small tank

mhsrunner · #1 (**permalink**) 08-25-2005, 02:45 AM

i want to begin a hobby of saltwater tanks, but i obviously want to keep it small and simple. is it possible for two small clowns and an anenome in a 10 gallon tank with nothing else?, or is it worth it to get a bigger tank and/or more fish?

Bartman · #2 (**permalink**) 08-25-2005, 07:05 AM

Im not sure if you've done and serious research, but before you worry about the tank, worry about setting it up.

I was very interested in setting up a tank, freshwater, and found out that it is extremely difficult. Mainly to understand how to begin cycling your tank as well as doing proper maintenance. Its very tough but im sure its very rewarding.

Good luck!

hisba · #3 (**permalink**) 08-25-2005, 07:18 PM

Well... what type of tank? what type of filtration? What type of lighting? A mini reef is very delicate, not to mention, expensive to maintain. A few soft corals and 2 clowns would most likely be ok in a 10 gallon IF everything is set up and cycle correctly. If you haven't seen them yet, check out NanoCubes, they have small sizes (I think an 8 or 10 gallon) that have built in filtration and lighting. I plan to eventually get the 24 cube and try a mini-reef but I am still researching it... on my 3rd book on the subject. I have a few friends (mainly guys at the fish store! lol) who keep mini reefs and do so with pretty good success. You can set one up tho and if it's set up too fast (too many organisms introduced too quickly) or not cycled enough and do fine then all the sudden the whole system crashes. If you've never kept fish before and really want a salt water tank, I would recommend a fish only tank (no corals), you can keep a clown without an anenome. Another book I just ordered is "setting up a mini-reef" you can get it for $6 at this website:
http://www.booksandbibles.net/petbooks.htm
Good luck and read read read!!

kasa's_Kids · #4 (**permalink**) 08-25-2005, 08:24 PM

I used to be into fresh water big time, almost 2000 gallons total. I started looking into the saltwater end of things. It is a very delicate project and will take a lot of time and is far from being cheap or fast. Once set up however, it is a very rewarding experience, but still a good bit of work.

Good luck and post some pics when you have it started.

mhsrunner · #5 (**permalink**) 08-26-2005, 12:03 AM

ive been reading for the past year on saltwater tanks in general and have good friends at teh petstore who are going to help me set it and with upkeep if i need it (ive hadfreshwater) but ya, not having to worry about corals would be a lot more simple, i didnt know i could do that with clownfish.thanks guys

EyeOfTheStorm · #6 (**permalink**) 08-26-2005, 09:01 AM

With saltwater being so delicate, its usually best to go with the largest tank you can manage, I wouldnt touch salt with anything less than 50 gallons. Its easier to maintain water quality when things in the water arent to concentrated. Thus, having a larger tank, adjustments you make to get all the levels right, dont have to be as precise.

Trogdor · #7 (**permalink**) 09-28-2005, 01:18 PM

I was an oceanography TA in high school and helped maintain a bunch of saltwater tanks. IMHO any tank under 50 gallons is really really hard to keep saltwater. That said when I get into the hobby someday I want to start with a 30 gal...

But still. It's a very delicate balance with the saltwater tanks, and it gets especially hard to be balanaced under 50 gallons.

Reptscue · #8 (**permalink**) 09-28-2005, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trogdor

any tank under 50 gallons is really really hard to keep saltwater.

You took the words right out of my mouth.

Trogdor · #9 (**permalink**) 09-28-2005, 11:37 PM

Also, I thought I'd add, that with a saltwater tank it is much better to use a bioball filter (I dunno what it's called exactly...it's that tank thing...with bioballs in it =oP ) than the cheap kind of filter that you'd buy at, say, Wal-Mart. The filters themselves start at around 10 gallons.

I have no clue about your experience, but if you are new to aquariums in general and want to get started small, go fresh. But if you are dead set on saltwater (can't blame you, they are awesome!) I would suggest a fifty gal and saving up. It's much better to put a bunch of money into it right off then having to continually upgrade/replace. I'm not going to start the hobby until I can drop 600 bucks straight up

Oh yeah, and there is this type of fish that you should use first. Clowns are pretty hardy, but you want to have the tank up and running with a few really really hardy fish (gah I forget the name, they are usually small and blue) for about a week before adding clowns/anenomes, or any fish over five bucks. Again, goes back to getting the tank balanced biologically.

wreckwriter · #10 (**permalink**) 09-28-2005, 11:59 PM

Salt is horribly tricky, worse in a tiny tank. Clowns and anemones are kinda delicate too. You'll want to start with a damsel or something tougher or, better yet, fresh water.

Trogdor · #11 (**permalink**) 09-29-2005, 01:16 AM

Damsel! That's the one!

captrob · #12 (**permalink**) 09-29-2005, 01:24 AM

the bio ball filter is a wet dry filter.

wreckwriter · #13 (**permalink**) 09-29-2005, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trogdor

Damsel! That's the one!

World's toughest fish. If they were 6 feet long nobody would dare go in the ocean.....

mci · #14 (**permalink**) 02-09-2006, 10:29 PM

Small and simple are mutually exclusive. Start with a 30-gallon at least.

snsc808 · #15 (**permalink**) 08-14-2007, 10:11 AM

ive had almost every size saltwater tank up to my 3000 gallon concrete display tank down to a 5 gallon mini reef the smaller the harder the nitrates and ammonias build way faster than most filters can handle even after being properly cycled and if the filter can handle it than it is pushing to much gph making the current in your tank way to strong i would do a 29 minimum running about 80-100 gph skilter filters are great for smaller tanks as for your anenomes from experience ive found it is harder to keep anenomes than it is to keep coral their light requirements are much more refined although colinization of 2 clowns in a 29 gallon tank is higly unlikely if they do simple mushroom coral will do the job just as well ive had perculas make homes out of artificial anenomes from walmart before too good luck if you can spare a couple extra bucks an eclipse or other nano cube will help you since you have been reading i feel no need to go into the importance of tank cycling but it seems others are trying to get you to start cycling with a damsel or something live rock and a small peice of market shrimp does the trick and its more humanoh and in small tanks live rock will prove to be very beneficial

mpgt · #16 (**permalink**) 08-14-2007, 01:41 PM

It seems that many people with experience have different opinions here. They are probably all correct to a certain extent. I've had several SW tanks in the past. One problem is SW fish and particularly inverts are more delicate than FW. They come from a very large body of water where changes in temperature and water quality are very gradual. FW have evolved with the ability to tolerate varied conditions (with limits).

One of your dilemmas will be sorting advice from "old school" and "new school" experience. We used to rely on under gravel (UG) filters and water changes to maintain SW and FW tanks. Then everyone moved to wet-dry filters. Now many people are using deep sand beds (DSB) and/or live rock which prevent nitrates and the need for water changes even with inverts, and even in very small tanks. Live rock is expensive. Then again, so is SW fish keeping in general. Remember that time and effort in the "set-up" stage will prevent a whole lot of stress later on for you AND your fish. Don't rush the process and please resist the temptation of using "starter fish". There are other quicker, more effective ways to cycle a new tank without abusing damsels.

Here's a great website: Saltwaterfish.com Message Boards - powered by vBulletin

mpgt · #17 (**permalink**) 08-14-2007, 01:59 PM

I didn't realize how old this thread was, but maybe it'll be of some use to others.

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