Saltwaterfish.com › Forums › Saltwater Fish Forum › Nano Tanks › 5.5 Gallon FOWLR Setup
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

5.5 Gallon FOWLR Setup

post #1 of 14
1/9/12 at 9:08pm
Thread Starter 

Iam looking to do a FOWLR in a 5.5 Gallon tank

 

What should i use for lighting? Since there will be no corals what can i use

Filtration? Should i just let the LR and LS with a powerhead do the filtering or a small HOB ?

 

Reply
post #2 of 14
1/9/12 at 9:29pm

You can pick up a 50/50 Compact Fluorescent for like $10 just for color! From experience with small systems, that light will create algea like nobody's business! Unless you use RO/DI water and keep feeding to a minimum to prevent phosphates to shoot up!

 

For Filtration, A HOB with polyfiber pad with activated carbon will do fine! Downside with these, you'll have lots of salt creep all over!

 

What fish did you have in mind?

Reply
post #3 of 14
1/10/12 at 5:27am
Quote:
Originally Posted by cutlass View Post

Iam looking to do a FOWLR in a 5.5 Gallon tank

 

What should i use for lighting? Since there will be no corals what can i use

Filtration? Should i just let the LR and LS with a powerhead do the filtering or a small HOB ?

 


If you can't do a sump system (best method), I would recommend a canister filter. A HOB will indeed create salt-creep. Get the 50/50 light Red tiger mentioned. However it will cost more than $10.00 I don't think you can put a 50/50 bulb in a regular fish light, I could be wrong....I know you have to match up the watts, but it will prevent algae and make the fish and tank look better. A nice two bulb T5 HO will work as well, cost around $120.00

 

You don't want a lid on a SW tank. The oxygen in saltwater is less than fresh, so you need the top open to allow as much air as possible, make sure you have enough power heads as well. The wave is the life of the ocean, and your SW tank.

 

At the top of the New Hobbyists section, there is a thread called 101 tips for starting out...read that, it will help.


Edited by Flower - 1/10/12 at 5:43am
Reply
post #4 of 14
1/10/12 at 6:01am

get a clamp on terranium light or one with a reflector from home depot and put a 50/50 bulb in it from the pet store. Also they make small filters for small tanks!

Reply
post #5 of 14
1/10/12 at 12:30pm
Thread Starter 
Alright so I prices a few things out, I decided with clamp on light with a cfl bulb and a pico powerhead thats 100gph I figured that should be enough
Reply
post #6 of 14
1/10/12 at 1:04pm

hydor pico powerheads are 180gph or 300gph... wat kind did u get?

you will still need some kind of filtration for a tank that small! Sponge, carbon, ceramic bacteria ring things.... ect.

Reply
post #7 of 14
1/10/12 at 5:34pm
Thread Starter 

I actually came across a NANO kit at my LFS for a nice price. It came with a HOB with adjustable flow and clamp on compact fluorescent 50/50. I got some live sand and fiji rock set everything up in a timely manner and shes up and running and the waters clearing up as we speak!

Reply
post #8 of 14
1/10/12 at 5:39pm
Thread Starter 

Heres a pic i just took of itNANO.jpg

Reply
post #9 of 14
1/10/12 at 6:26pm

thats a really cute tank. what fish are you planning on keeping?

 

Reply
post #10 of 14
1/10/12 at 6:47pm
Thread Starter 

a small goby and cleanup crew and since i wasnt planning having enough lighting to have some corals and now i do, some softies are in the near future.

 

Reply
post #11 of 14
1/10/12 at 7:25pm

what kind of lighting are you going to use? maybe a led strip?

 

Reply
post #12 of 14
1/10/12 at 7:49pm
Thread Starter 

well my kit came with CFL 13w 50/50 bulb that to me is plenty enough it lights my room up!

Reply
post #13 of 14
1/11/12 at 5:54am

ya u could put mushrooms and some plays or zoos in it! Maybe some kind leather...

Reply
post #14 of 14
1/11/12 at 4:51pm
Thread Starter 

well i picked up some more live rock to finish it up looks awesome will upload some pics!

Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Nano Tanks
Saltwaterfish.com › Forums › Saltwater Fish Forum › Nano Tanks › 5.5 Gallon FOWLR Setup