Starting a Nano Tank (Help)

[Kingumar]

Hey Fellas.

I have a 10G Glass tank with a top with normal lightning it came with. (will get a bigger but want to know what im doing first)
I had used it for freshwater in the past but i want to start saltwater.

I have read allot about what is needed, etc etc. But i am still confused on when to actually start.

What do i need to get it started??

This is the list i came up with:

Sand
Sea Salt
Heater (what kind?)
Water regulator (idk how to get that or set it up..or what it is..)
Hydro Meter (do i really need?)
protein skimmer (what kind for a 10g)
Filter (what kind)
Heater (what kind)


Things i wanted to put in:
-Coral Banded Shrimp
-Haitian Pink Tip Anemone
-Live rock
-corals

Fish:
Clown
some others


Suggestions on what to do! I want to get stuff that is REALLY needed since its my first nano and i want to save money because im sure ill mess up.

[jenglish]

sand is optional, but many prefer it. You will likely want some live rock before anything else, thats your major filter. Many w/ a tank that small will go without a skimmer and just change the water every week. The skimmers that they make for that small of a tank do very little IMO. You will at the very least need a hydrometer and have it checked by someone witha refractometer. Better yet would be to get a refractometer yourself
If you go w/o a skimmer there is going to need to be something providing a little water movement.

not sure about anemone in a 10 g, even a condi. But I could be wrong about that.

[OneDummHikk]

If this is your very first saltwater tank, save yourself a lot of headaches and money. Save your money and buy a larger tank. At least a 55. If you start out with a 10, its going to be 100 times worse than starting out with a 55. My first was a 12 gallon and I have killed and wasted more money on inhabitants in it than I ever put into my 90G tank. Everything changes so fast in them that they are hard to maintain. Add on top of that having to learn it as you go, it gets extremely expensive and frustrating.

[Loverotties]

One thing it's to small to have an Anemone in it!

[Kingumar]

Thanks for the suggestions.

Getting a bigger tank is my top priority but i am the only one with a fish hobby in my family. They like that fact that i have a fish tank and think its beautiful and don't have any problems with me having it, but on top, they wouldn't support me getting a new one. (even if my money). so i thought i can just use my 10g to do the work.

If i get this skimmer, will it help in anyway? maybe take the cleaning burden out?

Nano Remora

5-20 Gal

13"x6"x2.75"

3"

Maxi-Jet 900

5.25"x1.5"

7.5"

1 3/8"

10.5"

I found that on bluezoo, its 2$

[OneDummHikk]

It definitely wouldn't hurt. One thing you will need to watch for with a sandbed is the outlet from the skimmer blowing the sandbed around because its so close to the bottom of the tank. For a starter tank and a HOB (Hang On Back) style skimmer, I would skip the sandbed and go barebottom on it. It will make cleaning it a lot easier on you. I ended up removing the sand from my 10 before I broke it down. It was just too much of a hassle.

I had an RBTA (Rose Bubble Tip Anemone) in my 10 and I will tell you, from experience, not to try it. It stayed closed up and wasn't doing good so I moved it to a different tank with different lighting and its doing a heck of a lot better.The 10 had Power Compacts on it and the 20 it is in now has T5'es.

On a 10, its going to be hard to find T5'es to fit that tank because of its short length. If nothing else, consider getting a 20 breeder and use the 10 as a sump. That will let you go to T5 lights fairly easy. The only other real option would be PC or MH. The PC'es suck but a 70W MH would be a pretty good light for it.

Good luck with it.

[mmn_usn]

Don't let anyone tell you you can't do it. I started with 2 tanks. 2.5 gal and a 55 gal. Completely different tanks. Small tanks have to be watched (everything you test for) more closely. I never took water out of the 55 to put in the 2.5. They had their own water change bottles, the chemicals I added were different. I had a small BTA and cinnamon clowns in the 2.5. I had the tank up for over a year with those creatures in it. I tore it down because the daughter wanted freshwater fish and since the tank was actually hers I changed it for her. the clowns anenome and small star went into the 55 and did well there to.

Small tanks just take a little more care in handling. Take your time and good luck. Loads of info here for you to read and learn from.