5g. Starter. What all do I need??

severum mama said:
I'd think that would turn it into algae hell...

And sure, water changes are easy, BUT unlike larger tanks, a small tank like mine or even a 5 gallon does require DAILY attention, whether that's top offs or water changes. It has to be topped off every day. It really is harder to keep it stable. I've been really lucky with mine, and I've really paid attention to it as far as top offs, water changes, and water testing. Now 2 months into it my ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate all stay at 0 with just a weekly water change and a daily top off. But to get it where it is now I was doing almost daily water changes for a while.

Just something to think about.
Click to expand...

Algae needs food to live.

If you use the right water, you really shouldn't have any algae.

Of course, that's theoretical...

But not sure why you'd say that would turn into an algae hell, quite honestly...
 
I've seen that Marineland kit before. I wasn't impressed, especially for $150! The lighting, while an improvement over the 12 gal FW Eclipse, is inadequate for most any coral, and the filtration isn't too hot either. You'd still have to add a powerhead for sure, and with a heater then you've spent $200 before you even have sand in the tank, much less rock.

You could set up a 15 nano that you piece together yourself for about that price, and the footprint (24x12x12) is much better for aquascaping.
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by severum mama
I'd think that would turn it into algae hell...

And sure, water changes are easy, BUT unlike larger tanks, a small tank like mine or even a 5 gallon does require DAILY attention, whether that's top offs or water changes. It has to be topped off every day. It really is harder to keep it stable. I've been really lucky with mine, and I've really paid attention to it as far as top offs, water changes, and water testing. Now 2 months into it my ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate all stay at 0 with just a weekly water change and a daily top off. But to get it where it is now I was doing almost daily water changes for a while.

Just something to think about.

Algae needs food to live.

If you use the right water, you really shouldn't have any algae.

Of course, that's theoretical...

But not sure why you'd say that would turn into an algae hell, quite honestly...
Click to expand...

Because that's what happens to tanks that get too much sunlight, generally, whether it's FW or SW. Lighting the tank artificially away from sunlight gives the aquarist the ability to control the amount of light that the tank gets.

People that use "the right water" (I assume you mean RO/DI) still have algae problems, even without sunlight. There will still be nutrients in the water from whatever fish or inverts are in the tank... when you add sunlight to the equation it's very easy to see how it could turn into algae hell. I've seen folks with some expertise pull this off in a nano, but for a beginner it probably isn't the best plan.
 
:) Thanks to everyone who replied. I think instead of going with the 5g I will end up going with the 10 or 12g. instead. Ill be heading to the LFS today and check out some prices. Thanks again for all of your help:)
 
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