nano = $?

[maramei]

hi, i would very much like to start planning a nano reef (i.e. put research together) but i'm worried about my very shallow pockets. so...

i have a piddly little hex. 5 gallon tank and i was wondering if anyone might be able to give me a rough idea of how much live sand, rock, coral etc will all cost, i.e. how much would a nano reef in a 5 gallon cost to initially set up? how much maintenance and extra equipment would one require to maintain a 5 gallon nano reef.

potential creatures:
1 emerald crab
2 red legged hermits
1 fire fish goby
2 spotted cleaner shrimp

...i'm also worried about how much room for extra epuipment i will need, i have my fingers crossed (i'm a newb) that such a small tank for a reef wouldn't require a sump or anything like that? but the hood that i have on the tank won't really allow anything to hang off the sides unless i modify it. what the hell is a protein skimmer?

i found a really kewl cheap mod to create a refugium from a aquaclear filter: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=601201&highlight=how+to+DIY+an

again all i have at the moment is a 5 gallon hex tank, biofilter (with live sand/rock i don't think i'll require this), small 15 watt incandescent bulb (upgrade to compact fluorescent?), and a heater (also i doubt i'll need this)

fun!

thanks for any potential comments ahead of time!

[kennyman]

Probebly around $50 for Liverock and substrate will get you cycling. Then you need to look for waterflow and lighting and that is going to cost a bit more. That ought to take care of the first month or two 

[maramei]

hmm awesome diy files here http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=a8a6e94a1801a691672aeefdf44c7be0&threadid=665448
was thinking about making my spare AC20 into a fuge (heh that's pretty small i'm hoping that would a) actually contribute to the tank, and b) not overgrow or get out of control every week.

on the previous link i also found a diy skimmer http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=537083
not exactly sure what they do ... something about removing dissolved organic solids? i think i also heard tanks are very smelly without protein skimmers, so that perhaps will be added to my collection of research (heh which i only really started today)... i already have an air stone and its motor etc, but it seems like you place protein skimmers submerged in your tank's sump? a) if possible i don't want to have a sump, and b) i thought p.s. were another one of those seperate components that you could just have hanging off the back of the tank.... more research required obviously

[mseguin]

You probably don't really need a skimmer for a tank that size.

[ray]

Hi ,nano 's are harder to keep due to the sm volume hence problems will escalate very quickly.There's many ways to do things.If you're interested i can sell all that you need and you could have an instant tank w/ some sm coral pcs for under a $100.You'rewelcome to stop by and see a 10 gl that is currently holding corals.
Ray

[maramei]

heh i've decided i don't want to jump the gun and buy everything without knowing exactly what to do with it all (that and until the 30th i am obscenely broke, but i would love to see your nano reefs, i'll most probably give you a call tomorrow, hopefully when you're not busy, thank you so much

[Julie]

Get as big a tank as possible, maintaining the proper parameters in a 5 could be tricky, especially if this is your first sw tank.