saltwater beginner, i need to know what you know!

[jerzyperson]

like the title states. i have got a saltwater tank started. just a little 10 gallon, but to me starting small is always the best idea. so i got some instant ocean in, got a cheap HOB filter on the back, some crushed corral substrate, and a heater, thats it, keeping it simple as of now, also getting ready to do whatever needs to be done next. the HOB is not permanent, just on the 10 gallon because i think it would take too much to to set-up a wet/dry system on a tank this small. but this tank is a starter... i would move it in size before the end of next year. what im asking is what chemicals, what steps, what anything must i complete to keep this tank operational, and successful.

anything, and everything you could help me with the better, i have done tons of research, and will continue, but i want input from trial by error victims. what would work, what won't, what to do, and what not to do. thank you in advance.

P.S. i checked the the gravity thing, and it is about 1.024, and the salinity 32.

 

[BillyBob 72]

I need to know the exact same thing that Jerzy does

 

[jerzyperson]

oh, and what can i keep in it, i know its small, but it is to get me started so i know how to operate a large set-up.

 

[fishy12]

pistol shrimp goby combo

 

[jerzyperson]

so is a coral set-up a better idea then a small swim?

 

[Heathd]

I second the paired up goby/ pistol shrimp combo.

And you can keep corals in a ten gallon with the above. Actually, if you are doing softies, its probaly best to have some fish in the tank.

 

[jerzyperson]

what could i do?

 

[chefjamesscott]

Here is a thought for you. Fish are extremely adaptive. My advice is when you get the tank set up, make sure that you keep to the same recipe for your water salinity. I use a 5g bucket, put in 1.5 lbs of salt then use 1/3 bucket hot to dissolve the salt and use a hand mixer to make sure it is all dissolved. Then I add cold/luke warm to get it to tank temp. so as to not cause any temp shock. I also add my prime to this water mixture and have never had any issue.

Though I have not really run with corals just rock and fish. So with corals you would have to talk to a saltie with exp.

 

[FLESHY]

I use 2 1/2 C for 5g of water...that gets salinity to 1.024 with IO salt.

Crushed coral works for a simple little tank, but if you want the pistol shrimp fish combo...I would suggest getting caribsea's reef grade aragonite.

Some LR would be nice to have for some structure.

A small LED or Power compact fixture would allow for some growth on the LR, a prettier tank, and even some corals! (When the time comes I do some great prices on corals, even when you take shipping into consideration! )

Get a small cleaner crew of snails established in your tank before stocking anything else.