Advice for a Noobie

JacobWigg · 03-24-2009, 05:06 PM

Hey I'm new to the aquarium world. I am think of getting a small 10g tank. I just want 2 maybe three fish in a salt-water tank. I don't want any live rock or invertebraes. I have had freshwater tanks in the past (long time ago). Is the basic equipment (heater, filter, lighting) any different for saltwater?

I know I need a salt-water mix and substrate, but what else is required to keep the tank?

Any and all advice will be appreciated.

petlover516 · 03-24-2009, 05:13 PM

welcome to the site! that small of a tank will be EXTREMELY difficult to maintain if u are a SW beginner! no live rock or inverts that makes it even MORE difficult. if u are a SW beginner, no smaller than a 29 gallon WITH live rock, 55 gallon WITHOUT live rock. u will find out that the chemical balance will be unstable and u can only have 2 very small fish as a maximum.

malachi · 03-24-2009, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by petlover516

welcome to the site! that small of a tank will be EXTREMELY difficult to maintain if u are a SW beginner! no live rock or inverts that makes it even MORE difficult. if u are a SW beginner, no smaller than a 29 gallon WITH live rock, 55 gallon WITHOUT live rock. u will find out that the chemical balance will be unstable and u can only have 2 very small fish as a maximum.

1++++++++++++++++++++

APoirier594 · 03-24-2009, 06:12 PM

I dont think you should start a SW tank thats only 10g with out LR. It will be almost impossible to have bilogical filtration in the tank, especially since its so small, can you not get LR for some reason or just dont want it, but you really need some.

Marty · 03-24-2009, 06:16 PM

Well i disagree!You can have a 10 gallon fish only tank.Get a decent filter,Make sure your salinity is correct and with a normal light you will not have any trouble.As long as you make sure to cycle the tank first and then do bi weekly water changes you will be fine.Just do not overload the tank with fish!

Marty · 03-24-2009, 06:18 PM

Agree with Austin.LR would be a help but is not a must,But would make it alot easier..

APoirier594 · 03-24-2009, 06:19 PM

Yea i know you can have a fish only tank, but it will be hard for him to cycle the tank, its not impossible I just think its a lot easier with LR, I once had a 5g SW tank a few years ago, with normal sand dead coral skealtons(idk spell?) as decor. And a really cheap light but all i had was a clown and snails.

petlover516 · 03-31-2009, 04:50 PM

it is possible, but u really can't have more than 2 fish. and finding a protein skimmer for that small of a tank will be hard.

Marty · 03-31-2009, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by petlover516

it is possible, but u really can't have more than 2 fish. and finding a protein skimmer for that small of a tank will be hard.

You don't have to have a protein skimmer.Might help but not a have to case.Like i stated before my brother ran a 55 gallon for a long time as in years with nothing more than a good canister filter and a cpl powerheads.And never ever had any problems and his fish were very happy the day he sold the setup!

petlover516 · 04-01-2009, 03:35 PM

he probably sold the set-up because it got too hard to maintain.

Marty · 04-01-2009, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by petlover516

he probably sold the set-up because it got too hard to maintain.

Do you not read a reply in full?Did i not state he never had any problems?
He sold the setup due to him moving nearly 2000 miles!A skimmer helps sure no arguments here!But it is not a have to case,If you believe it is then you dont know as much about this hobby as you think you do!

petlover516 · 04-01-2009, 06:03 PM

i do not mean to be argumental.
its just that, for a beginner, protein skimmers would be good. a 55 gallon is easy maintain protein skimmer or no protein skimmer, but a 10 gallon is very hard to maintain. its is NOT the tank for a beginner. for FW yes, but not SW.

Marty · 04-01-2009, 06:17 PM

I can agree with that.But you do frequent water changes!You will be fine,Like i stated skimmer is a great help but not a must have!

petlover516 · 04-01-2009, 06:22 PM

thats the reason. a beginner might not be able to kee up on frequent water changes and get a little stressed.

Marty · 04-01-2009, 06:29 PM

With 10 gallon tank you will be doing the water changes with or without a skimmer!

petlover516 · 04-01-2009, 06:41 PM

yes but without the protein skimmer they will need to be alot more frequent, like 1 time very 3 days. fluctuations in water parameters can also be deadly.

03-24-2009, 05:06 PM	#1 (permalink)
JacobWigg Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 1 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 0 Times Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Advice for a Noobie Hey I'm new to the aquarium world. I am think of getting a small 10g tank. I just want 2 maybe three fish in a salt-water tank. I don't want any live rock or invertebraes. I have had freshwater tanks in the past (long time ago). Is the basic equipment (heater, filter, lighting) any different for saltwater? I know I need a salt-water mix and substrate, but what else is required to keep the tank? Any and all advice will be appreciated.

03-24-2009, 05:13 PM	#2 (permalink)
petlover516 Fish Lover Boy petlover516's Photo Gallery Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 1,768 Name: tyler Location: Lindenhurst, NY My location Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 681 Times Said "Thanks" 933 Times Was Thanked 419 Times in 353 Posts	Re: Advice for a Noobie welcome to the site! that small of a tank will be EXTREMELY difficult to maintain if u are a SW beginner! no live rock or inverts that makes it even MORE difficult. if u are a SW beginner, no smaller than a 29 gallon WITH live rock, 55 gallon WITHOUT live rock. u will find out that the chemical balance will be unstable and u can only have 2 very small fish as a maximum. __________________ I'm so sorry I haven't been on the forum in so long! Don't worry, I haven't forgotten this lovely website! I moved to a different county back in May 2011 and started high school in a totally different school district. So I'm still adjusting and studying hard, and don't presently have any aquariums. But once I do, I'll be right back on this forum!

03-24-2009, 06:12 PM	#4 (permalink)
APoirier594 APoirier594's Photo Gallery Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 190 Name: Austin Location: Summerville SC USA My location Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 8 Times Said "Thanks" 6 Times Was Thanked 24 Times in 21 Posts	Re: Advice for a Noobie I dont think you should start a SW tank thats only 10g with out LR. It will be almost impossible to have bilogical filtration in the tank, especially since its so small, can you not get LR for some reason or just dont want it, but you really need some. __________________ Glad to be of any help-Austin.

03-24-2009, 06:16 PM	#5 (permalink)
Marty Marty's Photo Gallery Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 187 Name: Marty Location: Arkansas My location Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 116 Times Said "Thanks" 62 Times Was Thanked 48 Times in 44 Posts	Re: Advice for a Noobie Well i disagree!You can have a 10 gallon fish only tank.Get a decent filter,Make sure your salinity is correct and with a normal light you will not have any trouble.As long as you make sure to cycle the tank first and then do bi weekly water changes you will be fine.Just do not overload the tank with fish! __________________ Im not sure,But something on this board smells fishy!

03-24-2009, 06:18 PM	#6 (permalink)
Marty Marty's Photo Gallery Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 187 Name: Marty Location: Arkansas My location Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 116 Times Said "Thanks" 62 Times Was Thanked 48 Times in 44 Posts	Re: Advice for a Noobie Agree with Austin.LR would be a help but is not a must,But would make it alot easier.. __________________ Im not sure,But something on this board smells fishy!

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03-24-2009, 06:19 PM	#7 (permalink)
APoirier594 APoirier594's Photo Gallery Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 190 Name: Austin Location: Summerville SC USA My location Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 8 Times Said "Thanks" 6 Times Was Thanked 24 Times in 21 Posts	Re: Advice for a Noobie Yea i know you can have a fish only tank, but it will be hard for him to cycle the tank, its not impossible I just think its a lot easier with LR, I once had a 5g SW tank a few years ago, with normal sand dead coral skealtons(idk spell?) as decor. And a really cheap light but all i had was a clown and snails. __________________ Glad to be of any help-Austin.

03-31-2009, 04:50 PM	#8 (permalink)
petlover516 Fish Lover Boy petlover516's Photo Gallery Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 1,768 Name: tyler Location: Lindenhurst, NY My location Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 681 Times Said "Thanks" 933 Times Was Thanked 419 Times in 353 Posts	Re: Advice for a Noobie it is possible, but u really can't have more than 2 fish. and finding a protein skimmer for that small of a tank will be hard. __________________ I'm so sorry I haven't been on the forum in so long! Don't worry, I haven't forgotten this lovely website! I moved to a different county back in May 2011 and started high school in a totally different school district. So I'm still adjusting and studying hard, and don't presently have any aquariums. But once I do, I'll be right back on this forum!

04-01-2009, 03:35 PM	#10 (permalink)
petlover516 Fish Lover Boy petlover516's Photo Gallery Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 1,768 Name: tyler Location: Lindenhurst, NY My location Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 681 Times Said "Thanks" 933 Times Was Thanked 419 Times in 353 Posts	Re: Advice for a Noobie he probably sold the set-up because it got too hard to maintain. __________________ I'm so sorry I haven't been on the forum in so long! Don't worry, I haven't forgotten this lovely website! I moved to a different county back in May 2011 and started high school in a totally different school district. So I'm still adjusting and studying hard, and don't presently have any aquariums. But once I do, I'll be right back on this forum!

04-01-2009, 06:03 PM	#12 (permalink)
petlover516 Fish Lover Boy petlover516's Photo Gallery Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 1,768 Name: tyler Location: Lindenhurst, NY My location Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 681 Times Said "Thanks" 933 Times Was Thanked 419 Times in 353 Posts	Re: Advice for a Noobie i do not mean to be argumental. its just that, for a beginner, protein skimmers would be good. a 55 gallon is easy maintain protein skimmer or no protein skimmer, but a 10 gallon is very hard to maintain. its is NOT the tank for a beginner. for FW yes, but not SW. __________________ I'm so sorry I haven't been on the forum in so long! Don't worry, I haven't forgotten this lovely website! I moved to a different county back in May 2011 and started high school in a totally different school district. So I'm still adjusting and studying hard, and don't presently have any aquariums. But once I do, I'll be right back on this forum!

04-01-2009, 06:17 PM	#13 (permalink)
Marty Marty's Photo Gallery Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 187 Name: Marty Location: Arkansas My location Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 116 Times Said "Thanks" 62 Times Was Thanked 48 Times in 44 Posts	Re: Advice for a Noobie I can agree with that.But you do frequent water changes!You will be fine,Like i stated skimmer is a great help but not a must have! __________________ Im not sure,But something on this board smells fishy!

04-01-2009, 06:22 PM	#14 (permalink)
petlover516 Fish Lover Boy petlover516's Photo Gallery Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 1,768 Name: tyler Location: Lindenhurst, NY My location Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 681 Times Said "Thanks" 933 Times Was Thanked 419 Times in 353 Posts	Re: Advice for a Noobie thats the reason. a beginner might not be able to kee up on frequent water changes and get a little stressed. __________________ I'm so sorry I haven't been on the forum in so long! Don't worry, I haven't forgotten this lovely website! I moved to a different county back in May 2011 and started high school in a totally different school district. So I'm still adjusting and studying hard, and don't presently have any aquariums. But once I do, I'll be right back on this forum!

04-01-2009, 06:29 PM	#15 (permalink)
Marty Marty's Photo Gallery Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 187 Name: Marty Location: Arkansas My location Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 116 Times Said "Thanks" 62 Times Was Thanked 48 Times in 44 Posts	Re: Advice for a Noobie With 10 gallon tank you will be doing the water changes with or without a skimmer! __________________ Im not sure,But something on this board smells fishy!

04-01-2009, 06:41 PM	#16 (permalink)
petlover516 Fish Lover Boy petlover516's Photo Gallery Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 1,768 Name: tyler Location: Lindenhurst, NY My location Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 681 Times Said "Thanks" 933 Times Was Thanked 419 Times in 353 Posts	Re: Advice for a Noobie yes but without the protein skimmer they will need to be alot more frequent, like 1 time very 3 days. fluctuations in water parameters can also be deadly. __________________ I'm so sorry I haven't been on the forum in so long! Don't worry, I haven't forgotten this lovely website! I moved to a different county back in May 2011 and started high school in a totally different school district. So I'm still adjusting and studying hard, and don't presently have any aquariums. But once I do, I'll be right back on this forum!

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