New 5.5 Gallon nano

[nanoreefer2k3]

Hey everyone,
Well after losing everything in the 29 gallo9n setup i had due to a power failure while away from home I am getting back into the addiction. I have a 5.5 AGA that I have set up to cycle with 3LBS LS and 5.5 Lbs Aquacultured LR with lots of life on it(macros, feather dudsters, brains, christmas tree worms) I asked the LFS i got the rock from if i should run my lights during the cycle and they said no more than 2 hours a day. I'm worried that that little light will cause the macros to die off and prolong the cycle I have 20 W of 50/50 PC over it now and am planing on taking it up to 40W soon when i get the hood finnished. I will also be setting up and connecting a 2,5 Gallon fuge/sump that will sit behind and partially above the tank to aid with natural filtration and such. What do you guys reccomend for lighting the nano during cycling to prevent die off and hellp it cycle? I know lighting may cause diatom bloom but i can take care of that with cleanup crew once it is cycled. Let me know what your thoughts are

[wharyat]

Hi, Welcome to The Reef Tank!

Well for the sake of the corals, I would say you might want to keep the lights on for a normal length of time about 8-12 hours a day, keep up with water changes (twice a week) to help prevent any major algae outbreaks. Sounds like the rock won't have much die off in the first place if all the corals and other life is alive and looking healthy. Any plans for a skimmer?

Also, we love pics here

[nanoreefer2k3]

Not really wharyat I thought about it but figured it would just deplete the nutrients from the water and cause other problems in such a small system. I'm going to post pics as soon as I get the custom hood and cabinet finnished(hopefully tomorrow) I have 20W of 50/50 should I bump that up to the 40W I was originally going to go with and run them 8 to 10 a day?

[wharyat]

Yes 40 would be great @ 8-10.

[nanoreefer2k3]

thanks i thought thats about where my lighting wattage should be but the LFS said 4 to 5 Watts was plenty. So I will add the other PC tube and get it up where it should be. Also should i feed the tank/corals I have phytoplex and microvert from Kent marine and some golden pearls that I could use alternately for the filter feeders. I'm hoping to keep the cycle short and also keep everything alive

[nanoreefer2k3]

here's a link to my pics of the nano setup, it is not finnished but i figured i'd post a few
http://www.imagestation.com/album/in...?id=2126292584

[Loverotties]

40 w @ 8-10 is ok,I run mine 11-12.

[menelaus22]

that's a pretty cool set-up. I agree on upping the lights.

Can you tell us more about your custom hood? Does the top flip open or something?

[nanoreefer2k3]

menelaus22 the top will be flip up/removable once i finish it right now it is screwed in but I am planning on adding a divider between the tank and the fuge and when I do that it will either be hinged or removable via dowel pins of some type. it is still very much a design in progress as the more I think about it and look at it the more I want to change/improve LOL the hood is actually an entire enclosure that has a top, bottom and sides, when completed it will have a shelf that the fuge will sit on behind and semi above the 5.5 tank with overflow running into the main tank, there will also be a painted divider between the tank and fuge providing background for main tank and preventing light spill from fuge lighting. the lighting is basically a very simple setup two standard bulb sokets from home depot that allow them to be mounted sideways and 2 20W coralife 50/50 mini compact flourescent self ballasted biulbs with reflector that I had laying around from my old system. the reflector will be replaced as it is not bent properly and has rust spots. total cost of setup so far not including LR and LS is under $50 mainly because most of the items I had lying around collecting dust LOL I'd guess that it could all be purchased new for under $100 depending on local pricing. tonight is going to be a major project night so it will most likely be finnished by tomorrow

[VWD]

That is pretty cool the way You made the hood on the tank, I like that.