Wanting to start a small reef tank

stones

stones

Member
I'm just looking for some help. I already have a fish only saltwater tank. But i'm looking to do a small reef tank with like just 2 percula clowns in it.
I would like to do a 10 gallon tank.
I guess i'll just get it started with crushed coral base with the live bacteria, & 10 lbs. of live rock & some base rock.
Since it's only a 10 gallon tank i will just buy the already made water that comes in the 4.4 gallon jugs so it's pretty much ready to go.
I just need to know what i need as far as lighting?
Any help or tips would be great. What else would i need?
 
mr_x

mr_x

Active Member
no crushed coral. use sugar sized sand. crushed coral will trap detrius. you don't need live bacteria either, for the live rock will bring it's own bacteria to the table.
what will you keep in this 10 gallon? your lighting choice will depend on that. current makes a "satellite" fixture that's 20".
 
stones

stones

Member
Originally Posted by Mr_X
http:///forum/post/2932559
no crushed coral. use sugar sized sand. crushed coral will trap detrius. you don't need live bacteria either, for the live rock will bring it's own bacteria to the table.
what will you keep in this 10 gallon? your lighting choice will depend on that. current makes a "satellite" fixture that's 20".
I really don't know what i would keep in it at this point other then a couple clowns. I've never run a reef tank before so i don't know what any of the corals are called or whatever.
What would be ideal corals for a tank of this size? & probably an anemone for the clowns.
 
coralreefer

coralreefer

Active Member
anemones are hard to keep alive in captive marine tanks. for some beginner coral i would suggest some softies, like mushroom corals or the various species of zoanthids. those corals do not require large amounts of light, so you could probably go with a high output (HO) regular flourescent bulb and a HO actinic flourescent bulb.
hope that helps
 
stones

stones

Member
Originally Posted by coralreefer
http:///forum/post/2932593
anemones are hard to keep alive in captive marine tanks. for some beginner coral i would suggest some softies, like mushroom corals or the various species of zoanthids. those corals do not require large amounts of light, so you could probably go with a high output (HO) regular flourescent bulb and a HO actinic flourescent bulb.
hope that helps

Would this work? I currently have this on my saltwater tank but it really serves no purpose other then lighting since i have no live rock or corals, etc in that tank.
http://www.aquariumpros.com/p-ENE53103,LFps.html
 
stones

stones

Member
Originally Posted by Devil Dog
http:///forum/post/2932654
Is your tank 30" long? Isnt 20" long? If I'm right corallife makes a 20" 96w light that would work for you...

Well it is to long, but i just thought since i had it vs spending $150 on another similar lighting system.
 
devil dog

devil dog

Active Member
Originally Posted by Stones
http:///forum/post/2932678
Well it is to long, but i just thought since i had it vs spending $150 on another similar lighting system.
Well where do you live i have a coralife 20" 96w that i would sell to you for $50.00 i used it for about a month...
 
shrimpi

shrimpi

Active Member
A PC light like the one you posted will support 'softies'... which works out great because they are commonly referred to as beginner corals, but dont let this fool you, they can be very pretty!
No anemone for now, once you learn a bit more, and your tank is 6 months old or so.. we will talk about the anemone. Dont go buy one, please.
+1 no crushed coral.
buy some live rock
heres some softies so you can see what you have to look forward to.




Good Luck and welcome to the hobby!!
Jess
 
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