What it takes for a 10g??

liverock27

liverock27

Member
I have always wanted to a nano tank(i have a 30g reef and a 75g fish only) and I was wondering with some of my equipment I have if I could setup a 10gallon tank that could support most coral. Here is my list of equipment I already have
-whisper filter
-96w powerquad lighting by coralife
-heater
-Hagen 301 powerhead(too big?? says up to 30g)
The sand and live rock I can get very easily and was wondering how much i needed of each...I have always gone with 1.5lbs of rock per gallon, but is that ok with a smaller tank?? Any information that could be provided would help out. I am looking to make a nice small reef tank and understand that more care is needed with the small tank, I have learner the hard way at first with my 30g. Thanks in advance for all the information yall could provide. This site has helped me out alot with my two other tanks and i am hoping that yall can help out once more(well atleast until i move into my new house and start up my 120g tank that I have been researching).
 
bigarn

bigarn

Active Member
I have about 16lbs of LR and about a 1.5" sandbed in mine.
I really enjoy 10 gallons.....All your equipment is fine.
Enjoy! :D
 
liverock27

liverock27

Member
Thanks, I went out after I read your reply and got a glass top for the 10g, not sure if i am going to use it because I have legs for the corlife, and enough LS for a little over 2" bottom, but the lfs did not have any LR, but should have some the beginning of the week. I was thinking around 15-16lbs also. Thanks for the help....any suggestions on what to put in it. I was thinking of a tomato clown.
 
bigarn

bigarn

Active Member
I have 2 Percs, red and blue hermits (I'd just get red, much better temperment ) a peppermint shrimp and sand sifting and glass cleaning snails. I also have 4 different soft corals...all doing great! :D
 
mjsdas

mjsdas

Member
i have a very similar setup on my 10 gal, the wisper 10, a 50watt heater, a 96 watt coralife, but i have a minijet 606. I have 13lbs of live rock in it, 15-16 is a good range like you said. and i have a 1.5 inch sand bed in it. I'd also suggest getting a surface skimmer and attach it to the intake of the wisper filter. It gets rid of the crap that forms a layer on the top, which helps with better oxygen exchange and more light penetration. I do a 1 gallon a week water change, which is like 15% since there is only really about 7 gallons of actual water in the tank.
i have a ton of zoanthids, other misc soft corals, LPS, and SPS(montipora species), and even a clam(crocea) and they all do very well in it. In addition to the corals i also have a yellowstriped maroon clownfish and a blue corals banded shrimp. I also have 2 baja red but they get kinda annoying since they are always walking over everthing and causing the polyps to close. Hope this helps
 
liverock27

liverock27

Member
Thanks my 10g is cycling right now and when I am trying to find a sufcase skimmer, know of any places to get one for cheap? I also just baught a 55g, stand and canopy, 150 seaclone, and a 402 fluval filter from my girlfriends friend for $100 tonight and I am thinking about setting it up at my parents. The light system has 2 MHO and 2 3/4w lunar lamps. What do yall think about the setup?
 
cliffrouse11bas

cliffrouse11bas

Active Member
You can get an aquaclear filter and a surface skimmer attatchment for not much money. A aquaclear 200 will cost like 15 bucks and a skimmer is like 9 bucks plus shipping...
 
liverock27

liverock27

Member
Thanks yall I found the powerhead, filter, and surface skimmer for just a few bucks online and I am planning on ordering them when I get paid next. Thanks for the input on the powerhead, it is alot smaller than my powerhead I currently have running in my 10g. What sand do yall use in your aquariums is my other question?
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator
A mix of Southdown & Premium sand from this site.
I also swap sand with fellow hobbiests when I do regular trades.
 
liverock27

liverock27

Member
Well since my last post on this thread I have completley changed the setup and just started cycling the tank. With the help(lots and lots of help) I setup a 20gL sump/refug with a mag1.9 returning the water from the sump to the tank at about 12x per hour. I am thinking about adding a powerhead in the refug because it only turns over maybe 1 or 2x an hour. Also would anyone recommend a powerhead in the main tank. Thanks yall for any and all info
 
liverock27

liverock27

Member
Oh yeah, I have 20lbs LS and 16lbs LR in the 10g and about a 2in bed of LS and about 5-6lbs or LR/Baserock in my refug and I am planning on adding Caulerpa and Chaetomorpha to the refug
 
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