New to this

[brandon]

Hi all
i am very interested in keeping a nano tank, i have taken good care of freshwater and brackish water tanks before and i couldnt help myself

i have a 5 gallon eclipse tank right now and i wanted to know what i need
my local fish store said he could sell me live sand (10 pounds), LO (6 pounds)
and i would use that to cycle my tank, he is also providing the water.

He also said to take out the carbon cartidge out of my tank and use a sponge instead because the rock and sand would take care of the biological filtration. (i can keep the biowheel)

Also, i was going to get some soft coral and i wanted to keep 1 or 2 neon blue gobies and 1 percula clown

If you can help me or make changes BEFORE i get start, that would be GREAT!!

Thanks guys and gals for your help

 

[reefman23]

First off...Welcome. :welcome

Secondly, Im not sure that eclipses are the best choice for saltwater. I dont think that the biwheels are good for saltwater and i wouldnt use a sponge either. sponges must be constantly cleaned to keep the waste that is caught in them from creating nitrates. Plus i dont think the lighting in those things is any good for salt either...i think they are regular fluorescent fixtures... minimum for saltwater (unless it is a fish only tank) is compact fluorescents, AKA power compacts. I would also say that the maximum bioload for a 5 gallon tank, especially a new tank (less than a few months) would be one small fish such as a small goby or the like. A baby percula may be a good choice, but you would probably want to move him to a bigger tank eventually.

Personally, i would suggest a standard AGA 10 gallon glass tank...$10 or less. add to this a large HOB power filter...or better yet a skimmer... around $50, get a dual lamp power compact fixture...$75 to $100 (or find one used for even cheaper).

Nanocube Dx are also a good choice for a starter tank.

 

[skipm]

:welcome to nanotank!

Reefman has covered this pretty well. A standard 10 gallon would make alot better starter tank for a saltwater aquarium. If you are planning on keeping corals decide what you want, that will help determine the lighting you need. If you want to do a FOWLR (fish only with live rock) then lighting won't be as critical but a good PC fixture would still be a good investment. You can use a hang-on filter and heater that you may have left from one of your freshwater tanks to save a few more $$$. Good luck.

 

[reefman23]

A couple things I forgot:

1. (As copied from skips signature) The only thing that happens quickly in a reef tank is disaster........that plus an empty bank account!

2. Don't skimp. Buy the good stuff, because if you don’t, you will buy it later.

3. Patience, read, study. Good sites are www.reefcentral.com , www.nano-reef.com , though some (Definitely not all) people on that site can be rude. HERE...OF COURSE!! This is the best site because of its balance of friendliness and knowledge.

4. Another reason to think about ditching the eclipse is that is plastic... I don’t even think it is acrylic...this will scratch easily and with all that rock in a reef tank as well as the coraline algae that will inevitably grow on the sides, it will definitely get roughed up.

 

[brandon]

thanks guys for your reply

i do have an empty 10 gallon glass tank with a basic flourescent light and a regular hang on filter. i would need to get another heater tho

how much live rock would i need now? along with live sand?

Should i cycle the tank and put the sand in first or the rock?

Do the fish need the coral? or is it just for decor?

Would the light be good enough for fowlr?

how do u vaccum substrate or do u need to siphon at all?

and last, since i would use my 10 gallon, how i take out the carbon cartidge? (no biowheel this time) and would it be ok now to keep 1 pecula clown with 1 or 2 neon gobies?

thanks for your help guys, its very much appreciated

 

[reefman23]

i do have an empty 10 gallon glass tank with a basic flourescent light and a regular hang on filter. i would need to get another heater tho

That should work...seems how it was used for freshwater i have to ask, have you ever treated the tank with a copper based medication? if so, this could leach out in a salt tank and harm inverts.

how much live rock would i need now? along with live sand?

I would say around 8 lbs would be good. It is rather tough to say because some rock is more or less dense then others. also dont forget that adding coral frags that are usually attached to small pieces of rock will slowly add to the amount of LR in your tank.

Should i cycle the tank and put the sand in first or the rock?

You will want to fill up the tank with saltwater, turn on the filter, add the rinsed sand to the tank, add the LR...let this set until the cycle is over. in order to judge the progress of the cycle, you will need test kits. PLEASE purchase these...dont rely on your local fish store to do it for you. after the cycle is showing signs of coming to an end, add the cleanup crew to clean up the detritus and all the dead matter off the rock and sand. Nassarius are a great choice for the sand bed, ceriths and margarita snails are good choices, as well as a couple blue leg hermits.

Do the fish need the coral? or is it just for decor?

Fish dont need the coral and the coral dont need the fish. coral is usually the main focus of a reef, not just decor. However, clowns may choose to host anything from an anemone to a flowerpot coral to a mushroom to a powerhead, but the clown does not require a host

Would the light be good enough for fowlr?

the light would probably be fine for a FOWLR, but a 10 gallon may NOT be good enough. For a FOWLR with a decent amount of fish, i would suggest a 40 gallon or larger. You just couldnt put more than 2 or 3 fish in a 10g.

how do u vaccum substrate or do u need to siphon at all?

you dont usually disturb the sand bed. You can stir up the top 1/2" or so, but the rest is usually left to a cleanup crew of snails and hermits. I will spot clean the sand with airline tubing every once in a while, but that is it.

and last, since i would use my 10 gallon, how i take out the carbon cartidge? (no biowheel this time) and would it be ok now to keep 1 pecula clown with 1 or 2 neon gobies?

there are link on this site about modding a hob power filter. this one is a start at least http://www.nanotank.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1768

thanks for your help guys, its very much appreciated

No problem...thats what we are all here for.

Jesse

 

[skipm]

Reefman has you pretty well covered. One thing I would change is the bulb on the light fixture to a 50/50 bulb, this will help bring out the colors of the fish even if it is only a FOWLR. With a single hang-on filter you may also need a powerhead to help prevent dead spots (areas with no current) in the tank, these are areas where detritus will build up and problematic algaes may try and get a good hold.

 

[reefman23]

One thing I would change is the bulb on the light fixture to a 50/50 bulb, this will help bring out the colors of the fish even if it is only a FOWLR.

Skip, the bulb that comes in the eclipse is just a standard fluorescent, not a PC.

 

[sadielynn]

skipm wrote:
One thing I would change is the bulb on the light fixture to a 50/50 bulb, this will help bring out the colors of the fish even if it is only a FOWLR.


Skip, the bulb that comes in the eclipse is just a standard fluorescent, not a PC.

drs fosters and smith use to sell and I think they still do as do hellolights 50/50 bulbs for regular fluorescent units
http://www.hellolights.com/18450mm50flu.html
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/P ... 004+113350
HTH :mrgreen:

 

[reefman23]

Oh...cool. i wasnt aware that there was such a thing. well that would be a good recommendation for you tank.

 

[skipm]

Thanks Sadie, I was referring to NO bulbs. Here are the ones I used (a long time back when I was first starting out) and am most familiar with: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/P ... 004+113350 and http://www.petsolutions.com/Coralife+50 ... 23-C-.aspx . The second bulb has a built in reflector to help get the most out of what little light you have to work with.