Tharsis' first SW tank ~10 gallon~ new pics 6/21/11

FTS 9/12/11



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This is my first go at a SW tank. Been doing FW for along time and I wanted to branch out. Did 10 gallon because I wanted to keep it cheap, make sure I liked it before I fully committed.

The tank has been running for a couple months now.

Specs:

standard 10 gallon tank
20" t5ho odyssea fixture (2 x 10000 and 2 x actinics)
marineland penguin 200 HOB, retrofit as a fuge (heater/chaeto/rubble)
using RO/DI
coralife saltmix
20% weekly water change
crushed coral substrate

Inhabitants:

2 tank raised percs
firefish goby
2 peppermint shrimp
emerald crab
hermit crabs x 4
CUC - nerites, nassarius, ceriths, dwarf ceriths,
Hitchhikers - brittle stars, bristle worms, stomatella, tons of pods

shrooms - blue, green, orange
ricordia - green, orange
GSP
Kenya tree
pulsing xenia
Zoas and polyps

 

FTS







Random Shots:













Things are going really great right now. The tank seems stable and all the inhabitants are healthy and happy. Doing weekly 20% water changes with RO/DI water (purchased from a local health food market).

I have been staying with softies for now but the lure of the LPS is calling. I am already addicted and have a bad case of collectoritis, I just want to add more and more and more. But corals are a heck of alot more expensive than aquatic plants haha, so I must keep my urges in check. Mostly in fear of my wife

I know it is not feasible for my little 10 gallon, but the LFS near my place is selling a bunch of rose tip anemones (~4-5") for $40 and I desperately want to get it....must show restraint!!

Anyways, thanks for looking, I look forward to sharing my progress with all of you.

 

Welcome to the 10 gallon club! Looks great!

 

thanks! I like your sig haha

I am absolutely shocked at how much money this little tank sucks up!

 

Not a problem! Yeah, it adds up so quickly. Over thousands.:-/

 

great looking tank man, anyone who can keep a ten gallon reef can keep anything haha... the nanos are tricky

 

The tank looks great, I really like blue mushrooms, very pretty.

 

thanks

I think water changes are the key...and my big gob of chaeto is probably going along way as well. It doubles in size after 1 week, i cut it in half every water change and put the newer growth back in the shower caddy and discard the rest. It is not the most attractive thing but it is better than having tons of algae.

 

Nice tank. I've been thinking of doing a 10 gal or under myself.

Also, your second pic shows some film on the surface if the water. You may want to increase the surface agitation.

 

^ yeah that is why I added in that deflector on my water pump, it is clearly not doing a good enough job though. I think I will get a koralia, not sure what size though.