This is mostly for curiousity's sake, but what is the "minimum" price for a 10 gallon salt water setup? I'm thinking just live rock, anenomies, and possibly a shrimp and/or clown fish. I already have most of the test kits (all I need is specific gravity) and would be willing to use a cheapo skilter even if it meant bi-weekly water changes (5 gallons of sw every other week is cheap if you buy the big bag!). Like I said I'm mostly curious, I am out of room for tanks at the moment, and just want to know if this is a doable thing. Thanks.
Cheapo mini sw?
- Thread starter QCppg
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Keeping an anemone in 10 gallons is definately not adviseable. They need perfect water and the smaller the tank, the less time you have to react before they are damaged.
As for the rest, 15-20 lbs of live rock can be had for as little as $60-80 plus any tax or shipping. A powerhead costs under $20. A deep sand bed can be constructed for between $2 and $10. A skimmer is the most expensive part of the setup, but trying to do a nano tank as your first tank indicates that you'll probably really want one. You can probably have one of the smaller clownfish in there, or a pair of cleaner shrimp (skunk or blood red fire). A few of the tiniest gobies might be able to go in, but the basic idea is one fish or two shrimp when you are talking that small.
As for the rest, 15-20 lbs of live rock can be had for as little as $60-80 plus any tax or shipping. A powerhead costs under $20. A deep sand bed can be constructed for between $2 and $10. A skimmer is the most expensive part of the setup, but trying to do a nano tank as your first tank indicates that you'll probably really want one. You can probably have one of the smaller clownfish in there, or a pair of cleaner shrimp (skunk or blood red fire). A few of the tiniest gobies might be able to go in, but the basic idea is one fish or two shrimp when you are talking that small.
Okay my real question should've been are skilters sufficient for small tanks? 30 gallons is a more realistic capacity I agree.
Really, with a 10 gallon tank the only creatures should be a few inverts. You should be waiting til a minimum of a 20 gallon tank to start keeping a fish.
Okay, what I'm trying to say is I don't have enough money to buy a protien skimmer AND a power filter! I can put my newts in a 10 gallon, freeing up my 20 long. I know skilters have a bad reputation, but are they sufficient for a mini setup (all I'm interested in is a couple shrimp, anenomies and maybe a couple clownfish). In terms of saltwater I'm mostly interested in invertibretes, the clownfish are mostly to keep the anenomies happy.
Basically what I'm trying to say is I can't justify dropping $120 for a skimmer and another $30 for a power filter for such a small tank. If I do use a skilter how often will I have to change the water? Thank you.
Basically what I'm trying to say is I can't justify dropping $120 for a skimmer and another $30 for a power filter for such a small tank. If I do use a skilter how often will I have to change the water? Thank you.
Many people with nanotanks do not use protein skimmers ,although they help. They are not the holy grail of good SW fishkeeping, just a good tool.
www.nano-reef.com is a great site! (except it deals with corals, which is not what your going for)
www.nano-reef.com is a great site! (except it deals with corals, which is not what your going for)
Do not get anemones for any tank that small. They just won't survive, Clowns do not need them to thrive in a tank. Plus they need a well experienced person to even hope to get them to survive, in a well established aquarium. Shrimp, snails, hermits, clownfish would be fine in a 20 gallon long.
Also if you are getting live rock for the tank then you do not need or really want a filter for the system. The LR is the filter. What you want is water movement and this is best acheived through powerheads.
The skimmer can be added later or not at all. Generally without it you will need to do more frequent water changes.
Also if you are getting live rock for the tank then you do not need or really want a filter for the system. The LR is the filter. What you want is water movement and this is best acheived through powerheads.
The skimmer can be added later or not at all. Generally without it you will need to do more frequent water changes.
I have to agree with TKOS but, maybe for some different reasons 
. As a first s.w. tank you'll need some practice before you get really good at keeping your water quality STABLE. I'd try to get a larger tank but, hey if money is tight money is tight been there. I love inverts to but, I'd really encourage you to start out with something a bit easier than anemonies. They require some pretty good lighting ," will probably cost around as much as your skimmer". You can get lots of other inverts though that won't cause you so many problem like shrooms , duster worms, polyps etc, " they don't need to eat much or at all in the case of some of the shrooms they'll get enough nutrients from fish waste etc". That should help out with your skimmer issue. Also if you intended to do a reef really consider before you get any hermits IMO they are more trouble than their worth.
hth
Chris
. As a first s.w. tank you'll need some practice before you get really good at keeping your water quality STABLE. I'd try to get a larger tank but, hey if money is tight money is tight been there. I love inverts to but, I'd really encourage you to start out with something a bit easier than anemonies. They require some pretty good lighting ," will probably cost around as much as your skimmer". You can get lots of other inverts though that won't cause you so many problem like shrooms , duster worms, polyps etc, " they don't need to eat much or at all in the case of some of the shrooms they'll get enough nutrients from fish waste etc". That should help out with your skimmer issue. Also if you intended to do a reef really consider before you get any hermits IMO they are more trouble than their worth. hth
Chris
Get hold of a copy of Mike Palettas New Marine aquarium and check out the bare bones 15 or 20 gallon setup in that. It's a reasonable minimum that will work without constant, daily fiddling and praying. 25 dollars or so that will not be wasted