10 gal enough for hermits?

[Heathd]

I want to get my feet wet, so to speak, in this whole saltwater thing. I have a 10 gallon, a t5 ho light fixture at ~ 4 watts per gallon, an hob type filter that cycles at 100 gph (that's what the box says, im a little skeptical).

I assume some life rock would be great for boosting the biological bacteria.

I have some pool filter sand in there right now, would that be an ok substrate?

And would adding a protein skimmer be necessary?

 

[Jeox]

What kind of hermits? Some get HUGE.

 

[Heathd]

What kind of hermits? Some get HUGE.

I don't know, im not particular. I just want to successfully manage a saltwater tank. I'm content with a smaller hermit.

 

[Kevin8888]

standard cleaner hermits for sure, other hermits.... not nessisarily, as Jeox said some get rather large.

Pool filter sand should be fine, live rock is good for boosting bio/seeding bio into the system, I would say on a small system like that with a few hermits a protine skimmer is unnessisary, just keep an eye on the parms, as for flow dont be hugely concerned, hermits dont need much, and unless your planning on corals (I advise against in a tank this small to many parm fluctuations) flow isnt that important though still good to have 10x or close.

 

[Heathd]

The tank is currently being used for breeder fish and snails, and the tank is well cycled. Do I need to fully sterilize everything, including the substrate, or am I fine?

 

[Kevin8888]

Fresh water? I assume it is since you said your trying to "wet your feet" if so your going to have to reboot aka cycle needs to start again, because as far as i know fresh water bio doesnt transfer well to salt. as for sterilizing, unnessisary fresh water parasites dont survive the transfer.

 

[Heathd]

Thanks for the help, I couldn't have done it with out you.