dondon4720 Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 Next fall i will be a Sophomore in college and will be living in a dorm room, a couple of guys on my floor have decided to get freshwater fish tanks. I have decided to start planning a saltwater nano tank. I am looking into getting a 14 or 29 gallon BioCube to house 2 clownfish, a starfish and maybe a couple soft corals. My dad has had a freshwater fish tank in our house for as long as i can remember and i have always wanted to do a saltwater build. This being the planning stage i need advice on how i am going to move these fish during major breaks (Christmas, and Summer). Also, would it be better to start the tank in the summer and move it or to start in the fall while I am at college. Luckily the college is only 15 minuets from a LFS so getting saltwater shouldn't be difficult ( also i go home every other weekend as i only live an hour from college so i could buy a RODI water system and bring water up with me). So any advice for a noobie. Thanks in advance Link to comment
Dark_ice Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 Maybe start a smaller tank that is easier to move? like a 8g or smaller? still can house smaller fish and nice coral. Link to comment
LarryMoeCurly Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 Does your dorm have a limit on the size of the tank? IMO, a tank at school would just be a hassle, especially if it is a short-term dorm and not a multi-year appartment. I am in the opposite position. I am in my fifth year of school and my tank is at home, so I only see it every few weekends (needless to say, it gets neglected). I know there are people who have done it, but it's hard to fathom the logistics of water changes, cleaning it, moving it, etc. If you are set on having one I would agree with Dark _ice and suggest you get one as small as is feasible. Link to comment
dondon4720 Posted February 19, 2014 Author Share Posted February 19, 2014 what is the smallest tank that can house 2 clownfish that's all i really care about Link to comment
Dark_ice Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 what is the smallest tank that can house 2 clownfish that's all i really care about You are going to get a million answers. i would say 16-20g but a lot of people do this in a 10g.. even seen them in as small as a 5-8g as babies but i do not recommend it. Link to comment
dondon4720 Posted February 19, 2014 Author Share Posted February 19, 2014 You are going to get a million answers. i would say 16-20g but a lot of people do this in a 10g.. even seen them in as small as a 5-8g as babies but i do not recommend it. i will probibally get a million answers for this too but would one clownfish be happy in a 10 gallon with a couple soft corals what kind of lighting is needed?? Link to comment
LarryMoeCurly Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 IMO, 10 gallons is fine for 1 clownfish. As far as lighting, you could probably get away with one par38 with wide optics (120*) if you are just keeping soft corals. Link to comment
Dark_ice Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 i will probibally get a million answers for this too but would one clownfish be happy in a 10 gallon with a couple soft corals what kind of lighting is needed?? Yes 1 clown on the smaller side is ok in a 10g. there is a type called "stubby clowns" that generally stay small. and for lighting you don't need too much. T5 is fine. but if you want to show off you're coral with lunar lights you should look into a small LED unit. my investment in my LED's was the best thing i have ever put money into tank related. IMO, 10 gallons is fine for 1 clownfish. As far as lighting, you could probably get away with one par38 with wide optics (120*) if you are just keeping soft corals. or a par38 on a goose neck is great to. agreed 100% Link to comment
dondon4720 Posted February 19, 2014 Author Share Posted February 19, 2014 so if i left for a week (Thanksgiving, Spring Break) will my tank be fine or would i have to worry about things going wrong Link to comment
Dark_ice Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 so if i left for a week (Thanksgiving, Spring Break) will my tank be fine or would i have to worry about things going wrong I would worry.. personally leaving my tank for a work day makes me go nuts. tanks = children. Link to comment
dondon4720 Posted February 19, 2014 Author Share Posted February 19, 2014 I would worry.. personally leaving my tank for a work day makes me go nuts. tanks = children. but would it be ok Link to comment
Dark_ice Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 if lights were on a timer and fish had some way to be fed. also do a big water change before you leave.. i don't remand it but it can be done Link to comment
lessergeneration Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 Get an auto top off with a large reserve, an MP10 w/ battery backup and you should be okay. Link to comment
dondon4720 Posted February 19, 2014 Author Share Posted February 19, 2014 i just don't want an auto top off to fail and flood my room Link to comment
LarryMoeCurly Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 A week is nothing. A few gallons of ATO would be more than enough in most situations for a tank that small. The only issue would be feeding. I'm lucky to do one 20% water change per month on mine (not that I am the best example). I have an osmolator nano for ATO and my parents for feeding and that's it for at least two weeks, more commonly three or four. I think you will have bigger issues to deal with as I stated above. Also, some dorms will have the RAs come in and unplug things during breaks, that would not be good. Link to comment
Tamberav Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 i just don't want an auto top off to fail and flood my room Buy a Tunze 3155 ATO, expensive but worth the piece of mind. Moving a 10g is going to get old Link to comment
dondon4720 Posted February 20, 2014 Author Share Posted February 20, 2014 Moving a 10g is going to get old actually i went to a LFS about 15 min from my college and they are having a killer sale on 28 gallon bio cubes as well as having college students employed, i was able to talk to one girl who is in the same boat as me and she said that it isn't really that hard because i am only going to have 2 clownfish and i only live an hour away i only plan to take it home over christmas and summer as leaving it a week won' t hurt it (just do a water change the Friday I leave or maybe not leave until Sunday ) here are the prices i got from the LFS: Biocube 28gal 199.99. Cured Live rock (mantis shrimp an critter free mantis shrimp creep me out ) 8.99 / lb Instant Ocean Pre Mixed salt water 99 cents a gallon corals vary and they are having an extended sale on clownfish pairs (they had a lot) are these good prices?? Link to comment
Tamberav Posted February 20, 2014 Share Posted February 20, 2014 I was more talking about hauling all the rock/keeping it wet. Moving corals without damaging them and hauling water so you can set it up quickly when you arrive, trying to re-scape the rock and hoping you don't cause a mini cycle every time you move, ect. Clownfish are the easy part although it will stress them to be moved. Is it just the biocube or stand too? What do you plan on doing with the tank? All-in-one tanks need more $ on modifications in most cases if you want SPS, nems, clams, ect. Just a quick check online and a biocube 29g runs $260. Link to comment
dondon4720 Posted February 20, 2014 Author Share Posted February 20, 2014 its just the biocube i will put it on a dresser that is already in the dorm and i don't plan on getting SPS, or nems or clams (that can come when i am older and out of college) I am mainly looking at just clowns mabye a reef safe starfish (if there is such an animal) and a couple of LPS corals (or whatever works with the stock lighting) Link to comment
Visionist Posted February 20, 2014 Share Posted February 20, 2014 28g is a lot of weight for a dresser.. easily a couple hundred pounds filled with rock and sand. Link to comment
dondon4720 Posted February 21, 2014 Author Share Posted February 21, 2014 what do the stands look like and how big are they my dorm is 17' X 11' and half of it is my roomates Link to comment
Tamberav Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 I would not put that on a dresser. Check the rules too.. a lot of dorms limit how many gallons you can have. For reef safe starfish, maybe a serpent/brittle but sometimes they eat fish. Fromia's, ect would starve. Link to comment
dondon4720 Posted February 21, 2014 Author Share Posted February 21, 2014 ok so what about the 14 gallon biocube?? our college limits the size to 20 gal. Link to comment
Dark_ice Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 ok so what about the 14 gallon biocube?? our college limits the size to 20 gal. if you want to haul that around.. i wouldent want to Link to comment
dondon4720 Posted February 21, 2014 Author Share Posted February 21, 2014 i think the 14 gallon will be just what i am looking for. i probably won't get very many corals just because i have to move them and that could kill them and that would be a waste on money so i will probably go with some fake stuff and focus mainly on the fish. Link to comment
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