NEW SALTY NANO NEED SUGGESTIONS

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supertech99

New Member
OK, SO I AM A EXPERENCED FRESHIE AND LOOKING TO FACE MY FEARS AND START A SALT NANO WITH ONE FALSE CLOWN. I HAVE SOME EXISTING EQUIPMENT WHICH SHOULD CUT DOWN ON THE COST. THE BIG QUESTION I HAVE IS I CAN'T DECIDE WHAT TO USE ON THE BOTTOM. I AM A BIG FAN OF THE UGF AND PF COMBO BUT I HAVE HEARD GREAT THINGS ABOUT LIVE SAND SO..... SHOULD I GO WITH A LIVE ROCK AND LIVE SAND (BETTER ASTETICS) OR UGF WITH CRUSHED SUBSTRATE AND A LIVE ROCK TO ENHANCE MY BIOFILTER? ALSO, ANY BUDGET IDEAS ABOUT CONVERTING A TRADITIONAL FLOURSCENT 10GAL HOOD TO A CORAL SUSTAINING HOOD(ON THE CHEEP OF COURSE)?
 
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supertech99

New Member
OK SO AFTER 4 HOURS OF READING THE FORUMS I ANSWERED ONE OF MY OWN QUESTIONS. I AM GOING WITH LIVE SAND AND A LR. I AM PLANNING ON USING THE FOLLOWING SET UP, PLEASE BE CRITICAL AS I NEED THIS TO BE SUCCESSFUL!

10 GAL
50/50 F BULB
LIVE SAND
15LBS LR
MARINELAND BIOWHEEL 100-FILTER MEDIA UNDECIDED
MINI POWERHEAD-YET UNDECIDED
FOSTERS AND SMITH MINI HOOD-NOT YET BOUGHT

TANK MATES PLANNED:
1 TOMATO CLOWN
1 CLEANER SRIMP
2 TURBO SNAILS
2 BLUE HERMITS


MAYBE A DAMSIL? OR PEPERMINT SHRIMP

I WOULD LIKE TO GET SOFTIES IN HERE IN THE FUTURE IF I CAN KEEP A GOOD SW TANK FOR ABOUT A YEAR, BUT THAT WOULD BE WITH A MAJOR LIGHT CONVERSION I AM NOT PREPARED TO DO NOW

ALL $0.02 ACCEPTED AND APPRECIATED!
 
TimSchmidt

TimSchmidt

New Member
Well I don't think the biowheel will be the best bet. You don't want a bio wheel, ceramic rings, or bioballs as these typically create too many nitrates too quickly. I would get a mini power head. Koralia makes a nice set. Either a koralia nano or a koralia 1. My vote is for the nano. Running an AC110 modified to hold some macro algae and carbon media (my chemical filtration of choice) is always a nice addition. Not sure what mini hood you are referring to. Take a look at some of the nano tanks listed in the forum as there are a couple 10 gallons out there. One of the more recent that comes to mind is Saltwaternewbs build.

I don't like damsels. Tough fish, but can be a bit aggressive and darn near impossible to get out of tanks later on. you may want to get some sand sifters. Nassarius snails are a good choice. Tonga nassarius snails are pretty big and one or two should do fine for a beginning (you can add more if you need to).

Depending on how much 50/50 compact florescent lighting you get you may be able to get a softy or two now.
 
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supertech99

New Member
thanks so much for replying, I have seen a pico on this site with a biowheel and i happen to have an extra one which is why that was the plan, i could just take the biowheel out if that is the issue. the koralia looks awesome but doesent look too angle adjustable. is it? what do you think about a chromid(SP) fish instead of the damsil. can i run the penguine without the biowheel with normal carbon inserts? cause that would be awesone! could you explain macro algae? like i said saltwater newb! what kind of softies could a corallife 50/50 18 inch support. i also want some leds for the hood, can a diyer find these at a home supply store? thanks for all the info. i am totally obsessed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :twisted:
 
TimSchmidt

TimSchmidt

New Member
I would just take out the biowheel and that should be fine, just make sure the carbon inserts don't get too much junk on them and keep it clean. Sorry macro algae, a beneficial larger algae. Like (forgive my slaughtering of the spelling) chaetomorphea or calpera. I prefer chaetomorphea. Radio shack has LEDs as well as other similar stores. You can even find them online and have them shipped to you! :)

As far as the light. Not a whole lot, but you could do some mushrooms and any LPS (Large Polyp Stony coral) you can feed to supplement (like bubble coral). But that would be a temporary situation in my head.
 
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supertech99

New Member
a local has offered to sell me some LR that has been in an established tank for a few years, it looks great but i m worried about the introduction of disease and unwanted critters into my brand new enviroment. should I stick with the less "established" rock from the LFS? BTW the local is offering at 5 dollars/lb and the pet store has 9/lb.

thanks for all the tips! i hope this helps others too, I did some research and i think i should start with elegance coral for its ease to care for but i dont want to start corals untill after its up and going for a few months.

revised livestock ideas:
1 black and white clown
1 cleaner shrimp
2 blue hermit crabs
2 nassarius snails
1 tonga nassarius snail
1 elegance coral (after 6 months ish)
I want to keep the bioload on the low side for my first go round. what do youall think? any advice is appreciated

Thank you for having this site! :D
 
TimSchmidt

TimSchmidt

New Member
Sounds good. I've never had an elegance coral though. I personally would take the rock from the local and just do a freshwater dip. Take RO/DI water and junk dunk and swish all the rock for a bit and most bad stuff will die by hydroscopic (or hyper, always get those wrong) water pressure. Basically the stuff will just pop or shrivel up. Plus it's 4 buck cheaper a pound!

You may want a cerith or some other glass/rock cleaning snail. Nassarius snails generally only clean the sand bed.
 
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supertech99

New Member
thanks tim, i get paid tomorrow so ill be poor by noon! btw iam origionally from illinois too, i dont miss the snow though! hope fully youall will get to see pics of my tank with sand, water and maybe some lr tomorrow!
 
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reefman23

New Member
I suggest uploading your photos to a site such as photobucket.com and then all you have to do is copy and past the address.

Hope that helps.

Jesse
 
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supertech99

New Member
GRRRRRR

OK, SO I BOUGHT A "STARTER KIT" AT PETCO BECAUSE IT WAS THE BEST DEAL FOR GETTING STARTED INCLUDED WAS SALT, HYDROMETER, FOOD, TESTKIT, AND BUFF FOR 50 BUCKS. ITS GOT ENOUGH SALT FOR MANY WATER CHANGES IN MY 10GAL. HOWEVER THE TEST KIT INCLUDES AN ALKINITY TEST, A PH TEST AND A N02 TEST......NO AMMONIA AND NO NO3.....PAUSE AND THINK ABOUT THIS......ITS A "STARTER KIT" ...UMMM THAT MEANS TANK CYCLING, WHICH MEANS AMMONIA AND N03 TESTS ARE HIGHLY NECESSARY! THE LABLE SHOULD HAVE READ "PARTIAL TEST KIT"! NOW I HAVE TO GO GET THE TESTS INDIVIDUALLY, PROBALLY WOULD HAVE BEEN CHEEPER NOW TO HAVE GOTTEN A MASTER KIT FOR 40 BUCKS AND JUST BOUGHT THE SALT AND HYDROMETER INDIVIDUALLY.
 
TimSchmidt

TimSchmidt

New Member
So you have 6 lbs of LR? I would up that to about 12-15 lbs. That is your main source of filtration, well that and you LS. Just a personal opinion.
 
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