5.5 gal ideas

[ubuntu.powered]

So, the other day my buddy convinced me to start up a salt water tank and i happen to have a 5.5 gal sitting in the closet unused and am thinking of using it. Now i have a few concerns i am looking at getting an AquaClear 20 powerhead should this be enough or should i go with something more plus I've heard some things about using RO water how important is this? plus any other advise for a small setup like this would be appreciated.

 

[alexmir]

I have found RO water to be very important. It helps keep your levels down. If your putting it in a 5 gallon it is definitely worth the 40 cents a gallon it costs to keep the levels down in that small of a tank.
Is this your first saltwater tank?

 

[ubuntu.powered]

Yes this will be my first salt water tank, and now have a few new questions like how much live rock should i be putting in this tank i was thinking 5 lbs, plus i have a canister filter should i put this on, and how many fish can this support if any?

 

[bjoe23]

I dont think that you need a canister filter on a 5.5 gallon. Try using a Bio-wheel flter. THe average amout of live rock per gallon is 1.5-2 lbs. You might be able to get a clown goby i there

 

[ubuntu.powered]

So this is the first photo of the tank. i have 2 lbs of sand not sure if i want to put it in im kinda liking the bare bottom. i dropped in 5 lbs of rock and got a 130 gph powerhead.

So if you have any suggestions please let me know.

 

[howardj]

Lookin' Good

 

[new2salt1]

WHat kind of lighting? DO you plan on coral?
If you are going to add coral, I wouldn't add too much more live rock, especially if you are buying frags attached to rock. Maybe just a few, small, strategically-placed pieces of rock to create a good foundation.
You may want to consider just a light dusting of aragonite to give your clean-up-crew something to play in, but I like the bare bottom too. Easy to keep clean. But with space being limited, you may want to use the floor for coral, in which case you should have a substrate.
On fish, I just added a 1/4" false perc to my 3 gal today, and I am probably going to take it back to the store tomorrow. I wanted to try it, but I believe it is too risky, with all the feeding that is required. You might get away with a clown, I agree. But watch your feeding. I would turn off all flow so nothing is swept away when you feed, and only feed enough so the fish can finish it all in 1 minute. If he is still hungry, add a little more, but be very very careful.

 

[nanoreef]

Originally Posted by New2Salt1
http:///forum/post/2449533
WHat kind of lighting? DO you plan on coral?
If you are going to add coral, I wouldn't add too much more live rock, especially if you are buying frags attached to rock. Maybe just a few, small, strategically-placed pieces of rock to create a good foundation.
You may want to consider just a light dusting of aragonite to give your clean-up-crew something to play in, but I like the bare bottom too. Easy to keep clean. But with space being limited, you may want to use the floor for coral, in which case you should have a substrate.
On fish, I just added a 1/4" false perc to my 3 gal today, and I am probably going to take it back to the store tomorrow. I wanted to try it, but I believe it is too risky, with all the feeding that is required. You might get away with a clown, I agree. But watch your feeding. I would turn off all flow so nothing is swept away when you feed, and only feed enough so the fish can finish it all in 1 minute. If he is still hungry, add a little more, but be very very careful.

yeah take that clown back he wont last long in a 3 gallon the minimum requirement for these guys is at least a 10 gallon !