softies, live sand and live rock.

Would a 70 watt HQI be enough light ?
Do i need a skimmer or will a HOB fiter be enough?
Was looking at skilter filters are these any good?

I dont have much experience with reef had one tank years ago and looking to start up again. so any general knowledge about lighting or fitration would help. Thanks.

 

[Raymond]

i ran a full 5.5 mixed reef b4 with 2x18 watts PC with a whisper 10 HOB for years.

 

[Metzzen]

As raymond said, they can be run with VERY minimal equipment and as long as you keep it to simple corals you will be fine. I went a little different by running an internal fuge with cheato, rubble and charcoal. I used a 70W metal halide to light it and the corals loved it. It is definatly enough light. One thing to concider is going to be heat. I had to run a 80mm fan blowing over the top of the water surface to keep the tank temps normal and that was with the light ~6" above the water.

Idealy you could get a 18" sapphire aquatics HOB fuge/skimmer combo. it will be a little wider that the tank but it will have all your equiptment and filtration all in one. Stick your heater in there, 8" stealth heater. Then get a Koralia nano and your good.

 

[Timanator]

I would go with a All In one tank if this is your first Salt water tank. This way atleast you are ready for most softies and zoas right from the start.

Bubble Tip Anemone's are not the hardiest to keep in a new tank. Most tend to not do so while after some time. A slightly larger tank is prob better for reef since LR takes up alot of display area, and most corals you buy will come with some rock attached.

Hope that helps?

 

[Salty]

5.5 gallon another question

I am cuurently running a diy AC 300 / 70 fuge i have not trimmed the impeller but i have turned down the flow by slideing the intake all the way over is this enough/ too much flow or should i put a small powerhead in there or trim impeller?

 

[bdblkta1]

http://www.marshreef.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=32060

here is my very minimal setup. been up just under a year now. just be on top of your water changes and you should be fine.

 

[cgftcb]

your fine ive been running a jbj nano 6 stock for 4 years and have kept it all, lps, sps, clams, soft, BTAs, no problems with any of them, just make sure placement is right for lighting and flow with that little pump and be religious with weekly water changes

 

[Salty]

thanks to everyone its been awhile since i did salt and it was more of a FOWLR system b4 so trying to do reef i've been reading alot and having to ask some question. much appreciation to all that have helped.