Spare 10 Gallon

[Alnee]

Hi Everyone...

I am new to the board but have been lurking around for a bit. I have a spare 10 gallon hanging around the house and was thinking that I might try a nano reef. I have always loved the saltwater tanks and figured this might be a way to get my feet wet and then down the road maybe go larger with a "real tank" (I kinda have this nice 75 gallon in my mind!) How practical is it to do a nano reef tank with a normal 10 gallon? Would I do better going with a 20 (high or long)? If I decide to go forward with this can I ask all of those stupid newbie questions that I am sure you guys have heard 100s of times???

I have been doing some reading and reseraching... trying to get an idea of what will work in the tank. I know that I am kinda limited to options but I am up for the challenge. My freshwater tanks have been successful but they do not offer the challenge I am looking for. This would be a whole new "adventure" for me but I do not want to just jump into it. I am kinda feeling out my options and trying to get an idea of where and how is the best way to start. Thankfully, I have been lucky enough to find an oustanding saltwater LFS near me! The gentleman that runs the store said that he would offer as much assistance as possible to me as well. He has had saltwater tanks for years and the display tanks in the store are breath taking and obviously well cared for, etc. The larger tank has been set up for 2+ years. I could just sit for hours watching it.

 

[ox5477]

Well I believe that most people will say not to start with a 10G as this can be very challenging to care for. It might actually be easier to get a slightly larger tank, say a 40G long. This along with a 10G or 20G sump/refugium will give you plenty of water volume to 'make mistakes'. The prob with the small tank is that it is so small. A little swing in ammonia or phosphates can radically swing the tanks condition and over a few hours can end up with a dead and or dying reef.

Obv you see from my sig that I am being bold like yourself and starting a nano reef in a basic 10G. I use a maxi-900 for flow, a 25 watt heater and a hob filter with phosphate remover. Some people will use a skimmer if they have a sump for a small nano like this but water changes will do almost the same job as a skimmer in a small tank like this. If your doing corals as well then I would recommend getting atleast some power compacts. I use a 50/50 28 watt pc and I think it should work quite well for the zoos I'm going to put in there.

Back to the 40 long, if you do think you would like that bigger tank for more room for mistakes choose a tank that is preferably longer than taller. You can have a tall tank but then you will need more powerful light to reach the substrate. plus a long tank gives you more surface area to build your reef to spread things out.

In the end, it all comes to money, as everything in life does.... A 10G may seem to make more sense for a starter as you think it will be cheaper, but most will say that having a tank up to about 75G will be not much different in price from a small nano. This may be hard to think but you will have to do more maintanance for a small tank so those costs end up taking away any less money you spent on equipment. Look at my topic and you will see how much is in there (and there is no livestock/inverts yet except for a hitch-hiking snail) and I have spent roughly $350.00. This is prob cheap as well as I don't pay for my ro/di water (i get it from work ). I expect to add atleast $150.00 to $200.00 to my total with stocking (inverts/coral/maybe some fish). So it quickly ramps up and for something bigger than 90G, you quickly reach 2 or 3K before you know it.

 

[Alnee]

Thanks...

Unfortunately for space at the moment the largest I go do would be a 20 long (or a 29 because it is the same width... although the extra weight that it could possibly have might push it but I could add something more the stabalize the stand probably.) And because of where the tank is going I cant really have a sump. Maybe I will put off the whole saltwater adventure for another 1.5 years or so until I move. I would then possibly have more room for a larger tank. I knew that the "adventure" would be expensive and a challenge to maintain. That part is not what has me questioning doing it. I do know that being new to the whole saltwater tank idea and then on top of that starting with a smaller tank really stacks the odds aganist me.

I will have to research a LOT more... or maybe I will start off brackish even and work my way over. I guess I am just trying to figure out my options. I would ultimately love to get into saltwater. It has always been a dream. I set up my african cichlid tank in an effort to try get myself to leave the idea of saltwater behind! LOL The colors are great, etc but it isnt a saltwater tank! LOL

 

[ox5477]

Ya I know what you mean. Ever since I joined TFF 7 or 8 monthes ago I have been all about learning about saltwater. I read all the posts I could and looked up more info on google if something confused me. it really came down to the fact that I told myself it was a present for a having a good semester for school so I treated myself . I dont know everything and I doubt i will know everything ever, nobody does, but I felt I had a sound base of knowledge that would steer me clear of most basic catastrophees, so I said go for it, its worth it. Slatwater is def the luxury car of fish keeping

 

[dixaisy930]

My first saltwater tank is/was a 29 gallon tank. No sump and no skimmer. It was just a fish tank with live rock and clean up crew (a few weeks ago I purchased my first corals - and now considering a skimmer). Personally, the 29 gallon was a great started tank. It's not so big that maintence is overwhelming, but it's big enough to give you some more stocking options than a 10 gallon. I have a HOT magnum filter, but suitable powerheads and LR would be fine for filtration. Without a skimmer, water change are a must, but it doesn't seem so bad changing 2 or 3 gallons a week.

I would pick a 29 gallon over a 10 gallon as a started since it will be a little more forgiving when it comes to keeping the parameters in check.

 

[Alnee]

Water changes arent a problem... I am used to doing them weekly. I have a 10, 29, and 55 gal FW. The 55 gallon is an overstocked african cichlid tank so 50% weekly water changes are the norm for me. And because I use a buffer on that tank I have to age the water so I am used to lots of 5 gallon buckets with airstones! LOL

The tank would actually be going on my desk and I am not sure that it could handle the extra weight of the 29 but I think it could hold the 20 and know it could hold the 10 since it has before.

What it is coming down to is I need to research more (which I knew and have been doing for a bit) and then once I feel ready I will have to jump in and just start slow taking it one step at a time until I feel comfortable, or at least somewhat, with what I am doing. Maybe I will luck into a nice larger tank for a good deal that I cant pass up (that is how I got my 55 gallon!.. $50 for the tank and solid oak stand) and then I just have to find some place to put it... maybe I just need to marry a guy that doesnt mind fish and will let me have my fish room!

 

[chrissaysyes]

mmm...I love my 55 gallon overstocked african cichlid tank I do 35% changes a week on it...let me just say how happy I am that I decided to set the tank up as close to the window as I did...I wont say my neighbors appreciate me flooding their driveway once a week....but I will say that it saves me a lot of trouble

 

[Alnee]

LOL... lucky you... mine is set up in my 2nd story bedroom... thankfully it connects to a bathroom and the tub isnt too far...

I hate doing the PWCs on the 29 that is on the other side of the house from any faucet and I would hesistate to pour that water out the window since we have such crappy drainage! Let's just say that on days I do water changes I can skip upper body stuff at the gym! LOL

 

[chrissaysyes]

yeah, my fish room / office / thing has a nice little set of stairs between it and the nearest faucet...I have to lug coolers and buckets from the kitchen, down into the fish room...when the weather warms up I can just do it all outside as the fish room has two doors that lead to the front and back yards, both of which have hose faucets. you could always get a large cooler--the kind with the wheels on the back--then fill it about halfway with a ciphon, then roll it to the tub and ciphon into the tub...of course...that's only if you're lazy heh. I kind of enjoy my monday-upper-body workout

 

[Redstratplayer1]

Alnee i never had fresh tanks and my 20gallon salty is still dry but most people agree that salt is easier than fresh.

I say if you can go with a 20gallon long.That is the tank i am working on and it is just a barrel of monkeys..........

I feel the need to warn you ................. with 3 tanks you are already on the path of MTS (Multi tank syndrome) With the addition of salt water you may feel the need to turn any thing that can hold water (cups, buckets, jugs, and a computer (long story there...) into a tank.


I myself caught myself today thinking that a coffee pot would make a cool little nano.

Good luck.
Redstrat

 

[chrissaysyes]

so there are others afflicted with this syndrome...I was thinking of emptying my girlfriends flower vases and turning them into betta bowls

 

[Alnee]

MTS is nothing new to me! LOL Besides the 3 tanks running I have 4 bettas that are each in about 2 gallons of water (they are in BIG brandy type glasses) and 2 of the 4 have been around now for well over a year!

I just need to win the lottery so I can build my nice house with a HUGE basement that will be the "tank" room and then have a two areas of reinforced flooring above for two 125 gallon display tanks... one salt and one fresh Not that I have this all planned out... nope! LOL

I have been researching more and more and am thinking I might give the 20 long a try. It would be closer to summer before I do it just because I need to research more before I am comfortable with the idea. In the meantime I am working on a "headboard" of tanks for the bedroom. It will have 4 10 gal tanks... And I am thinking all freshwater for now. One will be dwarf puffers, then rams in another, my "hospital/fry tank", and I am not sure what I want in the fourth tank yet but I am thinking maybe Killies that I can get starting with eggs. I can keep fish alive without a problem but I cant grow a dang plant to save my life so my new challenge will be keeping several of these tanks planted.

As you can tell I am just plain crazy... anyone that would be willing to keep up with the water changes on the smaller tanks, etc certainly must be insane! This project has actually be in the works for a little while and over time I have just kinda collecting the tanks and supplies. I love people that get into this hobby and then realize that it is work and just want to get rid of the tanks and supplies! LOL I have picked up 2 aquaclear filters and several marineland heaters in just the past couple of months... and craigslist is my friend

You know what though... despite knowing that I have a "project" to be working on I am looking more forward to trying my hand at in the "other side" of the fish keeping world and setting up that tank. I am one of these people that have to have it all planned out though before I will go forward!

 

[chrissaysyes]

establish a good relationship with your lfs and go ahead and dive right into SW...do your research of course but dont be affraid. It took me years to get up the guys to try it and Im slowly converting my tanks left and right heh. Im even selling FW fish to free up tanks heh. I wouldnt say it's easier than FW...but not more difficult. Definitely more expensive. I've put more in a month into my 14gallon nano than I have my 55gallon cichlid tank Ive had for over a year.

Headboard tank...hah. You're a girl...shouldnt have too much trouble finding a guy to share enjoyment in a fish-filled headboard...try wearing my shoes hah, Im sure the majority of male members of this forum have an angry girlfriend or wife at home I like to give my girlfriend a hard time about what project Im going to try next...I've been thinking a lot lately about what it would take to maintain a 6ft reef shark after I noticed them for sale at a site. Just jokingly told her of a plan to move the furniture out of the living room and into storage until I finish coating the walls and floor with glass sheets so I can flood the room to create my 1000gallon shark tank...definitely didnt go for that one heh. It's ok though, her obsession with her yorkie far surpasses mine with my fish.

I do like the idea of bettas in brandy snifters though! I only have two snifters right now that are in pretty heavy use but I have seen to wall-mount fish bowls that look very chic and modern...thought of getting a few of them to mount on the walls in the aquarium room. Lucky for me my aquarium room is an old garage that was converted into a room. So it has insulated walls and central air and heating but the floors are cement with a thin layer of cheap carpet. Not worried about warping floorboards or breaking through nor do I have much concern about destroying my carpet. And since we're talking of dream tanks...there's a huge window that overlooks the tank room from the living room...probably 6'x4'...Ive already taken the window out so it's just a big portal...planning on making a custom tank to put in the place...it wouldnt be hard or expensive since my roommate cuts/sells glass at his dads hardware store...problem would be climbing 10ft and trying to clean/change water in a 6ft tank heh...anyhoo...I'll keep everyone posted when that project begins

 

[sianeds]

Oh my...chrissaysyes you sound just like me!!! Flooding a room for a 1000gal shark tank! What a great idea!!! You could put a big arylic walkway through the middle so you could sit "inside" with the sharks

My husband is a bloody philestine too, he just doesn't appreciate how important it is to cram as many tanks as is physically possible into our house. I mean, who needs a dining room? Why not cover the walls, floor to ceiling with tanks, have a big cube where the dining table is, and eat your food on the sofa while watching tv or planning the next tank

 

[chrissaysyes]

heh the tv gets me in trouble...my nano is right next to the television...so while me and my girlfriend are watching television a lot of times my eyes wander over to the tank...the bad part is when she's like "hahaha, I cant believe that!" in reference to something that just happened on tv...then I have to pretend like I wasnt lost in the tank somewhere and come back with "huh? oh...hah yeah I know, right..."

You know your television show is failing when some kid would rather dig up his clam and then watch it bury itself again heh, or even worse...watch snails graze on algae.