5.5 Invert reef

[superclown]

Thats a pretty cool tank... how hard is it to keep everything in check with only 5.5 gallons of water to work with?

What challenges with this have you had versus a larger tank?

 

[straydog]

I do a weekly water change every Saturday of 1 gallon of water and wash out the two aqua clear 50 sponges 30 minutes after each feeding of the tank . The tank is usually fed twice a week . I top off the tank once to twice a week due to the evaporation being cut buy the acrylic lid. It is a very low maintenance tank. The only challenge I've had with this tank is acclimating new residents it is sort of a drip acclamation slash water change.

 

[straydog]

I was able to swap out the t5 light to my wifes 10 gallon , and install the panorama and stunner on the 5.5 . I gutted an old t8 housing and installed them both in the plastic housing until I can do better.

alt="" /> I was very disappointed with the color of the panorama by its self but with the stunner it is perfect and gives the metal hailed shimmer without the heat.

 

[straydog]

New fts added a few pieces of tonga style rock that I found in the stores sump ruble chamber.

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[bobz]

that looks great! Nice color.
Z

 

[brianjfinn]

Love this tank! You're inspiring me to finish my 10 gallon AIO build...

 

[straydog]

Had time to work on the light . I gutted and cut down a current 24" fixture . I used the reflector behind the panorama it seems to give it a little better spread

alt="" />I have enough room to add another stunner so I might add a UV strip later to see if it makes a difference on the zoes.

 

[straydog]

The blue porcelain was out of hiding sort of so I was able to get a pic .

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[straydog]

alt="" />The tank has adjusted to the new lighting and am seeing new growth. I added a duncan , an acan and a new mushroom. Had to move the scape around to keep the duncan and torch from touching.

 

[brianjfinn]

Looking good! Your porcelains seem to have taken a liking to the back wall.

 

[straydog]

I think it is because they are lazy , they can hang out there and filter there food from the aquaclear return.

 

[superclown]

I've gotta try my hand at one of these real soon

 

[straydog]

alt="" />The new lights seem to be morphing some of the corals . The orange skirt zoes were under MH lighting when I bought them there centers were white, I put them under t5's the centers turned brown , now under led's the centers are purple. The pink zoes are starting to turn green on the outer edge and the orange ric next to the new mushroom has a green tint.

 

[superclown]

I have had a few corals do this in my tank as well when I changed to the module strips im running 2 of these. I am waiting on a stunner strip to come back to me I had to send off for repair. I had a colony of zoa's I picked up from keen reef during his sale and at the store they were almost a maroon color with like an electric blue eye in the center now they are almost a bright pink and the blue has started to turn to a red. Im not sure if this is due because of the lighting or just the natural color they were going to turn into anyway.

 

[straydog]

Makes me wonder about all the new zoes that are being sold now if they are not really something that has changed color because of different lighting.

 

[superclown]

Well it makes sense in theory. Things change colors all the time because of the environment that they are accustomed to

 

[straydog]

alt="" />bought the second of the pair of these . The first one was bought several months back ,I was in Lakeland Fl today and the other one was still there so they will be back together soon the one I have is never seen so I probably won't see this one either but I will know they are in there together . Anyone know what they are look like green clown gobies with a tall top fin?

 

[straydog]

alt="" />I also got this little goby that has made its home under the lps shell. The other two fish have paired up again I noticed both of there heads side by side when I peaked in through the hole in the rock earlier.

 

[siren's eye]

It's still looking good. I was wondering, do you notice any negative impact by switching your rocks around? I've had my hands in the tank moving stuff around a lot this week, and am kind of worried about the stress I might have caused.

 

[straydog]

Moving rocks doesn't cause any troubles for me but adding rock gives me a mini cycle.