My 10 Gallon Tank

[ChrisMan123]

Hey, I just got my tank moved up into the room and I'm going to just put up stuff here or whatever so people can comment, give advice or just take a look... I'll try and take some pictures

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/103730Fish_Tank_002.jpg

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/103730Fish_Tank_003.jpg

[Ray Whisperer]

What do you want to put in it?

[BLKTANG]

Live rock.

[ChrisMan123]

i have live rock already, its down in our sump in the basement, I just haven't put it in yet, so yeah I'm adding that and a brittle star probably tomorrow morning

[jent46bow]

i would recomend a light upgrade

[Ray Whisperer]

Chris
That's why I asked what you wanted to put in it.
If you want a reef you'r going to need alot more light.
If you just want some fish then your light will be fine. Keep in mind though that you won't be able to see the full potential of the fishes colors because that light still is'nt bright enough.

[BLASTO1]

i would also recomend a light upgrade

[ChrisMan123]

I have been thinking of a light upgrade already, thats just what i have at the moment... there is a kit made to modify the hood i have now into 26watts instead of the 15 I have... and there is also I think a coralife 96watt package too but i havent looked into that yet...here a link to a thread I posted about getting a lightupgrade, it has links to the site i found the modification on and the bulbs and all...

Light Upgrade Thread (http://archive.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=682948)

[ChrisMan123]

also the coralife model I think I'd have to modify my whole hood, it wouldnt fit right I don't think, I'm not sure... thats the next step, the lighting so if you know anything let me know... I need an easy way to get more light without doing much change

[ChrisMan123]

I added live rock tonight... tomorrow I think I will add the brittle star. I'm still thinking about the light upgrade and will have to gain more information on it to make a choice... heres some pics in the meantime

thanks

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/103730IM002396.JPG

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/103730IM002394.JPG

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/103730IM002398.JPG

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/103730IM002399.JPG

[Ray Whisperer]

I'd say 26 watts is'nt near enough for any corals oyher than perhaps sun corals. If your looking to retro fit lights into that hood forget about it. JMO.

[ChrisMan123]

I only found one set of lights that can be fitted into this hood and its 26 watts... but i have found 2 other light fixtures that would replace this whole hood and still leave room for me to feed without removing the hood....

here is links to the 2 lighting fixtures I've found

Coralife 96watt (http://www.innovativelights.com/esu-53101.html)

Current USA 40watt (http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=CU01002)

let me know what you think for these lighting options

I think i may run into a heat problem with the coralife 96w because its such a small tank with so much light... would i have a temperature problem with either of these lighting fixtures?

*(the current comes with an option of a fan)
*(the coralife has fans but Im still not sure cuz of the size of my tank)

thanks

[ChrisMan123]

Also I got a Pajama Cardinal today... maybe I'll get some pictures up of him/her.. I was also going to get a bottom feeder (Pearly Jawfish) but I wanted to put them in at the same time but i was advised to wait awhile by the store employee, even though I disagreed I dont think it'll be a problem cuz its a bottom feeder and wont interfere with the Pajama Cardinal's space when I introduce him

[ChrisMan123]

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/103730IM002400.JPG

[Henry22]

The employee was right on waiting. You should wait a few weeks to let your system adjust, especially with just added live rock. BTW, there is also a orbit/sattelite 2x40watt light with moon lights,that and the coralife are whole new fixtures, not retrofits. You should also think about getting a clean up crew.

[Ray Whisperer]

Agreed' definately wait awhile. give it a while and add a cleaner crew.

[ChrisMan123]

yeah, I know they are whole new hoods, I measured their dimensions already to make sure i still have a spot to feed and stuff, they both fit... but the 2x40 (dual) does not fit, its way too wide, and yeah I'm getting a clean up crew eventually, but this tank has been running for awhile downstairs, I just moved it upstairs and added live rock from a sump in our basement and let that sit awhile even though its been in an already running system for a long time downstairs, so its not a brand new tank

thanks
- Chris

[joking103]

I have a 10 gallon tank I put a 24" orbit 2 lunar light it 130 watts/2 65w dual actinic/dual daylight, 2 fans. I had to toss the old hood and get the all-glass top (versa top) I had it laying on the glass originally but it was too much to so I raisesd it (it came with legs to raise it). I really like it. Just a note I leave the lights off all day till I get home 4:30 turn them on and they go off again at around 9:30. I started this because of the algae(hair) problems. Now the tank is beautiful, so I have not changed the routine.

I cut a little opening in the back of the all-glass top (it is plastic easy to cut), for feeding.

1 brittle star
1 blue devil
1 green chromis (I think)

[ChrisMan123]

thats cool, I think it comes with the option for the legs to raise it... where do you get the all-glass top thing? and I'd only have 96watts would that have to be raised?

[KING OF THE REEF]

chris, welcome to world of being a newb in reefkeeping
with regards to the lighting, on my formar 10 gallon, i have a 96 watt coralife fixture, at almost 10 watts a gallon, you would be able to keep almost anything. make sure you dont overstock your tank (cardinals from what i have read about them, like to be in groups of at least 3 but must be kept in pairs of odds). with regards to corals, easy ones to keep are green star polyps and mushrooms and zoos. i have all them in my 2watt a gallon nano cube so it wonbt be a problem hope this help

[ChrisMan123]

thanks, yeah Im leaning towards the coralife 96watt fixture, I can raise it on the legs as well if i wanted and as long as i can turn them off completely with the fans at night it'll be good... I have some zoos and mushrooms and some other little things down in a sump in our basement but I can't put it in the tank until i upgrade this light... so for now I'm just letting the cardinal rule the tank and I'm thinking of other fish to add, im not going to get another cardinal... prob an ocellaris clown and a pearly jawfish and a cleaner Neon Goby

[KING OF THE REEF]

make sure you have a deep sandbed (maybe 5 or so inches) for your jawfish he will need it

[vanmo92]

yeah...... upgrade the light. the 96 watt is good. pjs like to be with other pjs.

[ChrisMan123]

I added some button polyps from my old tank... they are doing pretty well considering the light... the coral on top was not doing too well to begin with

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/103730IM002402.JPG

[KING OF THE REEF]

um get a better pic of your stuff, too blurry, btw what light have you decided on?

[ChrisMan123]

I'm leaning mostly towards the 96watt Coralife with the mix of daylight and actinic bulbs (2 fans) and yeah I know I haven't gotten very good at taking pics of the fish tank... I'm good at taking pics but i havent figured out the best way to take pics of my tank... with flash has a glare and without is blurry... so idk what to do, know a good way? I know its possible cuz everyone does it

[Ray Whisperer]

Chris; Get a cheap tripod $15-$20 at Kmart or Walmart. As for the flash , take the pic at a downward or upward angle. That sends the light reflecting away from the camera. Witout a flash you will need the tripod and see if your camera has a timer delay,eg press the button camera counts down from 10 then opens the shutter. Hope this helps.

[Agu]

I have two of the 96 w powerquads and like them a lot.

Your tank is too small for a jawfish..........

[ChrisMan123]

oh yeah I'd only have 1 of those 96w lights but thats good you like them... and the Jawfish was said to be "nano reef safe" but I don't know maybe it is too small for a jawfish, I'll ask around

[KING OF THE REEF]

a 10 gallon is way too small for a jawfish, try a yasha hasha gobie. neat fish any updated pics???

[ChrisMan123]

Nope, I havent added anything so I havent taken a new pic

[ChrisMan123]

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/103730Neon_Goby_and_PJ_Cardinal_001.jpg

flash kinda made it a bad pic but whatever...

[KING OF THE REEF]

nice though

[ChrisMan123]

thanks... its coming along

[ChrisMan123]

I ordered my Coralife 96watt 50/50 quad with adjustable mounting legs from Marinedepot.com... it should be here in about 10 days... when I get I'll set it up and try and take some pics with it on... and then I'll need to get a timer set up

should I slowly acclimate my fish and stuff to the new light? by only leaving the lights on for a little bit longer each day for the first week or so?

[mojorizn]

Chris -

I use "eggcrate" instead of a lid on my 10gal.
I find it helps out with heat issues.
Easy to feed, do water testing ( now done in the fuge ), etc.
Also improves gas exchange.
Excessive evaporation hasn't been a problem.

I've heard one to acclimate new light is to suspend the new light high above the tank and slowly lower it over a few days to the desired/final position.

Just my 2cents -

Mojo

[dingofarmer]

Originally posted by ChrisMan123
I only found one set of lights that can be fitted into this hood and its 26 watts... but i have found 2 other light fixtures that would replace this whole hood and still leave room for me to feed without removing the hood....

here is links to the 2 lighting fixtures I've found

Coralife 96watt (http://www.innovativelights.com/esu-53101.html)

Current USA 40watt (http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=CU01002)

let me know what you think for these lighting options

I think i may run into a heat problem with the coralife 96w because its such a small tank with so much light... would i have a temperature problem with either of these lighting fixtures?

*(the current comes with an option of a fan)
*(the coralife has fans but Im still not sure cuz of the size of my tank)

thanks



I have the orbit on my 16g bow front, and its great, however on you 10 you will get more watt's per gallon, I'm going to upgrade to the HQI, since Im at the point of being limmited by my light. Its worked great for the last year, and zoo's love em.

[ChrisMan123]

yeah I ordered the Coralife though.. and the Current I was thinking about getting wasn't the "Orbit" model

[ChrisMan123]

new light came... i broke one of the legs on accident but its all fixed now.. heres some pics of it, i'll have pics of some of the corals up soon too...


http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/103730IM001097.JPG

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/103730IM001098.JPG

[ChrisMan123]

heres some pics of what I got in my tank so far... everything is doing very well under the new light.. still adjusting though

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/103730IM001105.JPG peppermint shrimp



http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/103730IM001111.JPG
toadstool

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/103730IM001109.JPG
red mushrooms

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/103730IM001112.JPG
green button polyps, green zoos, and mushroom

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/103730IM001115.JPG
purple and green zoos

[ACBlinky]

Very nice! Keep posting pictures as it progresses :)

[Siren's Eye]

I really like your tank! can't wait until I get my rock and first corals. What kind of skimmer do you have? where did you get it?

[specrn5]

looking good, what skimmer is that?

[ChrisMan123]

i think its a coralife skimmer... its been down in our basement for awhile and fit well (with some modification to hold it on tight) on this 10g tank and works well too... I'll see if I can get more info on it for you..

[LTJGAlex]

I like it Chris. Can't wait for new developments.

[ChrisMan123]

thanks its coming along, im waiting until we can make an order from Dr. Mac Corals sometime in the future so I dont know about much new stuff right now...

[Cluckr7]

Looks great! Good choice on the lighting. Was that a neon blue goby i saw in there? Those are cool.

[gil716]

Very nice. Personally, I'm still on the fence between a 96 quad or a 70w MH for my 10g.

[ChrisMan123]

yeah its a neon goby... its a cool fish (i hear it has a short lifespan tho)

[ChrisMan123]

I added two new species of mushrooms to my tank... and some more zooanthids...

my toadstool has been closed up for about 4 days now... i dont know why... i heard maybe its molting or something? i dont know though...

[ChrisMan123]

nevermind toadstool was moved and its beginning to open again (also my specific salinity was a bit high, now that its lowered its opening more (still not fully open tho)

[ChrisMan123]

new star polyps and pulsing xenia acclimating right now... new pics up evenutally

[ChrisMan123]

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/103730IM001137.JPG
hairy neon green mushroom, still not attached so im holding it down with an empty snail shell so i dont lose it in the tanks current



http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/103730IM001150.JPG
other new mushroom close up

[ChrisMan123]

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/103730IM001155.JPG
pulsing xenia

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/103730IM001154.JPG
green star polyps

[ChrisMan123]

IT'S BEEN AWHILE

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/103730IM001183_comp_.JPG

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/103730IM001238_comp_.JPG

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/103730IM001170.JPG

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/103730IM001232_comp_.JPG

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/103730IM001217_comp_.JPG

[KING OF THE REEF]

wow noice tank man can ou get a straight on fts?

[ChrisMan123]

what do you mean "go straight on fts? what does fts mean?
Fish Tank Specifications?

[KING OF THE REEF]

full tank shot, and i mean, can you stand directly in front of the tank and snap a shot that way? i would like to see it head-on so to speak (it looks interesting man)

[ChrisMan123]

oh yeah i have a shot like that I took yesterday... I added some rock since that other picture so its not as full of coral but eventually it'll look better cuz of the new places to put corals now

[ChrisMan123]

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/103730148_comp_.JPG

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/103730151_comp_.JPG

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/103730155_comp_.JPG