Erg! Please help!

[Noah 123]

I so dearly want a saltwater tank, I've wanted one since I was 3 and it's all I can think about all day! I have a spare 10 gallon tank that I want to turn into a mini tank for hermit crabs, peppermint shrimp, and 2 ocellaris clownfish. What will the cost of this be??? I know I need to get a heater, live rock, live sand, filter, refractometer, and sea salt mix. Anything else???

 

[ghellin]

Check the ***Setting up How to*** sticky it will cover your basic questions.

 

[SwampyBill]

A 10 gallon is much too small for a pair of clownfish (or even for 1). About the only thing that would work in that size tank is a small goby/pistol shrimp pair.

 

[coralsnaked]

Clown Goby pair and 10 lbs rock would work great with a few mushrooms and a a pair of hermits and peppermints

 

[shesacharmer]

Get an ammonia badge and test kits.

 

[Heathcoot]

Serious ppl u are shooting dreams down what perfect way to start learning then with this size tank it won't be easy but gosh who wants 1 fish atleast Noah was reasonable with only a pair of clowns and not a dang Naso tang Noah u don't have to listen to me but I started when I was ten just messed everything up I wiped out my tank because my lack of knowledge and experience but I learned and did it right they are right it's too small of a tank but it can be done lol it deff beats the little fish sitting in a pet shop for ever they would love interaction with someone who will take care of them

Go get a hang on filter aqua clear 50 or marineland bio wheel rite size c size filter 35-50$
Find a 100 watt heater submersible 30$
When buying live rock be very selective smaller pieces and the ability to create a nice cave or outcropping just don't go buy 30 lbs and fill it up 6$ per lbs or pukani pieces good stuff
Ppl recommend 1 lbs sand per gallon or you could go with inches I'd do like 2.5 to 3 inch and focus on some sand sifting creatures like nassarius snails or a star
Start wit ro/di water and reef salt for you inverts mix to 1.025 specific gravity
Do not start with snails till you have some algea growth for a stream turbo or Margarita Cerrith list goes on
3 hermit crabs will do fine maybe 5 but watch because they may tare eachother up for shells and snails at that matter
Make sure to keep up on water changes 1 to 2 gallons a week or 3 to 4 every other I'd recommend more frequent smaller changes only because stability is a key to success in the marine hobby
As far as a light the Kessil a 150 ocean blue is pretty nice with a gooseneck my be a little to intense tho cheaper a par38 or like a marineland reef capable just so many to choose from you can pm me if you like cause it can be a pain looking for leds to fit ur need
The clowns would love an anemone rosebubble pick a nice one but that can be touchy in a new setup so don't put one in for I'd say 6 months but some may disagree
I'd say 300$ 500$ would be a decent setup any other questions pm me in time tho those clowns will get to large start with a 20long if u can everything I named will transfer over

 

[Noah 123]

At my lfs they have a 14 gallon tank with 2 ocellaris clowns and a purple dottyback. I got a freshwater tank for my birthday a long time ago but I really wanted saltwater. Every time I go into fish stores I just walk right past the freshwater crap and look at all my favourite saltwater fish -- Ocellaris clowns, blue tangs, yellow tangs, royal grammas etc. My freshwater tank is still running (it has been ever since I was like 4), and I still get fish for it, but it just doesn't compare. I'd rather have a 10 gallon saltwater tank than a 1000 gallon freshwater tank.

 

[Portsie]

No matter what heathcoot says, 10 gallons is too small for a pair of clowns. Look at getting a 29g all in one tank if your hearts set on the clowns. You could probably find a used one locally for pretty cheap.

 

[fishhuman]

At my lfs they have a 14 gallon tank with 2 ocellaris clowns and a purple dottyback. I got a freshwater tank for my birthday a long time ago but I really wanted saltwater. Every time I go into fish stores I just walk right past the freshwater crap and look at all my favourite saltwater fish -- Ocellaris clowns, blue tangs, yellow tangs, royal grammas etc. My freshwater tank is still running (it has been ever since I was like 4), and I still get fish for it, but it just doesn't compare. I'd rather have a 10 gallon saltwater tank than a 1000 gallon freshwater tank.

Hey, I know how confusing it can be to be new and post on a forum, you get all this advice that conflicts with each other and don't know what to do. My advice for you is to go as large as you can you will be happier for it, if you need to have only 10 gallons I would say no to the clown pair, but if you have solid plans to upgrade, I'm sure you will when you get started it's addicting. Then how about get one clown now and make it a pair when you upgrade. Besides if you only go with one you can get a more expensive desisghner clown. Just to let you know I saw the yellow tang on your list of fish you loved and wanted to remind you that it needs a 100 or more gallon tank. Other than that good luck with your first tank.:bounce3: