Starting a 10g Nano

[Deleted]

Would like to see this section build up. I am going to be starting my first marine tank. I will be going with a 10g nano tank. I know they are much harder to keep then the larger tanks but dont they say that about freshwater? Anyways I will be starting it this week and I plan to have as much live rock I can fit as well as live sand. Not sure on the fish I will eventually put in but I am thinking a small pair of platinum clown fish and a goby of some sort. Would love to hear all the tips and secrets from the fellow marine keepers.

[Deleted]

I'm all for more activity on the site too but I think you have already filled in the blanks as far as advice.

Don't start with a small tank if you have any plans of coral.
If you are doing FOWLR it isn't really any harder than FW once the tank has cycled. Just remebmer all topoff water has no salt as the salt will not be removed through evaporation.
I also suggest only RO water at a minimum. Others may not agree.

Best of luck.

[Deleted]

I am of course assuming you are familiar with the basic concepts. I don't want to leave anyone with the idea that they do not need to read up on the topic before attemping their first SW tank.

For such a small tank you will need to be very careful with water changes. I very highly suggest buying proper test kits. Salifert are good so are the new RedSea ones.

If you narrow down your topic a bit it will be easier to help out.

Again, best of luck with the tank.

[Deleted]

ya not really looking at starting with corals just yet probably whatever comes in on the live rock. I did know about the top off with fresh water as well and I have been reading a ton on saltwater. Even as far as to make my own led lighting systems for when i can have larger tanks haha. Pretty much im just looking to get my feet wet in this side of the hobby until i can build up experience to get into more complex and larger systems. i want to start as easy as possible and build from there.

[Deleted]

Nothing wrong with keeping it simple.
What I'm trying to say however is there are so many things or "tips" as you called them it is hard to even know where to begin. Give a specific topics or questions if possible.

What are you using for a tank BTW. Is it one of the Nano Kits or are you going glass box?
LED's not req'd btw. Nothing wrong with them for a FOWLR at all, but anything will do if you are not growing corals or macro algae.
Are you familiar with measuring salt levels? You will need a Refractometer and you will need to know how to use it properly. As I said earlier such a small tank is unforgiving so you need proper testing equipment and you need to be taking care during water changes.

[Deleted]

ya just using glass box 10 gallon modified hob filter i have a hydrometer

[Deleted]

A floating glass one or the dial arm platic hydrometer? The plastic ones are not the best I'm afraid.

Glass tank is fine but that makes me want to ask about a lid. Do you plan on using one?
Pros and cons each way. Considering you are not using a skimmer I'd suggest that no lid would be best as it provides much better gas exchange. Topoff will be a bigger chore however and fish do jump mind you.

Describe the modified filter if you will. I assume no power heads are intended and that all your flow will come from the filter.

[Deleted]

ya i will be using the plastic arm one.

i read also that instead of a lid that i could use that egg crate stuff that they put the coral frags in to hold them in the growing tanks that there is still some sort of lid to minimize fish jumping somewhat and there is good gas exchange.

the filter will be the tx whisper for a 20 gallon and instead of the activated carbon i will be using a sponge and these little clay bits that are in a little bag, i will also be using a nano sized power head to increase water flow and gas exchange.

I know the top ups will be a pain and probably have to be done everyday with fresh water, but im ok with that as im always dealing with the freshwater fish everyday anyway.

[Deleted]

The egg crate is a good call if you don't mind the look.

I'm going to point out that running carbon is still considered a good thing by most. Some think it strips trace elements but there are amazing tanks which run carbon so a tank without Corals is certainly going to be fine with carbon at least peridodically.
I think you know already but you will need to clean your sponge very frequently to avoid it becoming a nitrate factory. Since you plan an LR and LS I suggest you will want two or 3 sponges and simply remove and replace every other day or so. Let it dry out before using again. In ohter words don't worry about trying to use the sponge for bio-filtration.

BTW you might find you have too much flow for a night time rest period. Consider a timer for the powerhead.

[Deleted]

ya i dont mind the look of the egg crate on top and its more likely to keep my fish in while still giving good gas exchange so im ok with that

also ya i did know about the sponges i have a few here and ya it was only for mechanical filtration anyway because i dont have a protein skimmer.

and i will definitely be looking into a timer for the powerhead then. i do have the hob filter on the side of the tank anyway to create some flow across.

Anything else you would recommend?

I have started the tank last night measured salinity this morning after the tank was filtered all night to get some flow going to help dissolve and mix the salt. it measured 1.023. I placed the LR in and then the LS and now just waiting for the sand to settle. will clean the sponge cause im sure it will be full of sand. then the cycling will begin.

[gabor129]

I would make the HOB filter into a small refugium with live rock ruble and chaetomorpha algae in there instead of the sponge. Also a small air stone operated HOB skimmer is only a few dollats and it will make a lot of difference.

[Deleted]

IMO, way to small to be an effective Fuge but the concept is certainly correct.

Also, if you run an air stone you will need to have a lid to avoid salt spray.

If you are willing to spend the cash I'd go with a small skimmer. Tunze DOC9004. I use one on my Q and find it quite effective. It sits in the tank but you won't need the filter at all unless you want to run carbon or just for the flow.

Neptune, one other thought crossed my mind. 10g tanks are typically real thin glass. Not sure how much rock you can safely put in one. Might want to read up on that.

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well i think i will use the hob for a 20 gallon with the modified components i also added a 10 gallon filter with a carbon pad and a sponge for extra filtration. ill try that and see how it works for now and if its not doing what i want it to then i may upgrade.

also i am only using 12 pounds of live tukani rock its just 4 pieces that fit pretty snug together and i tryed to wiggle them to make sure they wouldnt move and they are pretty snug so i should be good

[Deleted]

Neptunestank,

I ran a 10G FOWLR with a few corals that were attached. There used to be a small skimmer for nano setups that I would recommend you look into. Just running a regular HOB filter will cause issues if you run it like a FW tank. It's been a few years, but I believe the skimmer I used was an Aqua C like this > www.jlaquatics.com/product/ps-acre/Aqua+C+Remora+Nano+Hang-On+Protein+Skimmer.html

I'm sure oldmanriver will agree with me that once you start your FOWLR nano and fall in love with it that you'll be looking to upgrade shortly afterwards... lighting, tank, skimmer, corals, etc.

Nano tanks can be very nice but just keep them simple and don't try to over populate them with species.

Have you started yet? Post some photos.

All the best!

J

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Hi Neptunestank,

I just found an old video of a 10G FOWLR I once had to put together on the spot. I think the video was from about 2 weeks after I had setup that tank. Can't tell in the video per se, but it was real basic. Live rock, powerhead, HOB filter without a sponge, compact fluorescent lighting (I forget the bulb manufacturer but the bulbs would support some soft corals), a few random ride-a-long corals and a cleaner shrimp.