Very Small Tanks

[sic0198]

I wanna start with a small set up. I have a 2 and a half gallon and a 10 gallon. I have kept a FW one for a few years so I am somewhat experienced, could I get a list of suitable fish for a 2 and a half gallon and a 10 gallon, if any?

Also the FS dude told me a 10 gallon is not recommended I imagine he was talking about difficulty. But I think a 10g is the way to go for me because it would allow me to try it without sinking lots of money into it. Would you recommend it?

 

[bagu]

very simply, no =(

it can cost alot, and a small change in water params can in effect knock out the tank; with a larger tank you have a margin for error.

you will also be restricted to corals and fishes =(

I wouldn't recommend; bigger is better especially if this is your 1st marine tank =]

 

[chr15_8]

smaller tank arnt always cheap. it probably wouldnt cost me much more to setup a 40 uk gallons rather than the 20uk gallon im setting up. as stated the params are more stable in a bigger tank

 

[Trod]

I wouldn't recommend starting that small, and honestly as far as cost is concerned, it doesn't follow that smaller is cheaper, it still expensive whatever size tank you have. The smallest I would say is around 120 litres, this will give you more stocking options, but speaking from personal experience you are never satisfied with a small tank and will eventually want bigger I started with a Boyu 550 and very quickly wanted bigger I now have a 5ft tank too!!!!
So I would say go for the biggest you can, and just take it slowly adding things when you have the money, and while saving you can do your research and planning, its arguabley the best part of the salty side

 

[sic0198]

I wondered why the FS people recommended against this, now I know why. Thanks for convincing me.



Would a 38 gallon be recommended?

 

[xxBarneyxx]

A 38g should work nicely as a first tank. Big enough to give you more options with stocking and to help keep the water stable but not so big you are going to need to spend loads and loads on equipment for it or have to use complicated maintance routines (ie very large water changes or dosing, if you went with corals).

 

[TigerIssey]

38 gallon is a good size, that is similar to mine except I have a 13g sump aswell. It is much more stable as far as water parameters are concerned. The equipment is very similar cost wise to a 20g anyway.

 

[sic0198]

Explain to me what a sump is and do I need one?

 

[chr15_8]

it another tank that is generally placed underneath the main tank in the cupboard.

Most people drill a hole/s in the base of the tank and use a durso to drain the water into the sump. In the sump you can put a skimmer, heater and other equipment. Then a pump takes the water back to the main display tank.

This website explains it very well and worth a read. im going to copying one of his sumps when i do mine.
http/www.melevsreef.com/allmysumps.html

 

[TigerIssey]

A sump is a body of water usually below the tank that houses equipment (heater, protein skimmer, reactors- if used) it also houses carbon and phosphate remover to remove nasty stuff, most will also incorporate a refugium section. The refugium section CAN (but does not have to) house a deep sand bed (aids nitrification but can house critters aswell), we tend to grow a type of macro aglgae in there also that uses nitrogen and other organics for growth thus outcompeting nuisance algaes in the display tank. If you light the sump on a reverse lighting cycle (opposite to the tank itself) it will also aid in keeping the pH more stable, you will have photosynthesis occurring day and night (day time corals, night time macroalgae).

The other advantage to a sump of course is the extra volume of water the sump adds to the tank, it keeps things even more stable. Replacing water after a water change into the sump is beneficial as water pouring onto corals does upset them. Additionally it gives us extra space to add live rock rubble, this increases the filtration capacity of the tank.

Here is a picture of my sump to help you

Water from the tank enters from the pipe on the right, in this section is live rock rubble, the Bubble stop at the rear with a pipe going into it, this contains carbon and phosphate remover, there is also the protein skimmer (the one with a cup on top) which will be upgraded shortly. The water then passes over the piece of glass (called a baffle) into the refugium section, this holds chaetomorpha macroalgae, here micro organisms that are eaten by fish will also proliferate. Water passes throught he algae and underneath the next piece of glass. It will then flow over the next baffle into the return section. I need more live rock rubble here. Water is then pumped either to the bubble stop in the first section or back into the tank. Also housed here is the heater for the tank.

A sump is not necessary, however it is a very useful add on and does also conceal the equipment that would otherwise be in the tank.

A good website for you to read about sumps is Melevs Reef, here is a link Melevs reef (click on acrylic and DIY) Have a good read on the site, it is full of very good information and of course his tanks are stunning.