went to create a 10 gallon salt water tank plz help
- Thread starter rcdude1990
- Start date
rcdude1990
Active Member
also the second post somone recommended to get a slumpt filter or something like that can someone give me a picture of that abd a pic of a small canister filter
thanks
thanks
jam1e
Active Member
hey rcdude .. do you see that big blue bar on the top of the page to the left ... the one with all the links on it .. if you do .. and if you click the link that says "inverts" you'll notice that the first bunch of things say anemones if you look at all those it can give you more information .. along with a bunch of pictures
rcdude1990
Active Member
srry for asking a lot fo questions but i got a few more
are live rock expensive i noticed that it was like 60 dollars for 10 lbs of live rock
also how to i keep live sand alive?
if i buy a coral or a live rock how would i put it in the tank? like do i jus throw it in there or do i have to bury it into the sand?
also do most fish eat flake food?
can i use my tetra min tropical fish flakes for the salt water fish?
are live rock expensive i noticed that it was like 60 dollars for 10 lbs of live rock
also how to i keep live sand alive?
if i buy a coral or a live rock how would i put it in the tank? like do i jus throw it in there or do i have to bury it into the sand?
also do most fish eat flake food?
can i use my tetra min tropical fish flakes for the salt water fish?
coderad
Member
This is a Sump it is pretty much anothjer tank you put under you display but in stead of fish you put media in just like a filter. It is more work you have to plumb it into you tank drill or get an overflow box. and you will have to get a pump to suck the water from the tank to the sump.
A canister filter is just the HOB filter inclosed, with a intake and return line back to the tank. Just do a serch for canister filter. I used a fluval canister when I started.
A canister filter is just the HOB filter inclosed, with a intake and return line back to the tank. Just do a serch for canister filter. I used a fluval canister when I started.
rcdude1990
Active Member
now u c code that thing is huge lol
and it probably cost a lot of money but i dont really want that since im not goin to b able to fit it anywere
can i use like a basic pump?
i have this one from petland discounts for my freshwater tank
http://www.petlanddiscounts.com/deta...duct_id=263800
im looking for one jus like this because remember that i have a 10 gallon tank
and it probably cost a lot of money but i dont really want that since im not goin to b able to fit it anywere
can i use like a basic pump?
i have this one from petland discounts for my freshwater tank
http://www.petlanddiscounts.com/deta...duct_id=263800
im looking for one jus like this because remember that i have a 10 gallon tank
jam1e
Active Member
you don't need to keep live sand alive .. it lives on its own .. you can't feed the fish that food .. and no you have to go through an extremely long procedure to put the corals in .. if you back to the big blue bar on the top of the page and click on the link "Acclimation" it explains it to you in detail .. and yes .. live rock is very expensive ..I buy mine for five fifty a pound .. and don't feel bad for asking .. keep asking!
jam1e
Active Member
Originally Posted by rcdude1990
now u c code that thing is huge lol
and it probably cost a lot of money but i dont really want that since im not goin to b able to fit it anywere
can i use like a basic pump?
i have this one from petland discounts for my freshwater tank
http://www.petlanddiscounts.com/deta...duct_id=263800
im looking for one jus like this because remember that i have a 10 gallon tank
that pump would work just fine
now u c code that thing is huge lol
and it probably cost a lot of money but i dont really want that since im not goin to b able to fit it anywere
can i use like a basic pump?
i have this one from petland discounts for my freshwater tank
http://www.petlanddiscounts.com/deta...duct_id=263800
im looking for one jus like this because remember that i have a 10 gallon tank
that pump would work just fine
rcdude1990
Active Member
thanks Jamie knowing that the filter will be good enough so i dont need to get a new one right?
also that acclimation thing is kinda confusing
i read it twice
but i think they r using a 50 gallon tank to explain wat to do
the way i look at it is like if i do this there will be no water in tank at all
also do i put the water thats inside the buckets back into the tank??
also that acclimation thing is kinda confusing
i read it twice
but i think they r using a 50 gallon tank to explain wat to do
the way i look at it is like if i do this there will be no water in tank at all
also do i put the water thats inside the buckets back into the tank??
rcdude1990
Active Member
o really Jamie?
it doesnt affect the fish?
also since im staring one i should first put the saltwater into the tank right
then test it until the numbers are at 0 right?
then ill get live rock and do this procedure and put them in
then i can start gettin fish?
it doesnt affect the fish?
also since im staring one i should first put the saltwater into the tank right
then test it until the numbers are at 0 right?
then ill get live rock and do this procedure and put them in
then i can start gettin fish?
jam1e
Active Member
no you need to let the tank cycle first .. what the cycle is:
it takes 2-4 weeks and in that time your tank will turn extremely brown and green and it will be so discusting that you'll think something is wrong .. but nothing is! everything is completely normal .. then all the sudden .. as quickly as it came .. everything will clear up .. and when it gets clear again .. it will be time to add fish .. but during/before the cycle you need to add some live rock and 1 "damself fish" ... what I mean by "damselfish" is a fish that you don't want in your tank once it's established because you'll need to take it out once the cycle is over .. just get a cheap fish and put it in your tank and that'll start the cycle . don't forget to feed it .. the fish's poop is part of the thing that starts the cycle ... any more questions?
it takes 2-4 weeks and in that time your tank will turn extremely brown and green and it will be so discusting that you'll think something is wrong .. but nothing is! everything is completely normal .. then all the sudden .. as quickly as it came .. everything will clear up .. and when it gets clear again .. it will be time to add fish .. but during/before the cycle you need to add some live rock and 1 "damself fish" ... what I mean by "damselfish" is a fish that you don't want in your tank once it's established because you'll need to take it out once the cycle is over .. just get a cheap fish and put it in your tank and that'll start the cycle . don't forget to feed it .. the fish's poop is part of the thing that starts the cycle ... any more questions?
rcdude1990
Active Member
yea ok since i know all the stuff i need can u tell me like step by step wat to do?
lets say i have a completly empty tank meaning jus the heater is in and the filter is in
can u tell me step by step wat to do now? thanks a lot Jamie you and a lot of other ppl have been a huge help
P.S wat kind of test kits should i get
thanks again
lets say i have a completly empty tank meaning jus the heater is in and the filter is in
can u tell me step by step wat to do now? thanks a lot Jamie you and a lot of other ppl have been a huge help
P.S wat kind of test kits should i get
thanks again
jam1e
Active Member
ok .. before you have any water in you need to get those good lights .. I would get about 200 watts total .. and that'll be in a couple of bulbs .. then you need to put the water and the sand in .. and then the salt mix .. then wait about a day to add the damselfish to start your cycle ... then once the cycle is over .. you can add fish .. I probably missed a step though .. tell me if you're confused about something
rcdude1990
Active Member
ok .. before you have any water in you need to get those good lights .. I would get about 200 watts total .. and that'll be in a couple of bulbs .. then you need to put the water and the sand in .. and then the salt mix .. then wait about a day to add the damselfish to start your cycle ... then once the cycle is over .. you can add fish .. I probably missed a step though .. tell me if you're confused about something"
ok so i gotta get 200 watt bulbs any spacific ones? and wat do u mean by thatll be in a couple of bulbs?
do i put the sand in b4 or after the water? and im only putting regular water right? then i put the salt mix right? wen i do this should i get like a spoon and stir it? or jus leave it alone?
now after i do this i should wait a day and get a cheap fish? but u said b4 something about the water turning green and stuff?
does it need to b a damsel fish? can it be any kind as long as its cheap? also y do i need to remove this fish after the cycle is done?
ok so i gotta get 200 watt bulbs any spacific ones? and wat do u mean by thatll be in a couple of bulbs?
do i put the sand in b4 or after the water? and im only putting regular water right? then i put the salt mix right? wen i do this should i get like a spoon and stir it? or jus leave it alone?
now after i do this i should wait a day and get a cheap fish? but u said b4 something about the water turning green and stuff?
does it need to b a damsel fish? can it be any kind as long as its cheap? also y do i need to remove this fish after the cycle is done?
jam1e
Active Member
ok ... what I meant by it'll be in different bulbs is that you might have 2 different bulbs ..each at 100W totaling 200W and the only reason you would want so much light is if you want get an anemone ( the things clownfish live in)
Ok ... correct .. you put in regular water then add the saltmix and I would put the water in first then the sand just so it settles easier .. and if you don't have a powerhead (which I don't think you will since you haven't meantioned one so far) you'll need to stir it a little ...
and what I said before about the water turning green you might want to read again .. I said that it takes 2-4 weeks for that to happen .. but you want to add the damselfish a day or two after you get the tank set up so that the cycle starts
and I would put a damselfish in only becuase they are so hardy .. it hard to kill a damselfish and they will be able to survive the cycle where as more delicate fish like an angelfish wouldn't ... and the reason I said that you should remove it is becuase damselfish are extremely territorial and will try to kill any other fish that you put in the tank
Ok ... correct .. you put in regular water then add the saltmix and I would put the water in first then the sand just so it settles easier .. and if you don't have a powerhead (which I don't think you will since you haven't meantioned one so far) you'll need to stir it a little ...
and what I said before about the water turning green you might want to read again .. I said that it takes 2-4 weeks for that to happen .. but you want to add the damselfish a day or two after you get the tank set up so that the cycle starts
and I would put a damselfish in only becuase they are so hardy .. it hard to kill a damselfish and they will be able to survive the cycle where as more delicate fish like an angelfish wouldn't ... and the reason I said that you should remove it is becuase damselfish are extremely territorial and will try to kill any other fish that you put in the tank
rcdude1990
Active Member
ok Jamie thank u very much uve been a huge help for me jus to more questions
if i dont get an anomene wat kind of lighting should i get? and will a 200 watt bulb be good for fish, live rocks, and other inverts and corals?
and during the cycle should i have the lights on? if so for how long like per day
and one more question
can u tell me wat fish r like friendly to others and which r aggressive
from wat u said i can tell a damsel is aggressive correct or not?
thanks again
Edited
also since i have the bubble wall should i leave it at the bottom and then add the sand?
and during the cycle should i have the bubbles on?
if i dont get an anomene wat kind of lighting should i get? and will a 200 watt bulb be good for fish, live rocks, and other inverts and corals?
and during the cycle should i have the lights on? if so for how long like per day
and one more question
can u tell me wat fish r like friendly to others and which r aggressive
from wat u said i can tell a damsel is aggressive correct or not?
thanks again
Edited
also since i have the bubble wall should i leave it at the bottom and then add the sand?
and during the cycle should i have the bubbles on?
coderad
Member
I would definatle mix water before adding to the tank. And then add sand then once sand is settled add rock. You don't need to get lights before cycle. You don't even have to turn them on until after the cycle it just causes unwanted alge. As for the damsel I would not add ANY fish till the cycle is complete. You could add a raw shrimp to help speed up cycle.
For lights I would go for VHO (very high output Flouresents) 1 Antinics and 1 10k-14k or Metal halides 1 75 watt with 1 VHO Antinics. The MH will give you a wider range of coral but the VHO are cheaper to run and are good enough for some corals.
For lights I would go for VHO (very high output Flouresents) 1 Antinics and 1 10k-14k or Metal halides 1 75 watt with 1 VHO Antinics. The MH will give you a wider range of coral but the VHO are cheaper to run and are good enough for some corals.