10g dwarf seahorse tank

[Nepherael]

I've been talking with Greech a lot lately about setting this tank up and today I was given a 10g tank by a buddy so I'm looking to get this show on the road. The more I look about these dwarf seahorse tanks the simpler they are. Some people are just running a small whisper filter and that's it. Here's the setup

10g tank
AC70 (with sponge covered intake, will go up to 110 if recommended)
Surface skimmer attachment

I'm looking for recommendations on the substrate and where to buy since this is my first foray into salt. Something white and "commercially available" as recommended by this guide

http://www.seahorse.org/library/articles/dwarfguide/dwarfguide.shtml

As for lighting I have 2 hoods but both just have regular screw in bulbs so I'm gonna get a fluorescent fixture. Most of the ones I've seen only have one light fixture inside. Should I look for something with 2 lights and get a regular and actinic?

I'm leaning toward sticking with fake decor for hitching posts but it's possible I might add some rock for looks down the line (probably dead so it doesn't have hitchhikers and can become "live" within my tank)

What do you think? I'm always interested in input. With the filter and surface skimmer am I good without a protein skimmer? If it's as simple as this (of course I still need salt, a refractometer, and testing equipment) it could be setup and cycling in a couple weeks or less. I'll use this thread as the "progress" thread too if anyone is interested

 

[TL1000RSquid]

Caribsea pink fiji should meet your sand requirements. With no corals actinic would just be for looks, I would make sure your 6700k-10000k lighting is good so you can grow some macro's. I'd throw in some rock off the bat 3-4lbs of dry rock shouldn't cost more then $10-15 at a LFS.

I don't know anything about those AC sufrace attachments my gut says they're probably junk though. Also you may need a small circulation pump, maybe the 180gph oceanic one.

 

[Nepherael]

Great start. So with no corals can I get a hood with one fixture and get that range you mentioned. Also where do you recommend buying that substrate? Is it really pink? White?

The surface skimmer was recommended used with an ac70 or 110 in place of the protein skimmer. I'm willing to give it a shot just because I'd really like to keep this as low tech as possible (not out of any preference just to avoid that initial cost and see if I need it later) but by the time it is done cycling I think I'll know where I'm at with needing other equipment

 

[nerdyrcdriver]

I don't know anything about those AC sufrace attachments my gut says they're probably junk though. Also you may need a small circulation pump, maybe the 180gph oceanic one.

Is this an aquaclear 70 or some other ac70? an aquaclear 70 is rated at 300gph. That is the entire tank 30x each hour for a 10g tank.

 

[Nepherael]

Is this an aquaclear 70 or some other ac70? an aquaclear 70 is rated at 300gph. That is the entire tank 30x each hour for a 10g tank.

It is an aquaclear 70 and I thought it sounded like a lot too but it has been recommended over and over again even up to the 110 (by Greech and others). I'm willing to go that big at the start and see if I can get by with not having to have a power head

 

[TL1000RSquid]

Great start. So with no corals can I get a hood with one fixture and get that range you mentioned. Also where do you recommend buying that substrate? Is it really pink? White?

The surface skimmer was recommended used with an ac70 or 110 in place of the protein skimmer. I'm willing to give it a shot just because I'd really like to keep this as low tech as possible (not out of any preference just to avoid that initial cost and see if I need it later) but by the time it is done cycling I think I'll know where I'm at with needing other equipment

Most macro's aren't high light demanding in a 10g I would think you'd be alright with a single 18w bulb, if you can find a cheap 2 tube fixture on ebay, craigslist or the classifieds here I would opt for that over single though.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+9805+7318&pcatid=7318 pic of the sand here its mostly whiteish with a few sporadic pink grainules in there.
The attachment is worth a shot I guess IIRC its under $10 on amazon so not much to lose by giving it a go.

 

[Khemul]

Flow rates for hob and circ pumps act a little differently.

Although on a 10 gallon it is probably not be as noticable. On bigger tanks it is quite noticable though.



I believe the skimmer attachment simply stops the film from forming on the surface.

 

[TL1000RSquid]

Is this an aquaclear 70 or some other ac70? an aquaclear 70 is rated at 300gph. That is the entire tank 30x each hour for a 10g tank.

The rating is for the filter with no media in it though once you stick a sponge and chemipure, etc in it's not putting out that much, especially so with a prefilter on the intake I run them on my FW tanks and if you don't rinse and squeeze them good every 3-4 days waters just dripping out by day 6.

 

[Nepherael]

Ok and how many pounds of the pink Fiji sand should I get? And can you clarify about macros?

Theres a lot of stuff going on with the living part of saltwater that is throwing me off. Fuges for growing god knows what, macros (some sort of algae I think but don't know its purpose), hitchhikers. It seems much more complicated than FW at first glance. That's why I'm glad I'm starting with a seahorse tank with no tankmates and no reef. I can learn from there =)

 

[TL1000RSquid]

20lbs bag should be enough for a 10g.

Some macro's are best kept in a fuge some can be put in the display tank, seahorses will hitch on some of them. Ones that are good for a display tank, are shaving brush, mermaid fan, Halimedia, penicillus, sargasum, and even mangroves can go in a display, they act similar to FW plants filtering and exporting nutrients.