10g Tank (any ideas??)

M

mustang06

New Member
I have a 10g tank that I just setup three days ago is doing well, but I have some questions. But first a little bit about the tank.

I am lucky enough to be in Guam where live rock and sand is easy to get. Also the ocean is right out the back door practically so I have used ocean water to start my tank.

A friend of mine here has said that since I used ocean water then I don't have to wait for the cycle to occur because it won't the cycle is already established. So with the questions.

1. Should I use only a blue light or a mixture of white and blue?
2. Should I get a clown fish in a 10g tank or something else? He believes that it will do fine with a anemone.
3. I currently have a small hang over the side water pump without any filter because I am using live rock and live sand as the filter, should I apply another filter? And also is this enough water flow, I see it moving the small items on the live rock.

I appreciate any help and hope to continue the hobby. I AM ADDICTED already... :blob :blob
 
Angel

Angel

New Member
Using ocean water doesn't make a cycle? I have never heard of this, maybe your "friend" can enlighten me on this. My cycles were dependent on the rock, not the water.

1. Depends on what you like to see aesthetically. Some prefer stronger blue as others prefer none.
2. I would stay away from the anemone until your tank has matured. The inhabitants are also up to you as long as your system can support them (size, stability, compatibility). Clowns also do not need an anemone to host. They host power heads, leathers, shrooms and such.
3. Again, depending on the inhabitants you wish to keep is dependent on how much flow. You also do not state the type of filter, so I won't venture a guess.

This is a great hobby! It is good to see you asking questions before acquiring the inhabitants also.
 
T

Trogdor

New Member
Using ocean water should be fine, as long as it's not contaminated. You will still want to be sure that your tank runs through a cycle. The cycle establishes the bacteria in the system. While your water will have a lot of bacteria, your rocks and substrate won't. (or it may die off during transport) I would be inclined to go on the safe side and be sure that you go through a cycle first to establish the bacteria so that when you add fish you don't get a huge bioload spike.

1. Both can be used, and usually are. But that doesn't stop you from running just one or the other. I don't think I've seen a tank just running actnics but I'm pretty sure that it won't harm anything.

2. I agree with Angel. An anemone is generally a bad idea in a new tank. They need pretty pristine water conditions in order to survive in captivity and will often die (and can crash your tank) if added too early. They aren't the easiest to take care of either. While you're learning about your tank and how water quality affects it, you don't want to make one bad mistake and take out your entire tank.

3. Like Angel said it's hard to tell with the information that you provided. You will want to try and eliminate any dead spots and corals usually want some sporadic/turbulent blasts occassionally. This can get hard to accomplish in smaller tanks and it's all dependent on placement of pumps. A good rule that I follow is that you want consistent flow throughout all of the tank, including the top of your substrate.

When I feed my fish in my 29g, I turn off the power heads and pumps. There is always some food that sinks but as soon as I turn the pumps back on they rarely stop until it is either consumed or it gets into my filters.

SPS and hard coral require more water flow than the softer corals so if you aim around 20x-40x your volume you should be fine for most corals
 
skipm

skipm

Moderator
Staff member
I think the previous posters have you pretty well covered but I wanted to say :welcome to the board.
 
pitahall

pitahall

New Member
I would like to say that in my experience (3 months) that more flow is better with a bit of reason. I now have 240 gph in a 5 gal and everything is doing much much much better then the 80 from the hob filter alone. so About 48 times turn over in an hour. and about the cycle I would agree with the statement that the die off and the build up of bacteria play more towards the cycle then the water but it is a good way of getting the that bacteria spread in the system. but what do i know I am a newb as well.

Pitahall

Where in gaum? my mother is over there and loves the diving. (I would never leave the water)
 
D

davenia7

New Member
i have 125 on a 5 gal. hex and am thinking of adding another 50-80gph
as skip has heard me say, fishy jacuzzi!!!
 
M

mustang06

New Member
I appreciate all of the information. To answer a couple of questions, I do not have a tank filter other then the live sand and rock. I had read some articles that stated that you really do not need anything else but also I have read that you do.

The pump is the normal waterfall type that came with the 10g tank without any of the filter stuff inside. Pitahall you use a 240 gph pump in a 5g so I would think I am way under I will look around and get a powerhead. Thanks.

Also Pitahall, I am in the Navy and station on the USS Frank Cable, so I am on the south end on the Navy base.

Back to business, I also appreciate the info on the clown and anenome. Does anyone have a good recommendation for a fish that I could add now that later would be compatible with the clown or do I want to just leave fish out of it for awhile?

Again thanks to all, until next time...
 
pitahall

pitahall

New Member
look in to putting in a spray bar they are fairly easy to do and give a great uneven flow. my mother lives on the north side but works on all of the bases. I have her send and bring back base rock so I can cure and build my rock at discount prices

Pitahall
 
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