Newbie: Need Advice Please on 10 g

[bjyuh]

Hey Guys!
I’m new to this forum but I’ve been lurking around, and I need some advice. Here’s my scenario. For my birthday my friends got me a
10 gallon AGA
Aqua clear Power Filter 20 (for 5-20 gallon tanks)
50 W heater
I’ve been reading about saltwater fish for about 3 months now and I was going to start off with a 75 gallon tank when I move into a different apartment this summer. But now that I got this tank I really want to try a nano out (even though I read they’re harder to keep up). I only have 5 weeks until I move into my new place, is it even worth it to start the nano now? I just want to test it out and when I get a bigger tank in my new apartment, I will probably turn it into some type of sump or refugium. I personally just want to see what I can do with saltwater fish and if I’m even capable of taking on the responsibility of a small tank, let alone a big one if I do decide to get it. What I want to know is if its worth it to try out this nano tank for a month or two, and if it is easy to make the livestock I invest transfer to a bigger tank? The thing is, cycling can take a month, does a tank recycle of you take out half the water and move the tank to a new location? Because if I start the cycling now, it would be done by the time I move and I could add fish when I get to my new place. If you guys think I should go ahead and do the nano (because I’m not 100% sure if I will even do a large tank or not), what other equipment should I get.
I know I need:
Lighting (PC lights? Can you suggest a model that will attatch onto the tank I got with no top, or something that has legs that can extend. I want to do a reef tank with a couple fish, and lots of different kinds of corals. I wish I could do a deresa clam or something but they need

[hr]
light right? Plus I imagine it would easily outgrow the tank).
Live Rock (planning on getting around 15 pounds)
Live Sand (around 10 pounds)
Power heads (are there any ones that are tiny and will provide enough flow to a 10 gallon, I don’t want those huge obtrusive ones that make the tank look ugly)
Is some type of fuge necessary? Or can my aqua clear power filter 20 be made into a fuge as well.
Is a protein skimmer necessary? I really don’t want to invest in one yet, and if its not necessary than I won’t get it.
Anything else I should get?
Thanks so much!

 

[reefdude37]

Hey, I would wait and set up your 75 gallon becuase The bigger the tank the more easier it is to keep it stable.
If you were to go ahead and set up a 10 gallon,
I would purchase these things:
-coralife 96 watt lighting fixture with adjustable mounting legs
-hydrometer
-Test kit
-IM SURE THEIRS OTHER THINGS BUT I CANT THINK
your HOB(hang on back) filter will do fine, you couldnt make it into a refuge but its not a must.
remeber, BE PATIENT, it takes time, alot and make sure u have fun

 

[reefdude37]

sorry, I mean you CAN make it into a refuge, but you dont half to

 

[fishwilly1]

WAZUP MAN, GO AHEAD AND TRY IT!! I HAVE A 120 GALLON REEF SETUP WITH EVERYTHING IMAGINABLE AND A 30 GALLON FUG' WITH IT, AND I HAVE ALSO SET UP MY 4 YR. OLD DAUGHTER A 10 GALLON TANK TO HAVE HER TWO "NEMO'S" IN SINCE I HAVE A GOLD BANDED CLOWN IN MY 120 THAT LOVES TO KILL NEMO!!! I FOUND IT IS BETTER IN A 10 GALLON TO "OVER" FILTER AND "OVER" WATER CHANGE TO KEEP A REEF NICE, I CHANGE 2 GALLONS OF WATER WEEKLY AND RUN AN AQAUCLEAR 300 ON THE TANK WITH ABOUT 15 LBS. OF LIVE SAND AND ABOUT 20 LBS. OF LIVE ROCK. I HAVE GOOD LUCK WITH TWO REGULAR 10 GALLON STRIP LIGHTS WITH 14 WATT CORALIFE BULBS IN THEM, THEY HAVE A 10K AND A BLUE BULB TO FIT THE REGULAR STRIPS, AND NOW I AM EVEN FRAGGING OUT ZOO'S AND XENIA TO THE TANK THAT ARE LOOKING AWESOME!! YOU CAN SET UP ONE HOW EVER YOU LIKE BUT I HOPE I COULD HELP IN ANYWAY!! IF YOU PLAN ON A BIGGER REEF SOON YOU SHOULD ALSO THINK ABOUT CHECKING AQUATRADERS.COM FOR A REASONABLE PRICED COMPACT IF THAT IS WHAT YOU WANT SO STARTING UP YOUR BIGGER TANK IS NOT SUCH A PRICE JUMP FOR YOU. AND ALWAYS REMEMBER TO TEST YOUR WATER ALOT, IT IS EASIER TO SPIKE OUT 10 GALLONS THAN 100! GOOD LUCK WITH THE TANK.

 

[fishwilly1]

Hey, I would wait and set up your 75 gallon becuase The bigger the tank the more easier it is to keep it stable.
If you were to go ahead and set up a 10 gallon,
I would purchase these things:
-coralife 96 watt lighting fixture with adjustable mounting legs
-hydrometer
-Test kit
-IM SURE THEIRS OTHER THINGS BUT I CANT THINK
your HOB(hang on back) filter will do fine, you couldnt make it into a refuge but its not a must.
remeber, BE PATIENT, it takes time, alot and make sure u have fun

[/QUOTE
THIS GUY GIVES REAL GOOD ADVICE BUT STAY AWAY FROM THE 96 WATT COMPACT!!! UNTIL YOU GET A HANG ON THE HOBBY SMALLER LIGHTS WILL KEEP YOU OK WITH MODERATE COILS BUT A 96 WATT LIGHT 9.6 WATTS PER GALLON WILL NOT LET YOU LEARN AT ALL WITH ALL OF THE ALGAE BLOOMS YOU WILL HAVE.

 

[reefdude37]

I think the 96 watt light is good,I have it on my 10 gallon. You CANT keep SPS or anyting but u CAN keep soft corals and lps.

 

[bigarn]

Originally Posted by ReefDude37
I think the 96 watt light is good,I have it on my 10 gallon. You CANT keep SPS or anyting but u CAN keep soft corals and lps.
I second this advice.

 

[kronnk7]

I have a 10 gallon. My lights are coralife compacts 96watt 4 tube. I filter with a fluval 105 and have a 50 watt titanium heater. To keep the algea under control I have 8 snails,9 hermits, and two sallylightfoots. I feed them once a day to make sure they do eat but they usually pick at the 25-30 lbs of live rock. So the compact light would work well for you man.

 

[arsen_36]

Originally Posted by ReefDude37
sorry, I mean you CAN make it into a refuge, but you dont half to
AWSOME! I have an aquaclear 20 filter too! so could some one give me advice on how to make this filter into a refuge? ***)

 

[arsen_36]

Originally Posted by BjYuH
Power heads (are there any ones that are tiny and will provide enough flow to a 10 gallon, I don’t want those huge obtrusive ones that make the tank look ugly)
go for one or two rio 50 powerheads! i have one in my ten gallon and i think im going to buy another one. they are pretty cheap money wise and nice and small. super quiet too

!

 

[reefdude37]

AWSOME! I have an aquaclear 20 filter too! so could some one give me advice on how to make this filter into a refuge?
+
I would search for "HOB Refuge" I'm sure you will find everything you need

 

[arsen_36]

Originally Posted by ReefDude37
+
I would search for "HOB Refuge" I'm sure you will find everything you need

errr! i couldn't find anything helpful

! can someone show me how to do this with a aquaclear 20? im going to post a new thread on the equipments & diy forum. please help

 

[fishmamma]

I would get some live rock and cycle that in the 10 gallon tank for kicks to get you started until you move. Then you could add livestock to it or jump right into setting up the larger tank. Skip the sand bed until after the move. Loading the rock and water into buckets would make for an easy trip and you could watch all sort of critters in the rock for now to get those SW juices flowing.

:jumping: