Would this work?

[GoogleEyes]

Im thinking of doin a small tank for my son. I am thinking a 10 gallon with one large center piece of live rock. An aquaclear HOB just to soak up some bacteria and possible run to carbon. A small hydor for some circulation. A ai prime pennet mabe for light. (Some suggetions on that light would be nice. Anyways the centerpiece being a toadstool or possible a frogspawn. You opions please!

 

[davehead86]

I like it! That may be a lot more light than you need. :lol:

You could even add a firefish and a shrimp to that tank. Or maybe a goby and pisitl shrimp pair.

 

[jraker]

I would get a 20 long because the parameters would be more stable. Otherwise, you seem in pretty good shape.

 

[Sapelo]

The bigger question is: what kind of livestock do you want?
Are you thinking coral only or are you wanting fish too? Make that decision now and save yourself a lot of heartache later.
(And jraker is correct, larger is easier in some ways since you have more water to absorb any changes that might occur.)
It's a great hobby and could be a wonderful learning experience, but it wont be as easy as simply adding some saltwater, a HOB filter and some lighting.

 

[Dmorty217]

Not much difference in 10g or 20g as far as stability goes. Basically boils down to if you want any fish or not. Two small nano fish would work in a 10g and no more, in a 20g you could do a few more depending on what you want. If the tank is just for a coral or two the 10g will be fine

 

[GoogleEyes]

Mabe a clown and small goby that's it for fish just mainly a leather type coral so that mabe, just mabe, we could see it hosting. Then mabe a 10% water change weekly. He wants an bubble tip but I don't feel like the headaches

 

[davehead86]

Mabe a clown and small goby that's it for fish just mainly a leather type coral so that mabe, just mabe, we could see it hosting. Then mabe a 10% water change weekly. He wants an bubble tip but I don't feel like the headaches

Bubble tip will be too large IMHO for a 10 gallon.
You could do just the clowfish, by himself, thats it fishwise if you went that direction.

 

[H2OCulture]

Go slow. Add the coral first after the cycle, then a fish a couple of weeks later. 10gal is a fine volume, I kept one through college. Add some Xenia for movement as nutrient sequestration as well as slow growing red macro algae for phosphate. Good luck!

 

[Reef Frog]

Go with no less than 20g if using a conventional aquarium. Hang in the back equipment will overwhelm a 10g. The biggest challenge with a small SW aquarium is keeping up with evaporated water. A hood will help as long as there is sufficient air exchange but an auto top off device is the best way to go. Figure on $100 for that.

In fact, an all in one with a hood like a bio cube may be the best idea. A 29g cube doesn't take up appreciably more space than a 10g. JMO.