New (to me) 10g nano

[worrballer]

I'm getting a little 10g from my friend soon. No hood but there is a compact florescent light with glass that can cover most of the top and some sort of tiny canister filter. I have no idea what brand but he said it worked fine when he had it up and running.
First I'm debating on whether I should do a diary, cause I'm terrible at keeping up on these things and even worse at updating pictures.
Second I wanted to hear from you guys about my wish list:
3-4 x firefish
10 x blue leg hermits (or equivalent)
1-2 x peppermint shrimp
Maybe some zoos
I like the xenia but I think the tank is too small what do you guys think?
I guess the biggest concern is the firefish. It says not to have more than one of them to a tank but I read that they hang out in groups above reefs in the wild and thought that would look wicked sweet.
Well let me know if I'm on the right track or not, oh and if you guys have any suggestions for a new filter I'm all ears
Thanks
Worrballer

 

[rotarymagic]

Originally Posted by WorrBaller
http:///forum/post/2781230
I'm getting a little 10g from my friend soon. No hood but there is a compact florescent light with glass that can cover most of the top and some sort of tiny canister filter. I have no idea what brand but he said it worked fine when he had it up and running.
First I'm debating on whether I should do a diary, cause I'm terrible at keeping up on these things and even worse at updating pictures.
Second I wanted to hear from you guys about my wish list:
3-4 x firefish
10 x blue leg hermits (or equivalent)
1-2 x peppermint shrimp
Maybe some zoos
I like the xenia but I think the tank is too small what do you guys think?
I guess the biggest concern is the firefish. It says not to have more than one of them to a tank but I read that they hang out in groups above reefs in the wild and thought that would look wicked sweet.
Well let me know if I'm on the right track or not, oh and if you guys have any suggestions for a new filter I'm all ears
Thanks
Worrballer
The cannister filter is probably a terrible idea, it'll just trap nitrates. Use liverock.

 

[worrballer]

Ya but I still need something to supplement the live rock in the tank. Or do you mean replace the bio balls in the can? Cause thats not a problem.
Are there any decent hang on filters?

 

[rotarymagic]

Originally Posted by WorrBaller
http:///forum/post/2782534
Ya but I still need something to supplement the live rock in the tank. Or do you mean replace the bio balls in the can? Cause thats not a problem.
Are there any decent hang on filters?
Don't use the canister period lol...
Use an aquaclear HOB with chemipure&rowaphos (carbon and ferric oxide to keep phosphates down) and maybe a pad (or two to rotate them out) to catch excess food and such.

 

[nissan577]

well i believe 4 firefish is pushing it. maybe 2 or 3 will do great. you can also do a royal gramma which is beautiful fish.

 

[rotarymagic]

Originally Posted by nissan577
http:///forum/post/2782551
well i believe 4 firefish is pushing it. maybe 2 or 3 will do great. you can also do a royal gramma which is beautiful fish.
+1 4 firefish is pushing it, pass on the gramma though, they'e overrated and I wouldn't keep one in a 10gallon, they'll display at the firefish which will stress them.
2 firefish, 2 neon gobies, 1 rainfords goby, 1 hectors goby, and a yellow clown goby and you'll be set with some fish that look good and don't produce much waste.

 

[nissan577]

thats a good one
+1. but i think it will be better like this:
2 firefish, 1 neon goby, 1 rainford goby, and a hector goby. the yellow clown goby is good but it doesnt even count as a fish lol

 

[rotarymagic]

Originally Posted by nissan577
http:///forum/post/2782591
thats a good one
+1. but i think it will be better like this:
2 firefish, 1 neon goby, 1 rainford goby, and a hector goby. the yellow clown goby is good but it doesnt even count as a fish lol
Then a citron goby instead of the YCG. and I like neons in pairs, way more interesting especially when they host a ricordea or mushroom.

 

[nissan577]

yea true they seem so cute lol. your good with your fish stuff!

 

[rotarymagic]

I've kept LOTS of nanofish...
masked gobies are 1inch fish that school, but don't have much color which kept me from buying them, but interesting nonetheless.

 

[happitylogan]

Originally Posted by Rotarymagic
http:///forum/post/2782556
+1 4 firefish is pushing it, pass on the gramma though, they'e overrated and I wouldn't keep one in a 10gallon, they'll display at the firefish which will stress them.
2 firefish, 2 neon gobies, 1 rainfords goby, 1 hectors goby, and a yellow clown goby and you'll be set with some fish that look good and don't produce much waste.
I dont understand? thats too many fish for a ten gallon, or at least thats what people are telling me.

 

[rotarymagic]

Originally Posted by happityLogan
http:///forum/post/2782715
I dont understand? thats too many fish for a ten gallon, or at least thats what people are telling me.
nah...there's people out there that keep 2 fish (i.e. only a golden puffer and a niger trigger)in a 240gallon tank.
Like I said you can keep alot more than you'd think depending on your selection. I'm not saying at them all at once, you'll just have to feel it out. I fish I mentioned are REALLY small. If you're gun shy just stock like this:
a pair of firefish, a pair of neon gobies, a rainford's goby, and a yellow clown goby. The focus will be the firefish since they're the biggest fish of that group, but the other smaller colorful fill will compliment them well. Just watch the bioload and if you get ammonia after a week, its overstocked. LOL... You'll be fine.
On paper my OLD 20long was overstocked, but if you saw it you wouldn't have though so.
I had 2 ocellaris, a hifin red banded goby, a yashia goby (that shared a burrow with the hifin and the tiger pistol shirmp), shrimp, 4 neon gobies (2pairs, each stayed on opposite ends of the tank), a rainford's goby, a citron goby. I never had any bioload issues, but I did have a xenia&chaeto refugium and skimmer. I'd do a 5 gallon change per week, but only because I was replentishing elements to the water for my corals and nitrates and phosphates always tested 0. My tank was not overrun with algae either, but not entirely sterile.

 

[emilaya101]

Originally Posted by happityLogan
http:///forum/post/2782715
I dont understand? thats too many fish for a ten gallon, or at least thats what people are telling me.
I think it makes a huge difference in what you can get if you don't get a clown. That's why everyone says you could only have one other fish in an eight. Cause you want a clown.

 

[emilaya101]

Originally Posted by Rotarymagic
http:///forum/post/2782639
I've kept LOTS of nanofish...
masked gobies are 1inch fish that school, but don't have much color which kept me from buying them, but interesting nonetheless.
Hey ! you're from austin ! Nice to meet another in texas

Lemme know if you ever wanna sell trade, or buy

 

[snakeblitz33]

I think that 3-4 firefish is going to be a bit much for a 10gallon. You should limit to a max of two.
The canister filter is ok - You just have to clean it often or else it will become a nitrate factory.
Even though most will not agree - I still think canister filters have a place in saltwater. Just not for most applications with people who are not diligent on maintenance.

 

[worrballer]

Sweet guys thanks for the comments I'll start looking for a HOB. I guess I'll wait on the firefish school when I upgrade some time in the future.
That does sound like a lot of fish and I want minimal maintenance so maybe:
2 x firefish
2 x neons
1 x Hector's (this is the first time I've researched that fish it sounds pretty interesting)
What type of shrimp would be good for this group?

 

[rotarymagic]

Originally Posted by WorrBaller
http:///forum/post/2783587
Sweet guys thanks for the comments I'll start looking for a HOB. I guess I'll wait on the firefish school when I upgrade some time in the future.
That does sound like a lot of fish and I want minimal maintenance so maybe:
2 x firefish
2 x neons
1 x Hector's (this is the first time I've researched that fish it sounds pretty interesting)
What type of shrimp would be good for this group?
hector's goby and rainfordi are "basically" the same goby, but different color scheme. The firefish are going to be the biggest factor in your bioload since they're the biggest fish and don't really eat pods and sift the sand like the other fish do.
an 8 or 10gallon is kinda small to add a shrimp...

 

[fenrir]

If you are new to the hobby, more than 2 fish in that small of a tank regardless of what species is flirting with disaster. Try picking a mid level fish that swims around alot and a bottom dwelling fish of some kind like a goby. Adding shrimp would be a great idea since they do not produce waste like fish do. I have two pistol shrimps in my 5 gallon.

When you become experiecned you may be able to put three fish in there but I never would. Something dies or you over feed or push a water change to far and you could have a huge problem.

 

[rotarymagic]

Originally Posted by Fenrir
http:///forum/post/2783967
If you are new to the hobby, more than 2 fish in that small of a tank regardless of what species is flirting with disaster. Try picking a mid level fish that swims around alot and a bottom dwelling fish of some kind like a goby. Adding shrimp would be a great idea since they do not produce waste like fish do. I have two pistol shrimps in my 5 gallon.

When you become experiecned you may be able to put three fish in there but I never would. Something dies or you over feed or push a water change to far and you could have a huge problem.
true nanofish really do not noticeably affect the bioload. Are your pistol shrimps mated? if not, do you hear constant "gunfighting"?
I've pulled off some "crazy" stuff I guess, but I never had any issues and I'm not the most disciplined about strict water change routines either. Some people are too cautious about nanos and fail to truly enjoy them.

 

[fenrir]

Yes they are a mated pair and there actualy in the tom 3 gallon not a 5 gallon. I just don't think it is a good idea to put new hobbyist thinking they can stock there tank that much. Just because a certain few got lucky doing so doesn't mean it is the right thing to do.