Fluval 5g desk tank

[zbryant91]

So, been toying around with the idea of having a desk tank at work and finally pulled the trigger last weekend on a fluval 5 gallon tank.

Keeping it at home for now to get everything stable and to create a system/plan for maintenance.

Goals for right now include keeping amount of equipment minimal to reduce number of components to clean. Keeping some zoas and maybe some other softies. 1 fish and probably a nice cleaner shrimp.

I have placed some sponges and a chunk of rock from my 60 gallon in with the new dry rock to help seed everything.

Put my clown from the 60 in as well. I can easily transfer him back if I run into any issues but so far so good.

Currently sticking with the stock light, sponge filter, and pump and will upgrade if needed.

 

[zbryant91]

I have since received a smaller heater that fits in the pump chamber so it is a bit cleaner now.

Also tried to replace the pump with a cobalt 404 but it doesn’t fit. So going to return it and let the tank run it’s course for a bit and I’ll add a tiny powerhead if needed later on.

One question I have, for those of you running sponge filters in nano reefs, what do you do to clean them? Obviously I want to keep the beneficial bacteria but how do you keep it from clogging up? Ring it out in freshly mixed saltwater or RO? Or?

 

[Aaron4890]

I have since received a smaller heater that fits in the pump chamber so it is a bit cleaner now.

Also tried to replace the pump with a cobalt 404 but it doesn’t fit. So going to return it and let the tank run it’s course for a bit and I’ll add a tiny powerhead if needed later on.

One question I have, for those of you running sponge filters in nano reefs, what do you do to clean them? Obviously I want to keep the beneficial bacteria but how do you keep it from clogging up? Ring it out in freshly mixed saltwater or RO? Or?

I use to run a sponge in my filter, When I did a water change I would just take the sponge out and dunk it in the bucket of old water and squeeze the sponge a couple times to get all the gunk out of it. I would also run a small layer of filter floss on top of the sponge and just replace the filter floss once a week.

 

[zbryant91]

I use to run a sponge in my filter, When I did a water change I would just take the sponge out and dunk it in the bucket of old water and squeeze the sponge a couple times to get all the gunk out of it. I would also run a small layer of filter floss on top of the sponge and just replace the filter floss once a week.

Thanks, So you said use to, what are you doing now?

 

[Aaron4890]

Thanks, So you said use to, what are you doing now?

Now I just use a mesh bag with Aqua forest carbon, a little bit of GFO and filter floss on top which I change replace every week.

 

[lbacha]

I have the exact same office tank. I do absolutely nothing other than scrape Xenia off the front glass and add water (tap water at that) I have had the tank running for a year with no water changes

 

[TJ Merrells]

Aqueon quietflow works to upgrade the pump

 

[zbryant91]

Do you know which one?

 

[zbryant91]

Guessing you are referring to this one.

https://www.nano-reef.com/forums/to...p-for-fluval-v-sea-with-aqueon-quietflow-600/

Looks like a good and easy upgrade.

 

[lbacha]

By the way here is a pic of mine

Stock pump, stock light and a cheap heater

I did put some fluval ceramic filter media in the tank and I’m using a cheap controller for the lights and to control the heater (overkill but I had it)

The tank get way over fed as everyone loves feeding the fish (he was a transplant from a bigger tank due to being a jerk)

I’m probably going to need to upgrade at some point as people in the office won’t let me get rid of “peanut” as they have names her

 

[lbacha]

By the way there is plenty of flow in my tank for the Xenia with just the stock pump

 

[zbryant91]

Well all the pumps are non existent in the U.S. now so I guess I’m just running what I’ve got for a while anyways

 

[lbacha]

This pump works if you remove the cover off it

I used it on mine briefly but it made a lot more noise than the stock pump so I went back to the stock pump

There is a size smaller than that but I think it is almost the same as the stock pump so no point in using it

Len

 

[zbryant91]

Well I bought one of these and it didn't fit without removing the cover and I didn't think to try to run it that way. Guess i'll hold onto it and give that a try and see how noisy it is.

Thanks

 

[lbacha]

Well I bought one of these and it didn't fit without removing the cover and I didn't think to try to run it that way. Guess i'll hold onto it and give that a try and see how noisy it is.

Thanks

It’s not super noisy but my tank sits <1 foot from my at my desk so it didn’t take much to be noisy

 

[OutsideBrian]

I have one I use as a qt. I put an aqua clear 20 powerhead in the opposite corner, top needed to be trimmed.

 

[OutsideBrian]

 

[zbryant91]

Has anyone added a piece to fill the center hole where the light is to cut down on evaporation? Just curious what others have done.

 

[lbacha]

I just add water throughout the week, since it’s on my desk at work it no big deal. The light isn’t that bright so I would hate to cut it down any more with a cover that will inevitably get dirty

 

[zbryant91]

I just add water throughout the week, since it’s on my desk at work it no big deal. The light isn’t that bright so I would hate to cut it down any more with a cover that will inevitably get dirty

Good point. Just trying to search out as many ways as possible to simplify the maintenance before moving the tank to my desk. Hence all the questions regarding increasing flow without adding an addition pump that has to be cleaned.

So I plan on adding a bit of filter floss to the top of the sponge that I can just throw out and replace regularly and then do a water change once every week or 2 depending on how stable things seem.