Considering setting up a small slatwater tank,need advice?

[spankey]

Hi all...

I am considering converting my son's upright 15 gallon fresh to a salt tank. Maybee just to house a few clowns and maybee some other fish.

What exactly do I need to get this tank off the ground... I know I need a decent filter but I do not want to go with anything huge like a canister on a 15 gallon. I was contiplating an AC 150. He has a penguin mini on it right now and its ok with about 10 fish in it at the moment.. Maybee this would be ok and get a power head as well?


Also is a protien skimmer a must on such a small tank? Just curious about that as well?

I have read about live rock and such but am not sure I want to go that route. Maybee just some coral decorations nothing live...

My LFS has about 20 tanks set up that they sell out of and none of them have live rock so thats why I was curious about that.... Is that a must as well?

So if anyone could walk me through the basics for a small salt tank I would appreciate it...

Thanks
Spankey............

 

[kreblak]

Live rock is not necessary for tanks, but it is GOOOOOD for tanks. Fish like it, water quality is better with it, and it looks good under light. Plus, you might get some sea flora with it... maybe even a mantis shrimp (which may or may not be a good thing). Anyway, with a 15 gallon, a small filter without a protein skimmer should do fine. Just get a reliable heater.

 

[VoodooChild]

By upright do you mean a hex or just the standard 24"? If it's the former, I'd only put in one fish due to the lack of surface area for gas exchange. If the latter, than two of something very small would be ok. I'd strongly recommend a skimmer, but that's just me. Either way I'd run the Penguin empty without any media and just use it as a tool for water movement. Things get clogged up really quickly otherwise.

 

[karlas]

actually you could probably keep the penguin on it. i have an emporer on my 75 and never had any problems. i do also have pwr heads and a skimmer. with a 15 you could probably get away without a skimmer but you need to do regualar water changes. i did this with a 35 gall filter, water changes, no skimmer and it went well.

if you do go with a skimmer get a small one like a prizm or seaclone. there easy to assemble and they just hang on the back, easy to use.
i would go with lr with a fo or a reef tank you cant go wrong with it. even if its a small amount also it adds so much diversity to the tank with the life you get off the rock.
as far as fish i wouldnt go with more then 2 small fish. you cant hold as many fish in salt because theres less oxygen then in fresh water.

one thing that would work in a 15 gall is a pistol shrimp- goby combo. certan shrimps live symbotacally with certain gobies and depend on each other to live. they share and watch each others holes or burrows. the gobies let the shrimp know of predators and the shrimp share its food with the goby. theres a couple different kinds that make pairs heres one

check em out

tiger pistol

shrimp gobies

and read this

reefkeeping 101