5 gallon

[Incredulous_Ed]

I have a 5 gallon tank I'm bored with. Could I do a SW setup with it?

[~Erik3.8.07~]

absolutely you could, did yo want to do reef or just saltwater only?

[cocoa_pleco]

you can for sure.

FOWLR or reef? FOWLR you just need stock lights, reef you would need about 25w. you could also get a incandescent hood for a 5g and get one daylight and one blue actinic CF

[Incredulous_Ed]

My 5 gallon is made of acrylic and the front is hexagonal, and the hood is glued on, So I;'m stuck wih my light fixture. I'm not going to do a reef, don't have the cash. I will get live rock though. What equipment would I need, and what fish would I be able to keep in a 5 gallon?

[cocoa_pleco]

basic 5g FOWLR would be-

actual tank
sea salt mix
hydrometer
substrate (IMO argonite is best)
5-8lbs LR
25w heater
filter

as for fish, you could have either a smaller damsel, like a yellow tail, and a couple of hermit crabs. for corals, mushrooms should be able to survive in stock lighting.

EDIT- ed, i think i have the same tank as you, is it the wal-mart 5g with the hexish front? it has a 9w CF in it

[Incredulous_Ed]

yeah, we have the same tank. I have a 15 watt incandescent on it though. How much do you think the total cost will be? I already have a filter and heater. Is it possible to keep clownfish i there?

[~Erik3.8.07~]

i think you could get away with keepin one in there

[coachfraley]

Change that incandescent for a screw-in compact flor. light. You will not be able to keep much in the way of corals, but it should be enough to get some corraline algae growing on your live rock.

Your stocking limit will basically be one small-very small fish. A small damsel would be a good and inexpensive choice. They are also very active in the tank. You could go with one of the smaller clownfish, but they are pigs, so be real careful with the feeding! Eventually though, a clown will outgrow that tank. They can get bigger than you think.

If you keep the light you have, the bulk of your cost will be the live rock and live sand. Cocoa's equipment list was dead on, just make sure the filter/powerhead has a good amount of flow.

[Drumachine09]

IMO, there isn't a fish that I would put in a 5 gallon, unless there is some SUPER small species that I am unaware of.

What I would do, would be an invert tank. Snails, hermits, and shrimp.



How are you going to get your LR in if your hood is glued on?

[cocoa_pleco]

i dont think its "glued", but i have the same tank and the light is attached on. if it was "glued" he wouldnt be able to even add substrate.


if all you need is a hydrometer, 7lbs LR, argonite, salt, and some kitters, it should only be about $125-$150