New To Saltwater
- Thread starter corey177
- Start date
norcal
Member
i would suggest live sand and live rock. this will cost you a bit more, but it will take care of alot of the filtration in the tank (plus it looks very pretty and will not be super expensive in such a small tank). if you only want damsels in the tank, almost any lighting will work, but im not super knowledgeable about lighting so i will let someone else get that part. i have a thermal plastic heater in my tank and it is working perfectly. plus i dont have to worry about it shattering in the tank 
as for a filter, damsels are very hardy so you wont need a fancy filter. especially if you get the live sand and rock, that will take care of a lot. good luck and i wish i could tell you more but i dont have a ton of experience so i wouldnt want you lead you the wrong way. oh yeah by the way i just got a blue damsel for my 75 gal fish only and i love it so much. they are very pretty and mine is not aggresive at all to any of its other tank mates. last piece of advice is to read a lot of stuff on all the aspects of saltwater aquariums like this guy is
(you dont have to drink coffee while reading though) reading will give you tons of knowledge and can really save you from some problems that WILL occur if you dont know exactly what you are doing.
as for a filter, damsels are very hardy so you wont need a fancy filter. especially if you get the live sand and rock, that will take care of a lot. good luck and i wish i could tell you more but i dont have a ton of experience so i wouldnt want you lead you the wrong way. oh yeah by the way i just got a blue damsel for my 75 gal fish only and i love it so much. they are very pretty and mine is not aggresive at all to any of its other tank mates. last piece of advice is to read a lot of stuff on all the aspects of saltwater aquariums like this guy is
oremus20
New Member
Corey,
I have a 20g reef setup. If all you are planning on doing is fish, I agree that you should go with the live sand and a back filter along with often watch changes. Live rock will not survive without enough wattage ( 3w per gal. ) However, if you plan on spending the money on a light, go with the live rock/ soft corals as well. All I have on my tank for filtration is a back filter with a bio wheel and a powerhead. I am going to be switching my tank over to the berlin system ( live rock and a skimmer ) here soon. So if your doing fish only, you need nothing fancy. Just a back filter and often water changes. However, if you choose to do a mini reef I would add a better filter or go with the berlin system. Just rember dont belive everything you hear at your local fish store. There going to try and sell you everything you dont really need. Just rember in a tank that small the key is frequent water changes.
I have a 20g reef setup. If all you are planning on doing is fish, I agree that you should go with the live sand and a back filter along with often watch changes. Live rock will not survive without enough wattage ( 3w per gal. ) However, if you plan on spending the money on a light, go with the live rock/ soft corals as well. All I have on my tank for filtration is a back filter with a bio wheel and a powerhead. I am going to be switching my tank over to the berlin system ( live rock and a skimmer ) here soon. So if your doing fish only, you need nothing fancy. Just a back filter and often water changes. However, if you choose to do a mini reef I would add a better filter or go with the berlin system. Just rember dont belive everything you hear at your local fish store. There going to try and sell you everything you dont really need. Just rember in a tank that small the key is frequent water changes.
evilbob22
Member
The big problem is that salt water fish need more room than fresh water fish. The rule of thumb is 5 Gallons per inch of fish, and all damsels that I've heard of grow more than 2". You may want to take a look in the "Nano" message boards, tanks are usually considered nano if they are under 40 or 50 gallons. They might be able to give you better suggestions there.
By the way, I disagree with live rock needing extra light. I had live rock do quite well in a 55 with normal output florescents. Although, it does depend on what is living in the rock... (I also added calcium and iodine to help the coraline algae grow).
By the way, I disagree with live rock needing extra light. I had live rock do quite well in a 55 with normal output florescents. Although, it does depend on what is living in the rock... (I also added calcium and iodine to help the coraline algae grow).
shiby1510
Member
all i could add is... when norcal was talking about a heater i would go with a titanium... i love mine that i just got and the best part is.. there is no... well it shouldn't crack.. it won't! and make sure you get a heater that can be fully submersible... and get enough watts for your tank... therefore the heater will not constantly be on.. in other words don't go cheap on this part where a lot of people tend to do.... Just my little tid bit...
and welcome!!
and welcome!!
norcal
Member
Originally Posted by shiby1510
all i could add is... when norcal was talking about a heater i would go with a titanium... i love mine that i just got and the best part is.. there is no... well it shouldn't crack.. it won't! and make sure you get a heater that can be fully submersible... and get enough watts for your tank... therefore the heater will not constantly be on.. in other words don't go cheap on this part where a lot of people tend to do.... Just my little tid bit...
and welcome!!
how much does a titanium heater cost?? i keep hearin about them, and everyone seems to like them a lot. like i said, im no expert, but i know my plastic one always keeps the temp within less than 1 degree of where it is set. my guess is that it is a lot cheaper too.
all i could add is... when norcal was talking about a heater i would go with a titanium... i love mine that i just got and the best part is.. there is no... well it shouldn't crack.. it won't! and make sure you get a heater that can be fully submersible... and get enough watts for your tank... therefore the heater will not constantly be on.. in other words don't go cheap on this part where a lot of people tend to do.... Just my little tid bit...
and welcome!!
how much does a titanium heater cost?? i keep hearin about them, and everyone seems to like them a lot. like i said, im no expert, but i know my plastic one always keeps the temp within less than 1 degree of where it is set. my guess is that it is a lot cheaper too.
saltyfishy
Member
Originally Posted by Snipe
damsles need a 30+ gallon tank they wouldnt work in a 10 gallon.
I had a damsel in a 10 gallon for about a year. When I moved and had to setup my tank and recycle it.
damsles need a 30+ gallon tank they wouldnt work in a 10 gallon.
I had a damsel in a 10 gallon for about a year. When I moved and had to setup my tank and recycle it.
saltyfishy
Member
But it was only a small blue damsel
tthemadd1
Active Member
I have had them for years and they havent gotten any bigger. It has actually been 2 years now, how long does it take to reach maturity? I was sure they were adults but maybe not? Even then I really dont like them and my LFS doesnt want them either.... Anybody can come pick them up if they want... I am just keeping them healthy cause I cant see flushing them down the drain. :jumping: :jumping: :jumping: :jumping: :jumping: