starting a 10g saltwater

rwlee17

New Member
Ok I am planning to start a 10g saltwater. I have a 25g HOB filter with built in UV sterilizer, I know that's probably not necessary but it was cheap and worth it imo. I've never started one only worked with pre-established tanks. I plan on buying a full test kit, refractometer, live rock, and live sand. What I'm really looking for is what would be the best procedure to get started, I'd like to have an anemone/clown but not sure what else I should put in, coral? A shrimp? A snail or hermit? A damsel or two maybe? Any suggestions and what lighting would you recommend for a 10g if I do use coral? Thanks in advance!
 

geridoc

Well-Known Member
You may already know this, but a tank is the most difficult tank to run in the entire hobby (except for, perhaps, a 5 gallon system). Such small systems are inherently unstable, and when there is a problem, it becomes a major problem quickly, so you will need to stay on top of the tank's conditions continuously. To get started, fill the tank with freshly made salt water (RODI-based, please), set up your sand and rock, and then place a cocktail shrimp into a nylon stocking and add it to the tank. When the ammonium levels reach 1.0 remove the remnants of the shrimp and continue to follow conditions as the nitrites rise, then fall, and the nitrates then rise. At this point you can do a water change (or a series of changes) to bring the nitrate levels down. At this point you can add one fish. I would counsel against a damsel - they become very aggressive and may even attack you. Worse yet, they are generally impossible to remove, so you will be stuck. You could add a clown at this point, then wait about a year before adding an anemone. The anemone needs consistently high quality water conditions, a situation you won't achieve until the tank matures. While you are waiting you could add some clean-up inverts, including snails, hermits, etc. Remember - for the anemone you are going to need intense lighting, T5, halide or LED, a skimmer and/or a refugium with macroalgae in it.
 

geridoc

Well-Known Member
Sorry - the first sentence above should read: You may already know this, but a 10 gallon tank is the most difficult tank to run in the entire hobby (except for, perhaps, a 5 gallon system).
 

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rwlee17 http:///t/397177/starting-a-10g-saltwater#post_3539211
Ok I am planning to start a 10g saltwater. I have a 25g HOB filter with built in UV sterilizer, I know that's probably not necessary but it was cheap and worth it imo. I've never started one only worked with pre-established tanks. I plan on buying a full test kit, refractometer, live rock, and live sand. What I'm really looking for is what would be the best procedure to get started, I'd like to have an anemone/clown but not sure what else I should put in, coral? A shrimp? A snail or hermit? A damsel or two maybe? Any suggestions and what lighting would you recommend for a 10g if I do use coral? Thanks in advance!


Hi,

Welcome to the site,

As GeriDoc already pretty much pointed out...a 10g tank is expert only.

That being said...a damsel, nor clowns can live on a 10g. They all need at least 20g to 30g tanks. just because a fish is "small" does not mean it can go into a small tank, a mature clown is 3 inches and damsels will reach 4 inches, they are not that small. You have to think nano small, like yellow clown goby, or
neon goby small.... and then only one fish or a couple of pipefish maybe, a couple of snails, and one shrimp...the tank is maxed out on stocking it at that point.

Anemones need not only pristine water conditions, that are very, very stable... but they also need the strongest lighting...metal halide or mega powered LED strength lighting. A mature tank is one that is over 1 year old.

Coral: The type of coral you select will determine your lighting needs. From non-photosynthetic (no light needed) to mushrooms (low light) to Kenya tree (medium light) to SPS or LPS , such as Fox coral which needs strong lighting. Frags make perfect corals for a nano reef, when they outgrow the tank...frag them and sell or give away the extra coral.

Equipment: You need a power head, or air line tube (no stone), the filter is not enough to move the water...the current is the life of the ocean and your SW tank.
 

rwlee17

New Member
Ty guys I appreciate the suggestions I am doing a whole bunch more research before I start I'm not rushing this I know how difficult a 10g is going to be. May even push it off for awhile before I feel I know enough I've run larger tanks but as I've said never started one myself and that was a few years ago, I feel things have changed quite a bit lol
 

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rwlee17 http:///t/397177/starting-a-10g-saltwater#post_3539250
Ty guys I appreciate the suggestions I am doing a whole bunch more research before I start I'm not rushing this I know how difficult a 10g is going to be. May even push it off for awhile before I feel I know enough I've run larger tanks but as I've said never started one myself and that was a few years ago, I feel things have changed quite a bit lol


Look up the 101 tips at the top of the new Hobbyists section for info on getting started. You just need some basics on cycling the tank, kick start it with a chunk of raw shrimp, ghost feed an invisible fish or use pure ammonia...please don't use a live fish.
 

tomeggs

New Member
Go to ur lfs that breeds clowns they get runts that are about a quarter the size of there brothers and sisters so you can have them Ina ten gal that's what I did I currently have a single black osliaris and he hasent grown a centimeter in 2 months
 
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