5 1/2 setup

[ivy2dw7]

I'm wanting to set up a 5 1/2 gallon (all-glass aquarium) for my dorm room and just want to go through everything and make sure I'm doing everything right. I've had a 37g reef running since January and the hobby is so addictive, I don't think I could live without some sort of fish tank in my dorm. So anyways, the 5 1/2 is 16x8x10" and my lfs does have a glass top that fits it. The tank has a deal where you can get the tank, hood, digital thermometer, heater, whisper filter and 10 lbs of gravel for $45. What I'm thinking is trade the whisper and gravel for a Millenium 1000. I'm thinking it would probably be enough waterflow so I wouldn't need a powerhead. Also 15 pounds of live sand, maybe more, and 10 pounds live rock to start to see how that looks. The problem is lighting. I've found 2 12" PC light fixtures but I can't find any prices online so I'm not sure how much either would be. For stocking the tank, I'm not sure how many inverts would be good and I think only one small fish would work in that size like a goby. I doubt two would work but this is where your suggestions come in. Also if I have enough wattage I'd like to keep some sort of corals if at all possible. Help me out so I can keep the addiction while I'm in my dorm.

 

[ivy2dw7]

I had another thought while sitting here staring at my tanks. I have a 10g fresh right now, it's a piece of crap to say the least. This tank had been in storage for quite a few years and I'm surprised it isn't cracked. I've had it running with just a pair of shell dwelling cichlids for about a year now and even though they're fun to watch sculpting the sand, they're extremely messy. It's impossibly to keep the tank clean and I've been thinking of just taking them back to the lfs for awhile now. I have a Millenium 2000 on this tank and a glass top, I also have a mini-jet 404 powerhead in my quarantine that hasn't been running for a few months. All I'd need to buy is a new tank which is around $10, a thermometer to stick on the side, and a light fixture. Then of course the sand and rock and everything else.
But it all depends on what kind of space I have in my dorm room. With a 10g I would most likely have to find a stand for it whereas I could easily just have the 5 1/2g on the computer desk next to the monitor.

 

[mimzy]

I know lotsa folks with their 10's on their desks.
I've got a 12gallon - 11 gallons of water, 15lbs of substarte and 21 lbs of rock total, and it's "stand" is a simple cabinet that I bought at Bed Bath and Beyond for $26.00.
Don't mean to tempt fate, but if you can sit on ur desk without worying about it - then u can probably put your tank on there too! :yes:

 

[ivy2dw7]

Well I know the desks they provide in the dorms are only 3 1/2' long and 2' wide so there wouldn't be enough room for a 10g and a monitor. Plus I'm really tight on extra space in the room. Right now it's looking like I have just enough room for the bed, desk, tv, nightstand and the mini fridge/microwave they provide. There is also a big closet type thing in the room, I'm can go see the room or at least a model of the room on Monday so I can see what the closet looks like. It may turn out that there is room in the "closet" for an aquarium, so we'll have to see. Right now I just want to make sure I have the right idea for a set up whether i got w/the 5 1/2 or the 10, and need ideas on pricing on lighting and what kind everyone uses with tanks these sizes. I definitely won't be able to afford MHs but wouldn't a 36w (10,000k/true blue actinic) be enough wattage in a 5 1/2 to keep more than just mushrooms? That's 6.5wpg. That's more than what I have on my 37g right now. What kind of corals would I be able to keep under that light?

 

[jeo]

will this be your first year at college?

 

[teresaq1]

you could keep a couple of clown gobies or a court jester in a 5 gal. also you should be about to keeps zoo's toadstool, kenya tree, colt, with those lights.

 

[ivy2dw7]

Yup first year at college. It's in my hometown, I live 5 minutes from the dorm I'm assigned to so moving the tank isn't going to be a problem. If it were in another town I'd be sticking to freshwater but if I'm able to pull off a nano reef, I'm going to do it. For a filter in either one of these size tanks, would it be better to take the carbon out and just fill with live rubble?

 

[ivy2dw7]

Oh and if I go with the 10g, would a 96w 50/50 work well? I don't want it to be so much that it would bleach out mushrooms or zoos, but it'd be nice if I could keep a brain or something that needs stronger lighting.

 

[jeo]

Just my personal experience as a college student who brought a nano to college as a first year student: the excitement of being in colege for the first time caused my tank to take a back seat to everything else that was going on. Over the summer I was totally into it but once I got to college there were so many other things to think about that aquariums in general were not really on my mind. So, you might want to at least wait until second semester once you have the whole college lifestyle scouted out and have a better idea if having a reef in your room is really something you want and will have the time for.

 

[ivy2dw7]

I have practically been in college for the past year, taking classes there, all that stuff. I know that isn't what you mean, but I'm going to be in a single so having some other lifeforms in the room would be nice and I know what I'd be getting myself into. If it doesn't work I would just put whatever I got for the dorm tank into my 37g at home and make it just a freshwater for a betta or something like that. I'd really like to pull this off though.

 

[jeo]

yeah I guess it wouldn't be hard to change your mind and bring it home at least.

 

[ivy2dw7]

Now that that's out of the way I need some help figuring out the filtration/water flow for a 10g. Right now I'm just going to hope that I can get a 10g into the room and if when I see the room next week it looks like it'll be impossible, then I can start thinking about the 5 1/2. If I take the carbon out of the Millenium 2000 and fill the back with live rubble and then use my mini-jet 404 on one side of the tank, will that be enough water flow? I could have the filter on one end of the tank and then have the powerhead on the other end. And then with a 10g I could get a watchman goby and a firefish. Or some kind of pair along those lines, one bottom dweller and one top dweller. The only thing I'd need to buy aside from live stuff is the lighting and I'm thinking 96w PC. I'd like to just keep zoos, leathers, maybe mushrooms, and other soft corals. Any ideas on other lighting?

 

[sandiegan]

Goodluck keeping the nano going. For your water flow, I think you could probably get away with just using the HOB filter you have. Then again, extra flow usually can't hurt, although in a 10 there is a max...Personally I'd either use the HOB either just for flow or run carbon in it to help keep the water the cleanest. Either that, or put some chaeto or other macroalgae and use it as a fuge. I'm not sure of the compatability of a firefish and watchman, so might want to look into that. Another option is a goby/pistol combo plus a free swimming fish. I don't mean to be cliche, but you could always get a clown, always makes the girls go "oooh, how cute you have a nemo" blah blah blah As for lighting, you could use a 96W quad, or 2x55, or 1x55 or 2x32 or 1x.....you get the picture. 96W is definitely enough for I think all softies. Heck I have a 10g w/ only 55w on it right now and my zoos and shrooms are doing just fine. It all depends on your budget man....well goodluck in college, don't forget to study, and don't forget to do water changes ;-)