5 gallon saltwater tank.

[Doak6021]

I currently have a 5 gallon freshwater tank. It is the tank with 5 neons in it. It also carries a dwarf aquativ frog and a octo now. All of these fish/frog would be fine in my 29 gallon tank.

The 5 gallon has a ~2gallon sump directly behind it with a turnover rate of about 40-50gph. Not sure b/c the water has a couple of feet to travel up so I do not know the exact gph. The sump houses the heater, the pump, a couple of hand fulls of bioballs and would still have room for a lil LR. The light fixture above would be ok I would just have to get a diff bulb. If I were able to find some way to displace the water(small powerhead), replace the gravel with sand and then get some LR would I be able to convert it to a SW tank?

i would also need to get a SW test kit.

I already do weekly water changes at ~20%. I would just have to increase those to about 30-35%.



If I qualify, I have no clue on the stocking. What kind of fish would I go for?

Please give details on what I am missing/need.

[ILuvMyGoldBarb]

Have you ever had a SW tank before? By the sounds of it I'm guessing not. If I am correct in that assumption, I would strongly advise you to not do the 5gal as a marine tank. Marine tanks are not something you just jump into, they take a lot of reading prior to setting up. The basic concepts are the same as a FW tank, however the execution is quite different and it gets a little tricky. I'd recommend you pick up the book The New Marine Aquarium by Michael Paletta. It is IMO the best book for the absolute beginner to marine tanks.

[coachfraley]

I agree with ILMGB, that a 5g is a rough place to start.

A 5g would also SEVERELY limit your stocking options for the tank. There are literally only a handful of fish that would work in a tank that small.

You would be much better off setting up at least a 20g.

[cocoa_pleco]

ditto, i wouldnt start with anything under 15g, 5g is tough unless you know exactly what youre doing

[Doak6021]

Ordered the book and hopefully will have it soon. I have a good understanding of what equipment is needed to setup a SW tank and now with the book I will be able to fill most of the gaps to get a better understanding. Also, with all the questions I have after I read the book will help as well.

Few more questions/comments.

This tank does not have to be turned into a SW tank overnight. I was thinking somewhere b/w a month or two months. Right now I am unable to set up a 20gal or any other tank than the ones I have due to space limitations. I figured besides it being small, the 5 gallon was perfect b/c it already had a SUMP that was fairly large for a 5 gallon.

So..as far as the equipment, am I on the right path?

[coachfraley]

Yes, you listed just about everything you will need:

powerhead for the display
liverock & sand
stronger lighting for display(assuming you are going to keep some coral)
light for the sump (6700k bulb)
macro-algae for your sump (chaetomorphia)

hydrometer
salt mix and mixing equipment (bucket, small powerhead, small heater)
SW test kit
good source for RO FW

[Tigerbarb]

With the right knowledge and careful/constant maintenance on the tank, a beginner can end up housing a nice collection of marine life in a 5 gallon tank, that he/she will enjoy for years.
The general rule for saltwater is to get the biggest tank you can afford, and a 10g-15g's cost is not much higher than what it would cost to setup a 5g. If a 5g is the biggest tank you can afford, don't be discouraged. You can do very well with atleast 5 lbs of live rock rubble, 5 lbs of sand, one small PC light, a nano powerhead wih a GPH of atleast 100, glass thermometer, 25 watt heater, and a colony of zoas.

[Doak6021]

Price is not a problem. Some of the people here think I can't afford a bigger tank. It's that I just have no room for a bigger tank and I already have the 5g setup with a sump on the dresser.

anyone have some suggestions on a nano powerhead?
anyone have some suggestions on a light(bulb) for the tank?

[cocoa_pleco]

if you have the money, i personally would say this light

[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

[Doak6021]

I am lookin for a bulb only. I currently have a light fixture I just need a flourescent bulb.

[Tigerbarb]

A good nano powerhead is the maxi-jet 400, with 110 GPH. What kind of light fixture do you have? screw-in, or straight-pin?
This bulb is great for screw-in fixtures: [Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

([Only Registered Users Can See Links.])

[coachfraley]

TB is right, that is probably the best screw-in bulb. But you are going to want something better if you are going to put coral in there.

What are the dimensions of the tank? If $ is not a problem, I would get something like this:

[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

[OscarFan]

This is what I am going to use if I ever get around to setting up my ten...
[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

[Lady Hobbs]

Buying equipment and lights, etc, for a 5 gallon tank to make it Marine will be flushing your money. It is way too small for a Marine tank. Rather than invest this kind of money into a tank that you will never be happy with, why not use some of this money for a larger tank.

[greatXpectations]

Buying equipment and lights, etc, for a 5 gallon tank to make it Marine will be flushing your money. It is way too small for a Marine tank. Rather than invest this kind of money into a tank that you will never be happy with, why not use some of this money for a larger tank.


Because for people like me with a 400 square foot house, its not about the money, but the SPACE. I will agree that a FIVE gallon is too small though...a 10 gallon kit is only 45 bucks with fluorescent light

[coachfraley]

Maybe we should try to be a little more helpful, instead of repeatedly bashing him for choosing a 5g tank.

When one of the experienced reefers decides to set up a pico, we don't bash him every time he asks a question.

Just saying we should try to be consistent.

[Kuli_Loach]

I agree, sorry about what I said earlier. Your main concern will be evaporation and temps. You may need a chiller on the tank and a fan to distribute the heat from the light. Always keep a deal of water right beside it in case of evaporation.

[cocoa_pleco]

Maybe we should try to be a little more helpful, instead of repeatedly bashing him for choosing a 5g tank.

When one of the experienced reefers decides to set up a pico, we don't bash him every time he asks a question.

Just saying we should try to be consistent.

110% agree, its just useless to keep mentioning the 5g. we need to build on helping him with the tank, not just keep postponing getting it going

He seems eager to learn, spend time on researching, and with the fuge i think as long as he takes it slow, he will be fine. When i got back into saltwater after a 7 year break, i had a 5g pico, and i wasnt too experienced but the tank ran alright, 50w heater, AC mini, 7lbs LR, white sand, tank raised clown, and a clown goby

[Doak6021]

Lol. Thanks Coach.

Not only am I low on space but my g/f also likes the way the 5 gallon looks. It is not a boring black trim 10 gallon. Although the fish and the setup inside a 10g can look nice, a 10g on a dresser would have trouble fitting in. It would also take up to mich space on the dresser.
This is the tank I currently have.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

There are five neons in there that I could easily transfer to my 29 gallon.

Few questions.

Are rotating powerheads better than regular powerheads?
Here is what I am talking about.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

As for the bulb. It is a screw in.
How much wattage will I need? Will the bulb suggested by OscarFan be good enough?

[gem]

Lol. Thanks Coach.

Not only am I low on space but my g/f also likes the way the 5 gallon looks. It is not a boring black trim 10 gallon. Although the fish and the setup inside a 10g can look nice, a 10g on a dresser would have trouble fitting in. It would also take up to mich space on the dresser.
This is the tank I currently have.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

There are five neons in there that I could easily transfer to my 29 gallon.

Few questions.

Are rotating powerheads better than regular powerheads?
Here is what I am talking about.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

As for the bulb. It is a screw in.
How much wattage will I need? Will the bulb suggested by OscarFan be good enough?

Check the watt rating on that hood. It likely won't take more than 15 watts, and that coralife 50/50 bulb comes in either 10 or 20 watts. If it will take it, us the 20 watt.
I'm one of those two reefers that have a 2.5 gal pico tank. I would never bash anyone for trying it (especially since that little 2 1/2 gal reef tank was my very first SW tank), but will only say that keeping a SW tank that small is NOT for the faint of heart of laxidazical aquarium keeper. You MUST stay on top of things and watch very carefully.
Hobbs- I have great respect for you, however, your statement was a bit over the top and is your opinion. What you wouldn't "waste" your money on is your choice. I "wasted" my money (several hundred all said and done) on a very successful 2 1/2 gal reef tank that thrived for well over a year. I now have a 46 gal reef, a 24 gal reef, and have re-set up my pico....all are doing well. so, it is possible and is not a waste of money if the person keeping that tank is dedicated enough to maintaining it and if that's what "they" prefer.
I'll say again though....it does take utmost attention to keep one that small.

[gem]

As far as powerheads....the koralia nano is great!!!! I would highly recommend that. Otherwise, in a tank that small, I would go with a rio 180 mini rather than a maxijet. IME the maxijet gets too hot.