Thinking Of Entering This World

[Gankutsuou]

this thursday I will have my 38 gallon up, fully running, and set up for my tropical fish.

This raises the question - what to do with my 10 gallon tank?
It's one of those standards, (18x 10 x ?), I'm out of town right now so I can't exactly measure.

But this brings up some good questions.

Yes, I know I'd need a filter other than the current "whisper" I have.
Yes, I know it's going to cost in the area of 400+, but already having the tan--------------------41184676334--

 

[demonmagus]

Yes, I know it's going to cost in the area of 400+, but already having the tan--------------------41184676334--

you what?

anyway. Basically your tank is 18 by 10 by 10, so 7 gallons

do loads of research, I personally wouldn't have fish

you need powerheads with enough lph to turn the tank's volume over by at least 10 times per hour.

live rock, that is your main filtration- need about 3 kilos?

also, not sure about lighting on such a tiny tank but get an RO unit

 

[Gankutsuou]

no no no. it's a 10 gallon all glass aquarium. I'll give the exact measurement's later. and something messed up with that post

Hmmmmm. but still sounds like it'll take quite a bit of work.

I thought a 10 would be good for certain kinds of fish. maybe shrimp?
I'm reading through the fourms, informations, ect, but it's not helping much.
But I know if I ask here, I won't fall for some of the LFS's traps.

 

[CAC]

Well if its 7g, then id just have a small bio load to bigin with, then, after a couple of months, then you could add a small fish, like a neon goby or a yellow coral goby, which are only small...

If its 10g, then id do the same, but youd have abit more space, for possably a bigger fish, that is if you wanted.
I think your best bet would be to forget fish(for now), and get 2 shrimp, 3 or 4 hermits and then a nerite snail or similar. Theyre all very iteresting, and you can even get hermits with anenomeos on their shells!
But as demon says, take it slow, and do loads of research.

Mikey

 

[SkiFletch]

But I know if I ask here, I won't fall for some of the LFS's traps.

Amen to that. Have a look at the pinned topics in this section especially the members tanks thread for ideas on what you can get livestock wise. Are you thinking about corals or just fish/inverts?

Oh, and btw, a standard 10g tank is 20x10x12" in dimensions

 

[Gankutsuou]

it probably is the 20x10x11***(edit- still unsure. it is an AGA 10). but as I said, I'm stuck out of town. So I can;t measure ATM.

But I'm pretty much aware. I need to get a fitting and good light, substrate, and so on, as well as an idea of salinity. I need to start a fishless cycle, and once that's done, set up live rock/corals and maybe some invertabre. then I need to let that run a month.

I probably will be too busy to think about fish options on it for 2 months.

But then I'll think on things like fire fish (too big right?)
or a super expensive small fish like a black clown.

so what kind of lighting for a 10 AGA standard?

 

[SkiFletch]

A quick correction. Live rock performs your cycle for you, no need to do it fishlessly in SW. Its basically like taking an old established canister off a freshwater tank and putting it on a new one when upgrading. INstead this time you're just taking an established filter from the ocean

A single firefish would be fine in a 10g. You might also want to consider a pistol shrimp/goby pair if you're a sucker for symbiosis like me. Or there are some very personable dottyback species that would do well in a tank that size. Perhaps a springer's dottyback (springeri psuedochromis)

Lighting depends on if you want corals down the line. If you do, look into getting a pair of 18" power compact bulbs. If not, you can just use some 18" flourescent bulbs of your choice.

 

[Gankutsuou]

If I happened to up this to a 20 All glass A.... could I perhaps add in some kind of clown with the fire dart fish?

 

[SkiFletch]

Yeah, you could go with an ocellaris, percula, or skunk clownfish in a 20g in addition to the firefish. Heck, you might even get away with a pair of smaller clowns and a firefish.

 

[Gankutsuou]

Is the skunk the black and white one that cost like, $60?

edit:

Also, on the subjet of live rock cycling the tank, is that just letting it in the tank with filtration for a month? I had read through most the posts, skipped here and there and so on. Or would that be an actual simulation of cloning?

 

[SkiFletch]

Nope, skunk clowns are orange with a white stripe running down their spine. A "different" looking clownfish IMO. In hindsight, I would hve gone with a pair of them as opposed to my ocellaris just cause I think they look cooler

As for cycling, its a piece of cake. Fill your tank with mixed saltwater, bring it up to temp ~73-83 and toss your live rock in. Live rock allready has the beneficial bacteria on it that processes ammonia and nitrite which will function quickly. Usually within a week or less ammonia and nitrite are 0 as some dieoff on the rock fuels a mini cycle. You're usually ready for a cleanup crew at that point and a couple weeks later you can consider your first fish. Corals should be at least a month if not more into tank maturit before you add them

 

[Gankutsuou]

All righty then.
I can get really good water from a LFS (they sell watter, I think it may even be RO, but I'll ask)

I just can't find bios of saltwater fish on google like I can with Tropical
But there is a black and white clown that I'd like.... probably not suited though

What do you mean by cleanup crew? I've heard this term used before.

Also thanks for all your help. It's really helping out.
Now I just need to find out lighting for the 20 long, and some other stuff that's normal essential .

 

[SkiFletch]

Cleanup crew are snails, crabs, and other critters that eat nuisance algae, detritus, and uneaten food. A properly designed cleanup crew will do a lot of your tank maintenance for you . Run a search on this forum and you'll find lots of posts on cleanup crew .

For a good general idea on the requirements of fish, just go to liveaquaria.com and browse around. They have bio's for most fish they sell.

 

[Gankutsuou]

thanks
I've also happen to come across a wonderful article on starting up a marine aquarium that states and backs up a whole lot of what you said. Good to know I'm getting top quality info fast

I'm going to go for either a 20 or a 20 long for the marine nano I think. All glass aquarium with a lid. I'll replace the lighting and get a biowheel filter for it probably.

Then I'll let it run a few days, add in the live rock, while finding out specific lightings ect. I'll base it around getting a fire dart fish and maybe that clown, depending on what info I find. I'll add the clena up crew after a week like you said, and then a couple of weeks later get the fish. The lights I will get will be specific to support coral, as I'll probably do a reef, but maybe just fish with live rock and a clean up crew. who knows. Depends partly on budget, partly on time, and partly if I can get a 10 gallon upgraded to 20

And of course, I'll have to make my 38 G Tropical PERFECT before I start on this.

 

[SkiFletch]

If I had a choice between a 20 high and a 20 long I'd take the 20 long any day of the week. Most fish are happier with a little length to swim across, its easier to find lights for a 24" tank, and its easier to work in a shallow tank and stock corals in a shallow tank.