thinking of starting 10 or 15 gal saltwater tank

[anubisrising]

I was thinking of starting a saltwater tank. Since it would be my first I want to start small with a 10 or 15 gallon tank. Was wondering if anyone could tell me what would be needed and an idea of start up and upkeep costs.
I have been keeping freshwater for the last several years, but have no experience in saltwater.

 

[chawk610]

Man.. .you are smarter than me... I went from years of fresh to a 90 gallon... I am around 1500.00 so far buying bargin used So I would guess, 200-500.00 depending. You doing a small coral set up?

 

[sostoudt]

I was thinking of starting a saltwater tank. Since it would be my first I want to start small with a 10 or 15 gallon tank. Was wondering if anyone could tell me what would be needed and an idea of start up and upkeep costs.
I have been keeping freshwater for the last several years, but have no experience in saltwater.

with corals:
protein skimmer(remora is a good one), 20 lbs or live rock(or base rock with live rock seed piece), 40-60 watts of light depending on tank size(half actinic), heater...
saltmix, ro/di water source or premade saltwater from lfs.
test kits, basic ones, calc, magnesium. supplements calc magnesium.
this is a great setup, some parts can be done with out but if i set a coral tank again its what i would want to have.

no corals: can skip lighting, can skip calc and mag stuff, can skip ro/di water(it is still prefered with inverts like shrimp tho)

 

[bell3306]

I pretty much started doing fresh and salt at the same time. I had a 55 south african cichlid tank. And started with a ten gallon with a very small volitan lionfish in it. I quickly upgraded that to a 55 before having to move and get rid of everything.

The bad thing about starting with a small tank is that it's hard to keep all the parimeters balanced and even the slightest change will cause spikes very easily.

I would start with 55 because that would stay more self efficient.

 

[bell3306]

and also don't use water out of the ocean like I did. (I was living in Daytona at the time) You never know what pullutants are in the water. And the ever present chance of a red tide...

 

[~ocean]

Mabye consider a 30 gallon. You can get live rock, or tufa rock if you want to save, live sand or coral sand, I LOVE BARNACLE CLUSTERS especially for bottom dwellers,protien skimmer, filter, heater, powerhead, good lighting, fish, corals (if you want) which sums up to about 600 - 1000.

 

[mr.reef24]

if this is your first start big only reason is it is easier to take care of water parameter's are more forgiving then a small tank where one screw up can crash the tank. and research as much as you can and read

mr.reef24

 

[awsomebichir]

bigger the tank the easier its is..go 30 gallon