n00biereef Posted December 19, 2014 Share Posted December 19, 2014 Hello everyone! As the title says I'm new to the saltwater game. I've done so much research, my brain hurts!! There's still a few things I'm waiting on before getting this thing started, but I'll go ahead and list what I've got so far.Equipment Fluval Spec V 5 gallon tankKoralia nano 240gph, will see if I also need 606minijet50W Cobalt Neo-therm HeaterAI prime, settings will be posted soon. Modified tank mount to help fit tankVertex Simplex Mag Cleaner BRS Refractometer Life/soon to be Life 3lbs live rock from local storeCaribSea Fiji Pink Live SandInstant Ocean Reef CrystalsLivestock: Tons of zoanthids/palythoas, mushroom type coral, some sps corals, some type of pulsing xenia, basically nothing that I can identify ... so help me out lol. Firefish 4 blue hermit crabs 1 scarlet hermit crab 1 cleaner shrimp 1 snail..not sure what kind it is.. More to be coming soon! Feel free to contribute/criticize, post all over this page and help me out!!!!!*Pictures will be provided, as I get everything started soon enough! Link to comment
seabass Posted December 19, 2014 Share Posted December 19, 2014 Welcome to N-R.com! A five gallon tank is too small for an adult Clownfish (and certainly too small for a host anemone). However, there are a couple of anemones that you could keep in a 5 gallon tank (like a Mini Carpet, or even a Rock Flower anemone). For fish, I'd stick to one of the Gobies listed in this thread for tanks 5 gallons or less: http://www.nano-reef.com/topic/74703-lgreens-ultimate-guide-to-nano-fish/ The tank size will also present you with some challenges keeping SPS, as stability and dosing are necessities. Given that you already have the tank, I'd just adjust the livestock list to something more suitable and less challenging for a beginner. Link to comment
n00biereef Posted December 19, 2014 Author Share Posted December 19, 2014 Hey seabass, Thank you for the quick reply! The mini carpet is exactly the nem I was looking at! As for the clown, now I've done lots of research and read this forum quite a lot as well. And I've come to a conclusion that I juvenile clown is certainly capable of living in smaller confined areas ranging from 5-10 gallons. The conditions have to be monitored correctly, and as adults the clowns have shown to be more accustomed to smaller areas if they are raised in smaller tanks to begin with. Having said this you and I can both agree that LFS's and pretty much 75% if not more areas who sell clowns have conditions which are no where near what you could call "good", so a 5 gallon could certainly house a clown however I would compeltely agree that an adult clown suddenly confined to a 5 gallon from a larger aquarium would be essentially "wrong". I do however want a goby as well, so I'm still keeping my options open! If anything i'll just stick to a blue tang. obvious blue tang joke is obvious A five gallon tank is too small for an adult Clownfish (and certainly too small for a host anemone). However, there are a couple of anemones that you could keep in a 5 gallon tank (like a Mini Carpet, or even a Rock Flower anemone). For fish, I'd stick to one of the Gobies listed in this thread for tanks 5 gallons or less: http://www.nano-reef.com/topic/74703-lgreens-ultimate-guide-to-nano-fish/ The tank size will also present you with some challenges keeping SPS, as stability and dosing are necessities. Given that you already have the tank, I'd just adjust the livestock list to something more suitable and less challenging for a beginner. Link to comment
ninjamyst Posted December 20, 2014 Share Posted December 20, 2014 Welcome to NR! I love my Spec and I am sure you will too. Can't wait to see your scape. The narrowness of the Spec makes for some challenging scapes. Link to comment
ETucc Posted December 20, 2014 Share Posted December 20, 2014 Welcome sir. Post lots of pics! Link to comment
cju84 Posted December 20, 2014 Share Posted December 20, 2014 Welcome!! You should be fine in a five gallon with a juvy clown. Pics when you can! Link to comment
ETucc Posted December 22, 2014 Share Posted December 22, 2014 Welcome!! You should be fine in a five gallon with a juvy clown. Pics when you can! I've said it before, and I'll say it again, the people of NR push boundaries of reefing, and change the rules. More should take notice. Link to comment
Allathlete5 Posted December 22, 2014 Share Posted December 22, 2014 Look forward to seeing some pictures! I'm digging the black clowns, and think I just might have to get one for my new 10 gallon. Link to comment
n00biereef Posted December 23, 2014 Author Share Posted December 23, 2014 Hey guys thanks for the warm welcome (: *ninjamyst and ETucc i've totally lurked your forums and tanks for a while! Lots of motivation from you guys! Can't wait to start! I ordered some rock from bulk reef supply, but they sent me the wrong order, so just waiting on that to arrive! Here's the first FTS I have a question for you guys, so I'm trying to figure out whether I should cycle my rock in my tank with live sand, or in a separate container? I've done a bunch of research but it's still quite debatable to me... I think I might just play it safe and put my rock in a dark container with a heater and koralia nano. What do you guys think? I really don't want to deal with phosphate issues...so I feel like it's my best option ! Link to comment
n00biereef Posted December 24, 2014 Author Share Posted December 24, 2014 So I thought I'de do my scape tonight, and so I went out bought a hammer and chisel and this is what I've come up with so far! for one.. side of the tank, the other i'm planning on doing some sort of peninsula type thingy! *What do you guys think??? Link to comment
seabass Posted December 24, 2014 Share Posted December 24, 2014 I like how it looks. Is it two pieces? If so, you might consider epoxy to join them (for stability). Link to comment
Kimosobey Posted December 24, 2014 Share Posted December 24, 2014 What's your plans for filtration? Your rockscape looks awesome! Link to comment
n00biereef Posted December 24, 2014 Author Share Posted December 24, 2014 I like how it looks. Is it two pieces? If so, you might consider epoxy to join them (for stability). Yep it is! However I changed it up a bit the little piece with the hole broke once I tried to make the hole bigger lol. But it will be similar still to this scape! You're right I probably should epoxy them together. I researched and found "JB Waterweld". Do you think that'll work? What's your plans for filtration? Your rockscape looks awesome! Thanks! Well the rock once it becomes "live" will be my main filtration. But I'm currently in the process of making my own media basket which will hold chemi pure elite, chaetomorpha and filter floss! Possibly a diy skimmer in the future, something along the lines of the Mame skimmer. Link to comment
seabass Posted December 24, 2014 Share Posted December 24, 2014 Yep it is! However I changed it up a bit the little piece with the hole broke once I tried to make the hole bigger lol. But it will be similar still to this scape! You're right I probably should epoxy them together. I researched and found "JB Waterweld". Do you think that'll work?People have used that product: http://www.nano-reef.com/topic/252666-jb-weld/ Using it on dry rock, outside of the water, should give you a reasonable bond (assuming that it's not supporting rock in an unnatural position). There are other methods for creating unsupported structures. Link to comment
thomas8man Posted December 24, 2014 Share Posted December 24, 2014 I am not a huge fan of instant ocean maybe different salt down the road such as red sea Coral salt. It works great and comes in a small container or investing for long term could be such as Aqua Vitro salt works fantastic too. I will provide links to both http://www.redseafish.com/red-sea-salts/coral-pro-salt/ http://www.aquavitro.com/products/salinity.html Link to comment
Cameron6796 Posted December 25, 2014 Share Posted December 25, 2014 Wow that rock looks really nice Link to comment
jtwisconsin Posted December 28, 2014 Share Posted December 28, 2014 Love the rock as well! I built my own media rack for my Spec V, but if I was doing it again I would purchase one from InTank. I have one of their media baskets in my AC70 running on the 6 gallon and it is a super high-quality part. You could pick up their surface skimmer and a MJ606 from their site as well. I assume you have read the other threads on Spec Vs and know to silicone shut that hole at the bottom of the sump section, correct? I have cycled all three of my tanks with live sand and dry rock in the tanks - no reason I see for the need to cycle in a container. I am also using Pukani and Figi Pink in my new 6 gallon, and I think they look really good in a small tank like this. Link to comment
Eckozulu Posted December 28, 2014 Share Posted December 28, 2014 Love your rock. I have 2 spec Vs, and my favorite product was the intank basket. Definitely close the hole on the bottom. I tried the chaeto thing for a while, and it's not really worth it. Last, Hydra 26 would be a crazy amount of light, if you tried to do moon rotations, at 10% you still might fry your corals. Nanobox tide worked great for me, and I still had it turned waaaay down. Link to comment
n00biereef Posted December 30, 2014 Author Share Posted December 30, 2014 Thanks for the feedback guys! SoI know about the silicone hole thingy, my only concern is what type of silicone can I use that is reef safe ??? As for the intank media basket..it's a pretty sweet product, and if I had the funds for it, I would totally buy it on the spot. I pretty much bought the tank for the price that I would be paying for the intank product ... But if I find a used one somewhere I would totally jump all over it! I did realize that hydra 26 is some crazy lighting,someone I know was letting it go for fair price..therefore I've been spying some other led fixtures...I've messaged Current-USA , and their new marineorbit pro is coming out in January so I think i'm going to wait for that!!! If the price is too steep then I think I'm going to get either a par 38 fixture or possibly their old marine orbit led fixture! My price point is anywhere between 100-150. So we'll see if I can either get a used led fixture from someone or I'll just keep saving up ! I think i'm going to go ahead and cycle my rock in the tank as ya'll suggested! Link to comment
Allathlete5 Posted December 30, 2014 Share Posted December 30, 2014 Really like the rockscape you got going on. As for the silicone, you can get tube of GE 1 for like $5 from lowes which is aquarium safe. Link to comment
n00biereef Posted June 13, 2015 Author Share Posted June 13, 2015 Sorry for the super long wait guys, due to some college/family reasons the tank was postponed. The tank is finally up and going, it's roughly 1 month old. And I need all the help I can get!!! Just as an update. I started the tank roughly 1 month ago. I cycled for about 1-2weeks. I wasn't planning on adding many things, but someone was breaking there tank apart and gave me 16 frags for $30 lol I couldn't help but say no, but now I'm regretting it! I'm still new to the hobby, and I need all the help I can get ): I'm going to post some video updates, some are old but it will hopefully help keep you guys posted as to my process. pictures will also be supplied. Again sorry for the wait ): But here we go (: Link to comment
n00biereef Posted June 13, 2015 Author Share Posted June 13, 2015 so I made channel uploaded all my videos to update you guys! help me out! lots of questions! Link to comment
Kimosobey Posted June 13, 2015 Share Posted June 13, 2015 Welcome to the spec v club! I wish could help! (I'm still a noob) pretty good deal on those corals! I wish had more local reefers around. Link to comment
n00biereef Posted June 14, 2015 Author Share Posted June 14, 2015 thank you! Yeah there's not many reefers around me, I just got lucky ! Link to comment
n00biereef Posted June 16, 2015 Author Share Posted June 16, 2015 New addition to my tank! My parameters were perfect according to my LFS, so I bought me a baby clownfish. I was going to go with a fire fish but it was hiding under a rock already....didn't want a scared fish in my tank. Link to comment
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