College Pico Tank 5.5

[thedrcrayfish]

Hi all,

I am a college student with experience in larger saltwater tanks, but nothing this small. I am starting a 5.5 gallon mangrove/macroalgae tank and I'd love any tips. Also, I would love help with stocking options! Once fully cycled, how long should I add any creatures and what type of creatures first? I have HOB filter, heater, wavemaker.

 

[Tahoe61]

Hi and Wecome to Reef2Reef.

If you start with dry rock it will take roughly 3 weeks to cycle. You can use a cycling product like Fluval cycle to help the cycle along.
If you start with cured LR the cycle goes much quicker.
Look into the Biota Gobies like Neon, or similar. Clown Gobies or Citon are another good choice. It's my opinion that the tank is too small for larger fish.
Have you chosen a light?

 

[thedrcrayfish]

Hi and Wecome to Reef2Reef.

If you start with dry rock it will take roughly 3 weeks to cycle. You can use a cycling product like Fluval cycle to help the cycle along.
If you start with cured LR the cycle goes much quicker.
Look into the Biota Gobies like Neon, or similar. Clown Gobies or Citon are another good choice. It's my opinion that the tank is too small for larger fish.
Have you chosen a light?

I got the hygger 30w marine light. I am using dry rock and fluval quick start 900

 

[Fish Fan]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

#WelcometoR2R

Good luck with your pico build!

 

[Fish Fan]

I got the hygger 30w marine light. I am using dry rock and fluval quick start 900

Do you maybe mean Fritz TurboStart 900? If so, that's the fastest bacteria product to use to cycle a tank.

 

[thedrcrayfish]

Do you maybe mean Fritz TurboStart 900? If so, that's the fastest bacteria product to use to cycle a tank.

Oh yes sorry. Been a long day. Do I need anything else to start the cycle?

 

[Fish Fan]

Oh yes sorry. Been a long day. Do I need anything else to start the cycle?

Assuming your starting with dry rock and sand, add your Fritz Turbostart and a source of ammonia such as Fritz Fishless Fuel or ammonium bicarbonate, which is used for baking and can be found at some grocery stores and craft stores like Michael's. Add enough ammonia to bring the concentration to ~2.00 ppm as measured on a decent test kit. The Fritz Turbostart is known to work quite quickly, in as little as a few days instead of the weeks for other products.

 

[thedrcrayfish]

Assuming your starting with dry rock and sand, add your Fritz Turbostart and a source of ammonia such as Fritz Fishless Fuel or ammonium bicarbonate, which is used for baking and can be found and some grocery and craft stores like Michael's. Add enough ammonia to bring the concentration to ~2.00 ppm as measured on a decent test kit. The Fritz Turbostart is known to work quite quickly, in as little as a few days instead of the weeks for other products.

Sweet. Thanks then what’s the timeline for adding creatures/coral/mangrove/macroalgae.

 

[OnlyZoas]

I’ve heard that if you take the time to ramp up your lights, then it can help reduce the uglies. Like no lights week 1, 2 hrs/day for week 2, 4hrs/day for week 3, etc. and if you get an outbreak, then dial the lights back to the week before. The idea is that you give the beneficial bacteria and microbiome a chance to grow without just being rapidly outpaced by the “pest” algaes/dinos, etc. (I don’t have experience with this but am planning to do it soon in my next nano)

Also, since you’ll be limited on livestock options make sure your nitrate and phosphate do NOT bottom out. I’m currently dealing with this and the resulting Dino outbreak in my nano :/

 

[Fish Fan]

Sweet. Thanks then what’s the timeline for adding creatures/coral/mangrove/macroalgae.

I would add things slowly after you're cycled since it's a smaller tank. I would suggest adding some inverts and clean up crew critters when you start to see some algae, and supplement the carnivores with pellets or frozen foods. I'd add macros when you have nitrate for them. I'll let others speak to the mangrove, I tried one once and mine never went anywhere

 

[thedrcrayfish]

I would add things slowly after you're cycled since it's a smaller tank. I would suggest adding some inverts and clean up crew critters when you start to see some algae, and supplement the carnivores with pellets or frozen foods. I'd add macros when you have nitrate for them. I'll let others speak to the mangrove, I tried one once and mine never went anywhere

Okay thank you! I appreciate all the help!

 

[thedrcrayfish]

Day 2 Update! Got some free mangrove propagules from my LFS. I won't be at my tank til tomorrow bc of LDW so they told me to put it in some solo cups filled with saltwater and to prop them up. I was able to use chopsticks and rubber bands. You guys can also follow my journey at @thedrcrayfish on youtube and tiktok! If anyone wants to give me any help or advice pls dm me, I am just trying to learn!

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Personally I would say that you don't need the hob filter, my mangrove and macro algae tanks have no filter. For just one fish and a few inverts, the tree and the algae will be the filter.

The light will work for the macro algae but I don't think it will work for the tree. I had mine under a nicrew 100 watt reef light for 2 years and it never grew, I think it grew 2 new leaves in the 2 years. Then I put it under a 65 watt plant light for another year and it grew 2 more leaves. Now I have it under 200 watts plant light and finally it is growing new branches.

 

[thedrcrayfish]

Personally I would say that you don't need the hob filter, my mangrove and macro algae tanks have no filter. For just one fish and a few inverts, the tree and the algae will be the filter.

The light will work for the macro algae but I don't think it will work for the tree. I had mine under a nicrew 100 watt reef light for 2 years and it never grew, I think it grew 2 new leaves in the 2 years. Then I put it under a 65 watt plant light for another year and it grew 2 more leaves. Now I have it under 200 watts plant light and finally it is growing new branches.

Ah, good to know. Might have to save up for a new plant light. I was under the impression it could also grow under natural sunlight, haha.

 

[thedrcrayfish]

Is there anything wrong with florida crushed coral?

 

[Subsea]

Is there anything wrong with florida crushed coral?

It’s my go to substrate.

A mangrove seems big for 5.5G display. With 200W of lights, I would be concerned with rising water temperature.

Yes, to macro algae. Consider Bortacladia. It requires less light. When I get it from the divers it is dark burgundy and is collected between
30-100’.

On my macro growout tanks, I dose ammonia.

 

[thedrcrayfish]

It’s my go to substrate.

A mangrove seems big for 5.5G display. With 200W of lights, I would be concerned with rising water temperature.

Yes, to macro algae. Consider Bortacladia. It requires less light. When I get it from the divers it is dark burgundy and is collected between
30-100’.

On my macro growout tanks, I dose ammonia.

Sweet thanks for the help. Do you have any photos of your macro growout tanks or tanks in general, just curious.

 

[Fish Fan]

There's nothing wrong with crushed coral as a substrate, except that it's usually rather large 'chunks' and personally I don't think that would be a great look for a very small tank. I'd personally use a much smaller grain sand in a 5.5, but this is totally a personal preference.

 

[Subsea]

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/2...system-mud-macro.421526/page-26#post-14514058

Lights are off in most of my tanks. Above link shows my 75G display tank at 30 yr mature.

 

[thedrcrayfish]

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/2...system-mud-macro.421526/page-26#post-14514058

Lights are off in most of my tanks. Above link shows my 75G display tank at 30 yr mature.

Holy Cow 30 years