Lighting suggestions for 5.5 gallon Nano

Beng · 08-05-2005, 09:43 PM

My 7 year old son wants a tank that he can call his own.
He wants to see the "magic" between clown fishes and Anemones
so I've decided to get him a 5.5 gallon and will hook it up to my existing 55 FOWLR to eliminate any kinds of maintenance (water change, skimming, etc.).

The dimension of the 5.5 is 16"Lx8"Wx10"H. I'm planning to put a pair of Ocellaris clowns and 1 Rose Bubble Tip Anemone. I've modified my 55 to drain some water to the 5.5 nano and then drain back to my main sump.

For 1 Rose Bubble Tip Anemone in waters that is about 6-7 inches deep, would Power Compacts (PC) be enough or do I need to do Metal halide?

Many Thanks,

Beng

customshopguy · 08-05-2005, 11:04 PM

Im sure that about 40-60 watts of PC would be fine. MH would definatally be overkill.

Loverotties · 08-05-2005, 11:25 PM

Not shure it's big enough for a bubble tip!And if you can you,ll need to waite a good 6 - 9 months before getting it.

menelaus22 · 08-10-2005, 01:49 PM

Can you really keep a pair of clowns in a 5.5g nano?

milhouse74 · 08-12-2005, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by menelaus22

Can you really keep a pair of clowns in a 5.5g nano?

No, not a anemone either, I would say a 20 at the smallest.

milhouse74 · 08-12-2005, 08:57 AM

It should be realized that as far as how long it needs to be up the user said they were hooking it to a running system, if plumbed into it they should be fine. Also you will have less to worry about with evap due to the hookup, so go MH, the anemone will love you for it. I got this:
http://www.aquabuys.com/miva/merchan...0w_mh_retrofit

I am very happy with it.

However if you can get at least a 10, if not a 20, your much better off from a room to live standpoint.

David

Jasontkd · 08-12-2005, 05:42 PM

I would think it was fine except that the main tank if a FOWLR. In my experience FOWLR tanks are usually kept due to the aggressiveness of the fish, and their meat only diets. this leads to dirtier water, and an anemone needs prestine water conditions.

Wetworx · 08-22-2005, 02:05 AM

I wouldnt put the anemone in a 5.5...and plumbing it to your main tank just makes it that much more of a problem if the anemone goes nuclear. I agree with the min for an anemone being a little higher...maybe a 10g would be alright. A 70watt halide would work great for that.

IMO, Clownfish are the goldfish of the sea. Unless you have a large tank with a large enough anemone and other fish...you never really see their natural habits. In fact, some clownfish become too nasty in smaller tanks anyways, and w/o enough space, they never show their natural bahaviors anyways. They just swim in the corner like a blind goldfish. I find them to be the least personable of any reef fish.

I would put the anemone in the 55g and have the 5.5-10g for some other unique critters. Mantis shrimp, Pistol & watchman goby, Jawfish, Seahorses, Angler, breeding pairs of shrimp, neon gobies, etc. All much more interesting and easier to maintain.