nate's 5.5 nano log.

[natep206]

got a 5.5 today. we're re wiring the room its goin in tomorrow. so thats when ill be setting it up too. i want a pair of blue striped clowns in my 55 so im gonna put the occ. clown i have in it. maybe another small fish. mostly lps with some nice softies like Zoas, silver xenia and neon green kenya tree. and alot of inverts.

im going to use cured rock and water from my 55 so if a cycle even happens it will only take about a week if that. for filtration im using a ac 20. im gonna just do a small chemi pure and some macro algae for nitrates and for light im using 3x10wtt 50/50 actinic/10k.

thanks
nate :beer:

 

[natep206]

so what do you all think? any suggestions? questions?

nate :beer:

 

[AIMFish]

Good start. I think the AC 20 is going to be to small for Chemi-Pure and chaeto tho, unless it's just a wee bit of chaeto!!

 

[Billy1234]

Looks good. One suggestion: don't use a Mag-Float on a tank that small it always ends up getting scratched. And I think you bought an awful lot of sand for a 5.5

 

[natep206]

thanks guys!

the chemi pure i got will only fill the ac 20 about half way so the top half will but macro algae

and i only got 10 pounds of sand... im probably going to use most of it.


im doing the lighting soon. ill post pictures of the process. im also building the hood later today also. after that once the wiring of the room is done ill post pictures of the tank getting set up.

thanks
nate :beer:

 

[natep206]

2day we made the top.


we used maple :eek2: not cheap stuff

cutting

putin together the peices

sand it all down

 

[natep206]

and its a perfect fit!
FRONT

BIRDS EYE

BACK we made a space in the back to fit the ac 20 in.

2mmorow we r making the lid, base and setting up the lighting then putting finish on the wood. im guessing the tank will have water in it by tuesday late afternoon. any questions tips or comments are apreciated

thanks
nate :beer:

 

[shouldabenacowboy]

Everything is looking very good so far. The only thing I might suggest is to plan ahead and possibly make a space for a fan. I didnt plan for one on my 5.5g hood and had to pop a hole in later...It was a PITA

Keep the pic's a coming

SBC

 

[natep206]

i was thinking about it but do you really think its neccisary for just three screw in coral life bulbs?

 

[BCreefmaker]

are you planning to keep the top open? or have any air holes in the top... if so i would say you porbbably not gunna need a fan those light bulbs stay really cool...

 

[Henry22]

I dont think a clown is gonna work in a 5.5, I mean it can be done, but thats pretty small for a clown. I think a watchman goby, and pistol shrimp is possible. I think the only thing that can go ina 5.5 is a goby.

 

[sir_dudeguy]

you're gonna either have a gap in the back, or sides to allow for ventilation...the lights might get too warm and raise the temp a bit. What i did on my hood for my 55 was make like a 2 inch gap in the sides that allow all my chords in and allows my fan to blow in there.

 

[wav3form]

I would put in at least an exhaust fan, may make the lights last longer.

 

[natep206]

ok so i found a fan that will work perfect! the top is done fan installed. the base is also built. and were working on the wiring as i type (multitasker) we put the finish on 2mmorow! and then set it up wednesday!

ill post a bunch of pictures after were done with the wiring!

thanks
nate :beer:

 

[HAMsmith]

I'm planning a very similar setup. Can I request extra pics of how you rig your lighting?

Tank is looking great!

 

[natep206]

yeah we r finshing everything today so im posting pictures of it all later today.

nate :beer:

 

[Reefing102]

looking good. I too have a 5.5g tank, i have it overstocked but the only problem i have is trates at 20 (but what can you expect with it being overstocked). I also don't have any coral. PM me if you want my stocking list.
awaiting the pics

 

[natep206]

ok so the wood work is done and the lighting is wired. one of the bulbs was broken so we only have 2 in. we still have to wire the the fan. we ordered a versa top from liveaquaria to help with evap and its suposed to get here friday.

this is the base and top

this is how we wired the lighting. the three fabric covered wires are from the three sockets. there wired to the black cord which is the power cord. the top socket didnt reach the power cord so we wired in a extention cord.

if you want to see anything else let me know.

questions, comments as always are wanted,
nate :beer:

 

[natep206]

almost forgot this is the fan were using

 

[Ricky@3rdshift]

Looks like ya bought out a petco!!!!! LOL J?King with ya.

Looks good so far. Just an observation, but don't you get more light on one side than the other with the lights mounted that way?