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Starting a 6 gallon.

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Starting a 6 gallon. Empty Starting a 6 gallon.

Post by Bluntokian October 7th 2009, 9:49 pm

Okay, So my mom has decided she wants me to set up a 6 gallon SW tank in my room to keep me busy until we can finish the 55. So I have a couple questions after all my research: Whats the "average" lighting for a SW tank? Right now I can only swing some 5000K CFL's, Would/could that work for some LR and maybe a button polyp/taro tree? How advisable is a Yellow Tail Damsel and a CUC for this tank? Should I just go with LR/corals(?) only?

I grasp the principles of it all. Just cant exactly find any information even on nano reef for my exact questions, So I thought id pop back in and say hey to all of you. :cyclops:
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Post by Hero October 7th 2009, 9:57 pm

Nice to have you back. I would say the yellow tail would be okay and the "average" amount of lighting are usually 10,000k bulbs. However your lighting would work fine for live rock seeing as you don't really need any for it unless you are wanting corraline algae. I would suggest joining NR and posting this thread in the pico reefs forum. However you are more than welcome to continue this thread here just that you may get more better and accurate advice here.

Jamie and Jacobnano maintain picos so they will also be able to help you and are from NR so they know their stuff.
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Post by Bluntokian October 7th 2009, 10:02 pm

I planned on asking here because quite frankly, I trust you guys more than i do some random person with my money. As for the 10,000K bulbs that will be later on. Iv already talked to my mom and after this is done and i get the money to finish the 55, Im going to start on a 20 long or a 29, Hopefully, All out reef.

Also, how many watts would you put on the tank in 5000K?

Good to be back. I was getting fairly bored.
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Post by Hero October 7th 2009, 10:11 pm

Bluntokian wrote:Also, how many watts would you put on the tank in 5000K?

I don't understand your question. For the 6 you mean? Do you have the bulbs yet?
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Post by Bluntokian October 7th 2009, 10:13 pm

No. Im just wondering how many watts of light I should use. Yes its the 6 gallon.
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Post by Hero October 7th 2009, 10:30 pm

There really isn't a set amount of watts per gallon due to the ranging depths of aquariums however for your ten i would go with. What kind of corals do you want to keep in the long run because that will be a major factor in determining how many watts you will need and what kind of corals you can keep.
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Post by Bluntokian October 7th 2009, 10:36 pm

Really. All I want is Button Polyps and a Taro Tree. Aside from that I really dont have anything in mind.

I find varying answers so I also want to ask you: Is a skimmer needed? I would like to avoid it if possible.
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Post by Hero October 7th 2009, 10:41 pm

Skimmer is not needed if all you have is corals and you might be able to get away with just one fish. The reason for this is that corals have very little if any waste that they discharge. For just button polyps and a taro you would only need standard florescent bulbs. I would say 50 watts would suffice, possibly more than needed however just to be safe i would go with nothing less, plus the color can vary with different lighting.
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Post by Bluntokian October 7th 2009, 10:56 pm

Im starting to find more helpful information now. Lol. You're a good luck charm.

Really this is kind of a bare bones set up to get my feet wet. So I dont want to spend a lot of money or risk anything if at all possible. However, I am still lost of what my CUC should be. Any suggestions?

How deep of a sand bed do you suggest? I was thinking around 3"

Also, I will be upgrading down the road to at least a 10 probably bigger, When I do il get better lighting etc. and move the damsel over to it with the polyps and taro tree. Then use this as a qaurantine tank
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Post by Hero October 7th 2009, 11:03 pm

5x Nassauris snails
2x turbos

I would stay away from hermit crabs if you want your snails to stay alive. I would also go with a coral banded shrimp in place of the hermits. 3" for that tank is a lot of sand. I would go with more like 1-2". What equipment do you already have?
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Post by Bluntokian October 7th 2009, 11:06 pm

Im going to use my maxi-jet 400 for a power head, I have a heater, A hood, Light that I need to replace the bulbs in, Hydrometer i forgot to take back. Thats about it.

Plan on modding an aquaclear for a fuge.
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Post by Hero October 7th 2009, 11:12 pm

Good good. Seems like you already know what you're doing. You will need liverock for sure as you already know.
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Post by Bluntokian October 7th 2009, 11:15 pm

Yep, Sure do. Any way around the turbo snails? Heard theyre really bad for messing up aquascaping. Dont remember much about Nass' though do they happen to clean the sand bed? Im too lazy to lol.
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Post by Hero October 7th 2009, 11:18 pm

Your right on the nass. You could go with astreas thought they can't right themselves if they fall on their backs.
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Post by Bluntokian October 7th 2009, 11:25 pm

Yea, Thats my problem really. I like lots of rock and I dont want anything getting stuck but I also dont want anyone knocking things over. Guess il run the risk with the turbos.

Let me go down the list (in order of what to get and when to add it)

#1 Lights
#2 Fuge
#3 Sand and rock
#4 CUC after cycle
#5 Fish after mini cylce
#6 Corals.

Right? Also Its acrylic so I was concidering a sump but it seems to like too much work. Plus I would be stuck with this extremely over-sized stand. Any input?
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Post by Hero October 7th 2009, 11:41 pm

With a tank this size a large aquaclear would work just fine. That list is okay IMO.
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Post by Bluntokian October 7th 2009, 11:47 pm

Okay kool. How about cerith snails? Since they go into the sand bed etc.
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Post by Hero October 7th 2009, 11:56 pm

They are just like the Nassaurius though. Sort of pointless.
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Post by Bluntokian October 8th 2009, 12:03 am

yea true you got me there. TURBOS IT IS! By the way. I was thinking about keeping my salinity at 1.025, but, I just seen a guy on NR talking about 1.020 and this other guy said it was a little high?
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Post by Hero October 8th 2009, 6:03 pm

For corals the 1.025-1.023 range works just fine.
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Post by Bluntokian October 8th 2009, 6:28 pm

Thought so. Thought I was tripping for a minute there though. Unfortunately I just found out that my mom was around her fiances sister yesterday...Her fiances sister was around her 2 nephews the day they was diagnosed with swine flu, And now, Thanks to my mom being stupid enough to come around me without changing clothes or ANYTHING. I have a temperature and a clogged nose so the tank might be put on hold for awhile.
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Post by Hero October 8th 2009, 6:56 pm

Nice.
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Post by Brent October 8th 2009, 7:40 pm

I hope you survive. Haha
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Post by Bluntokian October 8th 2009, 7:54 pm

Doubt it. Right now im hoping I dont get it. My town has like a 3 month wait to get the vaccine. Looked at aquaclears just a minute ago. Im going to have to go with the 50 gallon one (11 dollars cheaper than the 70) Il try and get a pic up later of the tank and hood to see if anyone has ideas on how to scape it.
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Post by Brent October 9th 2009, 1:53 pm

I doubt you have it. I've come into contact with an H1N1 victim, and I got sick, but I never actually got the Swine flu.

Alright.


Last edited by Brent on February 23rd 2010, 7:54 pm; edited 1 time in total
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