jgibson1513
New member
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW AN EASY AND COST EFFECTIVE WAY TO SET UP TEN GALLON REGULAR TANK FOR MY KIDS. WHAT EQUITMENT TO BUY AND WHAT TEST WOULD BE EASY TO READ FOR A 8 YEAR GIRL AND 6YEAR OLD BOY PLEASE HELP
10 gallon tank for my kids help
- Thread starter jgibson1513
- Start date
sir_dudeguy
Active member
is this going to be a reef or no? If its not a reef, then you wont need certain equipment (lighting being the main thing).
But just to start, you're gonna need at least 10 lbs of live rock...13 or so would be better tho.
But just to start, you're gonna need at least 10 lbs of live rock...13 or so would be better tho.
jgibson1513
New member
THANKS FOR REPLY ITS GOING TO BE REEF
jgibson1513
New member
I HAVE LIVE ROCK AND LIVE SAND FROM MY 220
sir_dudeguy
Active member
ok so now how bout flow? I'd get maybe 1 powerheads, but imo, for a small 10 gallon tank, you'd be better off getting something like an aquaclear hob filter and just using it as a little fuge. Get one thats bigger than whats needed for a tank thats 10 gallons...i'm thinking the ac 70? I think it does 70 gph right? if so, i'd get that.
That will take away one powerhead that would be needed, but you still need another one...i'd get one that does around 100 or 120 gph and put it on the opposite end of the hob. That will give you a more random flow.
What i would normally say is just get at least 2 powerheads...one on each end pointing at each other, one slightly higher and to the side of the other ones flow. But 10's are just too small to where that would be kinda unsightly, you know? Thats why i say go w/the hob...you can get flow w/out anything in the tank really, along w/a fuge in the same thing
Then lighting...Do you wanna just keep stuff like softies? (xenia, mushrooms, gsp's, etc?) or do you want to keep the harder sps type stuff? If this is your first reef i wouldnt suggest doing sps, specially in a small 10 gallon, because they're generallyy harder to grow in smaller tanks because they're not as easy to keep stable. But if you're really good about keeping up with the tank and stuff...then you could get sps corals..at which point you're gonna need much stronger lights than what softies and lps need
So for softies...i'd say maybe a 65w fixture at min....but theres one that is on doc foster and smith thats the right size of a 10 gallon tank (20 inches right?) and its a 2x40 light bulb fixture. IMO, that would be better cuz you could also have the actinic instead of using a 50/50 which will lower your PAR. I'm sure some people keep stuff w/a single 50/50 65w bulb on a 55, but imo, 50/50 kinda limits what you can do.
If you want an sps tank, you're gonna need stronger light, but i'm not sure which ones would be good for just a 10...many people go with mh's only for sps corals, but t5's can be just as strong
So what type of reef would you like?
That will take away one powerhead that would be needed, but you still need another one...i'd get one that does around 100 or 120 gph and put it on the opposite end of the hob. That will give you a more random flow.
What i would normally say is just get at least 2 powerheads...one on each end pointing at each other, one slightly higher and to the side of the other ones flow. But 10's are just too small to where that would be kinda unsightly, you know? Thats why i say go w/the hob...you can get flow w/out anything in the tank really, along w/a fuge in the same thing
Then lighting...Do you wanna just keep stuff like softies? (xenia, mushrooms, gsp's, etc?) or do you want to keep the harder sps type stuff? If this is your first reef i wouldnt suggest doing sps, specially in a small 10 gallon, because they're generallyy harder to grow in smaller tanks because they're not as easy to keep stable. But if you're really good about keeping up with the tank and stuff...then you could get sps corals..at which point you're gonna need much stronger lights than what softies and lps need
So for softies...i'd say maybe a 65w fixture at min....but theres one that is on doc foster and smith thats the right size of a 10 gallon tank (20 inches right?) and its a 2x40 light bulb fixture. IMO, that would be better cuz you could also have the actinic instead of using a 50/50 which will lower your PAR. I'm sure some people keep stuff w/a single 50/50 65w bulb on a 55, but imo, 50/50 kinda limits what you can do.
If you want an sps tank, you're gonna need stronger light, but i'm not sure which ones would be good for just a 10...many people go with mh's only for sps corals, but t5's can be just as strong
So what type of reef would you like?
sir_dudeguy
Active member
ouch
but he does have a point. Reefs arent really any different than fish only. The only thing that really changes is that you need more flow, good lighting, and you need to test for more stuff than you do in a fowlr
but he does have a point. Reefs arent really any different than fish only. The only thing that really changes is that you need more flow, good lighting, and you need to test for more stuff than you do in a fowlr
jgibson1513
New member
sorry about the all caps. my 220 is a reef thats been up for about 6 months i just have no experience with small tanks.i wanted help with lighting,flow,corals and fish for a small tank.i would also like if someone knows about easy test my kids can do and read so they fell invaled.sir_dudeguy thanks for the info on the ac70 but how do i turn it into fuge.
DiSkuStiNg
New member
They have quick test strips for nitrite, nitrate, ph, and amonia. All you do is dip it in the water and match it. Liquid tests are toxic, stay away from those with kids.
raastamon
Premium Member
I am running a 10g mixed reef and it really isnt that hard to maintain.
equipment: i am using the hob ac modded into a fuge, 2 powerheads(powersweep and mj400) and a 20' 150w sunpod since i have some sps frags. but i ran the 96w powerquad and find it more than enough lighting.
you wont really need a skimmer but since my bioload is pretty high with a pair of clowns, purple firefish, a blenny, and a damsel that im too lazy to catch, im running a seaclone which has actually been ehh as far as performance, but i do get pretty dark skimmate. im sure 10-20% water changes will be enough...
equipment: i am using the hob ac modded into a fuge, 2 powerheads(powersweep and mj400) and a 20' 150w sunpod since i have some sps frags. but i ran the 96w powerquad and find it more than enough lighting.
you wont really need a skimmer but since my bioload is pretty high with a pair of clowns, purple firefish, a blenny, and a damsel that im too lazy to catch, im running a seaclone which has actually been ehh as far as performance, but i do get pretty dark skimmate. im sure 10-20% water changes will be enough...
jgibson1513
New member
diskusting thanks for the test info do you know the brand. raastmon how did u modd ac into fuge. i did not think you could have that many fish in a ten gallon what corrals do you have.
jgibson1513
New member
i have extra 250 pendent would this be to much ligth for ten gallons.
jgibson1513
New member
thanks raastamon very nice tank and fuge.i found a thread on how to make the ac fuge. thanks for the pics makes it easier to show the kids what it could look like.
sir_dudeguy
Active member
sorry, i was gone for a couple days. For the fuge all i did was throw in some live sand and rubble and some chaeto algae.
also, those test strips that diskusting recomended...i really DONT recommend them. They're not gonna be accurate at all usually. And those liquid tests arent really gonna do anything unless you drink them or something lol. I get them on my hands all the time and nothing happens. And plus, if you've already got tests for your other tank...just use those.
Another thing, imo thats way too many fish in a 10 gallon that disku has. You may have good enough filtration yes, but at that point its just cramping the fish.
also, those test strips that diskusting recomended...i really DONT recommend them. They're not gonna be accurate at all usually. And those liquid tests arent really gonna do anything unless you drink them or something lol. I get them on my hands all the time and nothing happens. And plus, if you've already got tests for your other tank...just use those.
Another thing, imo thats way too many fish in a 10 gallon that disku has. You may have good enough filtration yes, but at that point its just cramping the fish.
raastamon
Premium Member
its actually me that has too many fish in a 10g. I ran a 24gNC and i got rid of it. the 10 was my qt tank, which is my temp display til i get the 70 and 40 running...my bday is tomm so hopefully i get the ends to start up those projects...
i agree with the test strips, they are innacurate. go with the liquid.
i agree with the test strips, they are innacurate. go with the liquid.
sir_dudeguy
Active member
aahh, srry bout that disku! I dont even know why i thought it was you that posted that lol. My bad!
But raastamon, it they're just temporarily in there thats fine. I just woudnt recomend it long term, you know?
But raastamon, it they're just temporarily in there thats fine. I just woudnt recomend it long term, you know?
jgibson1513
New member
the test strips would be for the kids i would still test with my test from the 220. i know my son wants two (nemos) and my girl wants a dottyback do you think thats to many fish. raastamon thanks for info about 250 pendant.
sir_dudeguy
Active member
2 clowns is ok (if they're just the regular percs/ocelaris...no maroon clown is gonna fit lol) But i'm thinkin the dottybacks are like a royal gramma? (size and shape wise...i know nothing about their colors) But if they are like that, then i'd say forget about the dottyback...that'd be too many fish. I'd say you could get by w/maybe a small gobie..like a watchman or maybe a different pistol shrimp gobie (like those white ones w/the maroon stripes and high fin..cant remember the name) And then of course get a pistol shrimp to go w/it 
