Nano Sized Tank Qustion

[pauliewalnuts]

i currently have a 2 year old 75 gal. and would like a small 10 gal for upstairs. now im not looking for anything fancy maybe jus some live rock, live sand, a few crabs, a few snails, and a damsel or something. Nothing Fancy!!!

what hardware would i need for a little tank like this?

thanks

josh

also....

well my brother bought one of those brine shrimp breeders/hatchers that you put in the tank. we didnt like it in the tank so im wondering if i could just get an old 10g or something an put it in there? does it even need to be in saltwater? and if it does how would i go about setting up a small tank just for this?

[Hondadude2k5]

I have no clue about a brine shrimp hatchery but as far as the 10gal nano goes here is basically what you need for a small Nano.

10gal tank (DUH)
20lbs live sand or 2 inch sand bed whichever is first
10lbs live rock
prefferably a small PC light kit but a 50/50 regular bulb will work.
a small filter with around 100GPH flow rate
probably s small nano skimmer (current USA makes one)
fish
corals, zoos, shrooms, sun polyps, button polyps do good.

This is pretty much a basic little set up. You can fudge is some places but not to much. They look really nice doen right.

[pauliewalnuts]

for right now it would jus be a FOWLR tank and im not looking for it to be anything fancy. id just like little...so how hard would a tank for crabs, snails, and damsels be to maintain. would small changes in water qual. matter as much?

[jeepjon]

FOWLR=filter, tank, LR, LS if you want it...and water changes. Nothing really else needed. If you want to go minimalist like that...heater too. You can do more, but not needed. Regular maintenance (water changes) will keep it going well. LOTS of WC's..at least a couple gallons a week.
-Jon

[pauliewalnuts]

thanks...my 75 has been running fine now for 2 years and id like to try a smaller one but have been a little scared since i hear they are harder. but if i go the FOWLR and the above mentioned items it shouldnt be that hard? what type of filter, a HOB?

thanks

josh

[jeepjon]

HOB filter will work great...get one rated for more than 10 gallons, though. Higher flow around your LR will help it do its job of filtering the tank. Don't use biological media. You really don't need a HOB filter...a powerhead would work,but the filter would allow you to use carbon, purigen, and other chemical media to keep the tank clear.
-Jon

[pauliewalnuts]

also the filter will then up my tank from a 10 gal. to a 10.4 gal. which is good right? so if i want to start this say tonight or tomorrow, i should go out buy a 10 gal. fill up my water jugs with some RO water, pour it in the tank, add ph buffer, and let it swirl? should i add the LR and LS now too or wait on that? and as far a a HOB model, jus get anyone for over 10 gal. what should the gph be rated, is there a maximum gph in a small tank like this?

well i just noticed the guy above said around 100gph, so stick with that number?

thanks

josh

[jeepjon]

I would set up in this order...but this is my opinion....and could be wrong....somebody please chime in here if they do it a better way. I add the sand first (if it isn't something like arag-alive by caribsea). Then I fill up the tank with RO water about halfway, then add the salt slowly in the remaining water. Use a good synthetic salt like instant ocean. then warm it up, keep your filters going, etc....for about a day or at least overnight. Then I add my LR. You don't HAVE to wait overnight...but it is a little better. Make sure everything is working before adding any liverock. in my opinion. Let the tank cycle with the LR alone (there will be enough die off to get the nitrogen cycle going). Then add your livestock!

-That's my way...does that help?
Jon

[pauliewalnuts]

yeah thats sounds abou how i did my 75...im really just wondering if there is any difference setting up a Nano compared to a bigger tank?


thanks for the help

josh