1st attempt at Nano, Please Help me!!!

[yuyiboy]

Hello guys
I'm attempting to start a 5 gal nano. What was I thinking??
I have a 28 gl. set-up and love the way a nano looks.
I have always had a problem with one thing... My purple, pink etc. coraline algae NEVER seems to grow

I'm still very new at reefing, and don't think I could have ever attempted it without the help from you guys

I really appreciate that!!

So... Can you guys tell me how long should it really take to grow, after it is in a new 5 gal tank just cycling for now?? Just from your individual experiences.
I hear from all of you that you wish you could keep yours under control ,
and I want to have that problem
Also what is the best and most economical way to light this small a tank? what has work for you to keep the reef alive and growing??
Again thanks for ALL the great advise

I will be posting pics of my attempt as I delve into this new craziness

[Loverotties]

Tell us about your tank,ex:lights,water perimeters...etc.

[Suziq21]

What do you want to keep in it and what do you consider 'economical'. Do you want to do a DIY light or PNP?

I've got a cadlights 5g and I recently switched from their stock noT5 light to this:
https://www.drsfostersmith.com/produ...=27365&catid=3
It was on sale for a bit less than it is now and it really puts out some light!

[yuyiboy]

Originally Posted by Loverotties

Tell us about your tank,ex:lights,water perimeters...etc.

Have not measured yet will be doing that today and posting, I just have an oversize fixture from an old tank, regular fluorescent bulb I used in the first tank before I updated the lighting, it's a single strip standard 10k that worked great on the old thank, it's way to big to fit now

It is so hard to find a 5 gal. size fixture
Is a standard fixture with a 10k fluorescent bulb ok for soft corals and live rock and sand? I only had it on the first tank for a month or so.... Nothing died.
will post more.... it is now day 2

[yuyiboy]

Originally Posted by Suziq21

What do you want to keep in it and what do you consider 'economical'. Do you want to do a DIY light or PNP?

I've got a cadlights 5g and I recently switched from their stock noT5 light to this:
https://www.drsfostersmith.com/produ...=27365&catid=3
It was on sale for a bit less than it is now and it really puts out some light!

I will keep just live rock, live sand and a couple of soft corals maybe a fish or crab will see. don't want to risk it.
This all started because of my little friend "BLUE" a blue damsel that seems to live happier away from others. he had a close encounter with a filter intake and a bleach accident!! and still lives. I'm so impressed that he has made it this far when a lot of friends died in the accident back then.
He desserves his own nano

It's funny you mentioned that fixture Suziq21, I was just looking at it today at the foster s website Is that enough light? and the right kind of light?
will keep posting updates
Thank you

[Suziq21]

Originally Posted by yuyiboy

It's funny you mentioned that fixture Suziq21, I was just looking at it today at the foster s website Is that enough light? and the right kind of light?
will keep posting updates
Thank you

I asked the same question before I bought this and I was told it would work aok. I'm going for mostly LPS, zoas and softies, but I do have an sps frag and a purple gorgonian in there that are doing well.
The noT5 I had was a 24w fixture and this is a 36w fixture. Most fixtures you see for <10g tanks seem to be <20watts total. I was more concerned that on this small tank it would be overkill, but it's turned out pretty well. I need to update my tank thread today to put up the new pics of the light.
The one thing that was brought up about this light was the absence of a cooling fan which the larger Current fixtures all had. Looking at it, I think it would be easy enough to mod one in. Just gotta find a small enough fan

[OneDummHikk]

yuyiboy, that light will be fine on a 5G tank. The bulbs only last about 6 months before they need replacing whereas T5'es are 9-12 months. If it's a nano tank for the damsel, why not just make it FOWLR (Fish Only With Live Rock) and then you don't have as much worry with the lighting.

[yuyiboy]

Originally Posted by Suziq21

I asked the same question before I bought this and I was told it would work aok. I'm going for mostly LPS, zoas and softies, but I do have an sps frag and a purple gorgonian in there that are doing well.
The noT5 I had was a 24w fixture and this is a 36w fixture. Most fixtures you see for <10g tanks seem to be <20watts total. I was more concerned that on this small tank it would be overkill, but it's turned out pretty well. I need to update my tank thread today to put up the new pics of the light.
The one thing that was brought up about this light was the absence of a cooling fan which the larger Current fixtures all had. Looking at it, I think it would be easy enough to mod one in. Just gotta find a small enough fan

All the names u mentioned sounded like french to me
I got most of the names, still learning the lingo.
What do you guys think of this filter?? I have no clue but the size is great!!

[yuyiboy]

Originally Posted by OneDummHikk

yuyiboy, that light will be fine on a 5G tank. The bulbs only last about 6 months before they need replacing whereas T5'es are 9-12 months. If it's a nano tank for the damsel, why not just make it FOWLR (Fish Only With Live Rock) and then you don't have as much worry with the lighting.

Onedumm, I started the first tank with fowlr but loved the corals and soon I was hooked!!
as it always happens.
I guess then that when it comes to lighting, it is a lot simpler in a nano? Just scale differences.
Now I have that giant 24" fixture on top and it looks hysterical!!
I will have to find the right size soon. "Blue" is desperate
I'm also just using a power filter, rated for 80 gal. but would like something that is a little neater and compact.
how r power filters on a reef environment? all I have found says that it is just fine as long as is holds some kind of media.
I was thinking of maybe going with just live rock filtration and no filter but it sounds scary.

Couldn't keep my hands out of the tank and just had to re-arrange the rocks, Think I found the right position.... yeah right!!
Thanks guys!!

[yuyiboy]

Suziq21 saw your tank pics of the 5 gal. wow it looks great and it is still empty!! cool
it looks so professional compared to my standard square tank lol.
Oh the envy !!! 8-)
I guess the true beauty comes from the friends inside 8-)

[OneDummHikk]

Originally Posted by yuyiboy

I guess then that when it comes to lighting, it is a lot simpler in a nano? Just scale differences.

It is the opposite actually. With a larger tank, you have a lot more options on how you light it. The smaller the tank, your options start going away.

Originally Posted by yuyiboy

I will have to find the right size soon. "Blue" is desperate

Is this Blues tank your yours?

Get him a NO light bulb. Even two night light type fixtures. All it has to do is light it for blue. Keep the corals in the larger tank.

I think you would be a lot happier, in the end, with it just a FOWLR and keep the larger tank for a reef tank. When tanks get that small, they become a major pita to keep the chemistry up and they make wild swings in chemistry a lot faster. Accidentally overdose something and the effects are a lot more noticeable the smaller the tank is.

[yuyiboy]

Originally Posted by OneDummHikk

It is the opposite actually. With a larger tank, you have a lot more options on how you light it. The smaller the tank, your options start going away.



Is this Blues tank your yours?

Get him a NO light bulb. Even two night light type fixtures. All it has to do is light it for blue. Keep the corals in the larger tank.

I think you would be a lot happier, in the end, with it just a FOWLR and keep the larger tank for a reef tank. When tanks get that small, they become a major pita to keep the chemistry up and they make wild swings in chemistry a lot faster. Accidentally overdose something and the effects are a lot more noticeable the smaller the tank is.

I c what u mean by fewer ops when it comes to size, the light output is my concern... It's hard to "scale down" the light yet keep it doing what it is supposed to do. It's like lighting just a corner of a regular size tank
Yes I did think about the FOWLR tank but really would like to try and replicate the environment in a small space using corals..... I will however only use the most common and hardiest ones to do this. There is NO way I can even attempt what you guys are doing even in a long while. I love your work. I think after all this time and tribulation, I'm finally getting the hang of it. The end result is worth the effort, specially when I look at some of your master pieces.
I'm glad I found this forum!!

[OneDummHikk]

Me thinks Yuyiboy not see my tanks in a while

[yuyiboy]

Hey guys;
A couple of you have asked me to tell you about the "Bleach Incident" and how it happened.
Well it was very simple really, I just have to say that disanter can happen in the most unexpected ways
My baby nephew was vissiting and he grabed a "white sock" out of the dryer and dropped it in the tank, The rest is history.
I was frozen to the floor when I found it.
(thank goodness for a quarantine tank!!)
I didn't even think that could happen... and you think about ALL the possibilities when your nephew is visiting,
and you know he LOVES your fish.

However... how could I stay mad at him when...
He had the saddest little face I have ever seen on anything alive on this planet. And he told me he was sorry......
and that he just wanted to "help me clean the glass to surprise me and his best friend...BLUE"

PS. He was 4 at the time

[Suziq21]

Originally Posted by OneDummHikk

It is the opposite actually. With a larger tank, you have a lot more options on how you light it. The smaller the tank, your options start going away.
Is this Blues tank your yours?
Get him a NO light bulb. Even two night light type fixtures. All it has to do is light it for blue. Keep the corals in the larger tank.
I think you would be a lot happier, in the end, with it just a FOWLR and keep the larger tank for a reef tank. When tanks get that small, they become a major pita to keep the chemistry up and they make wild swings in chemistry a lot faster. Accidentally overdose something and the effects are a lot more noticeable the smaller the tank is.

I agree w/ Randy 110% You may find it more challenging to keep the desirable water params for corals w/ Blue in the little tank. For that, you could get away with some of the less expensive fixtures, either 18w Compact Flourescent or the strip lights. Those should be able to keep some shrooms and softies.
Like this:
https://www.drsfostersmith.com/produ...8&pcatid=11418

IMHO, you should get your 28 up and running again (if it isn't), keep the corals in that (like Randy said) and perhaps make the 5g tank you 'nephew's' tank. Not to remind the poor kid of what he did, but to give him a tank that he can interact with without you having to worry about incurring a huge loss again. I mean really, Blue survived bleach, I think he might be able to survive whatever else the tot could throw at him
However, Blue will probably have to be moved into a bigger tank somewhere in the future. He fits in the 5g, but may not be happy there b/c it is a little cramped for that kind of fish. HTH
Post up some pics too!