10 g need some help

[hugabug1]

Hi everyone Im new just signed up yesterday.
I recently (on new years eve) set up a 10 gal salt water tank. I love star fish and Im hoping to add a sandsifter in a few months but I also want corals, live rock, feather dusters. I wanted to get a choc. chip star fish but I no it could possibly eat the live rock but what if I spot feed it, I want to spot feed both stars twice a week. I want to add a clown fish and Im not sure what else but I love star fish and it is only a 10 gal so what should I add do you think???I am just a beginner so some beginner fish might be good. SO far all my water tests have come out nice. I am going to ***** tomorrow and have them check it (I check usually)but I was confuced on some directions. (nothing said what the good water colors were).But I was hoping to pick up some live rock later this week and add that before I add any fish or anything. any suggestions???
Constance:happyfish

 

[overanalyzer]

Constance - first - WELCOME!!!
Second - advice - ask a lot of questions - here in the nano and in the reef forum!
Third - ***** is not known for their great help in keeping fish.
Fourth - Chocolate chip stars will eat your corals - so if you put some LR and a couple of CC starfish in the tank you will be fine!
Fifth - in a tank that small if you love star fish then I would not look into getting corals - just some Chocolate Chip starfish and a small fish (or two). 1 Perc or Oscellaris Clownfish would do nicely in a 10 gallon.
Sixth - since you have some time for your cycle to finish I would suggest getting a book and doing some research on SWF - a good one is Conscientious Marine Aquarist - it is listed in the dry goods section!
Good luck and welcome!!!

 

[black99l]

yeah what he said

 

[greenbananas87]

i thought blue linkias needed a lot of lr, atleast more than a 10G could provide, and plus don't they get really big, correct me if i'm wrong please

 

[karajay]

WELCOME hugabug
Originally posted by greenbananas87
i thought blue linkias needed a lot of lr, atleast more than a 10G could provide, and plus don't they get really big, correct me if i'm wrong please
I agree that this would be an inappropriate star for a nano and also for a newcomer to the hobby.
My #1 piece of advice for new hobbyists is to always research everything thoroughly BEFORE you buy it. When in doubt, ask first. You'd be hard-pressed to find a subject that has not been studied and discussed here.

 

[hugabug1]

Hi everyone
what is LR live rock??? I was actually thinking instead of the CC star a serpent star. what does everyone think. I was also wondering how much live rock do i need for a 10 gal???and how big a sand bed???I am not buying any fish from pet co I just want them to test my water to make sure my cyle is complete. How do you no when it is?? and can I add live rock before cycle is complete???I want a feather duster any suggestions and do I feed them anything special??? I was also thinking of buying a clown fish maybe two and a very very small puffer I seen one that would get 1-2 inches. thats perfect.
my aquarium whats your thoughs
1 small puffer 1-2 inches
1 or two clown fish
live rock how much is good?
feather duster
serpent star
sandsifting star
corals
anenomies
thanks again
Constance

 

[karajay]

Puffers are not going to stay only 1-2 inches. Depending on the species, they can reach well over a foot long (minimal tank size 100g+).
About 10-15 lbs of LR would probably be good. A sand bed can be as deep as you want (4-6" for a DSB or deep sand bed). In my 20g, I only have about 1-2" because I didn't want a whole tank full of sand.
You will know your cycle is finished when your ammonia and nitrites have both dropped back to zero. You'll probably have leftover nitrates. A water change should get your nirates down and also get your Ph stabalized.
Featherdusters are usually fairly low maintenance. A few drops of phytoplankton once a week is good for mine.
I would suggest you wait a few months to decide on corals. They don't belong in a newly established aquarium. This should give you about 4-6 months to research their needs.
I would not recommend an anemone for anyone. They do not do well long-term in captivity, even for the experts. Also a very bad idea for such a small tank.
:happyfish

 

[overanalyzer]

Originally posted by Hugabug1
Hi everyone
what is LR live rock???
my aquarium whats your thoughs
1 small puffer 1-2 inches
1 or two clown fish
live rock how much is good?
feather duster
serpent star
sandsifting star
corals
anenomies
thanks again
Constance
LR = live rock
No puffer
what species of clownfish are you looking @? I think two percs/nemos would be good
LR can't go on poundage alone - you need enough to make your tank look good. IN a small tank LR will help filter but it can't do it all. You need some other filtration like a HOB (Hang on Back) or cannister filter. Plus you will do water changes. Go to some LFS (local Fish Stores) and look for a couple of cool pieces. If it is pretty light-weight stuff then about 10 pounds would fill your tank nicely. REmember go for some cool quality pieces and not quantity
Feather dusters are filter feeders. I'd wait to add anything until you do some research and check out what you want in your tank. If you have to ahve them then make sure you have some LR and a fish or two in your tank. Then you should not have to worry too much about providing any phytoplankton for them to eat. They'll filter out the crumbs from the fish, the fish waste, etc.
Serpent star - will hide and you will only see a leg here or there. I have one in my 20 and he gets a shrimp pellet a week plus all the detrius he can scrounge. I would wait 6 months or so for your tank to age before adding him. Relatively healthy critter and easy to keep.
Sand sifters - not good - eat your sand bed critters and can bull doze a small tank ...
corals - do a search for low light corals and check the previous pages here and see what some of the other nano reefers have in terms of set-ups and such. The thread titles will al lbe like ; Overanalyzer's 20 Gallon. You will get a good idea for good nano corals and the lighting needed!
Anemones - NO -

they need established tanks and often times more lighting then a nano can provide. Long Tenticle anemones will be hardier (and so will bubble tips) - but they are difficult and hard to maintain. Plus they can wander. Do a search for Anemone and power head and read about all the poor anemones who got sucked up into powerheads......

 

[hugabug1]

I looked up the pufer again and it says a Valentini Puffer only gets 1-2 inches??? Should I do a water change once a week???or once every two weeks??? I am going to Seahorse a pet store and im going to buy some live rock (not sure how much)I will deffentitely wait on the star fishes and re think things. Now pet co gave me a paper that says i can have 5 clown fish in a 10 gal tank? or even more than that???I was just thinking of one or 2 clowns and a valentini puffer because each only gets 1-2 inches????I dont understand how a 10 gal aquarium is to small to hold three fish?and I was actually thinking of possibly addiny a lawnmower blenny I seen one at the pet store and it was so cute attacking the glass. Does anyone else have one and are they good fish? I am starting to grow mold on my glass at the edges like little puffs on round tiny globs? Its like reddish brownish very tiny and round.
Thanks again
Constance

 

[greenbananas87]

most will recomend two small fish for a tank that size b/c of how territorial sw fish can be, and plus how intollerent they are of bad water quality. Many people have lm blennies so someone could probably tell you if that would work.

 

[karajay]

Where are you getting this puffer information? Most online retailers will list the size when it is shipped, NOT the adult size. A Valentini (or any other puffer) is not appropriate for a 10g.
I would certainly not add any more than 2 small fish or you will not be able to maintain good water quality. Percula clowns are a good choice, however do not get more than two, or they will most likely fight.
:happyfish

 

[hugabug1]

HI Oh, it said it on this site if you look at fish then look at puffers. If it does get bigger than I wont get it maybe two clowns and a blennie would be good