My 5.5g AGA setup (Pics)
- Thread starter sjm1978
- Start date
shinosuke
New member
I like the idea! I have a 5.5 AGA tank that I was going to do something similair with, but I didn't have the lights sitting around for it, and it would cost me over $100 to get the kind of lights that I want to use, sooo.. I think I'll just watch your thread and see how yours turns out!
I wanted to get 2x 32w PC bulbs, as well, one actinic and one 50/50 or 10,000k, so I could do the dawn / dusk lighting effect.
Looks like you're off to a good start.
~Adam D.
I wanted to get 2x 32w PC bulbs, as well, one actinic and one 50/50 or 10,000k, so I could do the dawn / dusk lighting effect.
Looks like you're off to a good start.
~Adam D.
sjm1978
Active member
ok i went and bought a aquaclear 30 today and then modded it into a fuge. im gonna put it on the tank tomorrow after the silicone is cured and run floss in it until the tank is cycled also i want to run floss in it to get the water cleared up from the sand. the tank was clear enough this morning so i could see to aquascape so i did but now its cloudy again 
i also found the 2 brandnew 80mm fans i had. i need to drill the side of the canopy and install them. im thinking of putting only 1 fan at first and see how it does and if i needs 2 ill add the second one.
list/prices:
5.5g AGA tank $11.99
64w of PC lighting from my 24g aquapods stock hood
50w visi-threm stealth heater $29.99
10-15 pounds of Aragamax sand (sugar sized) Free
5 pounds of Tonga Fusion live rock $4.50 a pound total $22.50
mj900 had it allready
coralife digital thermometer had it allready
reef crystals salt had it allready
aquaclear 30 $40.00
2x 80mm fans had them allready
Total Price without tax sofar = $104.48
i also found the 2 brandnew 80mm fans i had. i need to drill the side of the canopy and install them. im thinking of putting only 1 fan at first and see how it does and if i needs 2 ill add the second one.list/prices:
5.5g AGA tank $11.99
64w of PC lighting from my 24g aquapods stock hood
50w visi-threm stealth heater $29.99
10-15 pounds of Aragamax sand (sugar sized) Free
5 pounds of Tonga Fusion live rock $4.50 a pound total $22.50
mj900 had it allready
coralife digital thermometer had it allready
reef crystals salt had it allready
aquaclear 30 $40.00
2x 80mm fans had them allready
Total Price without tax sofar = $104.48
sjm1978
Active member
ok i ran the lights on the tank today for a bit the tank didnt heatup at all stayed a constant 80 but the canopy's lid got really hot. i have decided im gonna go ahead and buy the 2x18 Watt Current USA PowerCompact Dual Satellite Fixture and use it instead. http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=CU01011 im not sure if im gonna mount the new light fixture into the canopy or just take the canopy off. i also got the aquaclear 30 onto the tank and filled it with floss for now. the water is very clear now. i also removed the mj900 that thing blows the sand around so much. im gonna get a smaller powerhead maybe one of the mini-jets or a mj400 something not to powerful that blows the sand around.
heres my test results sofar
date: 4/09/07
salinity 1.025
ph 8.2
ammonia 0.25
nitrite 0.25
nitrate 0
calcium 430
date: 4/10/07
salinity 1.025
ph 8.2
ammonia 0.25
nitrite 0.50
nitrate <5
calcium 430
heres a pic from today the glass still has some sand stuff on it.
heres my test results sofar
date: 4/09/07
salinity 1.025
ph 8.2
ammonia 0.25
nitrite 0.25
nitrate 0
calcium 430
date: 4/10/07
salinity 1.025
ph 8.2
ammonia 0.25
nitrite 0.50
nitrate <5
calcium 430
heres a pic from today the glass still has some sand stuff on it.
Last edited:
sjm1978
Active member
ok i decided im gonna keep the canopy and just buy a 32w sunpaq 50/50 10,000k/460nm bulb and run only 32w. i am still gonna keep the other 32w sunpaq dual actinic bulb and have it only turn on 1 hour before the 50/50 bulb and then off after the 50/50 comes on and then on again when the 50/50 is about to shut off. that way i will still get the dawn to dusk effect but ill only have one 32w bulb running at a time. im also gonna either vent one side of the canopy and put a fan pulling air out on the otherside or im gonna use 2 fans one on eachside one blowing air in the other pulling air out so it will keep the bulbs cool so they cant heat up the canopy's lid.
sjm1978
Active member
ok the tank is now cycled took 6 days. i also ordered smartpaq 32w 10,000k/460nm bulb should be here in a few days then i need to install the fans in the canopy. then ill start running the lights and once brown diatom cycle hits ill add a cleanup crew to keep it in check. once the diatom cycles is over ill start adding corals.
heres my test results
date: 4/09/07 cycle started
salinity 1.025
ph 8.2
ammonia 0.25
nitrite 0.25
nitrate 0
calcium 430
date: 4/10/07
salinity 1.025
ph 8.2
ammonia 0.25
nitrite 0.50
nitrate <5
calcium 430
date: 4/14/07 cycle finshed
salinity 1.025
ph 8.2
ammonia 0
nitrite 0
nitrate 0
calcium 430
heres my test results
date: 4/09/07 cycle started
salinity 1.025
ph 8.2
ammonia 0.25
nitrite 0.25
nitrate 0
calcium 430
date: 4/10/07
salinity 1.025
ph 8.2
ammonia 0.25
nitrite 0.50
nitrate <5
calcium 430
date: 4/14/07 cycle finshed
salinity 1.025
ph 8.2
ammonia 0
nitrite 0
nitrate 0
calcium 430
sjm1978
Active member
ok i recived my smartpak 32w 10,000k/460nm bulb yesturday the tank looks really nice with it. today i drilled a hole in the canopy to install one 80mm fan i have two but im testing it with one fan and its doing really good. i have it pulling air out and the bulb are not even getting hot now. if i endup needing the second fan ill drill a hole in the otherside of the canopy and install it but sofar one seems to be good enough. im now running the lights and as soon as the brown diatoms come im gonna add a clenup crew.
the fan is on in the pic
both of my tanks i might buy another stand like my aquapods stand its a lee-mar stand ill buy the lee-mar aquapod 12g stand for the 5.5g tank. the 5.5g had actinic on only in the pic thats why it looks so blue.
the fan is on in the pic
both of my tanks i might buy another stand like my aquapods stand its a lee-mar stand ill buy the lee-mar aquapod 12g stand for the 5.5g tank. the 5.5g had actinic on only in the pic thats why it looks so blue.
SugarFox03
Animal Behaviorist
Any updates? I'm debating on starting a 5.5g tank. I love the idea of using the lights from the AquaPod...I have the same lights sitting around not doing anything! I also have the tank and some rock that I'm not using. I also have an old canopy for the tank, but I don't like it much...so I'm not sure I'd use that.
Anyway, thanks for the ideas. I'd love to see an update if you have one!
Anyway, thanks for the ideas. I'd love to see an update if you have one!
sjm1978
Active member
just a quick update its starting to get diatoms i put a cleanup crew in.
i also drilled the otherside of the canopy and installed a second fan to keep the lights even cooler i have both fans pulling air out of the canopy. i topoff once a day with 2cups of ro/di so evap isnt bad at all. the temp stays between 79.5 to 80.1
yea i use a the master test kit. for salinity i use a refractometer.
i also drilled the otherside of the canopy and installed a second fan to keep the lights even cooler i have both fans pulling air out of the canopy. i topoff once a day with 2cups of ro/di so evap isnt bad at all. the temp stays between 79.5 to 80.1
yea i use a the master test kit. for salinity i use a refractometer.
StunnaShadez
New member
nice
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