Topfin 5 gal

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Brett28

New member
Been itching to get back in reefing, had a 180 RR about 10 yrs ago. My wife said no to another big tank so I settled for a nano. Found petsmart had a 5 gal tank with LED, small pump (I think maybe 50gph) and a false back wall to hide a small amount of algae or filter media for a refugium. 40 bucks I finured I try it out. Going to try to upload some photos. It has been runnino since Jan 1 2016. I used sea-chems Stability to help cycle. I think it worked. Nitrate peaked at 3ppm on the 4th day and no detectable nitrite or ammonia. On day 7 I added 3 blue leg hermits 2 Scarlets, 2 asteria snailso an 2 ceriths. I noticed some algae beginning. The asteria snails murdered it. The LFS was kind enough to give me 5 zoos to try in it too!! (big thanks to Salty Bottoms in the DFW metroplex). We are at day 9 and everthing is looking good. I don't have a protien skimmer but I don't think a 1 gal water change every Saturday will be to tough to manage. I plan on upgrading the pump. I think I want to go with a 200 gph.

Anyone else seen these tanks, maybe tried them, what's y'alls thoughts?
 
Sounds awesome. You going to keep corals in it? I'd love to do a five Gallon. I have to learn to control my 30 Gallon first though lol. You should post some pics!
 
Brett28 said:
Been itching to get back in reefing, had a 180 RR about 10 yrs ago. My wife said no to another big tank so I settled for a nano. Found petsmart had a 5 gal tank with LED, small pump (I think maybe 50gph) and a false back wall to hide a small amount of algae or filter media for a refugium. 40 bucks I finured I try it out. Going to try to upload some photos. It has been runnino since Jan 1 2016. I used sea-chems Stability to help cycle. I think it worked. Nitrate peaked at 3ppm on the 4th day and no detectable nitrite or ammonia. On day 7 I added 3 blue leg hermits 2 Scarlets, 2 asteria snailso an 2 ceriths. I noticed some algae beginning. The asteria snails murdered it. The LFS was kind enough to give me 5 zoos to try in it too!! (big thanks to Salty Bottoms in the DFW metroplex). We are at day 9 and everthing is looking good. I don't have a protien skimmer but I don't think a 1 gal water change every Saturday will be to tough to manage. I plan on upgrading the pump. I think I want to go with a 200 gph.

Anyone else seen these tanks, maybe tried them, what's y'alls thoughts?
Click to expand...

Haven't tried that tank but I did keep a 5 gallon for about a year. It's all about consistency. Using an ato and frequent water changes kept mine looking great.
Salty bottoms is hard to find at first but it's run by a nice guy.
 
Coral is a must for me!! I got 5 fish picked out but really into corals. I forgot to include I got about 6 lbs live sand, 5 lbs live rock and 1 head of kryptonite candy cane. Everytime I try to upload a photo it fails.

Any ideas?
 
Ok tried making it smaller.
 

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12v DC .3A 3.5w. I thought I would give it a try. It probly is way under rated for any hard coral. Surprisingly it seems to be keeping the candy cane happy and zoas open. The second I find a higher power one I like, this one is going bye bye.
 
Me and the daughter went and got our first fish. She picked out a misbar clown..... very scidish but a cool little guy.
 

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Wait your tank has been up for 10 days and you have added a fish and CUC? Please let me know if I am reading this wrong I think you jumped the gun a little early. Even though it is a small tank, you still have to cycle. You say you think it worked? Easy way to test (before you added livestock) was jack your ammonia to 2ppm, within a day or so it should be at 0. What test kits are you using? They could have read a false result. I love the tank and idea, I just hope you didnt run into it too quick :(.
 
This can be a test for us all. I tried Stability a cycling agent by seachem. It says your good to go on day 7. I watched the LFS success in a 200 gal. Cube. He set it up ran it for 48 hrs and put in a couple corals, on day 7 a few damsels a couple clowns and a few days later a 10inch blonde naso.
He is yet to loose anything to my knowledge.
 
The test kit is made by API. I'll watch it closely for the next week. The last I want to do is tell the kiddos I killed there fish...
 
Wow he must have great luck! Not trying to be a downer but unless the tank has live rock and transferred water from a setup tank I cant see it being 'cycled' in 7 days. Typically 4 weeks is expected.

Anywho I love the tank and rock choices as well as the clown. Keep us posted on how it turns out! A small LED light may work if you are trying to keep any coral
 
Tanks can be almost instantly cycled with bacteria in a can for the ammonia eating bacteria anyway. Water from an established tank does nothing as it contains basically no bacteria. I doubt the cycle was complete myself but can be handled easily by frequent water changes. Same as many of us who run a 10 gal QT tank non cycled and simply change water every few days.

I would get a seachem ammonia badge to use for a bit though so you can ensure you are not spiking toxic ammonia. API test kits are garbage IMHO. I would suggest others.

My biggest concern however is putting a clown in a 5 gallon. The min recommendation for them is around 20 gallons. Despite popular belief they do actually swim around and are not stationary.


I see corals in your last pic which is too soon even if you did your initial cycle. Your LFS is loving you right now. I assume he sees dollar signs written on your forehead when you walk in.
 
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