Small Nano Tank - First Timer - Where to Start?

[redwarrior]

Let me start by saying, I'm a complete newbie to tanks of any sort and particularly saltwater, but I've always loved them. I haven't even bought a tank yet, but I'd like to start doing some research in preparation for one and I'm not sure where to begin. Here's what I have in mind:
I'd like to get a 14 gallon nano tank for work and I'd like to keep it mainly for invertebrates. I don't know if I'll ever even put a fish it in, but I'd love to have a nice shrimp, some crabs, and snails. There seems to be such a variety of invertebrates and they're generally what captures my attention when I look at a tank. I don't know if I'll get to the point where I could handle the care and control corral or anemonies take, but I'd definitely like to have a good base of live sand with some live rock to help my tank along.
That being said, I do plan on moving in 2-3 years, so I'm wondering, how does that work with a tank? I don't want to invest a ton if I'll have to give my animals away when I move and start over. I could take it with me in the car if I could battery power everything and the drive to where I plan to move would be about 2 days.
So, where should I start? I plan on starting first with reading what I can, but there's so much out there it's hard to sift through. I probably won't even think about buying the tank for several months until I've got a better idea what I'm doing. Any ideas?
Many thanks!

 

[debbie]

First of all welcome to the most helpful forum on the internet....

You are doing things the right way by reading and getting all info first.....

I myself have a 10 gal nano, they are alot of fun but you do have limits on what you can keep. First of all from my experience a nano of 10 or 14 gal is no place for an anemone. I have one and although it is "thriving" it would really do alot better in a bigger tank. I am just waiting for it to start moving from its rock and then out it goes to a friends tank. Also anemones should not be added to any tank until that tank is at least 6 months old.
Will you be traveling on the road for 2 days when you move ??
My tank is nothing fancy but i do have some very lovley things growing in it. All i have is a hang on the back filter (Aqua Clear), heater, live sand, 12 lbs live rock and many assorted mushrooms, toadstool leather, red open brain, green button polyps, green star polyps. All of my rock is completely covered by these things. My fish are: yellow watchman goby, red firefish goby, green chromis, 2 large blue leg hermit crabs, 2 snails. My lights are just PC (power compact) lighting nothing special but do an amazing job to well of a job for the things I like to keep in my tank.
Ask many questions, there is also a Nano section here on the forum make sure you read it as many folks there have 14 gal tanks and you can see what they keep and ask questions there too.
Good luck and welcome

 

[macs2015]

you should start by getting a tank. then get a good filter system for it. if its between 10 and 16G then you can purchase a marineland penguin bio filter. they go for like 35 bucks and they can "support" up to 30 gallon. (always get a filter that can support a lot more than what you have) then get decent lightning since corals and anemones require lots of light. (btw, with that size, stick to very very small anemones)
the rest of materials you need to get would be:
salt (duh)
hydrometer
a bottle of cycle or stresszyme
thermometer
aquarium test kit (to test for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, ph, etc)
when you're ready to set up, mix all water and salt and get to the right salinity 1.024 - 1.026 is a good range. set up filter and pour a good 8oz of cycle or stresszyme. (this will help stablish the filter and speed the cycle a little faster)
then its imperative that you get live rock and maybe live sand or aragonite for sandbed. afterthat let it cycle and test the water to make sure parameters are good.
ph should be between 8.1 -8.3
ammonia MUST ALWAYS be 0
nitrite MUST be 0
nitrate should be kept under 30 (0 would be best)
temperature 78 - 81 (keep it steady dont let it go daily from 78 to 81 then back down)
that should be good to get you started, keep posting here and i'll try to keep track with you. = )
btw. yes, you should wait until the tank is fully established before getting an anemone in.

 

[michaeltx]

as debbie said there is no anemone that is going to be suitable for a 14 gallon tank they are just to small and the habits of the anemone is to move and wander at times and can kill the rest of the tank on their move.
I wold stay away from cycle and stress zyme though they help but can cause other problems aswell let the LR work for you on the cycle process.
ask lots of questions and read as much as possible.
The smaller the tank doesnt mean the easier it is to take care of unfirtuneatly is complete oposite the smaller the tank the harder it is. since its a closed system anything that gets into the tank the more impact it will have on water quality. evaporation can become a huge issue if its not done on a daily basis.
also sense you say its for your work area if you have a cleaning crew that comes in it might be a problem because anything that gets into the air can get into the tank and cause problems quickly.
Welcome to the board. there is also a nano forum below this one that you might find interesting aswell and get some more answers.
Mike

 

[kaingers]

scratch the hydrometer and invest in a refractometer. They are much more reliable and accurate. Average cost for one is $45, and be sure it has automatic temperature compensation.

 

[redwarrior]

Sounds like an anemonie might be out, but that's ok. I'm really interested in a fire shrimp and some hermit crabs to start with and who knows...maybe some coral down the road?
Yes, when I do move, which will be in 2-3 years, it will be about a 2 day drive. I'm hoping that I could do this with battery-powered equipment and bringing my tank in with me at night. (I'll also be moving with 2 kids, 2 cats, and a dog, so it will be a lot like Noah's ark going down the road!) My main concern is that I'll work so hard getting a tank set up just the way I want, only to have to give away most of my critters because I can't transport them properly and then having to start over after I move.
Luckily, where I currently work, cleaning isn't that big of a deal...I'm lucky if they even vacuum my cube. I'm just thinking I'd rather have a nano tank there than a big one at home because I work that much. I can barely even keep plants at home!
Now, I'm mainly just going to have to compile a reading list and start saving my pennies. I want to make smart investments and start out right so that I can keep this tank for years.

 

[michaeltx]

if you set up a tank and then decide to start over you will have some experience and be able to set a new tank up even better than the last one. you will get ideas as you go and get better and better at it. so it wouldnt be a complete waste of time to go ahead and set one up.
Mike

 

[oceansidefish]

Honestly a bigger tank would be easier (consider a 24g nano). If you are planning on moving in a few years, and are planning on driving you will really need to get rid of the inhabitants. Or if you can find a trusty Fish Store (use caution) you could ask them to hold them for a few days and then ship you livestock to you. It should not be too hard to move a nano. Get some 5g buckets for the sand rock and at least half the water. (I would not worry until you get to that point though). I would look on craigslist in your area for a used nano. You can usually pick one up cheaply there. Also read through the stickys here.