Im taking the plunge....

[Bill M.]

I've decided that I want to set up a small salt water tank. Gunna research up the A$$ first of course... Anyone have any good links for me?

Here's what I was thinking:

10 gallon open hood with a canapy of some sort
Bio- Wheel filter rated for 20 gallons
Live Sand
Live rock
One or two compatable fish
Heater of course

As you can see, I know next to nothing about salt water, but Ive got the best team of fish people anyone could ask for: The Folks at AQUATIC COMMUNITY!!!!!!!!!

That and my LFS is helping me set up lol.... SHes been in the hobby over 40 years *shes an older lady, very very knowledgeable* and shes got like over 20 tanks... lol......

[tropfish]

congrats on takeing the plunge! i was gonna make a 10g nanoreef (well i was thinking bout it lol) but then i saw some dwarf puffers, and well...lol

[Bill M.]

:hmm3grin2orange: BTW.... reading the articles on this site now

[Dave66]

If you want, Bill, I have a booklist I can PM you which will help you be a success in the hobby. If you want it, just ask. Cheap insurence.

Dave

[cocoa_pleco]

congrats! you can ask dave, me, or probably 2manyfish. we all have reefs

[Rue]

Congrats! Just be aware, that a 10g nano is really quite difficult to look after...bigger is better, esp. with SW which is much fussier than fresh...

Also be aware that there are very few fish that you can keep successfully in 10g...

[cocoa_pleco]

rue is right, a 10g is limited. a single clownfish or maybe a single firefish would be around the max. plus if you want corals its hard to get the water right for them

[Bill M.]

Hey everyone!

Dave, I would appreciate that book list!

CP, yes, I have heard this. I really only want a singleclown fish or a firefish, so it does work out. Not trying to be rude, but how does everyone keep nano reefs if they are so hard? I know next to nothing about marine tanks, so lay the info on me! I have a really good LFS helping me with the set up, but I knwo you all will not let me down either! Could someone explain to me how I could keep an anenome in the water for the clownfish?? lol... Id rather ask a stupid question than make a stupid mistake! Good philosophy???

[cocoa_pleco]

most anemones are too big for a 10g, few can go in it. and most require good lighting. if you want a basic saltwater 10g setup you can go with
10g
minimum 30W light
10lbs LR
firefish or clown fish
brain coral (you can look mine in the thread i posted today about it, theyre neat)
zoantia coral
mushroom coral

nanoreefs need lots of water changes and some nutreints added. they are hard to keep stable. so far my 20g high is showing good stability, but make sure you research species well.

[zackish]

Make sure you add a very good protein skimmer to that list too.

[Bill M.]

Hrm..... teach me about protein skimmers please... I am looking them up, but i dont really undertand......

[cocoa_pleco]

they remove toxins from the water, and corals really like skimmers. you dont NEED a skimmer on a tank 20g and under, but its recommended. i use the RIO nano HOB skimmer, excellent and even filters the tank

[Rue]

...you don't need a protein skimmer on anything under 20g, regular waterchanges will look after things...but then you do need a good HOB and at least one power head...