New nano reef--need advice.

[mattscheck4]

I want to start up a nano reef in a 10-gallon. Is this too small? What kinds of corals and/or livestock should I consider putting in?

[austinsdad]

Coral will depend on the lighting. Small fish, and maybe only 1-3 depending on thier size. Look up gobies and blennies. Crabs, snails, and a shrimp would also work IMO.

10g can be done, but you've gotta study hard and long and take your time. Not much room for error in such a small tank. Considered anything larger? 29g bio-cubes or something?

[joy13]

You can do a 10 gallon, you will have a limited variety of fish to chose from and the coral you will want to consider the size and how fast it can spread. Research everything!
Nano Reef Aquarium Articles - Nano-Reef.com
Setting Up A Nano Reef - Nano Reef Articles - Nano-Reef.com
lgreen's Ultimate Guide To Nano Fish - Nano-Reef.com Forums

Most important item for a nano SW tank is a refractometer, for me anyway.

Research and go very slowly.

[mattscheck4]

The reason I was considering doing this is that I have a 10g setup in storage, and I wanted to break it out again (it's still in great condition). Thanks for the links and help!

[mattscheck4]

Here's what I'm thinking to stock the tank... does this sound good?
Live sand (5 pounds), live rock (about 10 pounds), 2 scarlet leg hermit crabs, 4-6 turbo snails, 1 or 2 cleaner shrimps, a bangaii cardinal, a royal gramma, an a. ocellaris clown or six-line wrasse. Not sure about corals and/or anemones; any helpful hints?

Does this all sound good? If no, how should I tweak it?

[melosu58]

No sixline. Need at least a 30 gallon for them. IMO two small fish at the most. Wont be able to have an anenomie in a 10 gallon tank. They will walk around and kill alot of your corals.
As mentioned above it will be harder because of size. Less water volume is less forgiving of mistakes and problems. It can be done but diligence will be needed.

[mattscheck4]

Good to know about the wrasse; thanks. Any suggestions with corals? I'm not too concerned with esthetics on those; I just think it would be good to have them in there. Let me know what you think. Thanks!

[joy13]

No anemone in a tank that size but you could consider something like a hammer, torch or frogspawn if your lights are adequate.


IMO only one fish in a 10 gallon especially if you have many corals since some corals will sting fish. The less fish you have the more stable a 10 gallon tank will be. Make sure of your choice of fish you don't want to change your mind and have to tear up your tank completely to get the little guy out.

Get a good liquid test kit and don't add anything to your tank you aren't testing for.

[melosu58]

Moving this to the nano forum.

[austinsdad]

One turbo only so he doesn't starve