Noob Introduction
Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Specialized Discussion
Forum Name: DIY
Forum Description: Do it Yourself
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=38804
Printed Date: July 31 2026 at 11:19am
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Topic: Noob Introduction
Posted By: Norgy1
Subject: Noob Introduction
Date Posted: February 18 2010 at 10:13pm
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Hello everyone!! My name is Taylor and I am new to the forum obviously.
I have had a 30 gallon freshwater tank up and running for a few months now. Nothing special in there, and it has gotten kinda boring. So I decided to start doing some research and asking questions and got a small saltwater setup. Its only a 5 gallon tank and was finally set up yesterday (wednesday). Im still looking for good solid information, pointers, tips, or how too`s on the whole matter. I dont have a overflow, a sump or anything. Do i need one. Pointers would be great thanks
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Replies:
Posted By: Luckedout
Date Posted: February 18 2010 at 10:55pm
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Welcome! You've come to the right place. Overflow isn't a must. There are people that have run tanks without them and a 5 gallon is really too small to worry about one. ------------- -Ben 90g Mixed reef www.body-balancechiropractic.com |
Posted By: fishoutawater
Date Posted: February 18 2010 at 11:23pm
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Pictures are a big help when asking for opinions and pointers. ------------- Some day, when I grow up,... |
Posted By: Mad Dawg
Date Posted: February 19 2010 at 12:44am
Make your 30g saltwater and raise feeder fish in the 5g! 
------------- Todd 14g nano mixed reef project |
Posted By: Norgy1
Date Posted: February 19 2010 at 8:31am
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Upon request and the hope for better help or suggestions here are some pictures of the setup I have. The tank looks alot bigger in the pictures than it actually is. BTW sorry for the crappy cell phone pics but its all I have
Front:
 Left Side:
 Right Side:
 Better view of the front:
 Thanks for the help and thanks for looking
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Posted By: fishoutawater
Date Posted: February 19 2010 at 9:58am
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I like how open it is, what kind of light do you have on it? Why is the water level so low? ------------- Some day, when I grow up,... |
Posted By: jaschall
Date Posted: February 19 2010 at 10:51am
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Im thinking that with a tank that small you need to watch you evap alot closer. Keep that thing topped off, or your salt levels are going to rise to high. |
Posted By: snoyce
Date Posted: February 19 2010 at 11:00am
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Looks good, I like the aquascape.
I would point that koralia up slightly so the surface of the water ripples, you want good oxygen exchange at the surface especially in a tank that does not have an overflow.
Now comes the hard part in my opinion, go slow, do you have test kits? monitor the tank make sure the cycle is over before adding any fish. With only 5 gallon you will definitaly need to watch your SG and top off often ------------- Scott Noyce 90G reef ready AGA display basment 20G sump, 29G fuge 4x54 watt T5 retro SLR Octopus NW150 |
Posted By: kayak24seven
Date Posted: February 19 2010 at 3:30pm
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I have a 3 gal picotope and the best thing I ever did was make an ATO system for it. Water evaporates so fast out of these small tanks. If you are interested, pm me and I will send you some pics and a link for how to make it. It is really easy to make and it works great, also it is pretty inexpensive....$15 - $20 bucks. What kind of lighting and filtration do you have?
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Posted By: Ahanix
Date Posted: February 19 2010 at 3:46pm
| Welcome! yeah, as everyone else said, just make sure you keep it topped off and you will be golden, weekly water changes also will keep your tank running great. (after the whole cycle period obviously, maybe 1-2 months down the road) |
Posted By: Norgy1
Date Posted: February 19 2010 at 4:52pm
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Well thank you for all the replys. Now to answer some questions..
The light on there is a Coralife Aqualight: 2 18watt 50/50 bulbs
Water level is a little low just because at the top left corner if I fill it too high it leaks, but hardly. Its just enough to make a tiny little stream. Plus the table its on is uneven so the water level is different from one side to the other.
My power head is pointed pretty far up so it pushes through and over the piece of live rock and creates quite a ripple on the water surface. It doesnt break the surface or anything but has a nice bubble shape upon the top.
I do have some test strips to read the nitrates, nitrites, alkalinity, and ph. And also have the device to check the salinity level. (not sure exactly what thats called) Also how do you KNOW that the tank has cycled exactly? Watch for the nitrates and such to go up and then change the water? Or is there a better way to tell exactly.
As far as filtration systems go... I have none. The LFS told me that with 7lbs of life rock and only a 5 gal tank, that it would be enough filtration. Especially if I only put one or two fish in the tank. And thats actually fine with me cuz I was planning on putting more live coral in there than anything. (If thats gonna work out?? Yes, No?)
And kayak24seven what is this ATO system you speak of?
And finally weekly water changes wont be a problem. Im used to doing them with my fresh water anyways, but am I supposed to wait until after the "cycle period" before I do the water changes or still just do them weekly.??
Once again thanks for the help and all the responses. Keep em coming
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Posted By: Mad Dawg
Date Posted: February 19 2010 at 7:26pm
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ATO = auto top off
------------- Todd 14g nano mixed reef project |
Posted By: bfessler
Date Posted: February 19 2010 at 10:07pm
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You probably don't need an additional filter on such a small tank but you may see a protein film form on the water's surface. this can be unsightly as well as prevent good oxygenation at the water surface. If this is the case you may want to try one of these little filters. They are small, skim off the surface water and give additional flow. Also they will allow you to run a small amount of carbon which will help pull toxins out of the water when you add a variety of corals. http://www.marinedepot.com/Current_USA_SubCurrent_Internal_Filter_w_Pump_Water_Pump_Driven_Filters-Current_USA-CU08026-FIFRITWP-vi.html - http://www.marinedepot.com/Current_USA_SubCurrent_Internal_Filter_w_Pump_Water_Pump_Driven_Filters-Current_USA-CU08026-FIFRITWP-vi.html ------------- Burt An equal opportunity reefer, I support all hobbyists and organizations involved in Marine Aquarium Keeping. [email protected] |
Posted By: Norgy1
Date Posted: March 16 2010 at 11:30pm
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Well it has been a while since I started this thread and would now like to update it. Wednesday the 17th will mark one month that my SW tank has been set up. It now has 5 crabs, 2 snail, a bad case of hair algea, and my very first live coral!!! Nothing says it better than pictures so I shall present. If anyone has comments/critsizm or tips on how to get rid of the hair algea or anything else please feel free to share :D Picture Time!!!!!
Side:
 Front:
 Other Side:
 Close-up on some of the algea:
 Crabs:
  Snail:
 My Awesome Coral!!!:
   Sorry if the pictures are bad quality, they are all off my phone. Thanks for looking and let me know what you think!!!
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Posted By: MadReefer
Date Posted: March 17 2010 at 3:06am
| I didn't read all that was said but a small tank can be harder to take care of. If you listen to the pros, you should be able to do it. Just under stock and take it slow and learn what you can from my mistakes. I try to post my hardships so that others have less of a chance of reliving them. Seek those out and if seen from my point of view, a lot is there to be learned. jUst saying there is stuff to be learned form the unpros too. |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: March 17 2010 at 7:13pm
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Welcome to the world of reef aquariums.
Sorry, I didn't see your post back in February. Let me get right down to what I would have suggested then. The pics then show me a tank that is ripe for an algae problem. There are two reasons for this:
1- no algae whatsoever growing in the new tank
2- it appears there were no snails in the new tank, yet algae was clearly growing on the glass.
So now, a month later my advice is pretty much the same as it would have been then with one exception. Now instead of keeping things controlled, it's going to be a game of catch up.
In order to catch up and clean up that algae before it gets so bad that you give up the hobby(which could happen within a week or two), the tank needs more snails than if we could have caught it earlier. It needs about 20 snails IMMEDIATELY (there are 5 hermits already, that's enough for a 5 gal tank). Buy them for less than the LFS from Chad here on the MB. Hopefully he has three types, Astrea, Margarita and Cerith. Get at least 5 of each type.
Also, the lights need to be turned off and the tank covered for 2 days and then on the 3rd day uncover it and use only actinic(blue) light for a day, then repeat the procedure at least one more time. The lack of light stops the algae from growing and the snails can then eat it while the lights are off. They are mostly nocturnal.
Since it's probably impossible in this situation to do just blue light, I'd try one of these options:
1- turn on the least amount of light for 2 hours off for a few hours then on again for 2 hours
2- over the white side of the PC light and just let the blue side shine for the usual amount of time that day
3- raise the light fixture about a foot above the tank and run the light for no more than 6 hours/day until you can see some success with the snails.
At this point you are probably wondering what the hec do I know and why am I so specific in my instructions on what to do...
 Who is this guy Mark Peterson?Well, I'm a total reef geek that just loves to help hobbyists avoid the pitfalls of keeping a reef aqaurium. I helped start this club about 15 years ago because I had a similar problem with hair algae. The "Readers Digest" version of that story is here: http://www.garf.org/ugly.html - www.garf.org/ugly.html The more detailed version is in the February 2002 SeaStar newsletter (see the tab over to the left)
I also have written a lot of Tips and How to's regarding keeping reef aqauriums. That stuff is here if you want to read it. You have already passed the first part of what I wrote but it wouldn't hurt to read it anyway. You might pick up a thing or two. http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 - http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244
Have fun and please feel free to call me to discuss any of this or to ask my opinion on any other reefkeeping topic.  ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member 
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Posted By: Norgy1
Date Posted: March 18 2010 at 11:36pm
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Well sir, thank you for the in depth response. I have yet to get this plan into action due to a lack of funds and me just... being lazy. hahaha
So my question back to you is what am I to do with all these extra snails after the algea has been terminated? Just get rid of them? Leave them in there? There are already two in there and as stated before its only a five gallon tank. Its not going to cause a spike in nitrates or anything else?
Once again thank you for the very informing response and am excited to hear back from you once again.
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Posted By: Mad Dawg
Date Posted: March 19 2010 at 12:32am
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Sell the snails to someone else, or give them away. Mark's point is that without a lot of snails to get that algae under control, it will take over the tank pretty quickly and make it not fun fast. A 5 gallon tank means ~4 gallons of water. With such a small tank things can get out of hand fast if not taken care of as soon as possible. If you are truly lazy, a bigger tank would be more forgiving if you neglect it for a short time.
------------- Todd 14g nano mixed reef project |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: March 19 2010 at 1:46pm
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Todd said it well. Also, two measley little snails is hardly enough for a 5 gal tank. You have discovered that now.
One snail per gallon is a good rule of thumb but any tank will need a few less snails after it reaches a point of satisfactory biological equalibrium (1-2 years). Snails eventually die and must be replaced in order to keep algae under control. So after 20 snails have done their job I still might keep almost half of them to ensure that things stay clean and I don't have to replace snails for at least 6 months. In a nano tank(under 20 gallons), it's important to remove snails when they die.
To help the tank be more stable, I would strongly suggest adding a sprig of Caulerpa or a clump of Cheatomorpha. These Macroalgae are an excellent way to ensure that nuisance algae will not be the dominant algae. Also, when a snail dies back behind a rock where you can't see to remove it, the Macroalgae will absorb/eat up the resulting pollution so that hair algae can't eat it.
 I love algae for it's filtration effects and it just looks beautiful to me. Here is a pic of a tank with a lot of algae. There was a good reason it had that much algae. And the pic after that is how a small tank can look.
  ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
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Posted By: Norgy1
Date Posted: March 20 2010 at 12:10am
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UPDATE!!!!!!!!! So... tonight my dad came over to check out my first coral as he hadnt seen it yet.
During this process I was looking at it from the side and on the rock its glued to I noticed something. I have taken a picture but please excuse it once again for it is just my cell phone and its kinda small. Tried to blow it up and it got pixly. Anyways....
 Are these polyps? Zoanthids? Im not sure exactly what they are or where they came from. I didnt purchase these or put them in the tank.? Any help identifying what or where they came from? Thanks for all the help everyone!!!
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Posted By: bowens415
Date Posted: March 20 2010 at 2:00am
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Im a newb too but they look like zooas to me and its common when you buy live rock that has been cured or from someones tank to get "hitchhikers" Ive got alot of different types in my tank and they are cool. its always neat to get a bonus like that huh? ------------- www.oceancrittersconnection.us |
Posted By: Norgy1
Date Posted: March 22 2010 at 8:17pm
| Any other opinions? |
Posted By: BDerron
Date Posted: March 22 2010 at 9:04pm
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yeah they do look like zoo's. bonus!!
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Posted By: Deluxe247
Date Posted: March 22 2010 at 11:34pm
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Ditto. They look like zoos. Pretty cool little polyps. Pretty soon you'll start to have a nice little colony. I think probably most "hitchhikers" are beneficial, but a few are not so much. It's good to ask here to try and ID stuff to be sure you keep the good guys ahead of the bad guys. ------------- 90G Mixed Reef |