Will this work for a 10 gallon nano-reef?

M

mhmh

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Sep 19, 2002
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The Poconos of PA
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I see I can buy an inexpensive 10 gallon tank from my LFS for $11, PCs from AH Supply-the 2x36W Bright kit, including the reflector, is $63. Two of their 10000K/Dark Blue Combo bulbs are $36. A black finished enclosure is $30, or I could make one myself.

Aquaclear powerhead 201 is $12 and EboJager 100W heater is $15, Rena 100 air pump is $15 from Big Al's.

Total of above is $182.

If I need a protein skimmer, and want to keep it outside the tank, this is the cheapest I've seen: an AquaClear 200 filter ($20 @ Big Al's) with a CoraLife Super Skimmer I ($14 @ Big Al's) in the media compartment.

Grand total for all hardware is $216, plus shipping charges.

So, how'd I do?
1) Have I put together a workable setup?
2) Do I need a skimmer?
3) Can I do it cheaper?
4) Can I do it better, but for not too much more $$?

I've posted this on nano-reef.com also. I figure there might be some different points of view here.
 
that sounds pretty cheap to me...not a bad idea

I've HEARD (can't confirm this, as I don't use a skimmer on my 10g), but I've heard that it is not advised to use a skimmer on such small tanks, as it ends up not being beneficial and perhaps harmful (like I said, this is what I heard, so you may want to research this more), but I think you'll be fine w/out a skimmer

and that is a great choice for lights!
 
I would get the bulbs from hellolights.com vs ahsupply.com I have no problem with ahsupply's ballst kits but their bulbs are less than desirable in my book. Their blue bulbs are just that blue. They are not actinic IMO.

Why are you getting an air pump? Unless its to drive the skimmer.

I would maybe not use a skimmer on the 10 or maybe use it part time. If you do regular weekly 10% or 20% water changes you should be able to get by without a skimmer.
 
Some advice - thanks! :D

Yes, the air pump was for the skimmer, but I see from both answers that won't be necessary. Regular water changes are no problem, I already do them on my FW tanks. There's 50 bucks saved.

The retro kits from Hello Lights seem expensive. Will everything work together if I get AH Supply's Bright Kit and these bulbs from Hello Direct:

36W Actinic 03, 16 7/8 -Straight Pin Base
Price: $21.95
36W 10,000K, 16 7/8 -Straight Pin Base
Price: $23.95
 
that lighting sounds VERY good, I only have 32w combo actinic/10000k pc + 4x13w 6500k CF, so you are doing VERY well in lighting!

edit: you probably won't get help like this at nano-reef.com
 
For lighting, you could always use fixtures from walmart.

Or for a real nice hood, go with petsupplyliquidators.com

Get the daylight bulbs from them, and than order actinic from hello lights. Because petsupplyliquidators uses blue bulbs also.

Thats the combo I would go with.

Edit: Read your post again. Your forgetting things that really add up. Hydrometer, test kits, salt, water, buffers and alk, and of course animals which can cost a lot. Also, LR, and LS, detrivore kit if you want. Perhaps you'd want some kind of refuguim, or sump for such a small tank and your first attempt. Instead of the aquaclear, I would also recommend a maxijet instead. You might also want a small desktop fan, 120vac fan, or micro chiller to cool it in the summer depending on your room temperature.

You might laugh at the thought of water. I was originaly going to use store bough RO/DI water on my 20 gallon, and do weekly water changes. But I soon realized that the combination of makeup water and water changes added up to way more than I thought. So it was more economical to go with a 5 stage RO/DI unit.
 
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I actually didn't forget the other things you mentioned. First I'm looking for info about cost of the tank & related hardware - I have to convince my wife that another tank is necessary and affordable!

littleprince, which hood do you like from petsupplyliquidators?

Will I need a glass top on the tank before putting on the hood?

Why do you like the Maxijet powerheads better?

One thing I guess I don't know anything about yet - do I NEED RO/DI water? I just assumed I could keep a container of salinated water around for dechlorinating and adding as needed.
 
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