My list of needed items... Still could use suggestions

[travie]

List of Things Needed for my 10g FOWLR. Not sure if it has everything, but its got almost everything.

Hood/Lighting - Not sure, cheap since FOWLR for now
Hydrometer - Cheap plastice kind - $8.49
Skimmer - Not sure yet/Need to check LFS
Heater - Visi-Therm Stealth Heater 75 watt - $17.99
Powerhead - Hydor Koralia Pump 1 - $37.99
Marine Salt - Not sure yet/Need to check LFS
Sand - Not sure yet/Need to check LFS
10lbs. Live Rock & 1 lb. Base Rock - $6.99/lb.
Test Kit - API Saltwater Test Kit - $14.39
Glass thermometer - $2.39
Assorted Chemicals - Not sure which ones I will need yet
Fish/Inverts - Not finalized
Food - Depends on above
& Sealable container to hold water for water changes

Total: $151.15 + hood/lighting + skimmer + marine salt + sand + chemicals + fish/inverts + food + sealable container

All prices are from Drs. Foster and Smith, except live rock.

Any suggestions for the items I have listed and for items I don't have listed is greatly appreciated. Or anything that I may have missed.

[cocoa_pleco]

looks good, ive heard that these skimmers are good for nano tanks

http://cgi.ebay.com/Fission-Nano-Reef-Tank-Protein-Skimmer-Filter-6pk_W0QQitemZ300213582055QQihZ020QQcategoryZ46313Q QssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

also, i would skip the 2lbs base rock and just spring out a extra $6 for a extra 2lbs live rock, base rock is best in tanks 33g+, else it can be a pain

[sailor]

Another big item people sometimes overlook is the water. You need a reliable stable consistant RO water source for mixing your salt with for your water changes.

[cocoa_pleco]

Another big item people sometimes overlook is the water. You need a reliable stable consistant RO water source for mixing your salt with for your water changes.

DITTO! i cant believe i missed that, always use RO water for filling and topoffs. if you use tapwater you will get hair algae and cyano. i filled my 55g with tapwater when i started it and i had 2ft strands of hair algae, it was so bad my poor brain coral got burried in it and died

[sailor]

You might also want to gat a rubbermaid container to mix and hold your prepared water as well as a heater and at least an airpump with difuser or better yet a powerhead of some sort. When you do your water changes it is important for your water to be of the same temp, oxygenated and the same salinity.

[travie]

Would distilled water work? Any suggestions on what brand of salt and sand I should use and get?

[cocoa_pleco]

i would get some aragonite (any brand) and instant ocean salt

[travie]

Would distilled water work in place of RO water?

[sailor]

I don't think there would be a problem using distilled water, as the salt mix adds the required trace elements etc into the water when you mix it, if I'm wrong here I'm sure the sw guru's will let us know.

[zackish]

Distilled water will work. And I don't know if you had it in there but you will need substrate.
Also, I would save your money on the skimmer and just get a simple small HOB for a 10 gallon FOWLR.
And cocoa, I heard that those skimmers were garbage from several different people. I believe drumachine said they were not good if I recall correctly.
What's the story? I was going to buy one of those but then I was kind of persuaded away.

[travie]

Sand was in the list. Distilled water will be my water of choice then. I won't have to worry about dechlorinator then. I got the tank for free, and it came with an HOB, which I figure would be good on a tank less then 5 gallons. Would that filter work? I don't know what brand it is, so what filter media should I put in it?

[cocoa_pleco]

yep, that filter would work, throw in some sponges and ceramic rings. some people say use carbon in saltwater but personally i dont

[travie]

Thanks cocoa. I'll at least try to use it. The inner setup of the filter is weird, so it will be fun getting the media into the filter, keeping it in there, and making sure the water doesn't flow around the media.

[unleashed]

My answers in bold:


List of Things Needed for my 10g FOWLR. Not sure if it has everything, but its got almost everything.

Hood/Lighting - Not sure, cheap since FOWLR for now
Hydrometer - Cheap plastice kind - $8.49 don't go cheap. this is probably one of the most important assets for your tank. I would go for a refractometer instead. They are far more reliable and only take a few seconds to use.
Skimmer - Not sure yet/Need to check LFS
Heater - Visi-Therm Stealth Heater 75 watt - $17.99
Powerhead - Hydor Koralia Pump 1 - $37.99
Marine Salt - Not sure yet/Need to check LFS
Sand - Not sure yet/Need to check LFS
10lbs. Live Rock & 1 lb. Base Rock - $6.99/lb.
Test Kit - API Saltwater Test Kit - $14.39 Go for the best you can afford (Red Sea brand or Salifert are some of the best). Your main ones are: nitrate, ammonia, nitrite and calcium (if you want corals)
Glass thermometer - $2.39 It is best to go for a digital one. Not that expensive and very accurate. Since setting up my tank last september/october, I have not checked the temp once. I go for the 'feel' approach. Everything in my tank survived the major temp swings we get here in summer.
Assorted Chemicals - Not sure which ones I will need yet If you are wanting corals, look out for Zeovit products. I dose these and highly recommend them
Fish/Inverts - Not finalized
Food - Depends on above I highly recommend New life Spectrum - I feed this exclusively in my tank (apart from the once a month feedings of mysis as well as january feedings of live baby glass shrimp)
& Sealable container to hold water for water changes

Total: $151.15 + hood/lighting + skimmer + marine salt + sand + chemicals + fish/inverts + food + sealable container

All prices are from Drs. Foster and Smith, except live rock.

Any suggestions for the items I have listed and for items I don't have listed is greatly appreciated. Or anything that I may have missed.

[spudbuds]

I second the refractometer suggestion. Very much worth it. IMO, it's like the difference between using the paper test strips and the liquid test kits. Sure the test strips work a little to get you an idea, but the liquid test kits are far more accurate. Same thing with the hyrdometer vs. the refractometer. You could make due with the hydrometer, but your salinity will probably not be what you think it is.

As for test kits, in addition to what unleashed mentioned, I would recommend getting alkalinity and magnesium tests if you want corals. Calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium all play together and knowing one of them doesn't help you understand how to dose properly. In addition, I recommend a nice pH monitor instead of using the liquid test kits. Way more accurate.

- Bill

[travie]

Its going to be FOWLR for now. I'll look into the different refractometers.

[zackish]

I agree with everyone about the refractometers but I find the instant ocean $7.00 ones work just as well. I have used a refractometer many times along with my hydrometer and it's pretty dead on. As long as the needle is around that .025/.026 area I'm fine. If you want to spend the extra money it's your choice.

[travie]

Right now, I just don't want to spend around 100 dollars for something that does a similar job at like 8 dollars.

[cocoa_pleco]

you can get refractometers for $30 off of ebay

[travie]

I know where I will go looking now. Cocoa, I think there needs to be an unspoken thank you from me to you from now on. :)

[spudbuds]

I use this (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=9957) one. It works just fine and it isn't $100.

[unleashed]

I second the refractometer suggestion. Very much worth it. IMO, it's like the difference between using the paper test strips and the liquid test kits. Sure the test strips work a little to get you an idea, but the liquid test kits are far more accurate. Same thing with the hyrdometer vs. the refractometer. You could make due with the hydrometer, but your salinity will probably not be what you think it is.

As for test kits, in addition to what unleashed mentioned, I would recommend getting alkalinity and magnesium tests if you want corals. Calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium all play together and knowing one of them doesn't help you understand how to dose properly. In addition, I recommend a nice pH monitor instead of using the liquid test kits. Way more accurate.

- Bill

Magnesium and alkalinity tests are not necessary requirements. Calcium is the biggest of the three. Good quality chemicals (I use Zeovit for example) have daily dosing quantities (e.g. number of mLs per gallon/litres) Of you keep to these dosing levels, your parameters should be fine. I haven't test my water since Jan (i think) and everything is fine.

[zackish]

Those portable ones are nice. I have used them.

[Halelorf]

I use this (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=9957) one. It works just fine and it isn't $100.

I have one that is very similar and was about the same price. Only thing you want to make sure when looking for a recfractometer is that it has Automatic Temperature Compensation or ATC. Otherwise it will be off if the water to be tested isn't at a specific temperature. I think it is usually around 70-75F but a ATC model means you don't have to worry as much. Should also make sure it's calibrated by testing some R/O water to make sure it reads 0.00 s.g.

[spudbuds]

Magnesium and alkalinity tests are not necessary requirements. Calcium is the biggest of the three. Good quality chemicals (I use Zeovit for example) have daily dosing quantities (e.g. number of mLs per gallon/litres) Of you keep to these dosing levels, your parameters should be fine. I haven't test my water since Jan (i think) and everything is fine.
I completely disagree. Alkalinity is just as important as calcium. Without carbonate or bicarbonate (alkalinity), corals (and many other things) can not create their calcium carbonate skeletal structures. I'm not familiar with zeovit. If it's a two part supplement, then you are likely getting alkalinity with it. However, if you are only dosing calcium, your alkalinity will likely be too low and the calcium will be useless. In addition, alkalinity plays a part in your pH level. Low alkalinity can cause low pH.

Magnesium is important in that it has similar chemical properties as calcium and also is a part of coral skeletal structures. If your are having a hard time maintaining calcium and alkalinity levels, it may be because of low magnesium.

EDIT: I forgot to mention that dosing should also be based on usage of life in the tank, not what is on the bottle of supplement. The only way to know if the level of dosing is effective is to test the parameters you are dosing for. After you discover the usage of your tank, then testing can be done less frequently. Over time, things will grow and consume more, so minor adjustments may be necessary.

- Bill

[spudbuds]

I have one that is very similar and was about the same price. Only thing you want to make sure when looking for a recfractometer is that it has Automatic Temperature Compensation or ATC. Otherwise it will be off if the water to be tested isn't at a specific temperature. I think it is usually around 70-75F but a ATC model means you don't have to worry as much. Should also make sure it's calibrated by testing some R/O water to make sure it reads 0.00 s.g.
Good catch Halelorf! I completely forgot to include that as a requirement for picking out a refractometer. ATC is very important.

- Bill