WTB......10 Gallon Reef Ready

[georgetownreefer]

Ok guys and gals I have decided that instead of starting with the 55 that I have I want to start smaller with a 10 gallon bowfront reef ready....I would love to hear where you guys and gals think I should start looking.....I am looking for a good price on one.....


TIA,
Misty :grin: :grin:

[Chuck]

Is this your first experience with a reef tank?
If so you may want to go with that 55 as it will be much more forgiving.

[RedDragon]

well if you want I can sell you my reg. 10g tank comes with wire stand, 1 Penguin mini filter, a wisper filter, and heater, and light hood all for just $35 ;) But I would say you should go with a 55g tank,

[Nano_Steve]

hey misty,

i agree with the others about the 55 gal for ease of keep but i myself am a nano reefer and my only tank is a 10 gal. the reason why i chose to go so small(as i am most certain is the same reason you are) is cost. it is obvious that the bigger you go the more expensive it gets to start the aquarium going and looking nice.

if you are going to get a 10 gallon you will need to realize that a large portion of your day and attention will need to go into the tank as well as quite a bit of cash(granted not as much as a larger one but it adds up quickly).

if you would like, i would be more than happy to help a fellow reefer get started in a nano tank and share all my experiences with you so you will not have the misfortune and deathcounts on your hands as i have. :cry:

lots of luck, steve

[MikeP]

Misty, while a 55 gives you more room for error a 10 makes a nice little reef. I would say go for it the limiting factor on it being a small bioload makes it easier to manage so go real light on the fish. The only place I know that has good ref ready 10 gallons is out of houston:

www.wetdryfilter.com

They are better built than the average cheap 10 gallon in the store which I'd avoid having drilled as the glass on those is usually 1/8" thick and easy to break or for a seam to give way. If you go with one of those you can get it drilled at Binswanger or possibly one of the club members can do it (I have diamond bits but not for drilling holes over 1/2" currently).

Also look into the eclipse 12 with a retrofit lighting kit. I think they make great little starter reefs and even with the stock light you can probably keep shrooms and zooanthids - the all in one filter is pretty good and does a good job of aerating the water. Feel free to ask any questions here alternately you can try www.nano-reef.com and look at the members gallery to see some amazing 10 gallon reefs!

-Mike

[georgetownreefer]

Thanks for all the input please keep it coming I am really thinking that maybe a 10 or 12 is the way to go......I hope that i can hear about your stories and things like that so that i can get started.....


Thanks,
Misty

[Charley]

Were I considering doing a small rectangular reef, I would use a 15-gallon tank. It has the same footprint as a 10-gallon tank, but more height. A 10 is 20” x 10” x 12” and a 15 is 20" x 10" x 18". IMNSHO, the extra six inches allow for better placement of rock, corals and filtration.

On the bow front side of things, I like the Eclipse-12 from Marineland. I have a nano in Dallas that has been running for well over a year. It comes with a pump to lift water into a filtration tray. The tray holds a filter pad containing carbon. After this filter pad is a Bio-Wheel. Some people take out the filter pad, and replace it with liverock chunks; I take out the carbon, and just run the filter floss. Some folks remove the Bio-Wheel; I leave mine in there (I enjoy watching the thing spin).

Via Aqua has 18-gallon aquarium that comes with PC lighting if you are considering having PCs.

Good luck!

Charley

[matt]

I've actually got exactly (almost) what you're looking for; a drilled, internal overflow, reef-ready 10 gallon tank; not a bowfront. I've got a whole system; tank, good lights (2x36 wPC) sump/refugium, prizm skimmer, KW auto top-off, etc... I've succesfully grown many types of stony corals, and had a E. quad anemone thrive for over a year in this tank. Unfortunately, drilling a 10 gal really raises the price; (same labor as drilling and building an overflow on a large tank) and I'd want to sell my whole set-up. I could do this sometime in June; the only thing I have to keep is the anemone and there's no room in my 45, so I have to wait until I set up the new tank.

But, if you're looking for an excellent nano set-up that's a stable environment, this could be a good one for you. Send me a PM if you're interested.

Matt

[georgetownreefer]

Thanks for all the advice everyone I think that I might do some research on tanks.....I would love to see some of your nano's..... :-D .......

TIA,
Misty

[georgetownreefer]

Thanks for all the advice everyone I think that I might do some research on tanks.....I would love to see some of your nano's..... :-D .......

TIA,
Misty