10 gal tank - suitable critters?

dissolution

New Member
Hey all! First post to the site, been browsing the forum for like two weeks now...
First off, I'm not completely new to this - I once had two 55 gallon tanks, one "reef", one aggressive. Learned alot over a 3 year period. I stopped for ....4 years? And now I'm back into it - my girlfriend got me a 10 gallon tank for christmas! Woohoo.
The first thing I had to do was tell her basically like one or two things can go in this; and thats it! Its too small for most fishies.
Anyway...
I have two ideas and I wanted to bounce them off of you guys and see what you all thought.
Idea #1) Pipefish
I've had pipefish before in my "reef" tank and know that they are basically species only. I'm cool with that. Can a 10 gallon support them and how many? Two? I had two in my 55 and they totally loved each other.
Idea #2) Angler/Frogfish
I've had two of these guys before, each for over a year. I know their dietary restrictions - I fed them ghost shrimp that were gut loaded and the occasional damsel once they were bigger.
Is ten gallons too small for an Angler? I know they can be messy.
Idea #3) My girlfriend wants a Sea horse - I'd rather have a pipefish because I'm familiar with them already.... I know that dwarf seahorses can be kept in small tanks... could a "normal" seahorse be kept in a 10? Can two?
The tank was a ***** starter tank. Its been cycling for a week now - I've got like two pounds of live rock in there right now, I'll start adding more as time progresses and three hermit crabs.
No fish yet for obvious reasons.... any thoughts on those ideas? Any other ideas for a ten gallon?
I'm also really partial to firefish, I love 'em. I was even tempted to have a pistol shrimp only type of tank (had one before taht I loved) but it is in my bedroom and they are noisy basterds sometimes.
Thanks guys/gals!
 

dissolution

New Member
Oh yeah, filtration right now is just whatever hang on tank thing that came with it. Honestly haven't payed attention to it yet.
I plan on adding a lot more live rock and adding additional filtration once the tank has cycled and when I figure out what I'll be stocking it with.
Lights, I added a PC bulb with a blue tint. Don't wanna overkill it right now with lights as there is nothing in it so theres no point, and I probably won't have any corals or inverts that need beefed up light.
I used to have a 'fuge that had calupera in it for 'pods and I loved watching it as much as my tank so maybe I can do like that again.
 

sepulatian

Moderator
Welcome to the boards! You sound like you really want to get back into the swing of salt. You may want to use the ten as your refugium on a bigger tank
 

dissolution

New Member
Originally Posted by sepulatian
http:///forum/post/2893000
Welcome to the boards! You sound like you really want to get back into the swing of salt. You may want to use the ten as your refugium on a bigger tank


I'd love too but I don't have the space and I'll be moving soon and its headache to move tanks....I don't want to ever have to do that again!!! :(
So was that a nice way of saying that all three ideas are stupid?
 

sepulatian

Moderator
Originally Posted by Dissolution
http:///forum/post/2893001
I'd love too but I don't have the space and I'll be moving soon and its headache to move tanks....I don't want to ever have to do that again!!! :(
So was that a nice way of saying that all three ideas are stupid?
Oh no no, not at all. If you are moving soon though then I am curious as to why are are planning to set this tank up. Don't get me wrong at all, but a pipefish or angler tank would need to be cycled and well established before you could actually add those to it.
 

oceansidefish

Active Member
I would do say a firefish (make sure he has caves) and say a tailspot blenny. You might be able to get away with a clown goby too.
 

dissolution

New Member
Originally Posted by sepulatian
http:///forum/post/2893003
Oh no no, not at all. If you are moving soon though then I am curious as to why are are planning to set this tank up. Don't get me wrong at all, but a pipefish or angler tank would need to be cycled and well established before you could actually add those to it.
1 - Because I got it as a gift
2 - I won't be moving for at least 3 three months, maybe 6.
Basically here's the deal. My parents split about 6 months ago and my mom asked me to move back in to make sure my little brother is OK throughout it (he's 16 and I'm 26). Cheap rent? Why not?
Everything family wise is awesome so I want to move out once my bands CD is done. I'm currently spending at least a $1000 a month on that. Shortly after its done I'll be going on tour for a few weeks.
Once the tour is done I'll be moving out. Since I'll be out of town for an extended period of time and then moving I'd rather not have anything wwaaaay to complicated.
My little brother has been sitting over my shoulder watching everyything I do and reading along with me so he should be good to take care of whatever is in the 10 when I am away.
Damn, sorry for the novel.
 

robertmathern

Active Member
Originally Posted by Dissolution
http:///forum/post/2893289
1 - Because I got it as a gift
2 - I won't be moving for at least 3 three months, maybe 6.
Basically here's the deal. My parents split about 6 months ago and my mom asked me to move back in to make sure my little brother is OK throughout it (he's 16 and I'm 26). Cheap rent? Why not?
Everything family wise is awesome so I want to move out once my bands CD is done. I'm currently spending at least a $1000 a month on that. Shortly after its done I'll be going on tour for a few weeks.
Once the tour is done I'll be moving out. Since I'll be out of town for an extended period of time and then moving I'd rather not have anything wwaaaay to complicated.
My little brother has been sitting over my shoulder watching everyything I do and reading along with me so he should be good to take care of whatever is in the 10 when I am away.
Damn, sorry for the novel.
Well good luck on the CD just make sure your brother knows how to keep up on it. Smaller tanks need more attention then bigger ones.
 

dissolution

New Member
Originally Posted by robertmathern
http:///forum/post/2893293
Well good luck on the CD just make sure your brother knows how to keep up on it. Smaller tanks need more attention then bigger ones.
Thanks! CD is going great so far. I'll probably never recoup the cost we put into it but, its just money, right?

And yeah, the smaller tanks definately need alot more attention. Thankfully I had my little bro watch one of my 55 gallons when he was younger, and I've had him do alot of the work on my 10 so far. So he should be good by the time I have to tour - plus hes got my buddies phone # who's awesome so he can always call if need be.
Considering how there aren't any plumbing issues to deal with (no sump or anything) it should be ok. I'm having him doing the testing on my tank wihle it cycles so he gets used to what to look for.
 
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