Lighting for a small tank

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hydrohoki

Aquarium Advice Apprentice
Joined
May 19, 2004
Messages
23
Location
Virginia
I'm setting up a 5 gallon salt water tank. Is there such thing as too much light? I want to put a small power compact on it, would that be appropriate?

Thanks!
 
Depends on what you want to do with it. If your new to keeping SW aquariums, I would not recommend you start with such a small unstable environment, rather set your sights a little higher, until you gain some experience. To answer your question directly...yes there is such a thing as too much light, and alot of what qualifies will depend on the husbandry of the tank.
 
I've been keeping 10 and 5 gallon fish only salt water aquariums for about 3 years. Though I am very limited in what I can keep, I really enjoy the small tanks. (I move around so larger tanks aren't an option for me). I was thinking of adding some polyps or maybe an anemone to my tank with a clownfish till it gets too big (once they get big I send them to my friends large aquarium). All I've used so far are 50/50 fluorescent lighting.
 
As long as you are not planning on heavily light dependant corals the >>2x9w Aqualight<< is quite good. I use it on my 5 gal mini reef. Primarily soft corals, shrooms and zoathuds. If I can find one small enough, I will also be trying a sand dwelling LPS.

A 5 gal tank is far too small for any type of hosting anemone though. I would also urge caution on the types of fish you add (if any) I would not suggest more than one and if a clown I would go with a single Ocellaris.

Cheers
Steve
 
Thanks!

I think I'm going to go with a few polyps and an ocellaris and see what happens. I'm particularly fond of a cleaner shrimp I have, do you think that would be too much for the 5? I've been hesitant to try it. I keep extremely close tabs on the chemistry of the tanks, but I don't want to risk these little guys unless I think I can do it.

By the way this is one of the most helpful and nicest sites for saltwater help I have come across. Thanks!
 
I kept a blood cleaner in mine for almost a year with a sharknose goby before I needed to switch things around. You should have no problem with one invert like that in the tank. If anything it will help keep the cleanliness up a bit better.

Cheers
Steve
 
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