5 Gallon FOWLR

[quake120]

I've seen lots of discussion about 5 gallon reef tanks with corals and such (and how hard it is). How hard would a 5 gallon FOWLR tank be?
Also, I had an idea for it...What if I had a tank of properly mixed salt-water that dripped slowly (3 - 4 drips per second) into the tank, and also a tube that dripped the same amount out of the tank? Would that help with keeping the levels in the tank correct?

[spieszak]

a fowlr with one small fish (basically all you'd be able to keep) seems kind of not worth it to me personally...hence the corals and such..
As for the drip in and drip out, that's a possibility, but what would you use for top off, so that evap doesn't constantly raise your salinity?

[izzy123]

I've seen lots of discussion about 5 gallon reef tanks with corals and such (and how hard it is). How hard would a 5 gallon FOWLR tank be?
Also, I had an idea for it...What if I had a tank of properly mixed salt-water that dripped slowly (3 - 4 drips per second) into the tank, and also a tube that dripped the same amount out of the tank? Would that help with keeping the levels in the tank correct?

Well, IMO it would not be hard at all, since you can only have 1 fish in there, and it would be a really small one at that...... I can actually think of 1 that would do........ Gobiodon Okinawae

Still, I would not do that, it's way to small IMO

If you could set it up in a relyable way, then I suppose your dripping method would work, but It would not be very practical.

If you have room for a tank to hold salt water, then you have room for a sump, no reason why a 5 gallon tank can't have oh let's say a 50 gallon sump!

And voila, instant bigger system and stable readings

Hope this helps

Ivan

[fishbro25]

i did this is college for about a year until i broke it down and sold my corals. i kept a clown and a fire shrimp. i pretty much never did a water change. it was a PITA to clean. it was nice because its all i really had space for in a dorm. i would at least go with a 10g tank so you have some more room to work with. heres a pic of it when i had two clowns.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b318/cbidges/my5greef-1.jpg

[spieszak]

FYI - you can see my 5 gallon eco pico in this thread.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2048273

I haven't found it tough to deal with. 1 gallon water changes weekly, and top off... but without the corals, I don't think I'd be satisfied with my one tiny little fish (hector's goby)

[Bunnylicked]

As everyone else has said, you'd only be able to have 1-2 small fish in there anyway, so it wouldn't be a very interesting tank. I've got a 3 gallon tank, and it really isn't as hard as people make it sound to keep corals in a small tank. I've even got some healthy SPS in there! As long as you do frequent water changes and top off the evaporated water daily, you shouldn't have much trouble keeping the parameters stable.

[Sk8r]

Really an expert-only situation. Best first tank size: 50-75.

[snorvich]

I agree with Sk8r. Larger tanks are easier and more interesting. In any case the drip strategy would not be easy and would have little real value.

[quake120]

Really an expert-only situation. Best first tank size: 50-75.

I have a 75 gallon (+30 sump). I have a few smaller tanks around from my wife's FW fish hobby (which has now turned to SW), and thought maybe I'd put one to use. I have a 5, a 10, a 25, a 48, and a 55. One of them is going to be another SW tank for sure.
As for the drip thing, that was just an idea...I am sure you'd never be able to get the drip rates exactly matched so you'd either drip too much out of your tank or drip too much in. Somebody also mentioned the salinity, which will increase continuously due to evaporation.

[smellslikeTUNA]

I'm confused on this drip idea, why wouldn't you just add an auto-top off?

[quake120]

The idea was to not only top off the tank, but also to basically keep a constant change of water going. At 3 - 4 drips per second, it should take about a gallon or two out of the tank, plus another drip will be adding new water to the tank. Basically a continual water change. I am not the one who came up with the idea. I saw the idea elsewhere, but nobody has put it into practice...Understandably so...not sure how effective it would be.

[drew930]

Really an expert-only situation. Best first tank size: 50-75.

This is right. The smaller the tank is, usually its harder to keep. Your salinity would rise all the time. I know a guy who had a 3 gallon JBJ. He said he used about 1/4 cup top off per day. Keep in mind that in a 5 gallon, you will more than likely have to top off your water everyday. If not , it won't be stable.

You might be able to use a aqua lifter pump. If you could put it on a timer and have it top off everyday for about a minute or so.

IMO, go 65-75. If you do well, get a 5 gallon as well. they are usually cheap.

[quake120]

I already have a 75 gallon tank (1 month or so old).
I understand now why a 5 gallon FOWLR tank isn't going to be worth the effort. I'd like to do a 20 gallon reef tank. I'll start with a bigger "smaller" tank first before I attempt a 5 gallon.

[izzy123]

I already have a 75 gallon tank (1 month or so old).
I understand now why a 5 gallon FOWLR tank isn't going to be worth the effort. I'd like to do a 20 gallon reef tank. I'll start with a bigger "smaller" tank first before I attempt a 5 gallon.

I would suggest getting familiar with your current tank, and if you have a sump, let me throw my idea your way:
I plan to have a small invert. tank (10G) next to my DT, but plumbed into my sump.......:D

Actually, I stole the idea from an LFS who had a 5G tank setup witch looked great.
when I asked the guy how he did it he showed me the plumbing into a 300G system.... still a great idea IMO ;)

Hope this helps

Ivan

[quake120]

Yep, I do have a sump, and I have thought of plumbing another tank into it. I've heard that can be bad though, because if one tank gets sick, both/all of them will get sick. To remedy that, a UV sterilizer between the two tanks can help.