5G Nano (pico) SW Build

The angel will be rehomed into a 40b that my brother is going to make me help him setup

I am not overly attached to them because I know inverts are sensitive to the water params I am expecting to find it dead in the next few weeks... I just hope I find it before it causes a too high of an ammonia spike and makes the cycle last longer...

... I don't think the size rocks I bought are bight enough to hold a mantis shrimp... I got 4 rocks 1 is 4lbs and the other 3 are 1lbs each... and I didn't see any holes large enough to fit a shrimp but I will listen for clicking as cool looking as they are that's that last thing I want to find....

And yes saltwater is awesome haha! I am excited to help my brother start his huge tank! I will have to lead him to here so he will stop telling me what he thinking I need to know... (aka stuff I have already thought to ask and has Ben answered days before he bothers to tell me... like if you want corals to grow you need to get a blue light... I have a 50/50 lighting)

 

finally got sand added! I like the look makes the live rock kinda pop! the picture really does no justice...



will be getting a bottle of MacroBacterium(sp) 7 either tomorrow of thrusday! so I will be able to add hermits soon... but I am still testing the water... I need to test today...

 

Okay so I tested earlier and my tank was near cycled... so I decided to acclimate one of my male ghost shrimps to the tank (it will also help deal with algae blooms that I expected to come already) if the tank stays cycled at least 2 days I will buy a few blue leg hermit crabs

 

Ghost Shrimp or are you referring to Palaemonetes vulgaris (marine)

Sounds like you're having fun with your pico

 

Nope the very much freshwater ghost shrimp he is still kickin right now I let him lose around 1am he is exploring the tunnels... he is the only thing in there that moves xD I found a 3rd micro brittle starfish so last night I target fed each one large krill they were really hungry haha! Though I really have no clue how often to feed them... they never come out of their little hidy holes... should I be worried about that?

Anyways I found an eBay seller who has 50 hermit crab shells for $7.50 (roughly 15¢ a shell) so I bought them! Rogue tells me its best to have 5 shells per hermit and I want 4-5 so I think this grab bag of shells is perfect! Plus I will have a saltwater version of a shellie cichlid tank xD

Oh and I have read of people successfully acclimating guppies to saltwater and I think it would be cool to acclimate a male or two... why you ask? It would be super unique! Though I am doing more research before I attempt this... would hate to kill a fish due to improper research...

 

I agree about the shells, 4-5 spare per crab.

Guppies I have heard of in SW, and also mollies.

Bristleworms are filter feeders, they'll grab stuff from the water column. I don't think you need to feed them at all TBH.

 

setting up a 2.5g pico

Mollies and guppies can be salties you just have to acclimate them real slowly about 10 hours. My friend has a male in her 10 gallon she acclimated him for 12 hours. And my LFS has a 40B reef with 10 male guppies and 4 male Sailfin mollies.

 

I am thinking of getting a male or 2 for this tank but I want to see how the hermits work out first!

As for the stars I am a bit worried because they haven't come out of their hiding places in the rocks just wave like an arm or 3 lol... I have been target feeding them a large krill every other night and they each seem to love it I have been told the stars are nocternal but I still haven't seen them even when I shut the light off and stare at the tank for a few hours :/

 

My hermit crab shells came in the mail! Going to add all 50 to the tank as they are small enough... I was expecting bigger shells lol... I will wait til Friday to see if it changes the Ph in the water at all... currently my Ph is at 8.2

By the way could a mod change the title to 5 gallon nano build or something like that? Thanks guys

 

thread renamed

Make sure the shells are actually bigger than what your hermits currently have

 

I will make sure... a couple shells are really big some I know they will never use... but I plan to buy small ones anyways and watch them grow up

Thanks for the rename like it!

 

Bought my first inverts for the tank... 4 red leg hermits, 3 Nass snails, and 1 Mexican margarita snail goin to wait about 6 weeks to find a fish for it

 

Kinda miffed at my lfs... the red legged hermits are actually blues... from the angle of the tanks when I was looking I couldn't tell if they were blues or reds... guess I know now :/ oh well I still love them all the same!

 

RIP Little Mexico my Mexican Turbo snail.... I am not sure why he died when all the other snails and inverts in the tank are all doing awesome... regardless I plan to clean out his shell and make it a part of one of my tanks... maybe add it to the brackish water crab tank as a hide out?

Anyways I will be tanking pictures of everyone today as 3 days ago Rogue sent me some Macro algae and 3 aestrea snails that are doing ah awesome job cleaning the glass of algae but haven't moved to the LR yet... and the hermits are enjoying the hair algae on the rocks though... I may buy a few more hermits as I only have 4 right now... may get 4 more...

Also I will be buying a hob fuge that hold 1 gallon of water to try and breed coepods would love to have a zillion so I can get a dragonete when the tank is 6+ months old my lfs has 2 red scooter blennies that are cool to water

 

Can a 5 gallon tank support the weight of a gallon hob? That's almost 10lbs hanging off tge top of the tank.......

 

Monkey Feather has a good point a 1 gallon fuge is a great idea but it maybe to heavy for your tank seeing yours is rimless. I would be VERY careful if you do decide to do it cuz it may crack the tank.

 

My tanks not Rimless I just don't have a glass top over it... and I have a ton of bricks so I can stack them to support the weight if need be... I don't plan to add any LR rubble just the cheat and coepods... though I understand the concern and I thank you for bringing it up as its not what I have considered yet...

 

Make sure the weight is on a stand outside of the tank.....even with a rI'm that's a lot of stress where the tank wasn't built for it. Being unlevel can pop tank seams from uneven pressure on the corners, it would suck to warp this tank with all your critters getting comfy

 

My tanks not Rimless I just don't have a glass top over it... and I have a ton of bricks so I can stack them to support the weight if need be... I don't plan to add any LR rubble just the cheat and coepods... though I understand the concern and I thank you for bringing it up as its not what I have considered yet...

Oops looked at the wrong tank was looking at the 2.5 lol. I think 1 gallon should be fine you . IMO you should use a small piece if LR to hold the algae down and that way the coepods can stay anchored to grow than they will float into your tank .

 

The area I have the tank sitting is quite level and yes the fuge with be set on a stand outside the tank and I will test it first just to be safe if I see even a little bowing I will remove it and just use it on my 26g for snails or something lol... and yes it would suck big time to pop a seem :/ I will keep an eye on it.

Jessi- well I guess I will try to find a small piece of LR for it then to hold the algae down... would base rock become live rock in the fuge even if I don't add anything live (LR/ls) to it will it become live? My lfs has some Texas holy rock that they seed and I am sure they have some small ones they haven't used yet.

 

Just read through is thread, glad to see your tank up and running can't wait to set mine up. I'm truly amazed at the opinions here of nanos and picos being so fragile, I've seen picos down to 1gal before. Go on Nano-reef, I think you will find a MUCH different viewpoint on stability. I started with a 2.5gal years ago, migrated up to a 5gal then 10gal for the simple reason I wanted more room for coral, never once in multiple years keeping it did I experience any sort of fluctuation problem with the system. No sump, no skimmer (tanks this small you shouldn't even need them because you can just do easy water changes.).

Another thing I wanted to comment on was earlier in this thread. A proper LED light setup should NOT heat up your tank. LEDs produce heat on the backsides, hence the need for thermal paste and a heat sink to draw heat out away from the diode. If anything you need fans on the top of the fixture.

Again glad to see yours moving along!

 

I don't have a Skimmer or a sump but I do want the fuge for coepods... anyways as for the light I am using a 50/50 t5 system thing lol it produces some heat but just enough to evap water my temp in the tank is always a constant 75* with a 50w heater... which confuses me greatly... and I don't understand why there are so many issues with it myself it kind of like running a freshwater tank, IMHO, where a sudden change can kill something as well in a small tank... but I have been getting help from Rogue who has ran a 5 gallon as well...

I have seen a 1 gallon vase Pico it was really neat looking but super crampt lol. I am looking into zoas and mushrooms for the tank now and I want to try growing some but I have no clue where to find nice ones where the shipping won't kill me...

 

Took a few days but earlier one astrea found its way to my LR and is eating the hair algae there and has mowed down a good portion and maybe 3 hours ago a 2nd one found it was to the same area! #3 is still eating stuff off the heater! So glad rogue was able to send them to me! However I think I may need a couple more... and my dumb lfs doesn't sell them... doesn't have cerith snails either just turbos and I don't want another one to die on me like lil' Mexico did... anyways today I am ordering the fuge for the tank and I hope to have it by Wednesday! Then I will get the chaeto setup in there and then order some coepods to start seeding my tank with the little dudes so I can eventually buy a red scooter blenny! My lfs has 2 and I would love to buy them both, given I could keep enough coepods in the tank and they can eat sinking pellets!

 

Don't get more snails yet. IMO, they'll make short work of the algae you have, and then you'll run out of food for them. Let them catch up first, then see how bad the algae problem is. If they keep it contained, you're fine

PS - Sounds like you're having fun, and enjoying the tank

Not that hard after all is it

 

Yeah I am going to wait I was just debating getting more or not! They are going at it pretty fast I am ordering some dried seaweed and nor I for them because I am sure the tank will be clean in 2 weeks and so far it seems everyone is vegan in the tank except the Nassirus that got some krill today lol

And yes I am loving this tank more addicting than my freshwater setups (but don't tell Cresendo)

And this tank isn't hard to maintain at all... I am slightly confused over the freak out when I started the thread but I have moved past that (it may have just been the 2.5 size idk?) But the params are still good and I tap off maybe a cup every other day... not to bad though I am excited to see when a hermit finally changes shells!

 

Nassa's do like meat Put a piece of clam or mussel or similar on the substrate, and watch them appear like zombies

SW is very exciting and interesting!

Oh, and you're in winter, so temp stability is probably ok, just a heads up, keep an eye on it as summer approaches. But other than that, sounds pretty good. Evaporation doesn't sound too high (I loose about 1% per day)

I've never seen a hermit change shells, hope you get to see it happen, as opposed to waking and noticing...

 

That's the first reason I wanted them! Their zombieness lol however I expected these tiny things that got no bigger than an MTS... yeah mine are huge lol. I will have to see if county market sells clams/mussles... I know they sell table shrimp (I picked up a couple to test out) how long would I leave it in the tank?

That is what I am asuming about my temps as well... which is why I am saving for a really sweet led light I saw at petsmart its only $80 but more then I have right now... and a glass lid to keep evap down and the temp under control as well... its the main reason I plan to let my tank sit fish less for a while, besides to build a coepod population, I am worried about swings when it gets warmer....

And I am watching one of the crabs now that has claimed the largest shells in the front for his own (I am guessing) he is trying to shove his whole, current, shell into the new one right now xD the shell is like 5x his current size lol

 

I'm starting a 2G nano. I really hope I have the success you have had so far.

 

I'm starting a 2G nano. I really hope I have the success you have had so far.

Omg awesome!!! Please tell me your akng a thread I want to watch you bring it to life!!! Good luck! But I have hI a big bump in the road...

2 weeks ago I suddenly had some algae growing so after buying m clean up crew my algae started getting worse... turns out what I am rowingis Byopsies(sp) a hair algae that causes most to quit saltwater (from what I have read).... anyways I think I have figured outhow to get rid of it after reading about upping the magnesium evel in the tak to 1500ppm and keep it there for 2-3 months the algae will de and the cuc should be able to clean it right up just ordered some and goin to pick up a mag kit friday! Also to the advisment of a few sites and a friend I am buying an emerald crab (since the tanks not reef ready at all) to help out as well really excited about adding a new crab!

To help the chaet remove nutrients from the algae I am also strting to convert my mangroves to saltwater (they were raised in freshwater)

 

anyways I think I have figured outhow to get rid of it after reading about upping the magnesium evel in the tak to 1500ppm and keep it there for 2-3 months the algae will de and the cuc should be able to clean it right up

Which Magnesium supplement? Most reports I've read on tackling Bryopsis suggest that it is only the Kent Marine Tech M that works.... All the other supplements don't seem to work in the reports I've read about using Mg to 'cure' bryopsis.

 

That's the one I read about so that's the one I bought its a 16 oz bottle but I think it will be fine for my small tank...

 

Read the instructions carefully. I have a bottle of the stuff, but can't remember dosage off the top of my head. Just be sure to slowly bring up the Mg content. I think about 100ppm per 24 hours is 'safe'.

And of course, wait until you have your test kit

 

Yup I remeber that! Picking up the kit Friday though...

 

I was so mad because they canceled my order of tech M magnesium but I am now happy because I picked up the last bottle at the lfs in charelston!!! And it was the same size bottle I ordered online but way cheaper! (9.99 at lfs the online one was 17.00) worth it! Now I just need to order a magneisum test kit and I can start getting rid of my algae issue.... which brings me too my 2nd purchase at the lfs...



Meet my female emerald crab (she needs a name) her body is a bit smaller than a nickle and of the 7 emerads the lfs has she was the only one that didn't hide and stared at the people in the store quite a cutie, IMO! The store guy said she was the only one in that tank and cleared a good 5" area of bubble algae on her own in the 3 days they had her! Right now she is resting in the LR so I am going to snap some pictures when I get home tonight

 

HI there

Keep a real close eye on the Mg levels when you put mangroves in as they use large ammounts of it to help remove the salt from the seawater that they take in through the roots, I had 3 red mangroves in a 80g (total inc sump) system and they took the Mg from a reasonably steady 1380-1400 to 1240 in a week !! nothing else had changed other than adding the mangroves, removed them and needed 250Grams of Magnesium chloride anhydrous and 3 weeks to finally get the levels right again, Plus remember that changing the Mg level will unbalance the Kh and Calcium levels as they are all linked.
IMHO you will not need mangroves in such a small system, brightly lit the chaeto will easily strip No3 from the water on its own.

 

So since getting the emerald crab my algae issue has nearly halved!!! Plus she is super friendly and came out tonight to eat some pellets instead of hiding back in her cave til lights out!!!



I am thinking of buying a 2nd one for the tank emeralds are just so cool lol... or I want to buy a sally light-foot... just make this tank an I very only tank

 

I love the crab! Good to hear shes earning her keep

 

She is a very cool Monkey

 

So the alage that can be seen is nearly gone! Maybe 1/4 of it is left in the front (I think my inverts knew to get rid of the stuff people can see first) I actually feel it is okay to start picking out soft corals for this tank!!!! I have actually made 2 choices for corals... my first will be green star poylp and the other is an Orange zoa! My lfs sell them both for a decent price... I just heed to go to petsmart and but the API master reef test kit...

I have also been dosing the tech magnesium which has also help kill of the byopsis which is probably why the snails have been eating it at such a fast pace! I have actually be wondering if it is possible for me to setup a small jar or something with tank water to try and grow some more byopsis so when the crab and snails eat it all from my tank I can pull out a small bit attach it to the tank with a clip or attach it to pebbles and let them eat that... I know they sell dried seaweed and anyone reading this would be thinking I am insane but they really seem to enjoy the fresh stuff!

 

so the byopsis is all gone now! and today I went out and bought my first fish, coram, and 'nem! lol... 1 baby black molly, 1 mushroom, and 1 condy 'nem (everything in this tank will move to my 40 once it is cycled so don't freak over the nem guys... please... everyone is acclimating so pictures to come!