texasmetal
Active Member
Okay, this is my first attempt at keeping a saltwater tank. I have a 100-gallon FW cichlid tank that has done very well over the past year, I maintain my roommates 30-gallon FW tank as well, and it's been really easy. I had a 10-gallon tank I was keeping a few guppies in so I could have a tank in my bedroom without too much mess of water changes, etc. About 4 months ago I decided to change it over to SW.
I changed out the substrate to live sand, the bed is about 3 inches deep. I read that all I needed for a fish-only tank would be a good filter and heater, and I use a 30 gallon filter with bio, mech, and carbon filtering along with an airstone to create current in the water, it keeps most of the tank stirred up pretty well, except for right around the decorations I do notice detritus build-up which I remove with a baster. I would like to add a small powerhead, but I want to determine if a 10-gallon is worth investing in for a SW beginner because with exception of Izzy, my girlfriends GS puffer (whose growth was stunted due to being very sickly when she got him 8 months ago) I've had a small Blenny and 2 Damsels die within 2 weeks of putting them in, (not to mention the perc clown that was munched by my "freshwater" eel (not really FW, brackish to SW, like Izzy)
I got a complete test kit and went through the whole series of tests once a week for the past several weeks.
Everything was within acceptable range, except for PH. Last time I tested it, the PH was 7.9 and I added buffer, and it didn't seem to help.
The Blenny just died a few days ago and he was showing signs of ich (scratching, labored breathing through one gill) and I found that the heater had been tampered with, and my water was at 86 degrees, up from 78 where it normally stays. I may have bumped the knob while knocking salt-creep off the hood so I'll blame myself for that. The water turned very cloudy overnight and the past 3 days I can't get it to go away.
Anyway, I know that smaller tanks are harder to maintain, 10 being very hard... and probably not wise on my part, but I THOUGHT beingst I've had my FW systems run smoothly for so long I would try it and see.
Is there any hope for a beginner and a 10-gallon SW tank?
I changed out the substrate to live sand, the bed is about 3 inches deep. I read that all I needed for a fish-only tank would be a good filter and heater, and I use a 30 gallon filter with bio, mech, and carbon filtering along with an airstone to create current in the water, it keeps most of the tank stirred up pretty well, except for right around the decorations I do notice detritus build-up which I remove with a baster. I would like to add a small powerhead, but I want to determine if a 10-gallon is worth investing in for a SW beginner because with exception of Izzy, my girlfriends GS puffer (whose growth was stunted due to being very sickly when she got him 8 months ago) I've had a small Blenny and 2 Damsels die within 2 weeks of putting them in, (not to mention the perc clown that was munched by my "freshwater" eel (not really FW, brackish to SW, like Izzy)
I got a complete test kit and went through the whole series of tests once a week for the past several weeks.
Everything was within acceptable range, except for PH. Last time I tested it, the PH was 7.9 and I added buffer, and it didn't seem to help.
The Blenny just died a few days ago and he was showing signs of ich (scratching, labored breathing through one gill) and I found that the heater had been tampered with, and my water was at 86 degrees, up from 78 where it normally stays. I may have bumped the knob while knocking salt-creep off the hood so I'll blame myself for that. The water turned very cloudy overnight and the past 3 days I can't get it to go away.
Anyway, I know that smaller tanks are harder to maintain, 10 being very hard... and probably not wise on my part, but I THOUGHT beingst I've had my FW systems run smoothly for so long I would try it and see.
Is there any hope for a beginner and a 10-gallon SW tank?
I'm a begginner too, well its been a few months of experience now but I'm still a novice but this place has lots of good advise and also lots of people who will tell you everything you do is wrong so just like any advise, take it with a grain of sand and do lots of reading!
