Converting my 10 gallon into saltwater!

[forrestcook]

I went in to Petland today and talked with a very knowledgeable firend i have there about converting my 10 gallon low tech into a salt tank. I went home with a new 5.5 gallon tank to move my betta and ADF into as well as some other goodies...

10 gallon aquarium
AC 20 HOB filter
a Hydor Koralia powerhead
A bag of Aragonite crushed coral
a hydrometer
salt

I'll be returning to the store tomorrow to get ahold of some RO water so I can mix up my first batch of water. Once that's done, back to the store (again) to pick up some live rock and get my cycle started. As far as my hypothetical stocking list goes at this point...

a pair of false percs
a peppermint shrimp
an emerald mithrax crab
some snails

I loooove the way marine inverts look.... do you think I could fit more crab/shrimp species in there? if so, what would you recommend? I will not initially have corals, though they will come when I'm sure i've got the saltwater routine down. I learned pretty darn quick with the high tech freshwater planted deal, so I'm sure I will learn this just as quickly! I'm excited!

Forrest

 

[YahooFishKeeper]

you could probably do a couple of small hermits in there too. im not positive, but im not sure 2 clowns would be a good idea.

 

[Lotus]

Welcome to the salty side!

I suggest you return the crushed coral and swap it for aragonite sand. Crushed coral tends to be a nitrate trap in saltwater.

The HOB filter isn't really necessary, although it can add a little extra flow. Make sure you clean the media weekly on it.

 

[forrestcook]

apparently i do have the aragonite sand... must have misread the first time. And for VDay my wifey bought me a HOB remora skimmer, so I'm thinking the powerhead and the skimmer will be the only two things I need. hanging in the tank to move the water...

 

[CAPSLOCK]

Two false percs are fine in a 10g. I've had bad luck with peppermint shrimp but good with a camel... I think the peppermints are kinda touchy at first, but they do look nice. I also wanted to recommend bumblebee snails if you can find them, they stay nice and small and are so pretty.