evanski Posted December 26, 2013 Share Posted December 26, 2013 I figured we might have critical mass for a thread dedicated to these nice little tanks...2, 2.5, and 5G welcome. Edges and other non-Spec Fluvals GTFO! Would like to see setup descriptions, recent FTS shots from owners, and comments about issues, equipment, scaping, etc. In my mind Return pump issues, multiple pumps, in-tank powerheads, etc. Filtration and media racks i.e. inTank Fluval rack Lighting Heaters Stocking, corals and fish are all pertinent topics. All other ideas welcome! I will lead off with pics after I move some coral up into the rockwork from the sandbed later today. 4 Quote Link to comment
ALNN Posted December 27, 2013 Share Posted December 27, 2013 Im getting my post ready! Great thread! FTS (Link in Signature) Tank: Fluval Spec V 5.5Gallon tankLighting: DIY LED in stock housing. 3x 3UP CREE LEDS 2x UV LEDS Royal Blue LED on 1 driver 700mA driver with dimmer UV & NW on 1 driver 700mA driver with dimmerFlow: Mini jet 606 pump to a Hydor Rotating Deflector running at 1/2 & Stock fluval spec v pumpFilration: Running Floss and Sponge ATMHeater: Hydor 25W HeaterIssues: Cleaning the glass, a nano mag is your best friend (get 2 little fish mag) Flow is a big issue also. Also i find it hard to keep the temperature stable but its slowly getting better. Livestock- Cleaner shrimp DEAD- Yasha goby (06/04/2013) DEAD-(10/17/13)- 4 Sexy shirmp - down to 3- 2 Pom Pom carbs - down to 1- Porcelain Crab- Candy Cane Pistal- Clown FishCorals to date.(12/25/2013)Softy- GSP- Pulsing xenia- 2 ric yumas- 1 Ric florida- 1 Mushroom coral- Flower pot coralSPS- Pink Montipora cap- Green Montipora cap- Purple montipora cap- Rainbow encrusting Montipora (bleached)- Green Montipora digitataZoa/Polyp- Neon Pink Zoa (bleached)- Dark Cherry people eaters (bleached)- Magician paly- Devil's Armpr zoa- Sunny D zoa- Red Cherry people eaters- MJC sriracha- Utter Chaos Paly- Oj Skirt Zoa- Hawaiian Punch zoaLPS/NPS- Dendros- Hammer Coral- Golden Tip Octospawn- Rainbow Acan i'll update if i missed anything 1 Quote Link to comment
mallek Posted December 27, 2013 Share Posted December 27, 2013 Im getting my post ready! Great thread! me too 1 Quote Link to comment
evanski Posted December 27, 2013 Author Share Posted December 27, 2013 Rip it up gents...I just glued my frags to the rockwork and am waiting for them to reopen before I post my first pic. Quote Link to comment
JoshuA c Posted December 27, 2013 Share Posted December 27, 2013 Here is a link to my build thread. I'll put up a post of the tank when it's all set up. Quote Link to comment
evanski Posted December 27, 2013 Author Share Posted December 27, 2013 Here is mine... Quote Link to comment
evanski Posted December 28, 2013 Author Share Posted December 28, 2013 Curious what others are doing in terms of return pumps. A lot of folks are doing a Minijet 606 replacement of stock...which I can tell you gives substantial flow! Others have added ANOTHER pump, keeping the stock return and plumbing it through a hole drilled into the back wall. I like this idea but it precludes using the very ncie inTank media rack. The 2/2.5G units are too small for a circulation pump in the main display...but I am getting something like 75X turnover! The V might be big enough for a pump in the display without crowding. 1 Quote Link to comment
jestep Posted December 28, 2013 Share Posted December 28, 2013 Been super lazy recently but here's my spec v build thread. Special grade reef sand with about 2.5lbs of BRS pukani. Lighting is DIY Cree CW/RB LED's. Intank media basket, w/606 return into a hydor rotating deflector. Plenty of flow for the whole tank but the hydor stops rotating due to colonista snails almost daily. Fishless with mainly ricordeas and zoas and red macros. I have a digi and a green monti cap that I threw in after breaking them off in my main tank, both are growing well. Quote Link to comment
tONe2 Posted December 28, 2013 Share Posted December 28, 2013 Here's mine http://www.nano-reef.com/topic/336786-tone2s-fluval-spec-v/ Also a couple of quick questions for anyone that's running an MP10 on their spec. I have an MP10 just collecting dust right now and was thinking about sticking it in the spec. 1. Is it though to find a spot were it won't make a sandstorm in such a small tank? 2. Are you running it with one of the pico shields or just normal. 3. If you can share any +/- or challenges you've had running it I'd appreciate it. Quote Link to comment
mallek Posted December 29, 2013 Share Posted December 29, 2013 http://www.nano-reef.com/topic/335192-frugal-fluval/ heres a lil update of mine, more pics to come. Quote Link to comment
Pm5k Posted January 1, 2014 Share Posted January 1, 2014 I'm wondering if I should kee my Spec V or get something else. Probably cost me 100.00 or so to upgrade the lighting, with a JBJ Biocube maybe I wouldn't have to and I'd still wind up being around the same price total, but have more gallons. I do like pico, but I could go nano. Thoughts? Quote Link to comment
evanski Posted January 1, 2014 Author Share Posted January 1, 2014 jbj stock lights are relatively weak, ok for softies and LPS. You are about $100 for a decent light...would get a media basket, CPE/pyrogens. And mini jet 606 return upgrade. Still cheaper I think, and a very clean tank and less than the JBJ, with an albeit smaller footprint. Take a look at my thread build. Lots of good Fluval builds here! Quote Link to comment
JoshuA c Posted January 1, 2014 Share Posted January 1, 2014 I'm wondering if I should kee my Spec V or get something else. Probably cost me 100.00 or so to upgrade the lighting, with a JBJ Biocube maybe I wouldn't have to and I'd still wind up being around the same price total, but have more gallons. I do like pico, but I could go nano. Thoughts? You can usually find a used Skkye IM led on some of these forums and I've seem them as low as $45! With the V, though, you definitely have to upgrade the pump or get a powerhead just because of flow problems. Quote Link to comment
evanski Posted January 1, 2014 Author Share Posted January 1, 2014 Think the Fluval would end up costing about half of bio cube. Lower volume would be a little less forgiving, and limit your fish choice. Matter of taste from there...come to the dark (Fluval) side! 1 Quote Link to comment
Pm5k Posted January 1, 2014 Share Posted January 1, 2014 I already have a Fluval so it's not about coming to any side, lol. It's just about keeping it since I can still return it. Just still trying to figure everything out. 1 Quote Link to comment
Pm5k Posted January 2, 2014 Share Posted January 2, 2014 Could I do a custom media basket and just add another 90ish GPH pump in the bottom to add flow for corals and such? Quote Link to comment
tONe2 Posted January 2, 2014 Share Posted January 2, 2014 Custom media basket would work fine. I'm running a custom basket and upgraded the pump to a 606. It's more than enough flow/filtration for LPS and softies. A light upgrade is a must on the Spec though 1 Quote Link to comment
Hawkfish01 Posted January 2, 2014 Share Posted January 2, 2014 I have a spec v..ive replaced pump with marineland 606 for return and put in a koralia nano 240 AND got the new in tank media basket...easy peasy...ive come to the dark side..have you???? 8) 1 Quote Link to comment
ninjamyst Posted January 2, 2014 Share Posted January 2, 2014 I have a spec v..ive replaced pump with marineland 606 for return and put in a koralia nano 240 AND got the new in tank media basket...easy peasy...ive come to the dark side..have you???? 8) I thought 606 was already a tad too much flow for LPS... Quote Link to comment
Pm5k Posted January 2, 2014 Share Posted January 2, 2014 So then the question is would 95 GPH pump be enough? Just trying to use something I already have. Quote Link to comment
evanski Posted January 3, 2014 Author Share Posted January 3, 2014 So then the question is would 95 GPH pump be enough? Just trying to use something I already have. I have the 606 in my 2G Spec...flow is awesome. I do want to keep some SPS, so high flow is important. Think the 606 in a V would be great for LPS and softies. Quote Link to comment
Pm5k Posted January 3, 2014 Share Posted January 3, 2014 606 does 153 GPH, mine does at least 95, maybe more not 100% sure. Quote Link to comment
evanski Posted January 3, 2014 Author Share Posted January 3, 2014 Sorry...I was replying to Ninja originally, as it was not my experience that the 606 was TOO much. You might get away with what you have, unless you are going with an SPS that needs high flow. Have to watch to make sure you do not have any dead space where detritus accumulates, etc. Apologize for the confusion. Quote Link to comment
tONe2 Posted January 3, 2014 Share Posted January 3, 2014 I thought 606 was already a tad too much flow for LPS... My LPS are loving it. So far I've added a frogspawn, a few duncan heads and a torch and they all open up completely. My torch is even directly across from the return in one of the highest flow areas in the tank and it gets HUGE when the lights are on. Quote Link to comment
Pm5k Posted January 3, 2014 Share Posted January 3, 2014 So the two people I can find that added a second pump where the filter media goes both added the second one pretty high. I remember seeing someone add theirs low. Wondering which is better. Since there's a rock in the middle of the tank I'm thinking higher might be better, I can always angle it down with the nozzle, but I'm not sure I could angle it up if I put it on the bottom. Looking for that persons tank, maybe I can ask how it worked out for them. 1 Quote Link to comment
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