My 5 gal nano winter project

ParanoidObseshn

ParanoidObseshn

New member
Due to the fact that I am off for a month for a semester break from college I decided to build a Nano reef.
I purchased a 5.5 gal AGA.
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I wanted to eliminate anything hanging out from the back of the tank so I got a piece of acrylic so I could make in internal overflow. I cut the piece to size, cut slots in the one side of it and then bent it to fit in the corner. The one section is where the water is going to go in and will house the Chaeto algae it will then go under the devider where there will be a sponge to block debris, and then the other section will house the heater and power head. The holes cut in the sides are for the loc-line that will come from the power head.
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I recently bought a Current Nova Extreme T5 HO 18' fixture to go above this tank.
More pictures will be put up as the project progresses.

Still looking for about 10lbs of live rock to put in this tank, if there is anyone close to the scranton area that has any they want to sell then pm me. Also open to advice or tips that anyone might have, Thanks!
 
This should be interesting... I would like to setup a nano myself. I know who to ask now... I will keep my eye on this thread.
 
I bought an 18" Current Nova Extreme T5 HO Light Fixture, 1- 18 watt 10k bulb and 1- 18 watt actinic bulb. Giving a total of 36 watts over the tank.

Believe it or not I bought it from Linens and Things, and they sell a good variety of aquarium equipment and most items are cheaper than other places I have seen. It was selling for $79 on ebay, and $60 on other aquarium websites. Bought it on there for $44 total.
 
ParanoidObseshn said:
I bought an 18" Current Nova Extreme T5 HO Light Fixture, 1- 18 watt 10k bulb and 1- 18 watt actinic bulb. Giving a total of 36 watts over the tank.

Believe it or not I bought it from Linens and Things, and they sell a good variety of aquarium equipment and most items are cheaper than other places I have seen. It was selling for $79 on ebay, and $60 on other aquarium websites. Bought it on there for $44 total.
Click to expand...

where is linen and things located
 
Today I did a little more on the tank. I Painted the overflow with flat black krylon Fusion spray paint.
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Got silicone to mount the overflow into the tank. Aquarium safe
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Have been looking for a small power head to put into the small section of the overflow and while walking through Harbor Freight today I found one on sale $9.99. 145gph submersible pump, with waterflow adjuster. Has a small footprint. 1 3/4 x 2 x 2 1/2.
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Went to Lowes and got a glass lid cut out. 7 1/2 x 15".
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Today I mounted the overflow into the tank and then painted the back panel. Here are the pics.
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I left the back 1/3 of the tank unpainted where the overflow is because I want to be able to see in there to make sure everything is fine. I might also want to place a small light behind the tank to shine on the Chaeto that will be in the first chamber. Tomorrow I will probably clean the tank out, hook up the heater and filtration, put in the substrate, and add some water in from my other tank.
My T5 HO light fixture should be here tomorrow as well.
 
Well the Build stage is basically done. This was by far the hardest part to due considering the small area I had to try to fit the pump, loc-line, and my hand into. It was a relief to finally get everything hooked up.
Running the tank with regular water now to clean everything out. Going to drain it later, put in the heater and the substrate.
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Any comments or suggestions are Welcome!
 
the pump from HF uses a steal alloy shaft i had some inverts die using that pump JMO i would watch it. they have one that has a ceramic shaft but i think it would be a little large for your setup? if you still want some LR i have some for $3lb. LMK Goodluck
 
Moved the tank upstairs next to my 20 gal and put in the sand and mixed in some crushed coral with it. Added the heater and temp probe. The Tank will be like this until I get some live rock to put into it, which should be sometime next week.
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The tank has been running well. There might be a little to much flow on the front right corner so I may need to move around the loc-line to change the flow. I am probably going to get some small Nassarius snails soon to clean up the diatom bloom that is all over the substrate on the bottom. The temp has been roughly between 75 and 76 degrees over the past several days. I will hopefully be getting some live rock this week as well.
Also looking for some corals for the tank. If anyone has some LPS, zoanthids, polyps that they are looking to trim back or frag just let me know what you might have.

More pics will be posted as I add more items.
 
SeaWeed89 said:
the pump from HF uses a steal alloy shaft i had some inverts die using that pump JMO i would watch it. they have one that has a ceramic shaft but i think it would be a little large for your setup? if you still want some LR i have some for $3lb. LMK Goodluck
Click to expand...

I was thinking the same thing - easiest thing is to go to the hobby shop and find the smallest carbon-fiber rod. You can sand it down if need be, but in the long run probably better to pick up a Mj400. The pump you mention is really for the 'water feature' trinkets and waterfalls, not for saltwater applications. The shaft will likely corrode in a rather short period of time.
 
Today I got some blue leg hermit crabs and nassarius snails and a green clown goby. I also got some live rock and a small frag of bubble coral and frogspawn. I used about 10lbs of live rock in the tank. Here are some updated pictures.
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If anyone near Scranton/Wilkesbarre that has any Trumpet/Candy cane coral for sale let me know.
 
I bought a green clown goby for this tank. All he does right now is hide behind the live rock during the day, and I am currently going through the process of trying to get him to eat. I also picked up another clown goby because he looked pretty interesting. He is like a hybrid of a green clown goby and a yellow clown goby. I couldnt really get a picture of him because he likes to hide, and I couldnt find anything about them online but I did find one picture. Mine is like that but without the black spot near the gills
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