Nano-Reef.com Forums > Smash's 5.5 gallon AIO

ash71089

Nov 21 2008, 03:58 PM

REBUILD STARTS ON PAGE 10

Like many others on here, my inspiration for this tank was from Sandeep ( http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=132714 ).

I set this tank up about 2 years ago and then moved away to bham to go to college. I was unable to take it with me and had to rely on my mom to do the top offs... that didn't go as well as planned. I also got tired of fighting the aipstasia.

Now I am starting it up again. Since I just got into nursing school close to home, I will be here for atleast another 2 years.. so no worries

Things I will do different this time:
1. Paint the sides of the refugium
2. DIY ATO
3. DIY Aquarium Stand
4. Possible DIY LED fixture later on

Equipment:
Maxi-jet 400
Finnex 50W Heater
Current Nova Extreme 2 18W T-5 HO
Chemi-Pure Elite

Planned...
Livestock:
1 Emerald Crab
3 Blue Legged Hermits
2 Cerith Snails
2 Nassarius Snails

Corals:
Ricordea
Zoanthids

Normandy

Nov 21 2008, 04:09 PM

QUOTE (ash71089 @ Nov 21 2008, 02:58 PM)

Like many others on here, my inspiration for this tank is from Sandeep ( http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=132714 ).

I will be following pretty much exactly what he has done with equipment and the layout of the tank. I wanted to go ahead and make a thread on here to see what everyone thought about the livestock and equipment that I am planning to have. The reason for this tank is so I can take it to college. I am going to the Univeristy of Alabama at Birmingham for nursing school this summer.

Equipment:
Maxi-jet 400
Finnex 50W Heater
Current Nova Extreme 2 18W T-5 HO

Livestock:
1 Female Emerald Crab
1 Shrimp (Not sure which yet, maybe a skunk cleaner or spotted anemone)
3 Blue Legged Hermits
1 fish (Also not sure, my ideas are either clown goby, strawberry pseudochromis, or royal gramma).

Would it be too much to have a clown goby that perches and a fish that is an active swimmer?
Also considering another fancy crab, but I have not yet found one that I like. Suggestions?

Corals:
Ricordia
Zoanthids
Neon Green Star Polyps

Also maybe down the line some Dendros? Thoughts about that would be appreciated.

Filtration:
I plan to have a simple tank. So for filtration I will have live rock, live sand, and Chaeto. I will also use Chemi-pure.

So far I have purchased the tank, heater, and I already had the Maxi-jet 400 lying around. I still need to purchase the lighting, acrylic for sump/refugium, and glass for the top.

After that, the fun begins!

Enjoy!

and good luck.

Might consider some snails in your CUC as well.

ash71089

Nov 21 2008, 04:20 PM

I was worried that the hermits would kill the snails. What kind of snails would you recommend?

wetandsalty

Nov 21 2008, 05:08 PM

I don't think you should have any fish but the tiniest of Gobies, like a Clown Goby, Greenbanded Goby, or maybe a Redheaded Goby.
It might even be too much to put a Goby in there with the amount of shrimp you want to have.
And yes,you need snails.

luv-the-rics

Nov 21 2008, 05:14 PM

the snail that is the most resistant to a hermit crab attack is the turbo snail. hermits have to pop them off the rocks or the glass to kill them and its not an easy task.

ash71089

Nov 21 2008, 05:32 PM

QUOTE (wetandsalty @ Nov 21 2008, 04:08 PM)

I don't think you should have any fish but the tiniest of Gobies, like a Clown Goby, Greenbanded Goby, or maybe a Redheaded Goby.
It might even be too much to put a Goby in there with the amount of shrimp you want to have.
And yes,you need snails.

yeah, i know i need snails but i was wondering what kind.

I will probably go with a clown goby for the fish.

And about the shrimp, i dont know if i made a misunderstanding in the way i typed it but i only have 1 shrimp on the list, just not sure which one i want yet.

QUOTE (luv-the-rics @ Nov 21 2008, 04:14 PM)

the snail that is the most resistant to a hermit crab attack is the turbo snail. hermits have to pop them off the rocks or the glass to kill them and its not an easy task.

Thanks!

luv-the-rics

Nov 21 2008, 05:55 PM

also if you make sure bigger shells are available to the hermits all the time then it shouldnt matter what kind of snail you get.

edge121212

Nov 21 2008, 06:50 PM

is the maxijet 400 the only flow you will have, because thats what i have and it is not enough
I have been thinking of using a T and changing it for a 600

or adding a small aquaclear

also as for the royal gramma, thats what I have in my 5.5 and it looks amazing in there
but i think it will out grow the tank and have to be moved

ash71089

Nov 21 2008, 07:12 PM

QUOTE (edge121212 @ Nov 21 2008, 05:50 PM)

is the maxijet 400 the only flow you will have, because thats what i have and it is not enough
I have been thinking of using a T and changing it for a 600

or adding a small aquaclear

also as for the royal gramma, thats what I have in my 5.5 and it looks amazing in there
but i think it will out grow the tank and have to be moved

you don't think that the 600 would be too much?

since you have one up and running already, is there anything else you would change about your set up?

edge121212

Nov 21 2008, 07:24 PM

I think the 600 would be to much if it is not T'ed

and i really like the idea of a place for filter floss it really cleans the water nice, but has to be changed very often

ash71089

Nov 21 2008, 07:34 PM

QUOTE (edge121212 @ Nov 21 2008, 06:24 PM)

I think the 600 would be to much if it is not T'ed

and i really like the idea of a place for filter floss it really cleans the water nice, but has to be changed very often

That's definitely something to think about. I do want enough flow, but i think it would be an eye sore to have something ted off in the display part.

Maybe i can come up with a way of ting it off in the sump part and having two holes drilled in the acrylic.

I hope I'm understanding you right, if not correct me. lol

And about the filter floss, I was actually thinking about that. What is a good way to incorporate it into the refugium?

edge121212

Nov 21 2008, 07:38 PM

just put some floss ontop of the egg creat
sorry about the bad picks

ash71089

Nov 21 2008, 07:45 PM

QUOTE (edge121212 @ Nov 21 2008, 06:38 PM)

just put some floss ontop of the egg creat
sorry about the bad picks

oh, i see. Thanks for your help.

I saw your thread by the way and your tank is beautiful!

OB1

Nov 21 2008, 07:53 PM

QUOTE (ash71089 @ Nov 21 2008, 02:32 PM)

yeah, i know i need snails but i was wondering what kind.

I've had good luck with Nerite and Nassaius snails together with blue leg and scarlet hermits. I tried astrea snails but they fall over and are vulnerable to the crabs. Turbos are like bulldozers and eat themselves out of food quickly.

ash71089

Nov 21 2008, 10:52 PM

QUOTE (OB1 @ Nov 21 2008, 06:53 PM)

I've had good luck with Nerite and Nassaius snails together with blue leg and scarlet hermits. I tried astrea snails but they fall over and are vulnerable to the crabs. Turbos are like bulldozers and eat themselves out of food quickly.

thanks, how many would you recommend of each for such a small tank?

Xanthi

Nov 21 2008, 10:56 PM

if u get hermits make sure you get some empty shells...

ash71089

Nov 23 2008, 12:03 AM

Was looking into getting a Coralife Blue-Moon light, I was wondering, do you keep them on all night or just before lights come on and right after lights go out?

Xanthi

Nov 23 2008, 12:18 AM

moon lights are just for visual..you keep them on whenever you want

i just checked your stocking plans...it wud be better to integrate a moonlight into that fixture if you want one..not sure if that one has one in it..you just buy a piece and put it inside the fixture.

are you planning on doing a fuge? or just a AIO type thing..or no fuge or system

do not overstock...really, you set up is for 1 fish...some people say otherwise but jsut think how big fish end up growing and how you would feel cramped up in there..and since u are not using a fuge or skimmer and are new to this, it would be best you stick to one fish for now.

ash71089

Nov 23 2008, 12:30 AM

QUOTE (Xanthi @ Nov 22 2008, 11:18 PM)

moon lights are just for visual..you keep them on whenever you want

i just checked your stocking plans...it wud be better to integrate a moonlight into that fixture if you want one..not sure if that one has one in it..you just buy a piece and put it inside the fixture.

are you planning on doing a fuge? or just a AIO type thing..or no fuge or system

do not overstock...really, you set up is for 1 fish...some people say otherwise but jsut think how big fish end up growing and how you would feel cramped up in there..and since u are not using a fuge or skimmer and are new to this, it would be best you stick to one fish for now.

I saw the clip on ones by coralife, are those the ones you are talking about?
http://www.aquacave.com/34-watt-lunar-blue...ralife-944.html

or these?
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod...mp;pcatid=12760

I did have a 37 gallon running for about a year before I started planning this one, but took it down about a month ago.

My plan is to have just one clown goby but I don't see me having one until I have had the tank running for at least 3 months or longer, I'll just have to see how it goes.

As for the fuge, I am going to section off a part of the tank to have a fuge and sump like sandeep.

edge121212

Nov 28 2008, 07:23 PM

any updates????

ash71089

Nov 28 2008, 10:10 PM

I have everything in now that I need except for the light and it should be in by next Thursday. If I get the acrylic done by the time the light comes in, then I will plan to go to the lfs next weekend and start the cycle. If not then it will be the next weekend, because the lfs I go to is only open thursday, friday and sunday.I will post pics when the acrylic is done.

ash71089

Nov 29 2008, 09:19 PM

This is everything I have so far. The only things left that I need to get before water goes in, is the light which I've already ordered and the acrylic and glass top. After that its go time.

This is what I have spent so far.

$15 - Tank
$25 - Heater
$6 - (2) 2 gallon buckets
$60 - light (Current Nova Extreme 18" T5-HO)
$6 - Chemi pure elite
$13 - Nimble Nano
$3 - Filter floss
$ 35 - Acrylic and Glass

The maxi-jet was free, since I already had it lying around.

But the Total so far is about $163

Right now the plan is to have water in the tank by next weekend.

ash71089

Dec 1 2008, 10:53 PM

Well I went and got the glass and acrylic cut today and they didn't do one piece like I told them to. So I'm going to go back again tomorrow. It's so frustrating because I explained it to the lady, brought a picture for her, and of course it was wrong.

what is the best thing to bind acrylic and glass? Weld on #4?

evilc66

Dec 2 2008, 08:44 AM

Silicone. Weld-on is for acrylic to acrylic bonds.

ash71089

Dec 2 2008, 12:08 PM

oh ok. i thought i had heard that it wasnt a great bond between glass and acrylic if you used silicone. But i probably just remembered that wrong. thanks

scholar

Dec 2 2008, 12:24 PM

use silicone with no mildew resistance in it from HD. there isnt much pressure on it so it should hold up fine. cant wait to see what the t5's look like on your tank. good luck and im now watching your thread

kermitthedaniel

Dec 2 2008, 12:28 PM

there isnt a great bond between silicone and acrylic, it will eventually come off very easily. another thing you could do is get a piece of glass and then have the acrylic silicone to the glass for the overflow, and drill and small hole in the glass for the maxi. and yes make sure you DO NOT get a mildew resistance silicone.

evilc66

Dec 2 2008, 12:44 PM

Silicone will hold just fine for this application. There is virtually no pressure on the acrylic, so unless it's flexing, there is no worries. You don't need to go to the trouble of sandwiching glass to acrylic just to get a good bond.

It will help if you rough up the surface of the acrylic a little where you are going to glue it.

Codeman

Dec 2 2008, 12:56 PM

I used GE I silicone in the sump for my 5.5, it bonded the acrylic to the glass and even acrylic to acrylic very well. A big tube is only about $5.

ash71089

Dec 2 2008, 03:08 PM

awesome! thanks everyone!

ash71089

Dec 2 2008, 03:13 PM

Scholar - glad to see that you're watching my thread. how did you cut the teeth in your lexan? Did you get it done by someone or did you make a template in wood?

scholar

Dec 2 2008, 05:52 PM

I have access to a 3D Mill so ya everything is done by a lath

I know that you can use a hot knife even Like I said put as many teeth as possable and then you could use the 600 maxi i find that I have enough flow with the 400 but I could always have more. I just didnt want to botch the job that had been done already by taking a hot knife to it.

ash71089

Dec 2 2008, 06:26 PM

yeah. my dad has a mill machine in our garage (its not a 3D mill) but he is going to try with it. If that doesn't work then he knows some people with a 3D mill. I'm with you on the knife thing. The teeth on yours looks a lot more "professional" and clean.

Even if it takes longer to get the teeth cut, I will wait.

Jenna

Dec 2 2008, 08:20 PM

Where did you find your Finnex heater?

Jenna

ash71089

Dec 2 2008, 08:47 PM

i got the 50w heater from aquacave

http://www.aquacave.com/finnex-50w-heater-...oller-2051.html

ash71089

Dec 3 2008, 06:53 PM

well I am so sick of dealing with this buisness. The first time they drilled the hole too big and in the wrong place. So I take it back saying it was wrong. I go to pick it up today the hole is in the right spot but is too small. And they charged me another 10 dollars. I couldn't believe it. So I spent 35 dollars on glass and acrylic and the dang this still isn't right. I'm not going back though, I'll fix it myself.

ugh, so frustrating.

Now that I've gotten that out. I am not sure if I will have it up and running this weekend because I have tons of studying to do before finals next week. If not it will be the next weekend.

ash71089

Dec 6 2008, 02:11 PM

I got the light in Thursday and it surprised me how bright it is. I cannot wait to get this thing started.

On a bad note, I found out today that the dorm I am moving into in the summer does not allow pets at all including fish. So I don't know what I am going to do. I am trying to figure that out before I dive into this.

ash71089

Dec 8 2008, 02:45 PM

scholar

Dec 9 2008, 11:58 AM

Looks very nice!!!!

w1dude

Dec 9 2008, 12:01 PM

QUOTE (ash71089 @ Dec 6 2008, 02:11 PM)

I got the light in Thursday and it surprised me how bright it is. I cannot wait to get this thing started.

On a bad note, I found out today that the dorm I am moving into in the summer does not allow pets at all including fish. So I don't know what I am going to do. I am trying to figure that out before I dive into this.

My dorm doesnt allow fish either. But you can get buy with it. Especially with a 5g tank. I have a 12g and they never say anything!

cuboy

Dec 9 2008, 06:18 PM

coral is not fish. lol

ash71089

Dec 9 2008, 06:36 PM

haha that was my thought also.

i just don't want to take it down there and then they say well you cant have it and then have to move it all again.

Justin_Freebords

Dec 10 2008, 03:58 AM

QUOTE (ash71089 @ Dec 9 2008, 03:36 PM)

haha that was my thought also.

i just don't want to take it down there and then they say well you cant have it and then have to move it all again.

eh id say just sneak it in. My school allows tanks up to 15 gallons i think? But nothing other than fishtanks. We still managed to get a 10gallon tank, tons of sand, a heat lamp, constant bags of crickets and a scorpion into our room as well without anyone ever even seeing us....sometimes i think people must think my roomate and i are the weird animal kids. a scorpion and wannabe piece of a reef

ash71089

Dec 10 2008, 08:55 PM

Im debating on whether or not to paint the acrylic. Im either going to paint it black, blue, or just leave it clear. What do yall think?

edge121212

Dec 11 2008, 01:27 AM

I say paint it I wish i would of painted mine

Sandeep

Dec 11 2008, 09:34 AM

I left mine clear as it allows light to reach the macro-algea in the refugium from the main tank area for photosynthesis in addition to the light they receive from above which does not reach the macro-algea deeper down in the refugium.

ash71089

Dec 11 2008, 10:22 AM

hmm.. i didnt think about that. i wish there was a way to make it a little opaque. I thought about sanding it with extremely fine grit sand paper, but I am afraid that it will attract too much grime and i wont be able to get it off.

edit: i saw a thread on reef central a long time ago where someone did sand their acrylic., but I cannot find it. If someone knows what I'm talking about please link it on here

dangsy

Dec 16 2008, 04:10 PM

Heya, looking to start a 5.5gal pico myself, one thing I noticed about your tank is that the wall separating the 2 chambers reaches all the way to the bottom of the tank, I think you'll need to find a way to leave a gap between the two for proper water flow! good luck!

ash71089

Dec 16 2008, 06:11 PM

QUOTE (dangsy @ Dec 16 2008, 03:10 PM)

Heya, looking to start a 5.5gal pico myself, one thing I noticed about your tank is that the wall separating the 2 chambers reaches all the way to the bottom of the tank, I think you'll need to find a way to leave a gap between the two for proper water flow! good luck!

yeah i know in the picture it looks that way, because i havent siliconed it in yet, i just had it sitting in the tank

dangsy

Dec 16 2008, 10:11 PM

Ohh I see it now! that's a great job on the slits too!