Time/cost required to maintain a 5g Pico tank

[Bchou93]

Hi, I'm new to the hobby. I've had freshwater tanks of varying sizes up to a 150g. I really want to start up a saltwater, but I have space restrictions. Like, very small space restrictions. I'd also like to keep a smaller budget as well. 

I've heard that beginners should start bigger due to the fact that chemical levels fluctuate quickly and easily in the tanks. However, I'm willing to put in the time and effort for maintenance. 

I'm looking at getting an Fluval Evo V 5 gallon tank and plan on keeping fish and possibly corals in the future. I'd like to hear some suggestions for start up, maintenance, etc. Also, can I hear about the monthly maintenance costs, including top ups, amount of salt used, etc? I'm really trying to come up with an idea of how much this will all cost. Thanks in advance!

[LogicalReefs]

I have a 4.1 gallon tank. Monthly cost are minimal. A $30 bucket of Red Sea  blue bucket last me maybe 8 months if I do a 1 gallon water change every week. I buy 2 gallons of distilled water for my water change and top off for the week for about $1 per gallon. 
 

For feeding I use hikari brine shrimp and that last almost 4 months since I feed sorta of heavy for my stocking. That cost me maybe $4 for the food.

[Tamberav]

1 hour ago, Bchou93 said:

Hi, I'm new to the hobby. I've had freshwater tanks of varying sizes up to a 150g. I really want to start up a saltwater, but I have space restrictions. Like, very small space restrictions. I'd also like to keep a smaller budget as well. 

I've heard that beginners should start bigger due to the fact that chemical levels fluctuate quickly and easily in the tanks. However, I'm willing to put in the time and effort for maintenance. 

I'm looking at getting an Fluval Evo V 5 gallon tank and plan on keeping fish and possibly corals in the future. I'd like to hear some suggestions for start up, maintenance, etc. Also, can I hear about the monthly maintenance costs, including top ups, amount of salt used, etc? I'm really trying to come up with an idea of how much this will all cost. Thanks in advance!

 

What sort of fish are you looking to keep?

 

A 5g can not keep many fish. It will have room for small shrimp gobies like high fin or Yasha ...trimmas....neon gobies..  clown gobies.. tiny blennys like a two spot or maybe a tailspot. 

 

Around two tiny fish would be ideal. 

 

Saltwater tanks are not really community tanks like freshwater and fish need space and territory or normally peaceful fish will fight.

 

Maintenance costs of running such a small tank should not be too significant and there are ways to save like bagging your own carbon instead of buying pre-bagged...etc.

 

Startup costs can quickly add up. Research and buy ONCE. Lighting is one of the areas that people end up buying twice sometimes because they didn't research enough.

 

With a tank this small your options are larger...it just depends how much control you want and if you want to be able to pull maximum colors from your corals. It could be anywhere from 30 bucks to 300 bucks.

 

If this is going to be your only salt tank and you seriously won't upgrade I would go for nicer equipment to pull the most you can out of your small reef if you can. AI Prime and Nanobox are both very popular lights.

 

If you want something very simple and not tinker with colors then a kessil can be popular since it is two nobs.

 

If you are on a budget then hipagero and abi tuna par bulbs are popular. These are cheaper Chinese brands and won't have the refinement or control the main companies will.

 

 

 

 

 

[Bchou93]

1 hour ago, Tamberav said:

 

What sort of fish are you looking to keep?

 

A 5g can not keep many fish. It will have room for small shrimp gobies like high fin or Yasha ...trimmas....neon gobies..  clown gobies.. tiny blennys like a two spot or maybe a tailspot. 

 

Around two tiny fish would be ideal. 

 

Saltwater tanks are not really community tanks like freshwater and fish need space and territory or normally peaceful fish will fight.

 

Maintenance costs of running such a small tank should not be too significant and there are ways to save like bagging your own carbon instead of buying pre-bagged...etc.

 

Startup costs can quickly add up. Research and buy ONCE. Lighting is one of the areas that people end up buying twice sometimes because they didn't research enough.

 

With a tank this small your options are larger...it just depends how much control you want and if you want to be able to pull maximum colors from your corals. It could be anywhere from 30 bucks to 300 bucks.

 

If this is going to be your only salt tank and you seriously won't upgrade I would go for nicer equipment to pull the most you can out of your small reef if you can. AI Prime and Nanobox are both very popular lights.

 

If you want something very simple and not tinker with colors then a kessil can be popular since it is two nobs.

 

If you are on a budget then hipagero and abi tuna par bulbs are popular. These are cheaper Chinese brands and won't have the refinement or control the main companies will.

 

 

 

 

 

I haven't gotten as far as figuring out what livestock I will put in the tank. Right now, I'm mostly just trying to figure out whether I should set up a tank. I'm trying to figure out what the set up and maintenance costs of a 5g might be like. I do know that if I set up a 5g, I'll have restrictions on what I can put in it and with who, but I'm not going to be picky. I'll put in whatever the tank size will allow. In the future when I have more space, I will set up a larger tank. I will definitely take your recommendations into consideration. I am interested in doing corals, so I'll check into the lights you mentioned. Thank you 🙂

[LogicalReefs]

If you do a lot of soft corals and some other easy LPS corals like acans you can get by with not having a top of the line light. The par 38 abi bulb would work great actually.

 

Apart from the tank, sand and rocks, you’ll be looking at the cost of water, salt and maybe some testing kits for water quality. What you decide to buy other than that is extra. This hobby you can be extra cheap or spend a lot of money and still end up with the same result. Research is key for what ever you decide. One of the best things you can do is join this forum like you have, ask questions that you might have, read other questions people might have just to see how they over came things and take everything slow.

[MrObscura]

As little or as much time and money as you want.

 

Some people have budget oriented large tanks that cost a fraction of other people's nanos. And vice versa. 

 

Same goes for time. A tank can be fully automated and all but hands off with auto waterchanges and constant monitoring...or  you can go the opposite and be totally hands on.

 

My advice is simple is best. Keep things stable and do a small weekly water change and youre good to go.

 

On my 10 gallon I put in a couple hours a week or so doing a waterchange. That includes wating for the water to mix, during which time I test all my parameters. I also test alk daily with a hannah checker. That takes like 2 minutes. 

 

 

 

 

[Ratvan]

7 hours ago, Bchou93 said:

Hi, I'm new to the hobby. I've had freshwater tanks of varying sizes up to a 150g. I really want to start up a saltwater, but I have space restrictions. Like, very small space restrictions. I'd also like to keep a smaller budget as well. 

I've heard that beginners should start bigger due to the fact that chemical levels fluctuate quickly and easily in the tanks. However, I'm willing to put in the time and effort for maintenance. 

I'm looking at getting an Fluval Evo V 5 gallon tank and plan on keeping fish and possibly corals in the future. I'd like to hear some suggestions for start up, maintenance, etc. Also, can I hear about the monthly maintenance costs, including top ups, amount of salt used, etc? I'm really trying to come up with an idea of how much this will all cost. Thanks in advance!

Well the set up cost of my 2.5g Pico and my 34g RSM 130 worked out about the same. I purchased the RSM used and dirty. Cost me a little money but a lot of scrubbing. 

 

Maintenance I try and do as little as possible, the pico gets a scrub down once a week as does the larger tank. I spend longer on the larger tank due to detritus build up in the rear sections ( oooh err mrs) probably an hour to do both including water changes. I but my water from my LFS.

[Poison Dart Frog]

I have the 5.5 gallon Fluval. I change 1 gallon per week and top off with distilled water. So not very expensive. Pacific ocean water at petco is $12 for 5 gallons I think. Obviously it is cheaper if you mix your own saltwater. Once you account for sand and rock then a 1 gallon water change is about 25% which is enough to keep nitrates reasonable if you're not overfeeding. Mine are usually between 10 and 20.

[MrObscura]

Used is definitely a good way to go. At least for the tank. I kind of regret not doing so myself. I mean used or new doesn't really matter with tanks. Theyre just boxes of glass/acrylic and either they're scratch free and hold water or they dont.

 

I could have set up a much larger tank for less than I've put into my 10 gallon if I got a used tank.

 

 

 

[Saltslinger]

Maintenance cost is just a drop in the bucket by the time you cough up for the initial setup.

 

I just set up a 5gal reef tank (my first, yay) and it's cost me at least $200 dollars in set up and that's with having some junk I reused from some of my freshwater aquariums (heater, aquarium stand, a friend had some left over live sand he gave me). Aaannd I haven't even bought any salt yet, anything to put in the actual tank besides the rock, or any test kits for parameters. Compared to this, monthly maintenance is not much, lets be honest if you have to tally that up you prooobably are too broke to set up a tank in the first place.

 

Time spent is a personal thing. You can spend 24/7 worrying about your tank, or don't try to overstock a tiny tank with fish and you won't have to spend as much time water changing (or worrying about it). Personally I am not planning on spending that much time maintenancing this tank so I am trying to stock it accordingly, no fish, super easy coral, maybe a hermit crab. Hopefully my time spent will be a lot less than some of the (brilliantly) crazy people here who have pico SPS tanks. Kind of rambling but it's an aquarium, you can spend as little or as much time as you want with it, just make sure what you stock reflects how much maintenance you can realistically put into it.

[hotdrop]

5-10 gal tank start up  costs are the same maybe even up to 20 gal if you don’t need a stand. 

[Gravity]

@Saltslinger has a point, startup cost are worst then maintenance. And to extend an this there is a correlation between cost and maintenance. For instance a ATO or dosing pump dosing pump reduces manual maintenance but increases cost. 
 

Here are my best assumptions:

-Tank/Stand/Filter/Rock/Light - variable
-Equipment

   Circulation Pump $20-$100+
   Heater $10-50
   Thermometer $10

   Turkey Baster $6

   Power Strip $10

-Salt: Red Sea (Blue) $27/6months

          5 gal: $1.14/wk - 1 gal/wk

- Water 1 gal/wk change - 0.5 gal/wk evaporation

   *May vary based on climate and tank cover

          Distilled $1/gal = $1.50/wk

   OR  RO/DI initial cost $60-300 ($150 preference)

           Operating Cost = approximately $1.60/wk

            *Improved Water Quality 

           LFS RODI - no initial cost but quality may 

                                 vary based on stores protocols

- Testing

Salinity

    Hydrometer $15

    Refractometer $35 (recommended)

    Digital $70-130
Main Nutrients

    API Saltwater Master $23

      good startup kit but will likely only use pH and                  
      nitrate after cycling 

      API Nitrate $0.13/wk tested weekly

      * Brand Name $0.20-$0.30/wk (upgrade)

    Phosphate $0.20-$0.40/wk tested weekly

       *Hanna Checker recommended $50 initial

Stoney Coral Testing

    Alkalinity $0.10-$0.40/wk

       *Hanna Checker recommended $50 initial

    Calcium $0.20-$0.40/wk

    Magnesium $0.20-$0.40/wk

- Maintenance

   Auto Top Off $90-$200 (optional)

        DIY $20-$50

   Buckets $10

   Gravel Vacuum $15

   Filter Floss $12 - $0.50/wk

   Carbon $20 - $0.40/wk

   Algae Scrapper $20

   Hard Coral

      Dosing Pumps $60-$1000 (optional)

      2 Part - variable based on choices

Summary

- Initial Cost $280 moderate choices with 6 months standard tests and filter media

     Not including tank/stand/filter/rock/lights/

     or hard coral testing and dosing

-Operating $3.70 no coral to $4.70 with coral

These are my best estimates for operating a 5 gallon. 
-Commitment based on my tank I take probably 30 mins a week for testing cleaning and water change.  Then probably about 5 mins a day or every other to feed. 

Hope this helps. 

[10001110101]

Keep in mind, whatever costs you plan, you will usually spend at least twice that.  Granted you're limited in a 5g as far as what corals you can even fit in there so that will help, but yeah you can get a little hob filter and just do like 30-50% water changes weekly and that will basically be all the maintenance you need, put a little carbon, some filter floss in the filter, get a little koralia powerhead and you can have a nice lil softie/lps tank.

 

main thing is you're going to be really really limited by what you can stock, if youre' happy with a clown goby and a couple snails being the only real livestock besides corals i think u'll have great success, i've seen some really cute lil pico tanks on this forum and imo they are probably the easiest maintenance and cheapest way to go as long as you keep your expectations in line.

 

with the big weekly water changes you wont have to dose any additives, you wont need a protein skimmer, you can get away with a tiny cheap light, tiny little 25w heater, and a cheapo hob filter and baby koralia powerhead so you're only ongoing costs will be filtered water and salt assuming you dont buy an ro/di, and even cheap instant ocean will work great, the main thing will just be consistent water changes, ideally you'd do them twice a week or weekly.  You don't need a refractometer, the cheapest hydrometer will work, it wont be accurate but as long as you keep salinity constant and in somewhat normal ranges it wont really matter, you really dont even need test kits, just go to your local LFS once a month and have them test the basics, with the big frequent water changes there really isn't much that the parameters can really even change.  the key is not hitting specific numbers like having perfect values same as NSW but its about keeping whatever numbers you have consistent.

 

that being said i've never actually kept a pico tank but this is based on what i've seen others do and had pretty good success with and just general knowledge.  hth!  don't be afraid of saltwater, but take your time and just aim for consistency with whatever approach you decide to take, there are no rules in this hobby and you can have the best equipment and fail miserably or the most barebones setup and have fantastic success, it's all about good husbandry, patience, and consistency.

[kimdawg]

If you really want to do it cheap, some of the big box pet stores sell cheap tanks like the ones in the pico contest.  You can get a 2.5, 5, or 10 gallon tank for less than $20.00  The 10 gallon can be bought with a tank, hob filter, heater, etc.  for $30.00   You can get an Aqua Knight light for $62.00 on amazon.  This is the light in my pico tank in the last pics.  It was running 70% blue and about 20% white in the pics.  It grows everything in my tank on 70% blue only.  This is the very basic entry level equipment.

 

This would let you know if you like saltwater without spending much money for a while.  If you go bare bottom and start with mostly base rock with one piece to seed the tank it is really cheap.  This would be the cheapest way unless you can get a used tank on craigslist or other sell sight.  Just go slow stocking the tank.  Come on over to the salty world you will love it and there are a lot of smart people to help you on here.  I ask them for advice all of the time.

[Bchou93]

Thank you everyone for your replies! I did end up getting a Fluval Evo 13.5 and I'm so happy that I did! Now to wait for cycling to finish up...

[hotdrop]

What else did you end up buying for the setup? Test kits? Ato? Wavemaker?  Ther is a great macna presentation on brs tv about cycling by dr Tim (the guy that makes the live bacteria stuff) . https://youtu.be/zDI7sxqC-ss watch that and I think you will be able to prevent most of the common cycling f-ups 

 

 

[Bchou93]

2 hours ago, hotdrop said:

What else did you end up buying for the setup? Test kits? Ato? Wavemaker?  Ther is a great macna presentation on brs tv about cycling by dr Tim (the guy that makes the live bacteria stuff) . https://youtu.be/zDI7sxqC-ss watch that and I think you will be able to prevent most of the common cycling f-ups 

 

 

Wavemaker is on the way today. No ATO. I got the saltwater master test kit that I've been using every few days. I'll definitely check out the link. I can use all the info I can get!

[hotdrop]

50 minutes ago, Bchou93 said:

Wavemaker is on the way today. No ATO. I got the saltwater master test kit that I've been using every few days. I'll definitely check out the link. I can use all the info I can get!

The small shallow tanks have evap Salinity stability problems. It’s not a huge issue for hardy soft corals but it can be a bit of a nussance to deal with daily especially if you don’t have a way to make ro water. If you take a salinity reading when you do maintenance you will notice the difference. 

[10001110101]

Just fyi if you got the API saltwater test kit, for whatever reason it always shows some amount of ammonia, like if you're waiting for that shade of lime-green to turn straight yellow, it just doesn't.

 

Just in case for whatever reason it seems like that last bit of Ammonia won't go away, it's just the test kit is only so good.  Once you're nitrites are steady 0 and the ammonia basically looks like zero you can consider the tank cycled imo.

[Gravity]

Yeah, I had a similar issue. I think when I started looking at it under different lighting it was easier to read.