looks like this could be a wild ride

[matt7]

so instead of my original plans to get a 16 gallon IM nuvo nano tank, it looks like that tank may be off the radar, leaving me with my 5 gallon fluval spec V. 1/3 the size of the nuvo. only reason I can use this is because we already have it, otherwise that would also be a no. how much of a wild ride am I in for if I attempt a 5 gallon pico reef here instead of trying very hard to get the 16 gallon instead??

 

[jc_k]

I tried it and it went HORRABLE... Theirs actually some people that drill these and put. 10g sump of them. You could always try that.

 

[nickg]

Lots and lots and then a couple more water changes... Very small but constant and you can run that gem with NO filtration.

 

[matt7]

I think I should really try for the 16 gallon here. just seems like a much easier/better option, and it comes with a skimmer

 

[jc_k]

I would. The bigger it is the more stable it stays. I don't really know if a skimmer would really do anything on a 16gallon but it can't hurt to have it.

 

[picoreefguy]

5 gallons are a doable tank, however it is a pico and i would only recommend it if you have a few years in the hobby under your belt. the small size means that things happen much faster. nutrients could spike overnight, you could overdose a chemical by just a little bit and crash the tank, a parasite or disease can infect the entire tank before you even know its there and so on. and since things happen faster you need to know what you're doing so you can respond instantly. for this reason pico's need much more attention than a normal tank. with a normal tank you could walk away for a week or two (if set up properly i.e. auto feeder and auto top off etc...) where as picos need to be tended to at least 3-4 times a week.

 

[declanisadog]

My first tank was a 5gallon that i ran with no mechanical or chemical filtration for over a year. As stated before, you just really need to stay on top of everything. I did about 1.5gallon water changes at least once a week, usually twice. It can definitely be done, but it is definitely a ton of work.

 

[matt7]

I'm getting the 16!

 

[jc_k]

Matt7;960436 wrote: I'm getting the 16!

Good luck!

 

[hiimsean]

I had success with my 5.5g, more so than my 36g. It was a fun and easy tank IMO. Had ATO on it, heater in a HOB aqua clear filter with purigen and ran it with my apex jr. Grew most LPS and zoas, SPS not so much. Did waterchanges once a week n

 

[ghbrewer]

I ran a fluval Spec V reef tank for a bit. Loved it, but ended up wanting something bigger after a while.

 

[ghbrewer]

 

[bulkrate]

IME it's never a good idea to go much smaller than your original plan (within reason). I'd been looking at the Nuvo 16 but opted to get an Eheim 9 a couple years ago. Both nice tanks, but I've bumped into more limitations in having chosen the smaller as I've gained experience.

Did you opt for the white or the black?

 

[matt7]

black. it's a lightly used tank.

 

[matt7]

just picked it up today.