Building a 5.5 Nano

[hgbarwick]

Hello everyone. I am thinking about setting up a 5.5 gallon nano. I want it t be mainly a clam tank, I am planning on doing metal hailides. What kind of Metal Hailide set ups do think you be best for my tank? I also need help on the filteration if anyone has any ideas. I am keeping a 90 gallon reef and a 12 gallon aquapod reef so I have experience. Thanks.
Hgbarwick

 

[sir_dudeguy]

if you're gonna do a MH on a 5.5 nano, then i think i'd go with the70 watt one..i dont think they make a smaller one but i could be wrong. But 70 watts of MH over 5 gallons...well you'll be able to grow clams thats for sure

i'm thinking i saw it at doc foster and smith or hellolights.com
check out drs foster/smith first tho...i'm sure it was there.

 

[hgbarwick]

OK thanks. So any ideas on filteration?

 

[mr pink floyd]

BIG sump to keep params in check easier

 

[hgbarwick]

OK thanks. So how big of sump are we looking at?

 

[sir_dudeguy]

for filtration go for at least 1 pound of live rock per gallon of water...but remember..more is better, and you have to calculate in any water thats in a sump too.

for a sump...you can go with whatever fits. I would say go for the biggest possible, but a 10 would be fine. Also, if you plan on having a skimmer, 10 might be a little small (not enough space in there)

But i would say try to get around 15 if you can fit it, and then cram it full of live rock, or you could just use it for a fuge and for heaters and stuff.

Oh, and one more thing to remember, you wont be filling the sump up all the way, so if you only get a 10 gallon tank, you're only gonna be adding like 6 gallons or so...which helps ya, but if you go with a 20 or so, you'd be able to use the added water volume a little more.

 

[Agu]

If you're going to do all that why not just use a bigger tank ?

Regarding filtration, clams don't need water as pristine as an SPS tank. Being filter feeders a bit of food in the water column isn't necessarily a bad thing.

A ten gallon with a 150 MH fixture would be a good choice imo. Modify an Aquaclear into a refugium, use a DSB, only have enough rock to provide places for clams that live on rock (around 10 pounds), and don't overstock with fish.




jmo,

 

[sir_dudeguy]

If you're going to do all that why not just use a bigger tank ?

true, but some just like the look of smaller nanos. a 10 is small yes, but i mean like this 5.5.

If you've got this on a desk or something, its kinda nice to have a small little tank on the top, but if you can it would also be nice to have a larger sump down below, you know what i mean?

 

[hgbarwick]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8014930#post8014930 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Agu
If you're going to do all that why not just use a bigger tank ?

Regarding filtration, clams don't need water as pristine as an SPS tank. Being filter feeders a bit of food in the water column isn't necessarily a bad thing.

A ten gallon with a 150 MH fixture would be a good choice imo. Modify an Aquaclear into a refugium, use a DSB, only have enough rock to provide places for clams that live on rock (around 10 pounds), and don't overstock with fish.

The aquaclear with a refugium sounds good. I might add a small goby or something but that would be down the road.


jmo,

 

[818]

Are you kidding me? Its a 5.5g tank? Just do water changes.

 

[sir_dudeguy]

Are you kidding me? Its a 5.5g tank? Just do water changes.

are you saying to not get a sump and just do water changes to keep the water nicer? What about when it evaps? 5 gallons of water with just a little bit of evap is gonna change the sg a lot more than it would in say a 50 gallon tank. But yes, to keep the water clean and nitrate free, the water changes should be enough, altho the added water from a sump will help "dilute" the stuff in the water, or make it less consentrated or however you wanna put it.

 

[pitbullpooch]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8014930#post8014930 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Agu
If you're going to do all that why not just use a bigger tank ?




jmo,

i think the smaller the better when it comes to nanos. to me the 10 gallons dont look nice at all. i went from a 5.5 and now starting a 2.5 again since i miss the one i had. also all i have for filtration is 6 pounds live rock and i do a water change every week and thats it. i do run carbon im my hob once in awhile. i have had great sucess with sps in the 2.5s in the past with 70 watt m/h so a clam should be fine with that in a 5.5

 

[Daemonfly]

An Aquaclear 110 filter will fit on a 5.5g and are easily modified into fuges. I have one on my 5.5g. You just have to remove the black ring on the intake tube & set it on it's lowest setting. I shaved the impeller down 1mm, but now I'm regretting it now that everything has developed a biofilm, etc.. & it runs slower.

 

[hgbarwick]

I am going to d an Aquaclear 110 fuge. I will be using water from my 90 gallon reef so it will be established. Could you do one small fish? If so got any ideas?