5 g fluval spec
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Ffiel howdy
I agree its a little small but id also toss out a counter to the situation that could help a little. if you were to feed better than average and water change better than average, for the life of the tank, to me thats a decent hedge as long as the tank doesnt get any smaller or its upgraded when they grow bigger.
a common issue is the tank work isn't increased, to make up for slight overstocking, so the fish are fed well in the beginning and then as the algae increases they get fed less and less to offset that, allowing disease to set in etc. The price to reverse that is simply work, more water change work than originally planned, so that you are feeding top of the line and perhaps even better than someone in a 50 might provide for them.
I too dont like to see too many clowns in nanos, but, for the ones that had an increased work plan and could sell us on them living *better* in container X compared to larger container Y then i was more ok w it, just my opinion.
B
I agree its a little small but id also toss out a counter to the situation that could help a little. if you were to feed better than average and water change better than average, for the life of the tank, to me thats a decent hedge as long as the tank doesnt get any smaller or its upgraded when they grow bigger.
a common issue is the tank work isn't increased, to make up for slight overstocking, so the fish are fed well in the beginning and then as the algae increases they get fed less and less to offset that, allowing disease to set in etc. The price to reverse that is simply work, more water change work than originally planned, so that you are feeding top of the line and perhaps even better than someone in a 50 might provide for them.
I too dont like to see too many clowns in nanos, but, for the ones that had an increased work plan and could sell us on them living *better* in container X compared to larger container Y then i was more ok w it, just my opinion.
B
madtownguy
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I think clowns do good in smaller tanks, but 5 gallon seems small for 2 to me. 2 clowns and a shrimp in a tank that doesn't seem to have cycled seems like a bit much. Is that live sand? I'm assuming the rock is dry rock. I personally think you are playing with fire. Small tank, with fish past max, not cycled, bio load seems non existent. If it crashes it is going to crash hard. That being said I throw things in early if they aren't pricey, just be prepared to go through some fish.
madtownguy
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It could be the photo but that doesn't look like live rock to me, it looks like it was bleached. How are you determining it has cycled? Did you just clean everything before the photo? My tank is at 2 weeks also, they look extremely different. I have things growing everywhere, I don't consider my tank cycled though. It's still too fragile. I have 29 gallon with 1 clown. I'm months away from thinking corals. Probably 2-3 weeks before another fish. Rushing things will cost you, it's not if but when. I will try to take a photo tomorrow.
madtownguy
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I'm not sure that is accurate. It's easier to fill with live rock and live sand. But if you take the same proportions the tank size shouldn't matter. It's how much surface area per gallon that should determine that. If someone put 100lbs of live rock in 100 gallon tank it should cycle similar to 5lbs in 5 gallon tank. Of course every rock is unique, but in theory...
madtownguy
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It benefits them you buying more fish... My LFS told me I was ready for a clown fish even after I told him I hadn't tested salinity and didn't have a thermometer yet. I bought the fish even though I knew it was crazy, and it did just fine. But I try to avoid any advice from him. You're pushing the 1 inch per 5 gallon fish rule to the extreme. I'm planning on 4 fish around an inch in size in my 29g tank, at that I think it's going to be a bit much. Just stay on top of everything, I try to get my tank to a point where I do water changes a couple times a year so I can't really push too much into my tank.
Flameback Pair
started reefing 1999
That looks like a fairy wrasse of some kind.
Dtackett
Valuable Member
always be cautious about what your lfs tells you. remember, they are there to make money. you should always question advice given to you by someone who wants to make money off of you.
your rock may be live, but theres different degrees of "live" your rock may have the basic bacteria to cycle your tank, but its essentially sterile when it comes to other factors that make live rock "live"
as for the testing daily, thatll stop. I promise you, itll stop. I would listen to brandons advice, I wont tell you to put the fish in a bigger tank or anything, right now they're fine anyways with how small they are.
I would pay close attention to that tank. you've still got a bit more cycling to do before itll be stable, there are many other factors that need to be stable besides just ammonia, nitrite and nitrate.
good call on the waiting for zoas. another month would give your tank a bit more stability and make it a safer environment for coral. any idea what light you're going to upgrade to?
your rock may be live, but theres different degrees of "live" your rock may have the basic bacteria to cycle your tank, but its essentially sterile when it comes to other factors that make live rock "live"
as for the testing daily, thatll stop. I promise you, itll stop. I would listen to brandons advice, I wont tell you to put the fish in a bigger tank or anything, right now they're fine anyways with how small they are.
I would pay close attention to that tank. you've still got a bit more cycling to do before itll be stable, there are many other factors that need to be stable besides just ammonia, nitrite and nitrate.
good call on the waiting for zoas. another month would give your tank a bit more stability and make it a safer environment for coral. any idea what light you're going to upgrade to?
