Starting a 10 gallon - Ideas

JupiterSailfish · 09-11-2008, 01:21 PM

I'll start out with I know this will be a tough task cause the smaller the harder aquarium, but I'm just getting stuff and ideas together.

So I got a 10 gallon tank for free from the Petstore for spending $50 on corals and it is just sitting around. The dude said I could make a breeder tank out of it, but that is boring. I was thinking of making a small reef with like a fish. I've seen several smaller aquariums in stores with a hang on back filter that look pretty good. I was thinking of doing the same.

I was also thinking about drilling or getting holes drilled in the 10 gal. and putting a 5 gal. refugium underneath it.

These are all ideas, let me know what you think. I have been keeping my eye on a 30 gallon with stand for $40 on Craigslist.

Scubagator87 · 09-11-2008, 04:48 PM

you could make it into a quarantine tank, that would be a pretty good investment....not as fun I know, but it will probably be worth it in the long run

GuitarMan89 · 09-11-2008, 06:12 PM

if you don't have a refugium, you could make the 10 a refugium for your main tank. If you want to do the mini reef tank, i've seen them as small as 3 gallon. You already seem to know that you have to be more careful with the smaller tank. I think a small reef would be cool

PharmrJohn · 09-12-2008, 02:51 AM

I'd buy the 30g off of CR and use at as the fuge for that.

Reeron · 09-12-2008, 05:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pharmrjohn

I'd buy the 30g off of CR and use at as the fuge for that.

I second that. You could make the 10 a sump/fuge combo, or just a fuge. It wouldn't limit you so much, and in the end, I think a 30 would look great. I have a 38 and a 20, so I really like that size tank.

JupiterSailfish · 09-12-2008, 04:21 PM

Thanks for the advice guys.

I was thinking of making the 10 gal an aquarium to keep the cost down a little, after adding LS, LR, etc...

JupiterSailfish · 09-13-2008, 06:16 PM

Could I use a hang on back filter? It would be a lot easier than making the refugium, but I kind of rather put a refugium underneath it.

ssgheislerswife · 09-13-2008, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JupiterSailfish

Could I use a hang on back filter? It would be a lot easier than making the refugium, but I kind of rather put a refugium underneath it.

Instead of a HOB filter, for a ten gallon, get a TAAM Rio Nano Protein Skimmer and call it a day. You can run carbon in it if you need to, it comes with a carbon filter.

Gin

SmittyCoco · 09-13-2008, 08:16 PM

I like the quarintine Idea or the sump/fuge one as well. If you absolutly want to make a nano reef I can help you out. I Have been running the rio nano for 10 months and it just does not do the job for me. If you are going to make a nano reef you can make a fuge like me with an ac 70. Just do wc's every 7 to 10 days and you will be fine. And since it's only a 10 gallon you only have to do like 2 gallon changes.

Here is a link to the fuge. Now as far as keeping down your costs. Wel.......

Ac 70 fuge mod

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hreadid=601201

And a light

16.5" 70w Sunpod - Nano-Reef.com Forums

{Nano}Reefer · 09-13-2008, 08:35 PM

if i where to do my system over again i would run T5's, less heat and you really cant go wrong with them in a 10 gallon. gives you the same variety of things you can keep with a bit less of an exspense.

09-11-2008, 01:21 PM	#1 (permalink)
JupiterSailfish Peppermint Shrimp Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Age: 20 Posts: 422 Skin: Mint Karma: 706	Starting a 10 gallon - Ideas I'll start out with I know this will be a tough task cause the smaller the harder aquarium, but I'm just getting stuff and ideas together. So I got a 10 gallon tank for free from the Petstore for spending $50 on corals and it is just sitting around. The dude said I could make a breeder tank out of it, but that is boring. I was thinking of making a small reef with like a fish. I've seen several smaller aquariums in stores with a hang on back filter that look pretty good. I was thinking of doing the same. I was also thinking about drilling or getting holes drilled in the 10 gal. and putting a 5 gal. refugium underneath it. These are all ideas, let me know what you think. I have been keeping my eye on a 30 gallon with stand for $40 on Craigslist. _________ http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ium/tank-1.jpg 58 gallon

09-11-2008, 04:48 PM	#2 (permalink)
Scubagator87 Skunk Shrimp Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Gainesville, FL Age: 22 Posts: 290 Skin: Mint Karma: 253	you could make it into a quarantine tank, that would be a pretty good investment....not as fun I know, but it will probably be worth it in the long run _________ 28 Gallon Bowfront 1 Long Tentacled Anemone 1 Springeri Dottyback Xenia

09-11-2008, 06:12 PM	#3 (permalink)
GuitarMan89 Giant Squid Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: West Chester, Pa Posts: 4,161 Skin: Classic Karma: 35358	if you don't have a refugium, you could make the 10 a refugium for your main tank. If you want to do the mini reef tank, i've seen them as small as 3 gallon. You already seem to know that you have to be more careful with the smaller tank. I think a small reef would be cool _________ Equipment: 55 gal, PM Redline R125 Skimmer, Tek 6x54w T5 HO lighting, Vortech MP40, 87+ lbs fiji live rock, 20 gal. long sump, Rio2100 return, refugium w/ cheato

09-12-2008, 02:51 AM	#4 (permalink)
PharmrJohn Giant Squid Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Shelton, Washington Age: 46 Posts: 4,595 Skin: Mint Karma: 25954	I'd buy the 30g off of CR and use at as the fuge for that. _________ 90g HW: 20g Sump/Fuge, ETSS PSw/Mag9.5, CPR OF/Rio 2100 RTN, 3K3 1K4 PH's(4200GPH ttl flow), 300W htr, Gnd Prb, Denitrator, Tek 8x54W T5. Fish: Hippo Tang, Hmbg, Y-T, Ylw dmsls, Coral Beauty, 8 Line Wrasse. Inverts: HC, CBS, P-mnt shrmp x2, Sandstar, Sea Apple. CUC: 130 D. Crth/35 F. Crth/30 Lg Nrts/25 Vibex/4 Turbos Corals: Frgspwn x2, Kenya Tree, Doughnut Coral, GSP, Zoas x2, Shroom rocks x2, Lobo Brain, Turbinaria, Mshrm Lthr, Fngr Lthr Other: 145# LR, 1-2" LS DOB 5/7/08 [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

09-13-2008, 08:16 PM	#9 (permalink)
SmittyCoco Fire Shrimp Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Modesto,Cali Age: 30 Posts: 311 Skin: Mint Karma: 840	I like the quarintine Idea or the sump/fuge one as well. If you absolutly want to make a nano reef I can help you out. I Have been running the rio nano for 10 months and it just does not do the job for me. If you are going to make a nano reef you can make a fuge like me with an ac 70. Just do wc's every 7 to 10 days and you will be fine. And since it's only a 10 gallon you only have to do like 2 gallon changes. Here is a link to the fuge. Now as far as keeping down your costs. Wel....... Ac 70 fuge mod http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hreadid=601201 And a light 16.5" 70w Sunpod - Nano-Reef.com Forums _________ All in a days work http://www.3reef.com/forums/show-off...ano-49292.html

09-12-2008, 04:21 PM	#6 (permalink)
JupiterSailfish Peppermint Shrimp Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Age: 20 Posts: 422 Skin: Mint Karma: 706	Thanks for the advice guys. I was thinking of making the 10 gal an aquarium to keep the cost down a little, after adding LS, LR, etc...

09-13-2008, 06:16 PM	#7 (permalink)
JupiterSailfish Peppermint Shrimp Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Age: 20 Posts: 422 Skin: Mint Karma: 706	Could I use a hang on back filter? It would be a lot easier than making the refugium, but I kind of rather put a refugium underneath it.

09-13-2008, 08:35 PM	#10 (permalink)
{Nano}Reefer Dragon Wrasse Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Wi Age: 23 Posts: 2,196 Skin: Mint Karma: 7230	if i where to do my system over again i would run T5's, less heat and you really cant go wrong with them in a 10 gallon. gives you the same variety of things you can keep with a bit less of an exspense.

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