Newbie 10g SW setup question

[gsk177]

I know you are all sick of these types, but here's another anyway.
I have had FW setups for a few years now and am very much wanting to start a SW tank.
I have a 10g tank with a standard hood and light. I've also got an aquaclear 200 on it and a heater.
I plan on not keeping coral to start off with, but rather just maybe 1 clown fish or some type of wrass.
I was thinking about crushed coral for the substrate, but how much?
Is the aquaclear sufficient?
What salinity should I use? Like, how much salt should i put in there?
Any good links for new guys starting out?
Any other equipment?

[Andy16]

I was thinking about crushed coral for the substrate, but how much?

You will need live sand to seed the crushed coral. Maybe like 5 pounds live sand and 10 pounds crushed coral.

Is the aquaclear sufficient?


I would take out all the media and use it to create water movement. For filtration i would go with a protein skimmer. Maybe even a sump.

What salinity should I use? Like, how much salt should i put in there?



The salinity level should be 1.023. I dont know how much salt that would be. When you get the salt you should get intructions with it.

Any other equipment?

Salt level tester( i totally forgot what they are called, im spacing out) pH test kit, nitrite, nitrate, and ammonia test kit.

You should also get 1-2 pounds of live rock per gallon. So 10-20 pounds of live rock. Dont know any good links, sorry.

[liquafaction]

I am a new b too, but if I may give my 2 cents on what I have learned so far:

I did not get instructions on the salt that I bought, just a 5 gal bucket that does 200 gal. What I did is (since I was using 100 gal tank) was put the bucket on a scale, and empty it to half the weight. I used a 20 gallon tub, mixed up enough salt to do the whole 100 gallon aquarium. I let the mixture sit for a day, running a power head in it for the whole day. I then used the power head to put the mixture in the aquarium, while my wife used the water hose. I ended up (after running a power head in the aquarium another full day) with 1.023 salinity.

Lucky or not, who knows, but it worked.


As far as a 10 gallon tank, wish I would have went with a bigger tank that 100, because I find that the smallest thing I do changes the water quick.....ie..... I used ice in a zip lock bag of ice to cool the water..... the water will drop 1 degree in about 2 minutes. Guess what, my lighting will raise it 2 just a quick. If I could start over, I would go with at leat 150 gallons. I would say that the smallest drop of anything in 10 gallons will screw up the whole system.

[BrianH]

The first thing you should do is get a good book like "The Conscientious Marine Aquarist" by Robert Fenner. After reading this book cover to cover you can begin to start planning your tank.

Brian

[mogurnda]

I seem to be spending my morning agreeing with Brian. Get CMA, go to wetwebmedia (http://wetwebmedia.com) and pore over that info, then figure out what you want. 10 gallons is small, and will be a challenge. You need a lot more information than we can provide in a few messages, or you will be courting disaster.

[latazyo]

holy.....first of all, you don't need a skimmer on a 10g tank, or a sump, that will just give you a headache on your first tank

I have a few 10g tanks that run sumpless and skimmerless and power filterless

do not get crushed coral, do not get crushed coral and seed it

JUST GET SAND

since you wont be able to make a deep sand bed in a 10g tank without filling the thing half full of sand, just use enough sand to make a good cover, I used 20# of live sand in both of mine
I also use 20# of live rock and a powerhead for filtration

both tanks are doing EXCELLENT

you will need to do twice monthly water changes or about 1-2 gallons

and your salt should come with instructions, instant ocean says 1/2 cup per gallon, but that is only a starting point, make sure to always measure it first with your hydrometer and NEVER mix the water in your tank with animals in it

mix the saltwater in a rubbermaid container or a 5g bucket and let it sit overnight with a powerhead and heater in it so that the salinity and temp match your aquarium

all of this should be taken into consideration after you read the book these fellows have recommended

hope that clears some gibberish up

[TKOS]

go to

http://www.nano-reef.com

They have great articles for setting up and maintaining small reef tanks, including suitable fish and coral etc...

Great website

[latazyo]

just make sure not to ask newbie questions there or you'll get flam-ed