Jun 10, 2009
Posted by Freshwater Aquariums in FAQ | 4 Comments
What Equipment Is Needed For A Saltwater Aquarium?
I have a freshwater aquarium right now and would like to switch it eventually to a small saltwater aquarium. My tank is 10 gallons so I was planning on only getting one clown fish with a starfish or shrimp. I have a heater, an out of the tank filter, and thermometer. Is a protein skimmer and an air pump also necessary? Also my tank light is quite old and doesn't have the wattage on it, so should i assume that I would need to upgrade the cover on my aquarium?
a 10 gallon saltwater are for experts, beginners shouldnt start with smaller tanks because the smaller you go the harder it will be, as a 10 gallon will have water parameters that litteray will chan ge daily.
You wont need a protein skimmer on a 10 gallon but they have nano ones that are better than nothing.
Even though a single clownfish in a 10 gallon isnt much, the water parameters will kill most beginner saltwater keepers.
yes a protein skimmer is necessary but……….unless you are advanced in saltwater care don’t even try a saltwater tank with less than a 30 gal tank, 55 is really better. it is much harder to maintain stability in a small amount of water which leads to ammonia and ph spikes and since saltwater animals are so sensitive these spikes usually kill them and they are expensive and usually not guaranteed. also when you set up a saltwater tank, especially something that small without a protein skimmer you are going to be doing water changes and testing everyday. don’t do it until you have a bigger tank, time, and money.
As BcAquatics stated 10 gallons can become a disaster very quickly. That tank would probably be called a “nano” The water parameters will need to be in check constantly. Things can go wrong very quickly in a small tank. I think that you should first do some serious reading. Here is a great place to start. It’s free to join but you can read without joining. Please read first before starting.
http://www.reefcentral.com
a 10 gallon would be a nice cheap to set up 1st saltwater aquarium.what i would do,(when you’re ready).fill tank with purified water.clean filter add new cartridge.take a 10 gallon box of a sea salt and dump it in.have the heater and filter running at that time.leave it for a few days.buy some live sand,the stuff in the bag is fine.(caribsea)a couple pounds of live rock would be good too.i would get some blue leg or red leg hermit crabs.a buck or so apiece)good safe scavengers,(and will promote cycling)at the same time,or a few days later.if you get any seastars,make them serpent or brittle,(more good scavengers)wait a week or better yet 2 weeks,then get a couple or small clowns,(perculas)it should be close to a month after setting up before adding fish.no more than 2 ever.the light you have is fine for now.research up on saltwater fishes and inverts.a coralbanded shrimp can be added when the clowns are added.acclimate everything slowly.you do not need a skimmer,but do a 1 gallon water change once a week use freshly made seawater,follow directions.get a hydrometer.(seatest)this should get you going,use LIVE SAND/ROCK.make sure its quality rock.(looks clean,some coraline,small creatures on it look closely.no green hair or red/maroone stuff.a lot of the web sites have very good pictures)unless you have a respected store near you.are there any local fish clubs around you?a undergravel filter/air pump not needed,you have a mechanical filter.put 1 inch of sand on the bottom,too.use purified water for water changes.