Okay I'm a complete noobie to saltwater and im thinking of setting up one of my spare 10 gallons as a small saltwater tank. How much would this cost? What are the fish options? What would I need to get it started?
-Andrew
-Andrew
Any smaller saltwater fish that are easy to care for?
- Thread starter Andrew1002
- Start date
As far as I I know about SW. I know the bigger the tank the easier to care for.. Also if something goes wrong chemically or if salinity changes it won't be as drastic in a 30g compared to a 10g, get what I'm saying?
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ya I was about to set up a 10gal SW, but I saw a lfs was having a sale so I got a 29 for a really good price. As far as price goes, Im about $600 into it, over the price should be around $800ish, with corals/other inverts.
It wouldn't cost much at all. Only problem is you can't keep too many fish as saltwater fish are aggressive. I had a pair of clowns in a 10 gallon with some live rock, sand and used an aquaclear HOB as filtration. When you start reefing thats when it gets complicated but if you just want fish it should be pretty simple..
if u do frequent water changes a minimum of 50% a week u can keep the start up costs down. i have kept 5 gal reef tanks with only gravle a heater and a small pump not evin a macanical filter. so the main fact that i cant stress enough is whitch ever direction u go in ( fish only or reef) do frequent large water changes.
Petco is having its dollar a gallon sale. Go pick up a 40 breeder. And a emperor 400 filter and do 2 5 gallon water changes a week. Big water changes are dangerous because the goal isn't perfect water chemistry but instead stability. Salt water is less forgiving. 10 gallons is possible I ran a 10 gallon reef for about a year on my night stand. But moved it into my 150. If you do it. I would go with a yellow tail damsel, a bicolor Blenny and a firefish. They each occupy different areas of the water column and get along fine. That's what I ha in mine. Keep up on top offs though. I had to do 2 a day
Drs foster and smith has a good sale on aquaclear filters
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It's really preference. Everyone told me the same thing with saltwater "go bigger" but I still prefer smaller tanks *shrug*. Less water needed, easier water changes. You just can't overstock. You'd be limited to a few small (2" or less) gobies or something, and some inverts. You can do soft corals and stuff though.
You really can't do clowns or damsels in a 10g as they get too large.
You are, however, wrong about changes not being as drastic in 30g. Water parameters generally change faster in a smaller tank than a larger tank. A little bit of evap in a 10g will fluctutae your salinity to a greater degree than a 30g, and you need to be vigilant with water changes and freshwater top offs.
The price is not going to be great for either tank if you're careful. But the cost for a 10 gallon isn't really going to be lower than a 30g, other than for live rock, salt, and sand since you need less.
The lights and filters for a 10g are going to be about the same as for a 30g, despite the tank being smaller. And in fact some of the nano stuff that works good on a 10g might be more expensive than the standard equipment that would fit in a 30g or larger. And you're still going to have to buy test kits and a refractometer and such for either tank, which is going to cost the same either way.
You really can't do clowns or damsels in a 10g as they get too large.
You are, however, wrong about changes not being as drastic in 30g. Water parameters generally change faster in a smaller tank than a larger tank. A little bit of evap in a 10g will fluctutae your salinity to a greater degree than a 30g, and you need to be vigilant with water changes and freshwater top offs.
The price is not going to be great for either tank if you're careful. But the cost for a 10 gallon isn't really going to be lower than a 30g, other than for live rock, salt, and sand since you need less.
The lights and filters for a 10g are going to be about the same as for a 30g, despite the tank being smaller. And in fact some of the nano stuff that works good on a 10g might be more expensive than the standard equipment that would fit in a 30g or larger. And you're still going to have to buy test kits and a refractometer and such for either tank, which is going to cost the same either way.