10 gal salt water tank filtering

I set up a new 10 gal with 10 lbs of LR and 30lbs of sand (for a 3 inch deep bed). My LFS said that as long as i stay on top of my water changes (1 gal a week or 10%) that i shouldnt need a filter or a skimmer on the tank.

Im pretty new to this but ive been doing alot of research and results are mixed on which way to go. Im just looking to see some comments about what others think.

this is going to be a FOWL tank, with a stock of one clown fish, a snail, a shrimp, and a zooanthe.

Thanks for any insight guys.
Jimmy

 

With that small of a tank you really don't need a skimmer..I kept a 6 gallon for a while without one and had no problems. I would, however, recommend some sort of hang on back filter though (I had a Bio-wheel). They're pretty cheap and work well. Is this your first SW tank?

Edit: Welcome to 3reef!

Ivan

 

I would get a hang on the back filter like Irr0001 said. I used to have a 10 gallon and i had a 20 gallon hang on the back filter and it kept the water crystal clear.

 

With only a fish, a shrimp and clean up crew. I would think 1 gallon would be a suitable choice for exporting your nutrients during every week. With a tank that has such a small bio-load. Just remember not to over feed your fish because know matter how often you feed them they will always act hungry. Keep your lighting on your tank to a minimum due do the fact that you have know corals and make sure you wash out those filter pads in the gallon of salt water that you took out of the tank for the weekly water change, because the detritus that the filter pads trap have a lot of nutrients in them. If you stick to your weekly maintenance your tank should do fine. But all in all if you can afford a protein skimmer that would cut down weekly maintenance and would give your tank a larger bio-load

 

i appreciate the info. So far the water has stayed crytal clear and I just did my first water change tonight. im going to the LFS tomorrow so we will see if they have any more advice to give.

This is my first SWT & Ive done my research and no the smaller tanks take alot more work but i have the time and im prepared.

 

if you do get a skimmer maybe look at the bac pac or octopus hang on the back w bio balls, I think it would be nice in a ten gallon F O tank plus it helps w/other things. they are on ebay cheap and i think the only working part is the maxi jet pumps which are like 20 dollars on marine depot

 

I've had a 10 gallon set up for almost eight years. I use a Penguin 150 biowheel filter and a small in tank protein skimmer, Oceanic Biocube skimmer. I also have an autosweep powerhead and another small pump in there for extra water movement. You will not need a 3" deep sand bed. Lots of detritus will build up in a sand bed that deep in such a small tank which will give you bad algae problems. I change about three gallons every two weeks and blow off my rock with a small pump. Also dose with two part B-Ionic daily.

 

Whatever they tell you..run it by 3reef first!

 

Thanks for the input.

I just set up a 75 gph filter on the tank it runs with an intake tube and an outtake tube so i am able to set the filter itself behind my tank out of the way. It has a carbon, cyramic, sponge mix and ive used it on my fresh water tank with great results.

As far as the water movement I will be getting a koralia nano in tomorrow.

the taank is crystal clear but of course it is still cycling so now im just in the waiting game.