10G build questions

jefferzbooboo

New Member
Here's what I have so far
1. 10g All Glass aquarium
2. Current Orbit Compact Fluorescent (2 40w bulbs)
3. Odyssea PS75 skimmer with a Gen-X 1500 needle wheel
4. 50W Visi-Therm Stealth Heater
5. Maxi-Jet 600 powerhead
6. Penguin Biowheel 100 power filter
7. A one inch sand bed
8. Anywhere from 8-12 lbs of live rock (I'm pulling it out of my 55 gal)

For stock my plans are a Goby/Pistol Shrimp combo, a Purple Firefish, maybe a could of ornamental inverts, and various zoos and mushrooms.

I do have an old style Penguin 160 Bio-wheel filter, I've seen the AquaClear filters turned into refugiums, should I turn that into a refugium and get rid of the Penguin 100?

I currently have a 55g with a Papuan Toby Puffer, Royal Gramma, Diamond Watchman Goby, and a Lawnmower Blenny. I'm not new to saltwater, but new to Nano's. I wanted a tank where I could have coral and inverts since my puffer destroys both.

My question is, am I heading in the right direction or am I way off course? Any input would be greatly suggested.
 

TimSchmidt

New Member
Great direction! FOr the firefish please remember they are jumpers. If you want you can turn any powerfilter into a refugium. It's up to you, but I do like the refugiums as that is where my algae grows as opossed to my display area.

By the way...

:welcome to Nanotank.com!
 

cameraman_2

New Member
Yes it sounds like you are headed in a good direction. You don't really need a protein skimmer for a nano. They will suck more good nutrients out of the water and then you have to start adding more of what you need which can become a nightmare.
Marshall
 

TimSchmidt

New Member
Looking like the beginnings of a tank! :)

For skimmers there are two trains of thoughts I've come across. Some say skimmers pull out desirable minerals and some say they are fine.

I personally am of the latter train of thought. Skimmers work by removing DOC (dissolved organic compounds) through foam refraction. If you want you can try a test yourself. Test all of your water parameters and then run the tank without the skimmer for one week then test your parameters again.

For the second part of the test just do a water change, then check parameters and run the tank a week with the skimmer on. At the end of that week check all parameters again and then compare the two.

My tests came up with no real difference so I run my skimmers 24/7 on my tanks IF they have a skimmer. I don't have a skimmer on my 12 gallon and it does fine without it.
 

jefferzbooboo

New Member
I ditched the skimmer in favor of an Emporer Bio Wheel 350 which I'm converting into a refugium, like rock rubble/heater one side and chaeto on the other.
 
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