Newbie here, want to virtually build my tank?

[lizzie78]

Quick intro to me: I'm a cat person mostly, have two kids (9 and 10 year old boys) and long, long ago - I used to have about 8 freshwater tank set-ups. I've never had saltwater. So yeah, five rescue cats, and the kids have two bearded dragons and two rats.

Anywhich, I have either an Eclipse System 3 or 6, and both are brand new (long story, I'm not paying though). I can eventually buy a different tank, but this is what I have for now. I know I can do freshwater, but (whining here) - I don't want to!!

So my questions are these:

Can either an Eclipse 3 or 6 be turned into a nano reef tank or a basic saltwater tank? (Is there a difference?)

Then what?

Seriously, I don't know where to start. Can I use the Eclipse filtration system? Do I need to modify it or use a different one? Can I do this without having to have the other tank (sump?) that's under the show tank? Will I need a heater or a chiller? Will I be allowed to have anything other than corals, like a tiny fish or a shrimp or something? I don't want any fish to not be happy.

So some might say I have no right to get into this hobby, but learning starts somewhere. Plus, I'm patient and will not start setting things up until I know I'm doing it right. If I have to abandon my saltwater dream for a while and stick to freshwater, I can survive.

Thanks for any potential help - and please assume you're talking to a complete saltwater moron. Think of this as a good thing, I come to your forum with no bad habits, you can mold me to be the fishkeeper I need to be!

[theballer1]

It's Possible to keep start a nano tank with the eclipse system. Any idea to what kind of coral you had your eyes set on? What kind of fish?

[lizzie78]

Originally Posted by theballer1

It's Possible to keep start a nano tank with the eclipse system. Any idea to what kind of coral you had your eyes set on? What kind of fish?

Something pretty? LOL

I'm hoping someone can tell me what will do best in a set up like that. I'm sure my idea of pretty pink and purple corals with a sea anenome and clown fish are not idea for such a small tank!! Okay, maybe pretty pink and purple corals, but I'm willing to bet a clown fish needs a much bigger tank.

Do you know what types of fish would do well in a small tank?

I plan on spending some time this weekend looking through these forums more to see what I can learn on my own, too.

[Kathywithbirds]

Well, as far as fish, there's some really small gobys out there, and you might really like sexy shrimp, they're small and entertaining.

What light is on the eclipse? You might do better with the 6g rather than the 3. The general rule is 5 gallons of water per lateral inch of fish. Are you planning on doing both tanks?

[icebear]

what i always wanted for a small tank, just very simple would be a small stack of rock, a couple or 3 big pink feather dusters and a pair of skunk cleaner shrimp. then a handful of small IPSF strombus snails

but i never researched how possible something like that would be. any cleaner shrimp i ever had never bugged dusters....

but i thought it would make a nice soft girly tank... i guess i have to act like a girl sometimes!

[lizzie78]

I plan on going to my lfs this weekend to see what they have as far as small fish go. I know it will be a while before I can put them into a tank, but maybe I'll come back with some ideas of what I want.

I just looked up the sexy shrimp - very cute.

The light is just a little fluorescent bulb. Should I switch the bulb or will I need to switch the fixture? I also have some lunar link LEDs that I will hook up to the underside of the hood.

[lizzie78]

Yes, I want to act like a girl, too. My last tank was a 55g freshwater with 2 Oscars (13" each), a 15" pleco, and a 10" clown knife. Way too many fish, but I took them from someone else and they just kept growing.

I'm done with those messy things and having to have a 10-15g set-up for the 100+ feeders they'd eat each week.

I want pink and purple and I want it to sparkle. :-)

[Loverotties]

Originally Posted by lizzie78

Yes, I want to act like a girl, too. My last tank was a 55g freshwater with 2 Oscars (13" each), a 15" pleco, and a 10" clown knife. Way too many fish, but I took them from someone else and they just kept growing.

I'm done with those messy things and having to have a 10-15g set-up for the 100+ feeders they'd eat each week.

I want pink and purple and I want it to sparkle. :-)

Next you'll want a disco ball!

[Kathywithbirds]

Lizzie, you might be able to switch out that flourescent for a stronger bulb. There's screw-in PCs now that aren't too bad for small tanks.

Honestly, though, we've had "crappy" bulbs on fuges (simple flourescents, I think they're like T12s??) and it's adequately supported macros. My chaeto always gets out of hand after a while. I like the look of a lot of the macro algaes, even the "pest" ones. If you're willing to weed once in a while an algae tank might be fun. They eat up nitrates too!

[usmc2b2004]

You could always convert a molly to saltwater they are tiny fish.

[lizzie78]

Originally Posted by lizzie78

Anywhich, I have either an Eclipse System 3 or 6, and both are brand new (long story, I'm not paying though). I can eventually buy a different tank, but this is what I have for now.

Edit......

Okay, an new tank option for me has become the Oceanic BioCube 8. I assume this is immensely better than the Eclipse Systems for a nano reef tank.

Does anyone have any experience or advice about this particular tank? Will I need to modify anything at all?

Are the JBJ Nano Cubes better? What about a SeaClear Uniquarium?

So I'm off the Eclipse train and onto the BioCube. Unless overwhelming advice from here, I should have it plugged in with water and live sand by the end of the weekend.

[aquahobbiest]

i would keep zoos and mushrooms in a tanks like that and get a couple of clown golbies. They eat flake and do good in small tanks. you dont have to have high power lights either to do thoses corals and come in all colors. good luck and keep up on your water changes.

[aquahobbiest]

you know by now that the more space you have the beter so get the size that you have the space for and you can afford. Then get the best lights you can i sugest T5 they put off clean and powerfull light and verey little heat.