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NRnoob

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Hello everybody! Long time lurker. For years I've wanted to try out reefing. With some prosperity coming my way, I have decided to take the plunge (pun totally intended).

 

I went to PetCo and grabbed a simple run-of-the-mill 10g tank. I spent quite some time scouring Craigslist for equipment and gear. I eventually came across an elderly couple giving away a light, stand, and HOB filter. The light is something that I know I'll get flack for but hey, it was free and that's the best price! The light is an Oddyssea 24" t5. I do plan on replacing it down the road.

 

I have actually had the tank up and running for about 2 months now (6 week cycle). I have some light stocking so far.

 

I rent my house and my landlord is vehemntly opposed to me installing a RO/DI unit so I use distilled water from my local grocery store. I'm currently using Instand Ocean sea salt as thats what my local store has.

 

Equipment wise I have:

10g tank

24" Oddyssea light

Sicce Voyeger 250

Hydor Pico 180 circulation pump (for mixing)

Aquaclear 50

100watt heater

 

 

Live stock:

1 Trochus snail

2 Astrea snail

1 Halloween hermit crab

assorted shells for the hermit

1 Green clown goby

 

My goal is to have a successful LPS/Soft coral tank. I may get rid of the goby and strictly go with inverts and coral.

 

So far I am really happy with how the tank is coming along and am looking forward to the knowledge that you all will impart upon me. I would really like to meet some local reefers and see their set ups (eventually, with safety being a number one priority).

 

Here is a FTS using my high tech iPhone 5

 

 

image_zpsbepdlcol.jpg

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Awesome! I love your scape by the way, perfect amount of space and the rockwork is fantastic!

You're lucky you got the Hydor Evo-Mag 180 pump, I was just about to order and then they ran out of stock :(

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Looks Good, but if you want some advice on your setup and how to maintain the tank that small and stay successful heres a few tips.

 

Anyone who has done large and small reef know the smaller require more attention and work and in the end can be more challenging for a variety of reasons though still possible it is important to monitor all parameters and keep them in check as it doesnt take much to throw them off.

 

- Get an ATO System asap, slight evaporation on a 10 can drop the salinity by a point or 2 very quickly, you want that to stay stable as everything else

 

- Get familiar with Dosing and soon, the more time you spend researching it the better off you will be when your ready, leading to my next point.

 

- LPS are Alkalinity pigs! You are using Instant Ocaen (Great product, tried & True) but unlike their mix Reef Crystals it has lower Calc Alk & Mag and other essential additives geared towards coral growth, I would suggest finding a new Salt if possible.

 

Those would be the 3 main things off the top of my head when specifically dealing with a 10G tank, Stability is key and I promise with enough LPS you are going to come to a turning point when you realize weekly water changes simply wont be enough to replenish everything and your going to be finding low alk and cal, that is when dosing will come in to handy stopping that daily fluctuation and keep it stable.

 

Best of luck, you will get the hang of it with patience and time and develop methods that will create success for yourself, just always be ready to take in new information to ponder and research everything you can, especially before ever adding any new coral or fish to your tank you need to be well aware of their particular requirements.

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That's really good advice! I appreciate it! The salesman at my LFS warned me about dosing. He recommended using C-balance. I know there is a lot of product options out there. I want to try a few of them out.

 

A question. Since I don't have any coral in my tank yet, if I was to switch to different salt (i.e. Reef Crystals) would the switch be as simple as doing a gradual water change over a week or two or would I need to take a more "sensitive and extended" approach?

 

Keep the advice coming :)

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You would want to do the switch gradually meaning I.E If you are doing water changes once a week of 2 - 5 % Then just continue doing that with the new salt.

 

As for the dosing, you have absolutley no reason to worry about that now. You will most likely not see any drops that cant be replensihed with a water change for some time. You just need to worrk about keeping things consistent. Though if you keep at it and stock the tank with enough corals you will start seeing low Alk & Cal and be noticing your water changes arent correcting the issue, It would be better to have a good understanding of dosing before that time comes that way rather then spending all night researching it and trying to figure out what to do, you will know exactly how to approach it.

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Thanks, Exodus!

 

I really do appreciate the advice. I've noticed quite a few hitchhikers that are frequently becoming more visible. I'm constantly seeing pods and bristle worms all over my rock, glass, and sand! It's really exciting coming home from work and seeing what is happening in the tank.

 

I really want to do this right, though I'm sure I'll make mistakes. I think my biggest issue will definitely be stability. I spent a few hours today looking at ATOs, trying to decide which one works best for me. I did pick up a refractometer off of amazon :)

 

A week or so down the road I think I might pick up a hardy soft coral or two and really get in to this hobby

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Well here is an update :)

 

My girlfriend surprised me with a larger tank :)))

She got me a 38 gallon Bowfront! It's rather tall, 24" to be exact. 15" deep and 30" wide. I'm considering turning my 10g into a sump. Is my 4 bulb t5 going to be enough light? At least for some softies until I can get something beefier?

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HarryPotter

Well here is an update :)

 

My girlfriend surprised me with a larger tank :)))

She got me a 38 gallon Bowfront! It's rather tall, 24" to be exact. 15" deep and 30" wide. I'm considering turning my 10g into a sump. Is my 4 bulb t5 going to be enough light? At least for some softies until I can get something beefier?

WOO HOO!!!! Lets see a picture!!!! :)

 

Is it already drilled (has an overflow)? If so, adding the sump will be really easy and quick. This kit comes to mind: http://www.ebay.com/itm/SUMP-KIT-for-20-x10-x12-10-GAL-custom-protein-skimmer-sump-aquarium-filter-/191230867571?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c863f7873

 

The 4 bulb t5 is probably going to be enough- I've seen less :). Softies and LPS don't need as much light anyway!

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Unfortunately it isn't drilled quite yet. It will have to be a weekend project for me. I'm excited as this opens up more possibilities for livestock and coral :)

 

I'll get a picture once I get home!

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FullSizeRender_zps88h9s9da.jpg

 

It's a little tall but we are stoked!

 

I went ahead and purchased an overflow kit and a sump kit (to mod my 10G).

 

It could take a few weeks for me to get it drilled and plummed :(

 

Any more advice?!

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Okay, question time. I'm looking at a wavemaker for the bowfront. My local shop recommended Hydor or Jebao. After spending some time looking I'm interested in the Jebao rw-8 wavemaker system. Obviously the price point is a huge seller when most thing in this hobby don't come cheap. Will the rw-8 be too much for a 38g bowfront?

 

I've read mixed things online saying it produces too much or that it doesn't produce enough. What do you guys think?

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