10 Gallon Equipment

[Winston27]

Hey guys sorry for ANOTHER post, but I just want to be sure before I purchase all my equipment. This is for a 10 gallon tank, but I will likely upgrade to a 20 and get a protein skimmer, just to start I am going to stick with a 10 gallon. Ok here is my equipment.

I HAVE- extra stuff I have laying around from my freshwater stuff
10 gallon tank
100 WATT heater

I am getting-
Hydor koralia Nano 240pgph circulation pump (is this necessary?)
Marineland 20 gallon 100 gph filter to run my carbon (getting some chemi-pure blue as it seems to be good) and for water flow
Hipargero Saltwater 30W light (seems like a great budget light!)
Natures Ocean No.) Bio Activ Live Aragonite sand 10 pounds
Thermometer
Salt
I am DIY-ing a .5 gallon efugium in the place of a skimmer untill I get one and because they seem to help


Those are the things I am ordering. Then I will go to one of my lfs and get rock (probably dry rock but maybe live)
A hydrometer
some chateo algae (do I put that in after tank is cycled or what?

Then to Walmart for some RO/DI water!


What do you guys think? I am a complete noob at saltwater, but have been reading NON-STOP and watching youtube videos for around two months and finally feel ready to give it a try! Plus in a month I can add my cuc and then for christmas ask for fish :lolspin:

Thanks guys (for stocking check out my other post)

 

[Cliving1]

If I were you I would read the stickies in the New to the a hobby section, packed with really good info. Wait on the chaeto. Live rock will help with the cycle, but dry will ensure no immeadiate unnecessary pests. Do you plan on sand or barebottom?

Good luck, planning a new tank is one of the best stages.

 

[Winston27]

If I were you I would read the stickies in the New to the a hobby section, packed with really good info. Wait on the chaeto. Live rock will help with the cycle, but dry will ensure no immeadiate unnecessary pests. Do you plan on sand or barebottom?

Good luck, planning a new tank is one of the best stages.

Hey thanks for the response! I plan on a sand-bed, and that is what I was told about the rock. I think I will go with dry rock. I will read those thanks! does all the equipment sound good?

 

[pshootr]

Hey thanks for the response! I plan on a sand-bed, and that is what I was told about the rock. I think I will go with dry rock. I will read those thanks! does all the equipment sound good?

Honestly, if you are already planning an upgrade I would not put much money into this 10 gallon. You would be better served saving a little more money and just going with the 20 right off the bat, even better if 40 breeder. but if you insist on the 10 gallon all you really need is a hang on the back filter, light, and a heater.

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[Winston27]

Honestly, if you are already planning an upgrade I would not put much money into this 10 gallon. You would be better served saving a little more money and just going with the 20 right off the bat, even better if 40 breeder. but if you insist on the 10 gallon all you really need is a hang on the back filter, light, and a heater.

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Good point, looking around for second hand ones but I already have a 10 gallon and my room can only hold so much (go to my 38 gallon fresh water and a couple big tanks for my pond fish tank o bring in the winter). If I do go with 10 gallon I don't need then wave maker? Thanks

 

[Uncle99]

I would think a power filter would provide enough flow for 10 gallons.
A wave maker in this confined area may produce to turbid of a flow.

Tank, sand, rock, temp and flow (filter)

 

[pshootr]

A small powerhead would be a good idea to increase flow, but depending on how much flow to hang on back filter has might not be totally necessary.

Good point, looking around for second hand ones but I already have a 10 gallon and my room can only hold so much (go to my 38 gallon fresh water and a couple big tanks for my pond fish tank o bring in the winter). If I do go with 10 gallon I don't need then wave maker? Thanks

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[pshootr]

I was thinking the same thing. Unless the power filter is very tiny.

I would think a power filter would provide enough flow for 10 gallons.
A wave maker in this confined area may produce to turbid of a flow.

Tank, sand, rock, temp and flow (filter)

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[mcgyvr]

If I was doing a 10g tank I would have the 400gph hydor powerhead and nothing else..
No filter at all..no fuge..no skimmer.....rely on weekly 1-2g water changes only..
Start the tank with dry sand and about 10-15 lbs of rock... Cycle it and enjoy...

 

[pshootr]

If I was doing a 10g tank I would have the 400gph hydor powerhead and nothing else..
No filter at all..no fuge..no skimmer.....rely on weekly 1-2g water changes only..
Start the tank with dry sand and about 10-15 lbs of rock... Cycle it and enjoy...

That is a sound plan. I just figured since he's only using the 10-gallon because he has it already, and he said he plans on getting a bigger tank, that he might be better off putting money aside for the bigger tank rather than buying a powerhead for the 10 gallon.

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[Uncle99]

The HOB is good for deployment of carbon and GFO, you can likely combine both flow type makers into one if cost is an issue.

 

[pshootr]

Very true. While I am sure that many people could be successful with only a powerhead. I think the flexibility of a HOB is a better idea for people who are starting out.

The HOB is good for deployment of carbon and GFO, you can likely combine both flow type makers into one if cost is an issue.

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[Winston27]

Ok so reading through all the great response I have decided to (probably) get a 15 or 20 gallon tank used and use my 10 gallon as the sump. I would still use all the he equipment listed. I like to save money but if I have then choice I will buy quality and something I can trust.

 

[pshootr]

I think you are making a great choice to hold out for something at least somewhat larger. most people who run small and Nanos are people who already have hands-on experience and just want the challenge.

But when starting out the most volume you can afford is always going to be better. in one respect you could say it's better because you will get better stability and that is true. Another way to look at it is that you're going to spend several months getting a small tank stable, then upgrading it and spend another several months getting its table again.

Better off cutting through the Chase and spending those months getting the tank you really want stable.

Keep your eye out on Craigslist. And also search for local community sales f forums on Facebook. Oftentimes you can find great deals that way.

Being that this process is always slow even when you are ready have the equipment, I feel it is worth the extra few weeks or even couple months and it takes to find the right equipment for the right price.

Ok so reading through all the great response I have decided to (probably) get a 15 or 20 gallon tank used and use my 10 gallon as the sump. I would still use all the he equipment listed. I like to save money but if I have then choice I will buy quality and something I can trust.

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[Winston27]

I think you are making a great choice to hold out for something at least somewhat larger. most people who run small and Nanos are people who already have hands-on experience and just want the challenge.

But when starting out the most volume you can afford is always going to be better. in one respect you could say it's better because you will get better stability and that is true. Another way to look at it is that you're going to spend several months getting a small tank stable, then upgrading it and spend another several months getting its table again.

Better off cutting through the Chase and spending those months getting the tank you really want stable.

Keep your eye out on Craigslist. And also search for local community sales f forums on Facebook. Oftentimes you can find great deals that way.

Being that this process is always slow even when you are ready have the equipment, I feel it is worth the extra few weeks or even couple months and it takes to find the right equipment for the right price.

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I got my 38 gallon free so I should be able to get a 20 gal pretty cheap or wait for a sale. That gives me almost 30 gallons to work with including the sump. I am just going to be patient and build the stand once I get the tanks and take my time so I can hopefully avoid some mistakes! Thanks!

 

[Uncle99]

I got my 38 gallon free so I should be able to get a 20 gal pretty cheap or wait for a sale. That gives me almost 30 gallons to work with including the sump. I am just going to be patient and build the stand once I get the tanks and take my time so I can hopefully avoid some mistakes! Thanks!

Excellent choices!

 

[pshootr]

20 gallon long tanks make for a nice-looking Nano. They have the panoramic view, and they are shallow which means the light does not have to penetrate very much. This gives you some flexibility with coral choices, even with moderate lighting.

I got my 38 gallon free so I should be able to get a 20 gal pretty cheap or wait for a sale. That gives me almost 30 gallons to work with including the sump. I am just going to be patient and build the stand once I get the tanks and take my time so I can hopefully avoid some mistakes! Thanks!

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[pshootr]

However I would certainly recommend a 40 breeder

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[pshootr]

As many people on The Forum have stated. No one ever downgrades. Rather they want to go bigger. And as I stated before you are better off spending your Break in period on a tank that better suits your desires. Petco usually does a dollar per gallon sale up to 40 gallons a couple times per year. I would expect their next sale to come up around Christmas

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[btmedic04]

Ditch the hydrometer and get a refractometer. Much more accurate. A 20 long with a 10 gallon sump is a very nice set up since space is limited. I'd invest in hardware now that can be reused in a larger system later on down the road when you have more space. Things like a ro/di, refractometer, some forms of lighting, some powerheads etc. I started with a 20 tall and went cheap on equipment while I learned 5 years ago. I'm now getting back into the hobby and starting an innovative marine fusion 20 due to space constraints, but the equipment I'm choosing will work on a 40B no problem.