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First Post. First Tank


ackattackkk

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ackattackkk

So I have decided to start up my first SW tank. I've been on this website for a couple months doing my research (what a great community). Been doing FW for a couple years now, it all started out with a Betta and thats where my obsession started. I currently have a 30g FW tank and a spare 10g tank that I was planning on using for the SW, I was wondering if that would be alright or would you guys suggest getting a biocube or a Fluval? The only reason I am asking is due to the fact I really havent seen many normal glass 10g on here.

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The thing with saltwater tanks you have to think about is water stability...So, the smaller the tank you have the easier it is for your water parameters to swing. Plus the bigger the tank the more options you have for fish & corals. With that being said, starting with a ten gallon is totally do-able. It's what Iv'e done and it's a lot of work at first but once you get the hang of things and the tank matures it's not that bad maintenance wise. Now whether you just use a standard tank or an all in one like a biocube is kind of a personal opinion. With the all in ones you don't have to look at the extra equipment in the display, but they can be a little more pricey. But you could easily do a standard 10 gal with say a aquaclear 70 or 110 filter on the back. It's mostly personal preference. Welcome to Nano-Reef btw!

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Welcome to the club/site officially,

Biocube's are regular glass, and there are plenty of us that have your standard tanks. There is a good amount that go Acrylic due to the weight. I agree with above.

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Welcome to the forum :)

 

If it's a normal plain tank I don't see why you shouldn't be able to use it, it just means you have the option of picking and getting the equipment you want to use rather than be restricted by what all in ones offer but then I don't really know much about the tanks you mentioned, so it's really up to you on which tank you would like best.

 

But personally I would probably go for the larger one, I currently have my first sw tank a 23g and it's only been going for 3 and a bit months, I'm already looking into upgrading to a 79g :P it's so addictive.

 

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I started with a 15g glass tank with a hang on back filter, standard 1xt8 light/hood, a heater, and one powerhead.. IMO, a first tank should be KISS (keep it simple stupid) until you understand how everything works.. if you're more comfortable with a fancier setup you can run a small simple sump off that 10g and hide all your equipment..

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ackattackkk

I know!!!!! Im in a pickle. I either spend money and have the stuff hidden or spend less and have it show hmmmmmmmm. Thanks for all the responses :). I was planning on getting the powerhead. Is the hang on back filter good enough for SW? Thats what I use for my freshwater



Also what lights do you guys suggest for a 10g rectangle? 50w heater?

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I know!!!!! Im in a pickle. I either spend money and have the stuff hidden or spend less and have it show hmmmmmmmm. Thanks for all the responses :). I was planning on getting the powerhead. Is the hang on back filter good enough for SW? Thats what I use for my freshwater

Yea it should work fine, I'd recommend it with one of the intank media baskets

http://www.shop.mediabaskets.com/AquaClear-70-Media-Basket-AC70MR.htm

 

And possibly a pico surface skimmer

http://www.picoaquariums.com/fluval-aquaclear-skimmer-boxes/120-fluval-aquaclear-skimmer-boxes.html#/ac_model-ac_70

 

And then you could use it as a fuge or just put chemi pure and a filter pad, And I think you can fit some heaters in the aquaclear with the intank basket so that would be out of the display too.

 

*Edit*

It depends on your budget with the light...How much did you want to spend?

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ackattackkk

That would be great if I could put the heaters in the aquaclear. What heaters do you suggest personally? Honestly price really doesnt matter obviously I want to get the best for the cheapest price haha :P . Whatever lights look the best In the tank and outside of the tank. Ive seen some pretty cool looking lights just dont know the names :(

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imo, by the time you get all the upgrades for the aquaclear (surface skimmer, media basket, etc) you might as well buy a second tank for a sump and a hob overflow.. if you're interested in going that route check out eshopps overflows, they're a less expensive option and basically a knock off of the lifereef.. if they're set up right they are absolutely fool proof. a sump can be as simple as a no-baffle tank with a return pump.. add a filter sock attachement if you want (or some pvc pipe for a filter floss setup, and makes it easier to run chemical media), toss a heater in there and you're done..

 

that said, when I had my 15g I started with just an aquaclear, ran filter floss and carbon only.. that did just fine. after a while I upgraded to a canister filter and a hob refugium.. then finally upgraded to a hob overflow and a sump.. so I've been through all the stages and spent much more than I ever needed to simply because I didn't go sumped from the beginning....

 

if you think you might want a sump later down the road (on this tank) then you should start there and save yourself the money and hassle..

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That would be great if I could put the heaters in the aquaclear. What heaters do you suggest personally? Honestly price really doesnt matter obviously I want to get the best for the cheapest price haha :P . Whatever lights look the best In the tank and outside of the tank. Ive seen some pretty cool looking lights just dont know the names :(

If you have the money most people on here would agree the Nanobox lights are some of the best, and the duo would probably work well on a ten gallon.

http://nanoboxreef.com/index.html#homepage

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I started with a small tank myself. Maintenance was a breeze, I tested the water and did a decent sized water change weekly. I ran a small ATO to keep the salinity stable. Just be religious about testing, top offs and water changes. I never ran into major issues.

 

However

 

It was fun for a little while but then I became frustrated with the lack of space. I couldn't get the livestock I really wanted and it filled up quickly. A tank that size is very limiting. It poses a nice challenge for the experienced reefer, but I honestly don't think it's that great for someone just starting out. I longed for a larger tank as soon as my 2 fish took residence and maxed out what I could keep.

 

Just take a second and look at pics of different shaped and sized tanks, take a look at fish and corals and rock and see what you really like. If there is any doubt that you will be completely satisfied with the 10g, then maybe save up a bit longer, do some more research, and get a bigger tank.

 

I'm not trying to discourage you from getting the small tank, there are some amazingly well done small set ups out there. Just think what you want on a longer term basis and go from there.

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Mr. Microscope

:welcome: to Nano-Reef!

 

There are plenty of great 10 gallons on here. Just do some a bunch of research and figure out what you'd like to stock so that you have the necessary equipment to keep your livestock happy and thriving. Most people list their equipment, livestock, and maintenance schedule in the first post of their tank thread. So, if you find an aquarium you like it should be easy to replicate it.

 

That being said, with ten gallons, you'll probably be limited to one small fish. SW fish are generally bigger and need more space than fresh water. For example, I only have two clown fish in my 25 gallon aquarium and at the maximum I've had only four fish.

 

Corals are a different story. Research, research, research.

 

I also recommend checking out the featured TOTM's. There's some great advise in those. ;)

 

Good luck!

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ackattackkk

:welcome: to Nano-Reef!

 

There are plenty of great 10 gallons on here. Just do some a bunch of research and figure out what you'd like to stock so that you have the necessary equipment to keep your livestock happy and thriving. Most people list their equipment, livestock, and maintenance schedule in the first post of their tank thread. So, if you find an aquarium you like it should be easy to replicate it.

 

That being said, with ten gallons, you'll probably be limited to one small fish. SW fish are generally bigger and need more space than fresh water. For example, I only have two clown fish in my 25 gallon aquarium and at the maximum I've had only four fish.

 

Corals are a different story. Research, research, research.

 

I also recommend checking out the featured TOTM's. There's some great advise in those. ;)

 

Good luck!

I have seen a lot of 10g tanks by most of the ones I see are cubed and not rectangle like mine. Is there a reason why there are so many more cubes? Do you know anyone who has a nice 10g rectangle? Do you suggest just rocks or coral also?

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Mr. Microscope

I have seen a lot of 10g tanks by most of the ones I see are cubed and not rectangle like mine. Is there a reason why there are so many more cubes? Do you know anyone who has a nice 10g rectangle?

Cubes are just popular for their look, but there's nothing wrong with the standard dimensions.

 

http://www.nano-reef.com/index.php?s=6d6195b12b246b75b7d2635a832f4a51&app=googlecse#gsc.tab=0&gsc.q=10%20gallon

Do you suggest just rocks or coral also?

All I can say is you need to do more research. Look at some threads about the steps of setting up a reef tank and it should give you some idea where to go to reach your destination.
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ackattackkk

Cubes are just popular for their look, but there's nothing wrong with the standard dimensions.

 

http://www.nano-reef.com/index.php?s=6d6195b12b246b75b7d2635a832f4a51&app=googlecse#gsc.tab=0&gsc.q=10%20gallon

All I can say is you need to do more research. Look at some threads about the steps of setting up a reef tank and it should give you some idea where to go to reach your destination.

Thank you sir. I agree I need more research. Im not a spur of the moment guy I do extensive research on everything I buy, electronics, cars, my dirtbikes, my freshwater tank, literally everything lol.

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I'm a newb but I just wanted to say.... I have a standard 10g glass rectangle tank. I like that their is no plastic looking back wall to collect algae that won't come off easy. Also although this is an addictive hobby, the smaller size still holds plenty of awesome creatures and coral and keeps me from getting too crazy too fast. I've also realized that even though I want a bigger tank someday, I'm not ready for the harder work with cleaning and water changes that come with it. It's a lot easier to change one gallon of water every week and clean glass or rocks than say 5 gallons, but that's just my 2 cents :)

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ackattackkk

I'm a newb but I just wanted to say.... I have a standard 10g glass rectangle tank. I like that their is no plastic looking back wall to collect algae that won't come off easy. Also although this is an addictive hobby, the smaller size still holds plenty of awesome creatures and coral and keeps me from getting too crazy too fast. I've also realized that even though I want a bigger tank someday, I'm not ready for the harder work with cleaning and water changes that come with it. It's a lot easier to change one gallon of water every week and clean glass or rocks than say 5 gallons, but that's just my 2 cents :)

Do you have any pics of your tank?

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I have seen a lot of 10g tanks by most of the ones I see are cubed and not rectangle like mine. Is there a reason why there are so many more cubes? Do you know anyone who has a nice 10g rectangle? Do you suggest just rocks or coral also?

 

One thing about cube tanks is they are generally easier to light and cost less to do so. A par38 over a 10g cube will be a lot more effective than one over a 10g rectangle

 

It would be worth checking out tank of the month threads for inspiration: http://www.nano-reef.com/featured/

 

Here are some standard 10g tanks:

 

http://www.nano-reef.com/featured/_/2013/lalani-r79

http://www.nano-reef.com/featured/_/2008/tashayar-r12

http://www.nano-reef.com/featured/_/2008/yardboy-r16

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ackattackkk

One thing about cube tanks is they are generally easier to light and cost less to do so. A par38 over a 10g cube will be a lot more effective than one over a 10g rectangle

 

It would be worth checking out tank of the month threads for inspiration: http://www.nano-reef.com/featured/

 

Here are some standard 10g tanks:

 

http://www.nano-reef.com/featured/_/2013/lalani-r79

http://www.nano-reef.com/featured/_/2008/tashayar-r12

http://www.nano-reef.com/featured/_/2008/yardboy-r16

so what lights would you suggest over a 10g rectangle? also on my other post do you think 18" is too deep?

 

I know someone selling a Nanobox Duo on the cheap, I could point you in his Direction :lol:

how cheap is cheap :P

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so what lights would you suggest over a 10g rectangle? also on my other post do you think 18" is too deep?

 

how cheap is cheap :P

 

Depends what you want to keep and your budget.

 

Nano-box is great if you have the $ to spend, I say go for it. http://nanoboxreef.com/

 

Razor is also another popular and great light: http://aquariumsupplies.marinedepot.com/search?w=maxspect%20razor&modaf=null

 

If you are looking to spend less. You may be able to get away with 1 quality par38 on a 10g but you will want 120 degree optics and may need to hang it fairly high. It will work fine for softy's and LPS on a 10g standard. Coral Compulsion is the company you would want to buy from: http://coralcompulsion.com/led/PAR-BULBS

 

Another idea would be to do two of their par30's instead of one par38 to get better spread.

 

Another budget light would be reefbreeders:

Value led: http://reefbreeders.com/shop/reef-breeders-value-led-fixtures/

Nano-lite: http://reefbreeders.com/shop/nano-lite/

 

 

There are also t5 options and metal halide. Just keep in mind these add heat to the tank and need new bulbs every 6-12 months. The bonus with them is no shadowing, better photos, some people like how they "look", ect. I don't know enough to recommend specific lights.

 

 

You can't go wrong with any of the suppliers I listed above. They all have excellent customer support. If you see something you like the looks of, I would contact them with questions.

 

 

Too deep is just a personal preference. Just need lights able to penetrate that depth, you have to be willing to stick your hands in elbows deep, like the look of it, ect. It is up to you. I would personally suggest going with a nano-box, razor, or reef breeders value fixture if you decide on the 29g. If they are not in the budget, then a par38 over a standard 10g with 120 optics can work. You may be limited to lower light corals except in the center where you could try some easy SPS.

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Steensj2004
so what lights would you suggest over a 10g rectangle? also on my other post do you think 18" is too deep?

how cheap is cheap :P

 

380.00, normally 450.0@ and there is a looooong wait. Only ran for a few months!lol!

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