I'm going to do a 5G nano at my work

Ti · 07/05/2006, 10:11 AM

So I have a spare 5G laying around and I've been toying with the idea of putting it in the office and setting up a nano.

I have been thinking of making it a mantis tank.
Is 5G too small for a mantis?

What do you guys think would make a good office 5g?

ACBlinky · 07/05/2006, 10:34 AM

You may want to ask in the mantis forum for specific info about their needs. Some get huge, but I think there are species that stay fairly small and might do fine in a 5g.
I'd go with a standard rectangular 5.5g tank, a little dual bulb PC fixture (I think 2 x 18W would fit) and maybe an AquaClear 70 modded into a refugium. That would give you flow as well as keeping NO3 & PO4 in check. If you kept it on a 24h or reverse photoperiod it would help with pH stability as well. It might be easiest to go BB, not sure if that would affect a mantis at all though. Definitely figure out a way -- either ATO or even a large bottle with a drip line -- to keep the tank topped up continually. IME the hardest thing with little tanks is keeping all the levels steady.

Ti · 07/05/2006, 10:50 AM

I've got a penguin mini filter I was going to use cause I have that laying around.
But yah, a 5g is pretty hard to keep stable.

ACBlinky · 07/05/2006, 11:14 AM

I've had one up and running for quite a while, it's doable, just keep up with water changes and make sure you've got a way to keep it topped up. www.nano-reef.com is a great site for info on keeping a tiny tank, if you haven't checked it out yet it's worth a look

Ti · 07/05/2006, 12:03 PM

Thanks

oonycxwilloo · 07/06/2006, 12:50 AM

IMO you should go for small creatures like sexy's harlequins, clowns...just giving an opinion

07/05/2006, 10:11 AM	#1
Ti Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 7,927	I'm going to do a 5G nano at my work So I have a spare 5G laying around and I've been toying with the idea of putting it in the office and setting up a nano. I have been thinking of making it a mantis tank. Is 5G too small for a mantis? What do you guys think would make a good office 5g? __________________ Hair algae is my Macro algae.

07/05/2006, 10:34 AM	#2
ACBlinky Premium Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Peterborough, ON, Canada Posts: 4,954 Blog Entries: 20	You may want to ask in the mantis forum for specific info about their needs. Some get huge, but I think there are species that stay fairly small and might do fine in a 5g. I'd go with a standard rectangular 5.5g tank, a little dual bulb PC fixture (I think 2 x 18W would fit) and maybe an AquaClear 70 modded into a refugium. That would give you flow as well as keeping NO3 & PO4 in check. If you kept it on a 24h or reverse photoperiod it would help with pH stability as well. It might be easiest to go BB, not sure if that would affect a mantis at all though. Definitely figure out a way -- either ATO or even a large bottle with a drip line -- to keep the tank topped up continually. IME the hardest thing with little tanks is keeping all the levels steady. __________________ "The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears, or the sea." - Isak Dinesen Current Tank Info: 150g mixed reef, 30g sump/refugium, LED lighting, 100lbs LR, coral beauty, flame angel, blue & yellow tangs, gobies, damsels, 6-line wrasse, lawnmower blenny, dottyback, clown pair, rabbitfish, shrimp, crabs, CUC.

07/05/2006, 10:50 AM	#3
Ti Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 7,927	I've got a penguin mini filter I was going to use cause I have that laying around. But yah, a 5g is pretty hard to keep stable. __________________ Hair algae is my Macro algae.

07/05/2006, 11:14 AM	#4
ACBlinky Premium Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Peterborough, ON, Canada Posts: 4,954 Blog Entries: 20	I've had one up and running for quite a while, it's doable, just keep up with water changes and make sure you've got a way to keep it topped up. www.nano-reef.com is a great site for info on keeping a tiny tank, if you haven't checked it out yet it's worth a look __________________ "The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears, or the sea." - Isak Dinesen Current Tank Info: 150g mixed reef, 30g sump/refugium, LED lighting, 100lbs LR, coral beauty, flame angel, blue & yellow tangs, gobies, damsels, 6-line wrasse, lawnmower blenny, dottyback, clown pair, rabbitfish, shrimp, crabs, CUC.

07/05/2006, 12:03 PM	#5
Ti Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 7,927	Thanks __________________ Hair algae is my Macro algae.

07/06/2006, 12:50 AM	#6
oonycxwilloo Moved On Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 54	IMO you should go for small creatures like sexy's harlequins, clowns...just giving an opinion