Just Started A 5 Gallon

[super7]

wondering how long i should wait after the cycle to put in some hermits. Also how long till Zoos.
Thanks

[fishytime]

Wait until your ammonia tests out at zero. Then clean up crew and then a couple more weeks before fish or corals. Take it SLOW.

[Der_Iron_Chef]

Agreed. Is this your first SW tank? During cycling, you should have test kits for Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate. When the first two are at zero, you can slowly add a few inverts. Test your parameters a few more times that week and if everything remains at zero, you could add a fish and some coral.

[super7]

This is my first SW tank after many years of fresh water, mostly cichlids and synos, and i do have all the test kits and all that stuff. 2-3 times enough for the checking of water parameters.

[super7]

Also what would you recommend i stock the tank with. Zoos are a definate.

[likwid]

Not much you can stock with a 5g tank. What kind of lighting are you using? Probably just zoo's and mushrooms. I wouldnt even think about adding a fish in such a small tank, maybe a shrimp.

[LeeR]

www.nano-reef.com You will find lots of useful information about what you can stock in a tank that size.

[super7]

What kind of lighting are you using?

PC Coral life or if there is a PC with longer lasting bulbs

[likwid]

PC Coral life or if there is a PC with longer lasting bulbs

How many watts?

[super7]

18 watts

[fishytime]

Zoanthids, mushrooms, stuf like xenia, green star polyps, favia, toadstool , devils finger. Mostly soft corals.

[bv_reefer]

-As likwid said fish is'nt really the best choice, but it just occured to me that you might be able to get away with a clown goby like a citrinis or such. there not too demanding, quite hardy actually, and putting a baby in a 5-gallon with nicely arranged live rock doesn't seem to bad an idea to me but research first - i see them all the time lingering over stony coral colonies so i can't imagine them needing to much swimming room, but anyways good luck :smile:

[super7]

My tank is running or has been running for a while and I have zoos growing all over the place as well as sun coral (latin name of tubastrea something) showing up all around the tank, the xenia hasn't really tanken off though.

[super7]

Here are some pics just before the main light turned on and after it turned on.
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y270/super7/100_0017.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y270/super7/100_0009.jpg

[IceTurf]

Here are some pics just before the main light turned on and after it turned on.
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y270/super7/100_0017.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y270/super7/100_0009.jpg THats only 5 G?

[super7]

yes, it is only a 5 gallon tank

[IceTurf]

what do u do to make sure ammonia and other levels are within reason?

[super7]

I do Biweekly water changes of 1 gallon. Also I have 8 lbs of LR in there. Also I dont feed a ton of food to sun polyp only twice a week.

[super7]

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y270/super7/100_0022.jpg

[super7]

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y270/super7/100_0025.jpg

[IceTurf]

so then you dont' use a protien skimmer?

[super7]

I do use a protein skimmer. Sorry if I made that unclear