Pico 5gallon for beginner

[Splasheo]

Its going to be too strong for a tank that size. And its not adjustable.
I would suggest something like this: USB wavemaker

I would wait on a wavemaker though. You may find the hob filter provides enough flow.

or what if I place like a bigger rock infront of the wavemaker to lower the flow? I'm kinda intrested in the wavemaker that I found, i got a freshwater tank that could use it too.

 

[Jim Gomoll]

or what if I place like a bigger rock infront of the wavemaker to lower the flow? I'm kinda intrested in the wavemaker that I found, i got a freshwater tank that could use it too.

I tried the rock idea in a 5g with $40 Hygger knock off from Amazon. Not sure what the minimum setting is for this 530gph pump but at the lowest setting tying all three head types mashed up against a rock. Sand blew around and my Duncan looked like a palm tree in a hurricane. The simple 50-60gph pump was more than enough cross flow.

Next attempt for MiniWave
1) Block off intake holes to reduce flow even at minimum setting.
2) Just get the smallest power head I can find or a mini pump with a random flow generator nozzle. Will be constant flow but not a straight stream of water. Have all my pumps on a power strip with individual switches so I can turn it on and off as needed and for feeding.
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ZKSJ Mini Aquarium Pump Wave maker For Aquarium USB Power Connector 530GPH

https://a.co/d/7fAU2ky

 

[TX_REEF]

the HOB filter will provide enough flow for soft corals in a tank that size IMO.

 

[naps]

Thanks so much! The auto refiller seems really good. Are you sure I dont need a wavemaker for corals? Dont they need it to feed?

I have a 20g nano tank and I bet you wont need the wavemaker. I have the smallest wavemaker i could find(ELW-3M) for mine and if it's on above 40% everything in my tank shrivels up and hides and ill even wake up to find my BTA has shoved himself in a crack to avoid it. I would think a stronger return pump would be more than enough water flow for your coral. Maybe aim the flow near where you plan on having any SPS coral and the rest of the LPS and Soft Coral should be fine wherever.

I am a new reefer so if anyone want's to correct me please feel free!

 

[Jim Gomoll]

I tried the rock idea in a 5g with $40 Hygger knock off from Amazon. Not sure what the minimum setting is for this 530gph pump but at the lowest setting tying all three head types mashed up against a rock. Sand blew around and my Duncan looked like a palm tree in a hurricane. The simple 50-60gph pump was more than enough cross flow.

Next attempt for MiniWave
1) Block off intake holes to reduce flow even at minimum setting.
2) Just get the smallest power head I can find or a mini pump with a random flow generator nozzle. Will be constant flow but not a straight stream of water. Have all my pumps on a power strip with individual switches so I can turn it on and off as needed and for feeding.
______________________________________________________________________
ZKSJ Mini Aquarium Pump Wave maker For Aquarium USB Power Connector 530GPH

https://a.co/d/7fAU2ky

Minimizing Wave Flow discussion made me go and try my 1) flow restriction idea.
Wrapped tape around the intake slots around the pump body leaving only the rear slots open. At Min. setting the flow is now manageable in my 5g cube.:)

 

[Lilah]

Hey there! I've been wanting to try saltwater for a while now, and I've got a spare 5 gallon (12x9x10 inches) just sitting around, and I was hoping to turn this into a budget pico tank, just to get a try at this hobby. I just had a couple questions about this

I have a 6500k white light freshwater light, can I use this on the tank? I want to try some very easy corals, but if not, can I simply do a macro-algae dominated tank?
For water, I'm considering 2 options right now. I could either buy ~20 gallons of premixed saltwater at the store for 20$, and just do that, with distilled water as top-off, or would it be more financially beneficial to mix my own saltwater with distilled?

For water filtration and flow, can i use a combined filter and wavemaker like the one listed below? Will it have too much flow for a tank this small? Or would it be better to just buy a hang on back filter, and a smaller wavemaker? Do I even need a wavemaker for a macroalgae tank?

For stocking, i plan on going with a small goby, like a green banded goby. Are there any fish (like swimming fish that don't just sit on the floor) that I can keep? I really like falcos hawkfish, firefish gobies, or clownfish, but I'm pretty sure they can't be kept in a tank this small.

Can I use a freshwater ammonia tester on saltwater?

Is there anything that I'm missing from my shopping list below? Just double checking

-Refractometer
-Sand
-Rocks
-Filter/Wavemaker
-Heater
-Saltmix?

Really appreciate your time reading this, and any additional comments are welcome, thanks!

Filter/Wavemaker | Amazon.ca

AQQA Aquarium Filter,4-in-1 Submersible Fish Tank Internal Filtes,Triple Filtration Adjustable Water Flow,Wave Making,Filtered Water,Dissolved Oxygen,Water Circulation Salterwater Freshwater (12W)​

Light that I have | Amazon.ca

Pawfly Aquarium LED Light with Full Spectrum Brilliant White Blue Red Lights with Daytime & Night Modes and Adjustable Brightness Extendable Aluminum Light for 12 to 18 Inch Fish Tanks​

Hi! Congrats on the nano tank, thats super exciting! I know I'm a little late to this but if you haven't already I would avoid getting any fish. Saltwater fish are a little different than freshwater in a lot of ways, but one of the biggest ones in necessary tank size. While a lot of places may say a small goby is okay, five gallons ends up being really small, and kind of diminishes quality of life for them. There are some great invertebrates that would love that tank though! Bumblebee or sexy shrimp are a great option, they're super cute and there's a lot of information on caring for them. Best of luck!