Gunbeaux Posted May 10, 2018 Share Posted May 10, 2018 I have decided to get back into the saltwater tanks, been out for some years now, long story, I only want to start one tank but can't decide on which one. I tried starting up one a couple years back but that was side lined not more time has presented itself so the question is which one. I have a 40 breeder; 20 long; 10 gal; and a 6 gal. plus I have a old 16 gal cube out in the shed. If you could start up one and only one which one would it be. I have most of the hardware just need things like rock; sand; water etc. thanks for the help. Quote Link to comment
ajkochev Posted May 10, 2018 Share Posted May 10, 2018 I would do the 10 or 6 gal. That way you can see how you'll do on a small tank for maintenance and lower cost setup. If all goes well for a year and you still are enjoying the hobby, setup one of the larger ones. Quote Link to comment
Gunbeaux Posted May 10, 2018 Author Share Posted May 10, 2018 thanks I was thinking about the smaller tank. have looked at some of the all in ones like the Fluvial 13 or 5 but want to use what I have on hand. Quote Link to comment
RustyRocket Posted May 10, 2018 Share Posted May 10, 2018 You're getting back into the hobby, so it means you've had experience before so you should be fine with the smaller tanks. But as you probably know this hobby is addictive...that little 6 gallon isn't going to hold your interest back enough. I say go for happy medium and go for the 20. It'll give you the flexibility to upgrade or downsize say a year on if you're struggling. Quote Link to comment
jambon Posted May 11, 2018 Share Posted May 11, 2018 Just wondering what you plan on keeping In the tank? Quote Link to comment
1891Bro Posted May 11, 2018 Share Posted May 11, 2018 Do the 40. Do. The. 40. Hell it’s like buying a motorcycle, just get what the big one cause you’ll wish you did later if you didn’t. 5 1 Quote Link to comment
Gunbeaux Posted May 11, 2018 Author Share Posted May 11, 2018 1891Bro I have a 2014 Harley TriGlide I know about get the big one. Think of doing the small one now my brother talked me into it to save some $ on the start up Jambon to start off after it cycle wanting to put a pistol shrimp and watchman goby had one I kept for years used to watch the shrimp rearrange the tank to it's liking. RustyRocket the 20 L is tempting I have lights and some pumps for it but not the room putting in the bedroom that goes for the 40 breeder also no room at the moment I need to get rid of the 60 gal freshwater gold fish tank. and but the 36 gal Fluvial M90 I saw on sale for half price at the local Petco. thanks everyone for the replies Quote Link to comment
jambon Posted May 11, 2018 Share Posted May 11, 2018 I would look at a black ray goby and Randall pistol shrimp... I think the 6 gallon would work ok for that set up. You could add a bit of color with some soft corals. Quote Link to comment
Gunbeaux Posted May 11, 2018 Author Share Posted May 11, 2018 that was my thought pistol shrimp goby and some soft corals for now Thanks Quote Link to comment
MarieH Posted May 11, 2018 Share Posted May 11, 2018 have had a pico 3g for almost a year and i have also kept bigger up to 65 but gradually lost interest as maintaining a larger system is more expensive,and labor intensive. i am now setting up a 5g spec v that had cherry shrimp in it up til yesterday. The shrimp were farmed out to a friend. I love the small tanks, To answer your question, I would go 6 to start. Its a big small world. Have fun, and check out small tank reef videos on youtube for ideas! 1 Quote Link to comment
Gunbeaux Posted May 12, 2018 Author Share Posted May 12, 2018 I think I have decided on what I am going to do. Have a 10 gal going to use it little bigger than the 6 so I can put more junk in it. for lighting I am going to splurge $$$ on a Fluval Sea Marine Nano LED 20 watt. For filtration going to use the AC 70 which I have. there is a thread on here how to make one into a refuse. have done it when I had the 6 set up years ago. going to put about 15 lbs of sand and 15 lbs of rock (base and live mixed) as for stocking ? let it cycle first. Granddaughter wants a Nemo. Is the lighting too much Quote Link to comment
Gunbeaux Posted May 13, 2018 Author Share Posted May 13, 2018 Ok set up the 6 gal tank picked up some live rock and water from Petco . the local fish store I used to shop at for all my needs closed. Put the sand; rock and water in the tank. added a little pump filter to get the water moving but will change that when I get the AC70 set up. as for lighting am using what I have for now it is a Par 38 LED bulb, . will post pics when I get in from work this evening. HERE I GO 1 Quote Link to comment
Gunbeaux Posted May 14, 2018 Author Share Posted May 14, 2018 I set up the 6 gal and added live rock 9 lbs sand 5 bs and used a intank filter I had laying around for water movement. Lighting is some led I had from the 60 gal setup I got on Black Friday from Pet smart. it looks OK. the tank is a old one that I had to clean and scrub to get it clear again well with the light on you can see all of the scratches. so this might come down and be replaced with the 10 gal. I think the led lighting is more that enough and would save me some money it was supposed to light up a 60 gal. I am in the process of building a AC 70 into a refugium 3 Quote Link to comment
wsonner Posted May 15, 2018 Share Posted May 15, 2018 On 5/10/2018 at 8:58 PM, 1891Bro said: Do the 40. Do. The. 40. Hell it’s like buying a motorcycle, just get what the big one cause you’ll wish you did later if you didn’t. I want to be your friend 😄 Quote Link to comment
xthunt Posted May 15, 2018 Share Posted May 15, 2018 I have a 25 gal, but transferred everything to a fluval Evo v. Now my little frags look much bigger! Quote Link to comment
Gunbeaux Posted May 18, 2018 Author Share Posted May 18, 2018 Just painted the back of the 10 gal black going to transfer the stuff from the 6 gal this weekend, going to use the live rock I have and I have some old rock out in the shed I am going to boil a couple of the larger pieces and add to this tank, will post pics when I get it set up. Quote Link to comment
banasophia Posted May 18, 2018 Share Posted May 18, 2018 37 minutes ago, Gunbeaux said: Just painted the back of the 10 gal black going to transfer the stuff from the 6 gal this weekend, going to use the live rock I have and I have some old rock out in the shed I am going to boil a couple of the larger pieces and add to this tank, will post pics when I get it set up. Okay, you probably know this, but be sure you don’t boil rocks if they had Zoas or Palys on them before. Not sure how long palytoxins remain hazardous... Quote Link to comment
Gunbeaux Posted May 18, 2018 Author Share Posted May 18, 2018 these rocks have been sitting in the shed for over 2 years in a bucket they are full of dust and all kinds of stuff, might be easer to buy some new stuff. just need a few small pieces to fill out the 10 gal. Thanks for the reply 1 Quote Link to comment
Gunbeaux Posted May 21, 2018 Author Share Posted May 21, 2018 if I can find it I started the 6 gal thread on here about a year ago but was getting some negative responses so I just got off 1 Quote Link to comment
Gunbeaux Posted May 21, 2018 Author Share Posted May 21, 2018 I will be moving everything into the 10 gal tank this week was going to do it over the weekend but you know how that goes. I was thinking of putting the watchman goby and pistol shrimp in and maybe a clown fish, but am looking for something different other that the clown any suggestions would like a puffer but the tank is a little too small and it ight eat the coral. Quote Link to comment
Lula_Mae Posted May 22, 2018 Share Posted May 22, 2018 I thought I recognized your name, so I went poking around and found a couple of your threads that I'd commented on. I didn't see the negative responses you mentioned but that may have been on a different thread. Welcome back, hope you can get it going this time! The 10g will be a good size to get your feet wet again while you decide what else you want to do. 1 Quote Link to comment
Gunbeaux Posted June 3, 2018 Author Share Posted June 3, 2018 an update finally took everything out of the 6.9 and put it in the 10 now to finish the cycle. Not so sure on the rock arrangement 1 Quote Link to comment
Lula_Mae Posted June 3, 2018 Share Posted June 3, 2018 1 hour ago, Gunbeaux said: an update finally took everything out of the 6.9 and put it in the 10 now to finish the cycle. Not so sure on the rock arrangement Be careful with the black sand, lots of people have experienced algae issues with it. Quote Link to comment
Gunbeaux Posted June 3, 2018 Author Share Posted June 3, 2018 1 minute ago, Lula_Mae said: Be careful with the black sand, lots of people have experienced algae issues with it. I have had it before and it does make the algae grow but I like it Had a turbo snail that ate most of it but had to take him out after Quote Link to comment
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