I started my first marine tank last Monday. I went small (10 gallons) as I was afraid of investing a lot of time and money and then failing miserable. I've been keeping freshwater tanks since I was a little kid, so I know I'm up to the challenge. The idea of lots of maintenance doesn't scare me.
Here's my set up:
10 gallon glass tank
200 watt heater (safe?)
Topfin 30
light strip from my old 30 gallon tank (fluorescent)
10 pounds live sand
small chunk of live rock and two pieces base tufa
using the petco marine salt mix and have a hydrometer/thermometer from aquatic gardens
I plan to go to the Petco in the next city from mine as they actually have a good saltwater selection, maybe later today. I don't have a skimmer because I've read in several posts that on a small tank a skimmer is redundant with regular water changes and removes vital nutrients, but I'll get a skimmer if it's necessary. Do I need special lighting for a FOWLR tank? (No seems to be the answer from my reading...?) Is there anything I'm missing?
I don't really plan to do corals, as I'm too afraid I'd kill them, but I definitely like them. I'm also more interested in keeping "things" than I am in keeping fish. Unless there are any teeny tiny fish I can fit in a ten gallon. What are some really cool things I can do in a tank this size? When I started the tank, all I wanted for sure was sea stars. I like them.
Let me check my parameters, tank is going well so far, though.
Here's my set up:
10 gallon glass tank
200 watt heater (safe?)
Topfin 30
light strip from my old 30 gallon tank (fluorescent)
10 pounds live sand
small chunk of live rock and two pieces base tufa
using the petco marine salt mix and have a hydrometer/thermometer from aquatic gardens
I plan to go to the Petco in the next city from mine as they actually have a good saltwater selection, maybe later today. I don't have a skimmer because I've read in several posts that on a small tank a skimmer is redundant with regular water changes and removes vital nutrients, but I'll get a skimmer if it's necessary. Do I need special lighting for a FOWLR tank? (No seems to be the answer from my reading...?) Is there anything I'm missing?
I don't really plan to do corals, as I'm too afraid I'd kill them, but I definitely like them. I'm also more interested in keeping "things" than I am in keeping fish. Unless there are any teeny tiny fish I can fit in a ten gallon. What are some really cool things I can do in a tank this size? When I started the tank, all I wanted for sure was sea stars. I like them.
Let me check my parameters, tank is going well so far, though.