Filtration for 5.5G Tank

[wastedtime]

I am looking at starting up a 5.5G nano reef, the tank is a ADA mini M, and I was thinking of maintaining the clean look for the tank,


Is it possible for me to run the tank with just the heater and a powerhead and leave all the filtration to the live rock ?


I am not looking to add any SPS in the tank, just hardy corals (Mushrooms, Zooanthids etc) .
For fish I will either go with a goby/pistol pair or a single goby and some sexy shrimp.


I dont like the look of a HOB filter on the tank, I am not planning on covering / painting up the back, so anything hanging off the back of the tank is a distraction.


I could put a small internal filter in the tank with some carbon and GFO, the Current USA Subcurrent internal filter was a great option but I cant find it online.


Any opinions ?

 

[Bluesaltwater87]

hey bud i was looking around and really to have a small tank like that and only have internal filtration is possable but you will still need some sort of a skimming action (IMO). having a powerhead on LR is awesome filtration. but i would still put a skimmer in rated for 7 to 10 gallons.

 

[wastedtime]

Thanks, Surface scum might be a little bit of a problem, any suggestions on a nano skimmer ?

 

[Bluesaltwater87]

well if you go with a HOB filter system there are ones that have skimmers built in that i have had great results with.
here is the one i have on my 8 gallon nano reef.
Skilter Power Filter/Skimmer - 250
with one of thease
Tom Aquatics Surface Skimmer with Flow Control Aquarium Skimmers
I do clean it out once every 2 weeks to get any stuff that can be a problem.

but if your wanting an in tank version it is there but it takes space in the tank so less stuff to put i.
this is the one i have in my office at home for my 10 gallon Nano reef.
Oceanic BioCube Protein Skimmer Aquarium Skimmers
i have a 30 gallon air pump running it and it works really well.

but if i may the HOB skilter system works a lot better and is a filter as well. I do clean it out regularly so i dont have any problems.

 

[KoleTang]

With a tank that small your filtration will be mainly water changes. At least 2 a week is what the pico experts do.

I'd ask about this on Nano-Reef.com.

 

[Bluesaltwater87]

that is a good sight to go to for info. I am just telling things from my exp. and so far has worked :bigsmile:

 

[wastedtime]

Thanks for the links, The Biocube skimmer looks pretty good. I ordered a Hagen elite mini Filter, I am going to try and mod it to work as a surface skimmer. I'll post back with updates.

I plan on keeping to changing the water every week. I have other freshwater tanks that I do weekly changes on, so this one shouldnt be a problem.

 

[Bluesaltwater87]

well for my tanks i have a lot of tanks. i have 4 freshwater tanks, 6 saltwater tanks and 3 nano saltwater tanks. all of them have mainly a bio filter as the filter. so i aim for bio filtration any time of the week lol