Advice on a 10 gal reef.

[Meyeronfire!]

Hey guys,

My GF wants to start a 10 gal reef. I need a little help with how the setup will work. I have never messed with nano or small tanks and I do know that smaller the setup the harder they are to keep. She has in mind that she wants to keep a mixed reef and eventually wants a maxima clam. As for lighting I am leaning towards a MH clip on fixture. I need advice on what kind of circulation is needed, whether or not I need to build a sump with and overflow box built in and things like that. I would really appreciate the help guys!

 

[Ohiomom]

imo if you are going to go through the trouble of a sump and such I would get a bit bigger tank..as far as lighting t5's would work too. I would think something along the lines of a Koralia 2 would be more than enough flow. Real basic advice and I am sure others will chime in.

 

[returnofsid]

T5HO would be enough lighting, as long as you got a fixture with quality individual reflectors. I'd suggest reading a lot of the Nano Forum threads. http://reefcentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=75

Also, start a thread there about it. You'll get a lot of specialized advice!! Keep us updated!!!

 

[rustyjames]

A Koralia 2 is 600 gph! 60x flow seems like alot.

 

[Ohiomom]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15337085#post15337085 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cdzdisks
A Koralia 2 is 600 gph! 60x flow seems like alot.

First off I don't believe they do as much as they say..just my opinion.. also, here is a good article..to read and make a choice..

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/circmarart.htm

And ok if overstated..then K1..

 

[Cbravo212]

You want 40 - 60 times turnover in the tank. So the K2 would be fine.

 

[rustyjames]

I did not know that. Most things I've read and heard said 20-30x flow. I was mainly trying to picture a 5 1/2 inch power head in a 12 inch tank!

 

[abulgin]

Personally, I think you're wasting your time and setting yourself up for a disaster and, at a minimum, constant work without any real reward. Setting up a 10 gallon reef is kind of like setting up a 24" run wire for a german shorthaired pointer.

With that said, there's NO way you can keep a maxima clam in a 10 gallon tank. They get big--and there will be no place to put it, unless you don't plan on having any live rock in the tank.

Also, I'd love to see a video of a 10 gallon tank with 2 Koralia 2s running! It's going to look like something out of a Deadliest Catch episode.

 

[Ohiomom]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15337319#post15337319 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by abulgin
Also, I'd love to see a video of a 10 gallon tank with 2 Koralia 2s running! It's going to look like something out of a Deadliest Catch episode.

Umm yeap I would like to see that too! But think we all only suggested one Koralia 2..and if still too much a K1..

 

[demonboy369]

and how's that setting up for disaster? I successfully keep a 2g pico and the only maintenance it requires is a weekly cup and a half water change and an occasional baster blast of the rocks.

my tank thrives and has no problems.

just because 1 person can't do it don't mean it can't be done easily by someone else.

if it was so likely to fail there wouldn't be so many successful nanos and pico tanks.

my 2g cost me less then my 29g both initially and long term.

I agree about it being 2 small for the clam though.

I would say go t5s and a k2 or a throttled down mp10

 

[demonboy369]

you could even look into a tunze nano

 

[jfgoldfire]

I have a 10 gal. ADA tank, with Sundial T-5, AC30 filter, AJ400 PH.
I had a K-nano in it but as the corals grew the flow was not enough. Since going to the AJ400 I've noticed a marked improvement in conditions inside the tank. I do weekly water changes, monthly carbon changes, at least weekly filter floss changes if not every 4-5 days, and it works for me.

It was mainly my choice so I could sit it on the granite countertop in the kitchen, next to a kitchen desk which I frequent. It's been there for 18 months and everything is fine, with no major problems. It's a mixed reef with Softies, LPS, SPS and 3 fish. It's maxed out now so I keep fragging the corals for friends. I would agree with some of the above comments in that IF it wasn't on the counter because I wanted it next to the desk, then I'd have a bigger tank out in another room. My wife and I both enjoy it on the counter.

Although it's not difficult to keep, I've run out of room in 18 months and the only way to go bigger is to go out into another room with a larger tank. Then I'd probably still keep the 10 gal. on the counter just cuz we like it so much.

 

[dudley moray]

i have a 10 gal with a clam no problem i also have a hob filter a taam rio skimmer and t-5's best looking tank in my bunch it's doing so well ive stopped dosing anything other than water !and food !!

 

[dudley moray]

i have a 10 gal with a clam no problem i also have a k nano a hob filter a taam rio skimmer and t-5's best looking tank in my bunch it's doing so well ive stopped dosing anything other than water !and food !!

 

[Meyeronfire!]

Wow dudley! the tank is awesome! See I knew there was hope. I will do some more research on what route we are going to take. She really wants one. So if I tell her its not going to work out im going to be in trouble! lol. I knew you dont have to have the fanciest equipment to be successful in this hobby.....

 

[aquaman67]

10 gallon is actually a common size for reef tanks. Check out Agu's.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1277425

I had a 12 gallon nano cube at work before I went to Iraq. It was easy to care for.

 

[reefsforme]

!0 gallon aquarium is a fine, I have a 6 gallon tank and its pretty cool. I would suggest getting a 20 gallon minimum if you are thinking about getting a maxima clam. Smaller tanks are harder to deal with, because if something happens, as a mistake, consequences will come in. But if you have a larger tank, and make a mistake, its much easier to fix it. For a small tank like 10 gallons, you should have at least 120 gph for circulation wise. You can buy many filters that are great for saltwater tanks in and pet store that can cost from $30 - $60, and they work fine. Also with this small tank, you have to make sure not to over populate, and always try to stay on the smaller side of things, because things do grow, such as corals, live rock, fish, etc. This small tank requires more time of maintance and checking all the parameters more often. You should change the water at least 2 times a month. But I would suggest to get the biggest tank that can fit your budget, and seriously look in many stores before you buy. There might be very big price differences.

 

[Agu]

Here's a newer pic of my 10 gallon that's been up since 2002. The leathers and plate coral are gone because they outgrew the tank.

Smaller tanks are the easiest tanks I've ever had if you follow two rules, don't overstock and do your maintenance.

I prefer HOB filters. The add volume, it's a place to drip kalk, they don't add heat to the tank and they provide a wide flow without intruding into the tank. My nanos also have a second flow source just in case the first source fails. Turnover depends on the corals you want to keep. About 30X is fine for my tanks with LPS or Softies.

My tanks take way less time than larger tanks. It might be because other than temp (with a digital thermometer) and salinity (with a refractometer) I don't test my water and try to adjust parameters. It's a lot easied to just do some back to back one gallon water changes if things don't look right. Even if things look great my tanks get 10%+ weekly water changes.

I'm using PC lighting but thats what was available 6 years ago when my nanos were set up. When/if those fixtures finally fail they'll be replaced with clip on MH (or LED if they're cheap enough because the PCs lasted that long).

 

[Agu]

And just to show off here's a drilled 10 with a sump that's been up since '03.

 

[rusty scupper]

i've got a 10 gal with a hang over filter that is for up to 35 gallon tank, orbit power compact, i have one power head in it but havent ran it in a while, its got a 3"+ deep sand bed and a ton of live rock, its sweet! i the filters never get dirty, just crabs and a big sea urchin right now, need to put fish in it again, a few polyps and one coral. really no maintaining to it.