You want to make a 10G a salt water tank?!
Not gonna work
Just out of curiousity, why not?
As has been said since, too small- for a first time salt water tank DEFINITELY.
It's to do with oxygen in the water I believe- trying to remember what the book said- the oxygen levels in salt water being less than in fresh water for a start. You couldn't keep many fish. Here's a paragraph that shows that;
-----Aquarium size and stocking.
a. Surface area of tank. Fresh oxygen can reach the fish only through the surface area of the aquarium.
The larger the surface area, the larger the surface for oxygen to enter the water.
b. Type of fish.
Coldwater freshwater ornamentals and coldwater marine ornamentals require more
oxygen than freshwater tropicals, with marine tropicals needing the most.
c. Rule of thumb: Calculate the surface area of an aquarium then divide by the following factors to
determine how many inches of fish the tank will hold: freshwater tropical = 12 square inches; freshwater
coldwater = 30 square inches; marine tropicals = 48 square inches. Example: A tank 48 inches long by
18 inches wide has a surface area of 864 square inches. If we want to keep freshwater tropicals in this
tank, divide 864 square inches by 12 square inches. Approximately 72 inches of fish can be kept in the
aquarium. -http
/aquanic.org/publicat/govagen/ncae/bornatro.pdf
Regards size. Here is just one example of the kind of advice available on the web...
"
You should be encouraged to purchase the largest system possible/practical. The bigger the tank, the easier it is to maintain, the more stable an environment it will provide, and the more flexible it will be for stocking and decorating. Remember that small displacement engine motorcycle, and hard-drive on your first PC? The bigger, the better. For saltwater systems you need forty gallons minimum for ensuring stability and adequate "cruising" space"-http
/www.wetwebmedia.com/marineSetUp.htm
Not sure of his definition of minimum tank space, but the bigger the better still stands, particularly for a first time around marine tank.
I doubt this person would stick to the correct stocking levels to be honest.
Until someone has shown themselves to be capable of maintaining freshwater tropicals and coldwater fish in the best possible conditions for their health and wellbeing, I would fight shy of them taking on a project as complex as a miniature marine tank.
Incidentally- there is a world of difference between fish SURVIVING and THRIVING.
Responsible fish keepers want to see the LATTER. They are interested in providing their fish the best for the specific species. I haven't seen this posters other posts, but based on this one the only concern is what they fancy at the time and hang whether it's best for the fish.
) not marine minded you see 
