Pro and Cons of a Fluval Spec 5??

Azballa7 · 09/19/2012, 11:03 PM

Hey guys!! I am an avid aquarist....well when it comes to fresh water African Cichlids

Anyways after seeing my friends little saltwater nano cube tank (maybe 3 gallons). It inspired me to get one for myself. Keep in mind I have no experience with saltwater :/

I would like to get a few clown fish and maybe some other small damsels, shrimp, and snails.

Anyways I was out at a pet store my friend brought me too and saw a Fluval Spec 5. It looked perfect to me as I prefer long tanks over tall tanks.

So my question is...will the Fluval Spec 5 work well as a Nano tank? Would I need to modify the lights, filters, or anything else on it?

The kit cost me about $92 after taxes. Would a cheaper alternative be purchasing a 10 gallon tank and deriming it and then buying the parts seperatley? Would it be safe to dermin a 10 gallon?

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

ryeguyy84 · 09/20/2012, 05:22 AM

I don't have any experiance with the spec but you might be able to put 1 clown in there although it might be to small.

Azballa7 · 09/20/2012, 09:53 AM

Anyone else have experience??

Thanks

p2yu · 09/22/2012, 09:37 AM

I have a spec for a year (2g) and use it for corals only and it is minimum maintenance for me because there is no bioload. 5g is bigger but still small for a clown you need a small fish. They may get stress and have shorter lifespan. You will likely need the following minimum: heater, protein skimmer, another head to keep water flowing to prevent algae growth because it is long.

If you want to keep corals, you need better lighting as well spec's LED is no good they burn out. Obvious you will need the usual salt water salts, kits, chemicals not mentioned we are talking strictly tank setup. for saltwater tanks, the larger the easier in many ways.

I am thinking of moving to this tank later too and maybe get a yellow tail damsel. beautiful, tough yet small.

cburke401 · 11/01/2012, 04:02 PM

Hey if your still interested I am currently building my fluval spec v and I can honestly say that it is the best aquarium system/kit I've purchased. I give it a 9.5/10 only because the lights need to be replaced if you want a reef. The filtration is a standard "in-tank sump" and it works good, however I have been looking at a stronger water return pump only because I don't like the look of power heads and I need more flow for my corals. I suggest you do not EVER get a 10 gallon and get all the separate parts for a saltwater(I did this as well before the fluval spec v), you will have to deal with saltwater corrosion, nitrate,nitrite, and ammonia problems and it looks terrible. But as for you, a beginner, I suggest you get the spec and a heater, and a nano clown or maybe a pair... no more than two though. I have a small royal gramma in mine right now. But stick with fish only until you get the hang of it and then you can start upgrading the tank(lights, filtration, etc.) and a couple months down the road you can start adding 1-3 frags every few weeks or so.

charmed26 · 12/29/2014, 02:47 PM

I recently purchased a fluval spec 5 tank with the intention of building a freshwater tank, however after doing some research on the types of fish I would like have decided to try a salt water tank so I can get some salt water fish like clown fish etc.
In my kit I have an LED light, circulation pump, foam filter, activated carbon insert, biomax insert and I also purchased a heater.
I wanted to know what i need to do to make it into a salt water tank.

Thanks

09/19/2012, 11:03 PM	#1
Azballa7 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Long Island Posts: 2	Pro and Cons of a Fluval Spec 5?? Hey guys!! I am an avid aquarist....well when it comes to fresh water African Cichlids Anyways after seeing my friends little saltwater nano cube tank (maybe 3 gallons). It inspired me to get one for myself. Keep in mind I have no experience with saltwater :/ I would like to get a few clown fish and maybe some other small damsels, shrimp, and snails. Anyways I was out at a pet store my friend brought me too and saw a Fluval Spec 5. It looked perfect to me as I prefer long tanks over tall tanks. So my question is...will the Fluval Spec 5 work well as a Nano tank? Would I need to modify the lights, filters, or anything else on it? The kit cost me about $92 after taxes. Would a cheaper alternative be purchasing a 10 gallon tank and deriming it and then buying the parts seperatley? Would it be safe to dermin a 10 gallon? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

09/20/2012, 05:22 AM	#2
ryeguyy84 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: New Jersey Posts: 2,753	I don't have any experiance with the spec but you might be able to put 1 clown in there although it might be to small. __________________ Current tank: 90G mixed reef. Current Tank Info: 90 gallon

12/29/2014, 02:47 PM	#6
charmed26 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 1	fluval spec I recently purchased a fluval spec 5 tank with the intention of building a freshwater tank, however after doing some research on the types of fish I would like have decided to try a salt water tank so I can get some salt water fish like clown fish etc. In my kit I have an LED light, circulation pump, foam filter, activated carbon insert, biomax insert and I also purchased a heater. I wanted to know what i need to do to make it into a salt water tank. Thanks

09/20/2012, 09:53 AM	#3
Azballa7 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Long Island Posts: 2	Anyone else have experience?? Thanks

09/22/2012, 09:37 AM	#4
p2yu Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 1	I have a spec for a year (2g) and use it for corals only and it is minimum maintenance for me because there is no bioload. 5g is bigger but still small for a clown you need a small fish. They may get stress and have shorter lifespan. You will likely need the following minimum: heater, protein skimmer, another head to keep water flowing to prevent algae growth because it is long. If you want to keep corals, you need better lighting as well spec's LED is no good they burn out. Obvious you will need the usual salt water salts, kits, chemicals not mentioned we are talking strictly tank setup. for saltwater tanks, the larger the easier in many ways. I am thinking of moving to this tank later too and maybe get a yellow tail damsel. beautiful, tough yet small.

11/01/2012, 04:02 PM	#5
cburke401 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Wakefield, Rhode Island Posts: 23	Hey if your still interested I am currently building my fluval spec v and I can honestly say that it is the best aquarium system/kit I've purchased. I give it a 9.5/10 only because the lights need to be replaced if you want a reef. The filtration is a standard "in-tank sump" and it works good, however I have been looking at a stronger water return pump only because I don't like the look of power heads and I need more flow for my corals. I suggest you do not EVER get a 10 gallon and get all the separate parts for a saltwater(I did this as well before the fluval spec v), you will have to deal with saltwater corrosion, nitrate,nitrite, and ammonia problems and it looks terrible. But as for you, a beginner, I suggest you get the spec and a heater, and a nano clown or maybe a pair... no more than two though. I have a small royal gramma in mine right now. But stick with fish only until you get the hang of it and then you can start upgrading the tank(lights, filtration, etc.) and a couple months down the road you can start adding 1-3 frags every few weeks or so.