5 gal with built in filter.

[mr funktastic]

ok so i have a spare 5 gal tank and some spare plexiglass. what i want to do is make the built in filtration on the back wall. i was thinking about 1 1/2" wide. i have some extra black sand in my freshwater tank i could steal it from. i will rinse it to make sure it is suitable for the tank. i also have a powerhead rated for 100 gal/hour which i will use for the back wall fltration(i know its called a fuge i just like saying back wall lol) i was going to put a sponge in the first compartment, live rock rubble in the second compartment and maybe some filter floss in the third. i may add an extra powerhead later depending on the flow i am getting. and also are there any reccomended fuge designs? like baffle placements? i was going to order theCORALIFE 9" 2X9 watt fixture. will this be enough to grow most soft corals? will i be able to have any fish in this tank or would it be more like shrimp and snails and stuff. am i missing anything? so for things i will need the list is as follows:
coralife fixture
powerhead
50 watt heater
sand

sound about right? besides the live rock, rubble and corals? i was originally going to do a smaller tank but i would like more stocking options. i have no problems with doing weekly or even daily waterchanges to keep the tank pristine. thanks for the help.

 

[lando]

It could work. I suggest going to the LFS and seeing if they have a nanocube or aquapod for you to look at. It will give you a better idea of how to set up the back. I have that same fixture on my new 2.5gal. It should work for a good variety of softies.

 

[mr funktastic]

they have the aquapod there but i cant really see becasue it is all filled. i understand the basics but just need a sketch of how it is blocked off. i think it is something like this
1 1 1 1
1 sponge 1 1 1 1
1 1 1 live rock rubble 1 1
1 1 1 1 1
1 1 1 1 pump 1
1 1 1 1 1
1 1 possibly sand 1
111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111

how does that look lol?what kind of fish would be abale to go ina set up like this? anything or nothing? i am guessing it will be about 4 gal after fuge.

 

[lando]

It showed up better on my email notification. Should work okay.

 

[mr funktastic]

lol wow that didnt work at all there did it. it should have looked liek this...

1SSS1xxxxxxxxxxxxxx1xxxx1
1SSS1xx1xxxxxxxxxxx1xxxx1
1SSS1xx1xxxxxxxxxxx1xxxx1
1SSS1xx1OOOOOOOO1xxxx1
1xxxxxx1OOOOOOOOxxxxx1
1xxxxxx1OOOOOOOOxxxxx1
111111111111111111111111

1 is the walls, O are live rock S is the sponge and x is water.
i hope that will work. any fish suggestions? is my powerhead strong enough? is there a better light option? all comments on this would be awesome.

 

[lando]

Don't worry about it. For some reason it looks fine on my email. Not like what is above. It gives me a good idea of what you are going for. Fish options for this size tank are pretty limited. Look at either a green or yellow clown goby. They do well by themselves or as a pair and do not swim much. They like to perch on corals and rocks. Put in a skunk cleaner and a peppermint shrimp and a few reef hermits and that is about it. It will be a nice little set-up.

 

[Devilishturtles]

I agree with Lando.