Tips on 5.5 Peninsula

So I am kind of bored on campus, so I thought I would do a small 5.5 gallon peninsula tank for my room.

First plan is to rearrange the furniture to have room to fit it. My goal is to either have it act as a "wall" from the door to table, or a "wall" between the bed and table. But I can figure that out. On to the important part..

This would be my 4th nano tank, had a 3 gallon, upgraded to a 28 JBJ, downgraded to a 10 gallon, and then upgraded it to a 10 with a 10 macro sump.

So what I want to accomplish is have it as a peninsula style tank, this would be the first attempt. No sump or anything, just an Aquaclear 50 (20 impeller) on the short end.

I think it will fit from the dimensions I got online for the tank and filter.

Then from there to get some surface skimming, put the intake pipe into a pvc tube with a plug at the bottom to keep it from sucking sand up. Probably cover it with gutter guard to keep snails out as well.

Now since I am still at college, make a DIY ATO with a float switch and not sure what kind of pump to use yet. An Aqua Lifter isn't going to be able to pump water high enough.

What are my choices here? Trying to keep it on a budget, is there anyway I could get a Maxi Jet and somehow convert the opening down to something small like an air hose?

Since it is going to be a peninsula style, I think the scape will be more shelf like in the center and maybe an island, depends really, but rock I think will be coming from Reef Cleaners, 5-6 lbs? Sand I think Petco has some white aragonite sand for like $5 for 10 lbs.

The like, I plan on using a Boostled, I think one will be enough coverage. I dont really want to buy another one, this is what I have left over from past builds. Probably take apart that clamping flexi arm and build acrylic legs to put on top of the tank.

Not sure if I need an extra pump inside for flow or not but probably go for Korilla Pico Mini if I do end up needing it.

Sorry it is a bit long, I thought it would be easier to have it all on one post than a bunch of short post all over the forum. Give me some thoughts and opinions. In the mean time, I am going to rearrange the room and see what works.

 

Sorry no advice to give, are you going to post some pitchers when you get it up? I want to see how this gos together.

 

Of course there will be pictures! What's the purpose of a thread without pictures?

 

bump for ideas

 

How high are you going that an aqua lifter won't work? Can you raise the top off container up?

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It is going to have to go a little more than 40" up. I have limited room to put the container in so I decided to hide it under my bed and have the tank on the night stand right next to it.

Theoretically, the Aqua lifter might work if I fiddled around in it's placement

 

I see. Dorm life huh? You might be ok with the aqualifter though. I have used mine to pump about that distance, just put the pump half way up.

posted with tapatalk please ignore bad spelling and grammar

 

Nothing to get too excited about living in a dorm. Haha Just have to make it through this year before I can get an apartment. And that's when I'm going to start a 40 breeder peninsula, not sure how since I have a hole cut on the back wall towards the edge. Haha

 

Bump to the top!

I'm thinking of an AIO build. Just a simple false wall, baffle, and return pump.

Maybe do a Yasha Goby tank! I want to build a fixture to hold the boostled par30 and the moonlight kit from rapidled. Just don't know how I would go about doing so. Maybe take apart the flex-neck clamp it got from boostled and using that somehow

 

I say scrape the ATO. Its only 5 gallons! you should be able to keep up on manual top offs