Flow in a 5.5 Gallon Nano

[sbash]

Greetings! I have a 5.5 Nano, and I would like to increase the flow. Specifically, I want to replace the 25Gph pump I have in it with something stronger. The 30x flow I have used in the past (for larger tanks) seems like it might be a bit much for this little tank. Perhaps something around 100-120Gph would work.

I am looking for enough flow to ripple the surface, and make my SPS happy. I do have an HOB, but I want to avoid it if I can...

Thoughts?

 

[BMMMW]

Good question and SPS in a 5 gallon has me interested. Any pics?

 

[sbash]

The system is fairly new, I just threw it together in the summer with random bits I had laying around. Using a cheapo light the mushrooms and fox did alright, but I wanted something nicer looking. So, I built a simple reef spectrum LED fixture and added a couple monti frags. The monti on top is responding well, but the colour is poor (it is supposed to be green), so I need to adjust my spectrum a bit. There is also a tiny red monti piece with good polyp extension just to the left of the xenia (hard to see in the picture).

I added the birdsnest a week or so ago, and it seems happy (not sure if it is growing yet). However, there is an acropora on the far left (almost impossible to see in the picture) with mild polyp extension. This acropora loves high flow, and is one of the most picky SPS I have (I accidentally broke off a small piece, smaller than I would normally frag it). So I figure if I can get this acropora at full extension, I can handle other branching SPS as well.

Here is the latest pic:

 

[BMMMW]

Looks awesome. Thanks for sharing.

 

[sbash]

Thanks! It is a neat little project (experiment)...

 

[BMMMW]

For sure. Here is mine.

 

[LetItReef]

I am thinking of adding this on 5.5g tank since my tank is only producing the stock return pump.
Not sure if this will work with you.

 

[BMMMW]

If I recall, I used the Aqueon 60 or something like that to replace the stock pump.

 

[sbash]

For sure. Here is mine.

Nice! Is that only 5.5 Gallons? It looks bigger. I love the black sand!

I am thinking of adding this on 5.5g tank since my tank is only producing the stock return pump.
Not sure if this will work with you.

I cannot find this in 110v, however I did find some knock offs around the same size and spec which may work. Thanks!

If I recall, I used the Aqueon 60 or something like that to replace the stock pump.

The only small pump/filter set Aqueon makes now are the air powered ones; at least that I can find...

 

[BMMMW]

I'll see if I wrote it down tomorrow as this tank is in my office.

 

[mountainstatereefer]

Is this a Fluval Spec?

If so your looking for this....

a Aqueon 600

You have to mod it a little to fit, but well worth it for the extra flow!

 

[sbash]

Is this a Fluval Spec?
If so your looking for this....
a Aqueon 600
You have to mod it a little to fit, but well worth it for the extra flow!

That might be the winner! It is only $30 too! I ended up ordering several different $5 pumps from ebay which claim to do at least 100 gph. If they end up being no good (I should have them by Christmas), I will fall back to this one.

 

[mountainstatereefer]

It's really a good mod.

http://shop.mediabaskets.com/ Has it and on the order page it tells you how to mod it.... choose Fluval and Spec V under category.

I can also help you mod it right if you want, you basically pop off the back cover, the flow control, and razor blade off some edges.

PS he also sells an awesome media basket.

 

[BMMMW]

This is exactly what I did

 

[sbash]

Interesting, thanks!

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Great-looking tank! Be sure to post a pic of it here if you haven't already: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/g...-even-get-a-subforum-for-picos-on-r2r.271663/