new 5.5

[madeINcanada]

Hi all, i'm new to the site, and i have a few questions about my newly set up 5.5 gallon nano. The tank has been set up for 2 days now. Its got a 2" inch live sand bed. Only one medium sized piece of live rock (about a pound, maybe....). A 25 watt heater, and a Whisper 10 filter. The Whisper 10 is the thing that has me worried. Is the 10 powerful enough and effecient enough for my 5.5?? Or should i upgrade it. I wanna get all the equipment perfect before i add any livestock. Oh yeah, and I'm currently running 28w PC's, i plan on keeping some mushrooms, yellow polyps, and some zoas. Any comments on the filter, or other areas would be greatly appreciated. THANKS!!!!!!

 

[mikeguerrero]

Welcome to nanotank,

You are off to a good start. I wouldn't worry about your lighing or your filtration they are more than enough for your tank size. You must remember that one of the most important factors for you tank is constant water changes.

That will make you or break you in this hobby. Your lighting and mechanical filtration are only parts of the total picture, very important for larger tanks and hardier corals.

But for what you are wanting it's more than enough. Good mechanical filtration is important and you don't want over filtration or under filtration. With what you have you should be okay.

Water changes and good live rock should be your concern. Don't go cheap on the rocks, pick really good pieces and perferably cured live rock. You should be very selective since you have little to play with, your tank should exceed others in it's class. Good live rock means really good bio filtration which will be the heart of your reef. Get enough live rock that will balance the life you will place in with it.

Remember this is your world your ecosystem and it relies soley on you for life.

Hope this sheds some light.

Mike

 

[djconn]

Sounds like you're off to a good start. Are you running two 28 watt PCs or just one 50/50? What brand? Did you make the hood?

Some pictures would be nice if you had any.

Just remember, don't just toss everything in there after a couple days. Your tank will cycle. My cycle was almost a month long in my 5.5.

 

[fireFISH]

djconn:
I ordered the lights off reefcanopy.com, i also ordered a base and canopy from them, but it's gonna be like 3 weeks before it gets here. It's just the one 28w right now, i was gonna go with the 70 but it was like $155 instead of the $75 i paid for the 28's.

 

[fireFISH]

Sorry, didn't realize where i posted that. Clicked on your name and meant to PM you, don't know what happened.

madeINcanada's name is Jeremy, and i told him about this site and reefcanopy, that's where he ordered his 28w's from. Him bringing up his lights reminded me that i needed to thank you for a great recommendation in Matt on reefcanopy. i looked at some of his examples, and i'm glad i went with him cuz i think it's gonna turn out great. We're both setting up 5.5's similiar to yours, so i told him to check out this site and talk to you. Thanks for the help and suggestions!!!!