Looking for Guidance

[doeboy1]

Ok…I posted once before and everyone was a great help. So here I go again…I’m setting up a small 10g in the house…kind of like my experiment. I don’t want to go out and spend a boatload of many and then things go down the toilet. I know everyone says a nano tank is harder to maintain, but if I figure if I can do a nano I can do a larger tank. In any event…I’m getting my bonus around the middle of the month and I want to buy some things for the tank. What do I need to begin? My biggest concern is lighting and filtering. I’m not getting a big bonus and I do have to share with the wife. Any help is always appreciated…

 

[fisherson]

i got a coralife 96 watt pc light setup for my 10 gallon and i love it...cost me 100 bucks. And for filtration i have whatever filter comes with a 10 gallon tank from walmart. All my test are coming out more perfect than my 55 with a much bigger filter and a skimmer. I've come to realize that RO/DI water and regular water changes are the key to success. make sure you have a powerhead though. Also on a popular auction site you can get some cheap HOB refugiums. I plan on getting an 18 inch one myself. It should help to make my water even more perfect. i kinda like only having 1 fish cause all i feed is 3 tiny pelets a day so i don't have a big bio load.

 

[doeboy1]

That’s for the help…I know it sounds crazy, but I do want to try the hard first and then work my way to the easy. Like I said I want to experiment on get the water readings right and learning how to maintain it. I know everyone says it’s harder, but I just want to try it and see if I can get it to work the right way. What type of media are you using in the filter? That is the park that has me stuck?

 

[thegrog]

In the filter, I would use a carbon floss type of filter. I kept a 10 gallon for quite a while before upgrading (my bonus check) it to a 30.
I recommend a whisper HOT filter. Get the larger one for the 10 gallon. I think it is the 30 model. That way, the filters are the standard size and a little less expensive. I have used their filters for years and never had a single problem. They are inexpensive, widely available, and the replacement filter pads are very cheap! Just be sure to replace the filter every 10-14 days to avoid buildup of wastes that will increase your nitrates.
I agree with the forementioned lighting idea.
To be successful with this tank, you will want to do 10% water changes using RO/DI water religiously every week!! Start slowly, add things gradually, let it mature on it's own, and you can succeed.