New 5.5 Gallon

[ODOG]

Seeing if I did this right

 

 

 

Specifics for now...18 watts of PC Coralife Mini Aqualight (9 watts actinic + 9 watts 10,000k), 18 watts also over aqualcear on back.

 

I have 2 x 36 watt PC's waiting to go on once I finish my pendent and i need new bulbs for it.

 

5 pounds or so of live rock...I didn't measure the aragonite I put in. I used enough to cover the bottom with about an inch. There is about 1 pound of rock in the mini fuge and some aragonite.

 

For current I am using the AC 300 mini fuge which is baffled way down with the addition of the rock/sponge and surface skimmer which you can see I was tired of fooling with so I put some pebbles from our shorehouse driveway to hold it down. Also have a Powersweep in there. I might use another powerhead with attached spraybar if necessary.

[ODOG]

 

[Undertheradar]

JMO, remove the sponge all together...it's just a nitrate factory in the making....Looks like a nice start.

[ODOG]

I actually like having the sponge. It polishes the water and with changing water once a week i don't find nitrates to be a problem i've had a nano reef for almost 3 years. it also helps slow down the flow in the AC300. Thanks for the feedback though.

[Undertheradar]

I understand 100%. I dont like running sponges, but sometimes you gotta! The lettuce nudi in the new 10 gallon got sucked throught the intake strainer on the powerhead...so I now have a sponge on it as well...(oh, he lived despite the mutilation of one of his frills)

[Armadildo]

sponges are OK, they save the actual "rap" from getting down in your sandbed. Just be sure to keep on top of cleaning it

[mapv281]

nice tank, although i would suggest that you put in 2-3 more lbs of rock

[john76]

Sponges are a PITA, but they do work for polishing the water. Just keep a couple of them on hand to switch out. That way you aren't constantly washing them. I keep a couple in a bucket in my stand.