5.5 Gallon Fluval Spec V

[B-Nano]

Decided to post my tank since I've found it so helpful to read these threads while starting my own.

 

A little background on my prior reef keeping, had a 30 gallon FOWLR for a number of years in my teens. Converted the 30 gallon into a sump for a 90 gallon soft coral and fish reef that I again had for a few years. After a couple times moving that thing I decided on my most recent move across the country that it was just too big and sold it along with all the equipment. I went for a few years without any sort of tank, but I always missed having one and decided to start looking at smaller tank options.

 

I wanted something that would be simple, clean, easy to move, and would work well in the limited space of a Vancouver condo. When I saw the Spec V I felt the compartments on it would make it a great nano reef option.

 

I'm currently running the tank with the Current Marine Orbit light, a Coralife Biocube skimmer and chaeto in the larger compartment, and a 50 watt heater and stock return pump in the second compartment. I also have a hydor nano powerhead for flow. I used 10 lbs of live sand and 7 pounds of live rock for the cycle.

 

As for livestock, this is where I'll get into a bit of trouble. I have an ocellaris clown, a Hector's goby, and a Tailspot Blenny. I know 3 fish is really pushing it on such a small tank, and that I should probably get rid of the clown. There is also a fire shrimp, a branching hammer coral, some zoas, and a few hermits and snails. Tank is a bit under a year old and water parameters are as follows:

 

Ammonia 0

Nitrites 0

Nitrates 0

Phosphates 0

Calcium 500 (not sure why so high, have never dosed)

Alkalinity 9

 

I keep salinity at 1.025 and the temp at 80. Water changes are done bi-weekly and are 20%

 

Thanks for checking out my tank, and any thoughts/advice is appreciated.

 

Now for some pics

Few more

[North Borders]

Like the rock work! Do you keep your chaeto in a media basket or is it just kind of stuffed in the compartment?

[B-Nano]

Thanks North Borders. Chaeto is just stuffed in next to the skimmer, not a lot of room to work with in the chambers on this tank.

[North Borders]

I have a pair of these that I run as betta tanks. One of them I added some freshwater shrimp and they've gone into 'repopulate the Earth mode' and I have dozens of the little buggers haha.

 

I want to try a small reef in one of these some day. Or possibly in the new Evo-5 one they're selling now. Do you have the skimmer installed in these pics? Or, is it external? How often do you do water changes?

[B-Nano]

Nice, you should totally go for it. Although it's definitely on the smaller side for a reef the fact that lots of the nano equipment fits it so well makes it an easy tank to work with. The Biocube skimmer fits right inside the larger chamber, which is nice since I wanted a clean looking tank. Here's a picture of It.

[B-Nano]

Thought I'd post a quick update on the tank. Added some new Zoas, a small Chili Pepper Monti, and an Acro frag. I really like the way my current light fits this tank. I've heard of some people having success keeping SPS under it, but in all honesty I kind of doubt I'll be satisfied with the growth. I'll probably end up replacing or at least supplementing it, but we'll see. Anyways here's a couple pics

 

 

 

 

 

[B-Nano]

Figured it was time for an update.

 

First thing, my Hectors goby hadn't been eating. It'd been a couple months and the fish seemed to be getting quite thin. Decided to take it in to the fish store and going to stick with two fish for now, which is probably for the best.

 

Other then that a number of new corals have been added to the tank, including a birdsnest, a trumpet, a ricordea, and a gsp attached to the back wall.

 

We are going to Mexico next week for 7 days so I picked up an automatic fish feeder and an ATO. Little nervous to leave the tank unattended for so long but hoping for the best.

 

Here's some pics

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Droy008]

Great looking tank.

I'm impressed that you found a skimmer that fits that tank.

Keep up the good work!

[B-Nano]

Thanks Droy. I actually got the idea to use that skimmer by reading old Spec V build threads here on Nano Reef!