Wanting to do a 10gal nono HELP!
- Thread starter Motohead
- Start date
I think your son will love a 10 gallon tank, I think they're a perfect size for tight spots and tight budgets (although it's gonna be more expensive than you'd think, as I found out!). I will tell you exactly what I had to start my 10 gallon (since moved into a 20 gallon, though) and it worked perfectly for some time without any problems or need for anything else. Others may disagree, but you won't NEED a skimmer on a 10 gallon, just keep up with water changes. As for lighting, I had great results with the Current USA Orbit 2x40w PC fixture, it's more than sufficient light for any softies/LPS. This will probably be your biggest investment as far as hardware goes. For filtration, I had great success with the simple AquaClear 30 filter with the surface skimmer attachment. Then you'll want a small powerhead for a bit more flow. I also had about 25 lbs of LR and 20 lbs of sand in mine but you may not have to have that much, but I went that high for natural filtration purposes and it worked flawlessly. Hopefully others will chime in with their opinions. Good luck, it's great to hear you want to include your son in the hobby.
sir_dudeguy
Active member
yea i wouldnt use that much rock either...maybe 15 lbs is all...that'll be plenty of filtration.
I would also try to get some pc's in the 96 watt range.
other than the rocks for filtration, just make sure you've got a couple small powerheads to give you at least 15 times your total water volum turnover per hour.
I would also try to get some pc's in the 96 watt range.
other than the rocks for filtration, just make sure you've got a couple small powerheads to give you at least 15 times your total water volum turnover per hour.
-=Zepplock=-
New member
I have a 10g at work.
I have 96w retrofit light 50/50.
One small powerhead and heater.
I also have Cralife skimmer 65 in it.
The pump is big and ugly but it skims soooo much and water is very clear. no algae etc.
I have one peppermint shrim and 6 line wrasse. many corals (no sps).
I have 96w retrofit light 50/50.
One small powerhead and heater.
I also have Cralife skimmer 65 in it.
The pump is big and ugly but it skims soooo much and water is very clear. no algae etc.
I have one peppermint shrim and 6 line wrasse. many corals (no sps).
sir_dudeguy
Active member
imo that wrasse is too big for that 10. i've read that they need at least 30 gallons because not only do that swim a lot, but you need to have more rock for them to pick pods off of...and i have to agree with that now that i've got one in my 55. Hes a very active fish that i think would go crazy in a 10, unless he's very small, because mines only an inch and a half to 2 inches.
also, if you like the looks of all those tanks that have blue light (which i do i know) then i would suggest getting a smaller, 2 bulb fixture, like a 2x65, and one that has 2 on off switches. That way you could have a full actinic bulb and a full 10K daylight bulb...the actinic goes on a half hour or so before the 10K and then both stay on, and then when the 10K goes off, the actinic would stay on for another half hour or so.
If you get just a 50/50 bulb, or a fixture with only one on/off switch, you cant decide when to run the actinics only.
I dont think the actinics are completely nessessary, but they make the color so much nicer than a single 10K bulb does, so if you do get a one bulb fixture, i would also definately recomend the 50/50 bulb...otherwise if you just get a 10K daylight, it will have a kind of ugly yellowish color of light instead of the blue/white
also, if you like the looks of all those tanks that have blue light (which i do i know) then i would suggest getting a smaller, 2 bulb fixture, like a 2x65, and one that has 2 on off switches. That way you could have a full actinic bulb and a full 10K daylight bulb...the actinic goes on a half hour or so before the 10K and then both stay on, and then when the 10K goes off, the actinic would stay on for another half hour or so.
If you get just a 50/50 bulb, or a fixture with only one on/off switch, you cant decide when to run the actinics only.
I dont think the actinics are completely nessessary, but they make the color so much nicer than a single 10K bulb does, so if you do get a one bulb fixture, i would also definately recomend the 50/50 bulb...otherwise if you just get a 10K daylight, it will have a kind of ugly yellowish color of light instead of the blue/white
keener1830
Member
I have a penugun mini bio wheel and a second hang on on the other side to keep flow moving I don't like power heads they take up space and kinda look ugly hard to hide. good luck with it they are fun tanks to have I love mine
sir_dudeguy
Active member
i dissagree...you do need filtration, but your filtration is live rock. that takes care of the cycle process, and THATS when you need flow, is with live rock so that the water goes thru it. otherwise with no movement the rock wouldnt be filtering any water.
sir_dudeguy
Active member
thats still not going to take care of your biological filtration (breaking down amonia to nitrites, and nitrites down to nitrates)
You would either have to have 1 or more lbs of live rock per gallon of water (so for a 10 gallon tank you'd need at least 10 pounds of live rock), or you could use a filter with media in it. Carbon isnt considered a media tho imo..it doesnt take care of amonia and stuff, just clears up the water. But the media would be something like the biomax stuff that fluval filters use...those little hollow cylinders that are made out of ceramic or something like that.
But imo, you shouldnt use filter media in a reef, because they cause high nitrates.
Go for live rock, and maybe run carbon with it.
You would either have to have 1 or more lbs of live rock per gallon of water (so for a 10 gallon tank you'd need at least 10 pounds of live rock), or you could use a filter with media in it. Carbon isnt considered a media tho imo..it doesnt take care of amonia and stuff, just clears up the water. But the media would be something like the biomax stuff that fluval filters use...those little hollow cylinders that are made out of ceramic or something like that.
But imo, you shouldnt use filter media in a reef, because they cause high nitrates.
Go for live rock, and maybe run carbon with it.
sir_dudeguy
Active member
ya that sounds about right. I'd start with 15 lbs...then if you need more go higher. But if you only get 10, there will be enough for filtration, but theres just not enough for looks imo.
i'd say that you can do a clown pair in there. Just dont get any of the bigger clowns like maroons. I'd say stick to just the basic percs or false percs (ocelaris). Are you planning on any corals?
i'd say that you can do a clown pair in there. Just dont get any of the bigger clowns like maroons. I'd say stick to just the basic percs or false percs (ocelaris). Are you planning on any corals?
sir_dudeguy
Active member
what light can you afford? if you can get a 2x65 or a 1x96 you could keep pretty much any softy like xenia, green star polyp, brown polyp, any other polyp except for a select few i think, um...bunch of stuff.
go to liveaquaria.com and look at their corals...go to the soft coral section and look in there...well for that matter look at all the coral sections, post which ones you like/want, and then it would be easier to decide on a light from there.
go to liveaquaria.com and look at their corals...go to the soft coral section and look in there...well for that matter look at all the coral sections, post which ones you like/want, and then it would be easier to decide on a light from there.
sir_dudeguy
Active member
for a 10 no you dont really need a skimmer. One will only help thats for sure, but not completely needed. 10's are so small that if you keep up on your weekly water changes, you're gonna get out most of the loose stuff. If you do want one tho...i hear that bak pak skimmers are good for smaller tanks, but i have no clue if thats acurate. Or you could totally overkill and get a remora skimmer 
and im' not sure...but i dont think you want c02 in the water. I've read that it will lower your pH, which is the opposite of what most people need (most have a problem with low pH)
but i could be wrong on that.
and im' not sure...but i dont think you want c02 in the water. I've read that it will lower your pH, which is the opposite of what most people need (most have a problem with low pH)
but i could be wrong on that.
James11
Member
I have a 10 gallon right now, I have LR around 15-20 pounds, The only filter I use is a prism, its not the greatest but it does the job if you wanna stay cheap. As far as corals I have xenia, zoos, mushrooms and a leather, along with a mated pair of clowns. If you stay on top of the weekly water changes you'll be fine. I have 2 MJ 400 for water movement, plus the movement from my canister filter that I only run carbon through. My UV is also hooked up to it, it keeps the water looking great and I have no algae. As for the light I went with a Coralife 2X65. I love it, its so bright and crisp and I don't have to worry about any of my corals not getting enough light. The water changes will help put back all the essential trace elements that you need, I've got a nice start on coraline starting to grow on everything. Good Luck.
sir_dudeguy
Active member
just a question for everyone...are skimmers even considered filters? when i think of filters, i think of whatever form you have that breaks the stuff down...skimmers just pull stuff out, which i guess in a way is filtering out stuff...just a thought
