5.5 Fowlr

[Mike L]

I agree with all the advice here.

The typical new hobbyist, especially with a freshwater background, will not believe the limits of small saltwater aquariums. There are no Damsels, including Clownfish, that are appropriate for a 5.5 gallon system.

A pair of Neon Gobies, or a pair of Clown Gobies could work (not both). These are small sedentary fish that could handle such a small swimming area.

Please don't put a hosting Anemone in there, it will just get you frustrated.

I see no mention of testing kits other than "free vial for water testing at Petsmart". Not knowing water chemistry during the early run-in of a tank is a pretty sure way to kill whatever you add to the tank. Since you already have a damsel, which is very hardy and will probably survive the changes in water chemistry that are occurring, the only thing you will kill is the coral you have bought. This actually will save you money, since you won't have to spend money on the proper lighting to keep the coral alive [/end sarcasm]. Seriously, a 5.5 gallon tank is suitable only for an expert, which you are clearly not. I have been keeping saltwater fish for over 40 years and don't consider myself ready for a 5 gallon tank. I did try a 13 gallon system once, and managed to keep it going for a year, but decided the effort wasn't worth the result, and moved the few organisms in that tank into my 110 gallon system. And I have all of the back-up equipment you would possibly need to maintain saltwater fish (RODI, test kits, algae scrubbers, LED lights, mixing station, etc) and still found the small tank to be too difficult and time consuming.

I have a ph testing kit and petsmart uses the same tests (8$ for 4 of them) they sell. They said my water was perfect actually! I understand the point everyone is making that it's too small, but I've never backed down from a challenge! I said "coral" which it is but it was harvested dead. It's sort of like using a rock for decoration ?

 

[lmforbis]

There are many things that need testing in a salt water tank and imo pH is lower priority. You need to measure ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate during the cycle and after calcium, magnesium, and alkalinity as well.

 

[bang guy]

Perhaps even salinity

 

[Mike L]

Salinity I have the refractometer for and the test at petsmart covers all those things. I'll continue to monitor the ph and salinity as well as go for regular water tests

 

[Mike L]

I attempted to feed the damsel today and he was happy to eat haha poor guy had the munchies

 

[bang guy]

It's exciting to have a new nano build. I just want to see you succeed and not get frustrated. Please think of our posts in that vein.

 

[Kristin1234]

What a terrible idea.

Sorry. Kinda.

Did you add your water, sand and coral and damsel all with a day or 2? I'd be surprised if either survive.

You can't rush things in sw. At all. Even more so if you are on a budget. You need a cycle before introducing anything. You also need some live rock.

Good luck catching that damsel if he does survive.

 

[Mike L]

What a terrible idea.

Sorry. Kinda.

Did you add your water, sand and coral and damsel all with a day or 2? I'd be surprised if either survive.

You can't rush things in sw. At all. Even more so if you are on a budget. You need a cycle before introducing anything. You also need some live rock.

Good luck catching that damsel if he does survive.

The point of having the damsel is to cycle it

 

[Mike L]

I added a supplement that does the cycling instantly as wel

 

[Mike L]

I added a supplement that does the cycling instantly as wel

although I don't trust it 100% so I'm gonna wait a few weeks to do anything else

 

[Kristin1234]

The point of having the damsel is to cycle it

That's pretty cruel.

 

[Kristin1234]

The point of having the damsel is to cycle it

You could have just done it the good ol fashion way and induce a cycle with live rock and a peice of raw shrimp and ghost feeding. No wasted fish life needed.

 

[Kristin1234]

I have a ph testing kit and petsmart uses the same tests (8$ for 4 of them) they sell. They said my water was perfect actually! I understand the point everyone is making that it's too small, but I've never backed down from a challenge! I said "coral" which it is but it was harvested dead. It's sort of like using a rock for decoration ?

If petsmart says your water is good, then it must be.

I'm kidding.

Do not trust these people. The 30 seconds they spend on testing your water is no where near accurate and if you want a reef tank of any kind, you gotta be on the money accurate.

You said you plan on adding live rock later, please know that when you do that you are going to have another ammonia spike and that could harm any living thing in your tank. Even your hardy damsel may not be able to with stand a ammonia spike in a 5.5 gallon. Maybe a 30-40 gallon he'd survive but 5.5 will pollute quick.

That's why we wait for the cycle before we add any livestock.

Like forbis said, a book will do you good. That way you don't flush money or fish down the drain.

At this point if the damsel dies, leave him in there dead. This will cause your true cycle to begin. Invest in your own test kits. Not api test kits. Test your water through out before adding any other livestock. You are going to want to test for nitrates and nitrites, ammnia and ph. This is the basic for a fish only tank. Reef tank, you need a butt load of test kits.

 

[Mike L]

Hi everyone thought I'd make an update to my thread, today I purchased a nice piece of live rock I believe that it's around 6? Ish pounds and a nice little cleaner shrimp who's been a joy to watch. My damsel is doing well and has been devouring his 5 small meals a day.

 

[Mike L]

I took my water to a friend who has a full saltwater test kit and he said everything looks good and apears to be balanced out.

 

[Mike L]

 

[Mike L]

Sand should settle in a couple days.
I'd get a really good book or two.
What are you planning to put in it?
You'll need a heater. You'll eyed RO water. With a tank that side you can get distilled water at Walmart. I'd also get a small power head.

I see no mention of testing kits other than "free vial for water testing at Petsmart". Not knowing water chemistry during the early run-in of a tank is a pretty sure way to kill whatever you add to the tank. Since you already have a damsel, which is very hardy and will probably survive the changes in water chemistry that are occurring, the only thing you will kill is the coral you have bought. This actually will save you money, since you won't have to spend money on the proper lighting to keep the coral alive [/end sarcasm]. Seriously, a 5.5 gallon tank is suitable only for an expert, which you are clearly not. I have been keeping saltwater fish for over 40 years and don't consider myself ready for a 5 gallon tank. I did try a 13 gallon system once, and managed to keep it going for a year, but decided the effort wasn't worth the result, and moved the few organisms in that tank into my 110 gallon system. And I have all of the back-up equipment you would possibly need to maintain saltwater fish (RODI, test kits, algae scrubbers, LED lights, mixing station, etc) and still found the small tank to be too difficult and time consuming.

Lighting by far is the most expensive thing for a reef. Yea skimmers, dosing, ect get up there. However the one single most expensive thing is usually lights. I just spent $300 on mine and I keep fowlr lol

Would a 165 watt led be overkill? I found one at a very good price 30$. It is used ofcourse. Would it conduct too much heat?

 

[lmforbis]

If it is a black box LED they don't put out too much heat. But huge for 5.5 gallon. Good for a 29 gallon.