Would this work?

GoogleEyes · 01/24/2016, 08:41 PM

Im thinking of doin a small tank for my son. I am thinking a 10 gallon with one large center piece of live rock. An aquaclear HOB just to soak up some bacteria and possible run to carbon. A small hydor for some circulation. A ai prime pennet mabe for light. (Some suggetions on that light would be nice. Anyways the centerpiece being a toadstool or possible a frogspawn. You opions please!

davehead86 · 01/24/2016, 08:44 PM

I like it! That may be a lot more light than you need.

You could even add a firefish and a shrimp to that tank. Or maybe a goby and pisitl shrimp pair.

jraker · 01/24/2016, 11:32 PM

I would get a 20 long because the parameters would be more stable. Otherwise, you seem in pretty good shape.

Sapelo · 01/25/2016, 04:32 AM

The bigger question is: what kind of livestock do you want?
Are you thinking coral only or are you wanting fish too? Make that decision now and save yourself a lot of heartache later.
(And jraker is correct, larger is easier in some ways since you have more water to absorb any changes that might occur.)
It's a great hobby and could be a wonderful learning experience, but it wont be as easy as simply adding some saltwater, a HOB filter and some lighting.

Dmorty217 · 01/25/2016, 08:34 AM

Not much difference in 10g or 20g as far as stability goes. Basically boils down to if you want any fish or not. Two small nano fish would work in a 10g and no more, in a 20g you could do a few more depending on what you want. If the tank is just for a coral or two the 10g will be fine

GoogleEyes · 01/25/2016, 09:06 AM

Mabe a clown and small goby that's it for fish just mainly a leather type coral so that mabe, just mabe, we could see it hosting. Then mabe a 10% water change weekly. He wants an bubble tip but I don't feel like the headaches

davehead86 · 01/25/2016, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoogleEyes

Mabe a clown and small goby that's it for fish just mainly a leather type coral so that mabe, just mabe, we could see it hosting. Then mabe a 10% water change weekly. He wants an bubble tip but I don't feel like the headaches

Bubble tip will be too large IMHO for a 10 gallon.
You could do just the clowfish, by himself, thats it fishwise if you went that direction.

H2OCulture · 01/25/2016, 11:24 AM

Go slow. Add the coral first after the cycle, then a fish a couple of weeks later. 10gal is a fine volume, I kept one through college. Add some Xenia for movement as nutrient sequestration as well as slow growing red macro algae for phosphate. Good luck!

Reef Frog · 01/25/2016, 01:19 PM

Go with no less than 20g if using a conventional aquarium. Hang in the back equipment will overwhelm a 10g. The biggest challenge with a small SW aquarium is keeping up with evaporated water. A hood will help as long as there is sufficient air exchange but an auto top off device is the best way to go. Figure on $100 for that.

In fact, an all in one with a hood like a bio cube may be the best idea. A 29g cube doesn't take up appreciably more space than a 10g. JMO.

01/24/2016, 08:41 PM	#1
GoogleEyes Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 16	Would this work? Im thinking of doin a small tank for my son. I am thinking a 10 gallon with one large center piece of live rock. An aquaclear HOB just to soak up some bacteria and possible run to carbon. A small hydor for some circulation. A ai prime pennet mabe for light. (Some suggetions on that light would be nice. Anyways the centerpiece being a toadstool or possible a frogspawn. You opions please!

01/24/2016, 08:44 PM	#2
davehead86 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Monticello, IL Posts: 819	I like it! That may be a lot more light than you need. You could even add a firefish and a shrimp to that tank. Or maybe a goby and pisitl shrimp pair. __________________ My build thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=24225945#post24225945 Current Tank: 65 Gallon Mixed Reef\| 40B Sump\| 2 Radion Gen 3's\| 2 MP10wes\| Vectra M1 \| Reefkeeper Lite

01/24/2016, 11:32 PM	#3
jraker Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 1,421	I would get a 20 long because the parameters would be more stable. Otherwise, you seem in pretty good shape. __________________ "I glue animals to rocks" Current Tank Info: 36 gallon reef, 65 gallon Caribbean Biotope macroalgae and seagrass tank

01/25/2016, 08:34 AM	#5
Dmorty217 Saltwater Addict Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Vandalia OHIO Posts: 11,624	Not much difference in 10g or 20g as far as stability goes. Basically boils down to if you want any fish or not. Two small nano fish would work in a 10g and no more, in a 20g you could do a few more depending on what you want. If the tank is just for a coral or two the 10g will be fine __________________ Fish are not disposable commodities, but a worthwhile investment that can be maintained and enjoyed for many years, providing one is willing to take the time to understand their requirements and needs Current Tank Info: 625g, 220g sump, RD3 230w, Vectra L1 on a closed loop, 3 MP60s, MP40. Several QTs

01/25/2016, 11:24 AM	#8
H2OCulture Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Bethesda, Maryland Posts: 85	Go slow. Add the coral first after the cycle, then a fish a couple of weeks later. 10gal is a fine volume, I kept one through college. Add some Xenia for movement as nutrient sequestration as well as slow growing red macro algae for phosphate. Good luck! __________________ "Just add water" "Just say NO to detritus" February TOTM 2011 Le Châtelier is my clean-up crew. Current Tank Info: 29 Gallon Mixed Reef

01/25/2016, 04:32 AM	#4
Sapelo Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: North Georgia Posts: 869	The bigger question is: what kind of livestock do you want? Are you thinking coral only or are you wanting fish too? Make that decision now and save yourself a lot of heartache later. (And jraker is correct, larger is easier in some ways since you have more water to absorb any changes that might occur.) It's a great hobby and could be a wonderful learning experience, but it wont be as easy as simply adding some saltwater, a HOB filter and some lighting.

01/25/2016, 09:06 AM	#6
GoogleEyes Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 16	Mabe a clown and small goby that's it for fish just mainly a leather type coral so that mabe, just mabe, we could see it hosting. Then mabe a 10% water change weekly. He wants an bubble tip but I don't feel like the headaches

01/25/2016, 01:19 PM	#9
Reef Frog Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Maryland Posts: 3,121	Go with no less than 20g if using a conventional aquarium. Hang in the back equipment will overwhelm a 10g. The biggest challenge with a small SW aquarium is keeping up with evaporated water. A hood will help as long as there is sufficient air exchange but an auto top off device is the best way to go. Figure on $100 for that. In fact, an all in one with a hood like a bio cube may be the best idea. A 29g cube doesn't take up appreciably more space than a 10g. JMO.