Am I on the right track? First Post!!!

[Walruis]

I'm new to saltwater and reefing, and I'm just wondering if I'm on the right track for starting a nano reef.

The equipment I've gotten so far are:
- 10 gallon tank with lid
- AC70 and 1lb of extra carbon
- Marsaqua 165 watt full spectrum LED
- Test kits for Ca, Alk, Mg, NO3, PO4 (I forgot to get ones for ammonia and nitrite but can i do without them?)
- Red Sea Reef Foundation ABC+ Elements for dosing Ca, Alk and Mg if i ever need to
- Red Sea NO3:PO4-X Phosphate Reducer

The next things on my list are salt, sand and rock. I'm a little worried about my filtration because at the moment my main filtration will be my rock and sand. I've seen people using skimmers on nano reefs but is it necessary? Should i looking into getting one? As well, should I mod my AC70 into a refugium, or could i just get macro algae that can go into the tank instead?

[footyreefer]

You need an ammonia test kit for cycling as well as nitrite

[gone fishin]

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1031074

This sticky is at the top of the forum and it is chocked full of info.

I will let you know up front a small tank is a challenge to keep. Due to the limited water volume small problems can have big ramifications. Read over the sticky and any questions you have ask away.

[morleyz]

footyreefer is right about needing ammonia and nitrite kits for getting through the cycle.

You will also likely need a heater.

Things to think about:
What are you planning on stocking in a 10 gallon? That's pretty small and there are limited choices.
Look to get an ATO. With a tank that small, evaporation will cause large swings in salinity.
Last, I don't know about your light specifically, but a lot of times lights that are labeled "full spectrum" are best at growing plants (namely algae) which is not what you want.

[Walruis]

I have been looking into getting an ATO, i'm not keen on the idea of having to top up 2-3 times a day to keep my salinity consistent. Could i let my tank run with only the sand and LR for a month and skip getting the ammonia and nitrite kits? I was reading some threads and people were saying that once you see algae in your tank, you are ready to add your CUC. Just wondering because I don't think i would use them after my initial cycle.

[FraggledRock]

I may or not be a psychic, but I foresee a much bigger tank in your near to very near future! =P

[Walruis]

I will defiantly go through the sticky, there is a lot of information on this forum and really helpful people.

[FraggledRock]

Skimmer wise I used the BioCube 14g - 29g skimmer with MUCH SUCCESS when i had my 10 gallon, then 20 gallon tank (now im at 40 Gallon, can you see a patterm?)!

http://www.ocreef.com/images/super/O...in-Skimmer.jpg

[morleyz]

Originally Posted by Walruis

I have been looking into getting an ATO, i'm not keen on the idea of having to top up 2-3 times a day to keep my salinity consistent. Could i let my tank run with only the sand and LR for a month and skip getting the ammonia and nitrite kits? I was reading some threads and people were saying that once you see algae in your tank, you are ready to add your CUC. Just wondering because I don't think i would use them after my initial cycle.

No...not really. You wouldn't have a clue when the cycle is done and there is not "fixed time" to wait. You can buy a cheap API test kit for ammonia and nitrite. If this is out of budget, you might be in the wrong hobby.

[Walruis]

haha I know I'm not in the wrong hobby, it was just a question. Yes i know the pattern xD I went from a 10 to a 33 to a 45 cube to a 110 cube (all freshwater) now I'm trying out this 10 gallon saltwater. I will probably end up getting the API test kits.

[FraggledRock]

Why didnt you grab those three basic test kit essentials(ammonia, Nitrite, nitrate, Ph, Salinity) to cycling a tank before all the other stuff?

[Walruis]

I was looking at getting a second AC70 and putting a nano in tank skimmer in it, like the one you linked. Although many people say that skimmers in nano tanks take out too much of the organics in the tank and can actually be bad for corals? Does anyone have experience with their corals suffering because of this? As well, do fancy macro algaes like flame algae do well in nano's?

[Walruis]

well I just started getting stuff for this tank in the last few weeks and for some reason it just skipped my mind to get the basic test kits.

[FraggledRock]

Originally Posted by Walruis

well I just started getting stuff for this tank in the last few weeks and for some reason it just skipped my mind to get the basic test kits.

LOL well now you know.

I don't see how skimming will remove that much "good organics".

what "good" organics do you fear would be removed?

If that was the case no one would be buying supersized skimmers for their tanks.

In my expereince, the removals of excess DOM (dissolved Organic Matter) ex. poop extra food particles, chemicals is worth more than leaving it in. ESPECIALLY in Nano.

also just FYI you need to be ON TOP OF YOUR GAME EVERYDAY with a NANO REEF. A lot can go wrong is very little time.

I ran it (that exact skimmer) no problems and my corals have lasted 3 tank transfers LOL

[goby12345]

use the bubble magnus HOB 15 gallon skimmmer

[FraggledRock]

Originally Posted by goby12345

use the bubble magnus HOB 15 gallon skimmmer

thats way too big(physical dimensions) in comparison to his 10 gallon LOL

i also prefer nothing HOB of my tanks with water flow. just my 0.02

[Walruis]

I have the opportunity to get an AUQA Gadget SkimMate Protein Skimmer for pretty cheap off a friend. I think this skimmer would work well, and if i do choose to add a second aqua clear this skimmer with fit in the basket. I will post pictures of everything once i receive it in the mail, and when the tank is set up.

[CuzzA]

Walruis, I'm afraid I'm with everyone else on this one. I see 10 gallons being more of a pain (high user demand) than an enjoyable hobby. Petco is having their $1 per gallon sale, why not pick up a 20 gallon long or high tank and use the 10 as a sump. This will make your life so much easier and open up the door to a few different stocking options. Just my 2 cents. Either way good luck.

[Walruis]

Alright here we go. So I realize that when I made this thread I was very uneducated and since then I've made HUGE progress and here is where my tank is at now. I have finished cycling and everything blah blah blah and I'm fully stocked with healthy coral and fish with undetectable levels of everything! My Ca, Mg and Alk are perfect and I even have a healthy piece of SPS in this tank. I run the AC70 with LR rubble and Chemi-Pure Elite and my AC50 with carbon and ceramic media and I chose to use a skimmer and I run a Fluval PS1 skimmer which works perfectly for my tank. I have mainly LPS, heres a list of livestock:
- Flowerpot coral
- Galaxae coral
- Branching torch
- Purple branching hammer and green branching hammer
- 2 pieces of GSP and what is supposed to be blue star polyps but its more green than blue... Whatever lol
- Purple toadstool leather
- Giant purple unidentified leather
- 3 pieces of neon green candy cane
- 2 watermelon chalices
- Kenya tree
- Red digitata frag
- 2 Ocellaris clownfish and CUC

[nmotz]

That's a very nice tank. For those that are willing to do the extra work to keep a tank that small, it can be quite rewarding. Great job!

[Chevrefils]

By golly you've done it! Great tank my friend!!