Ten gallon nano has begun

lordroad

lordroad

Large Fish
#1
Sep 2, 2004
989
7
0
43
Shelby, NC
www.joshday.com
#1
Well, I committed to saltwater yesterday afternoon :)

Emptied my freshwater tank, cleaned it out, laid in an inch level bed of play sand, then poured in exactly eight gallons of R/O water. I was planning on mixing the Instant Ocean salt in my graduated gallon measurements bucket, 1 gallon per time, but then I read on the box it said it was helpful... but not necessary... for the water to be aerated first. So I poured all the freshwater into the tank and then added the salt, 1/2 cup at a time, until I had 1/2 cup of salt per gallon.

Looks like that was my first mistake. I ran the filter for a bit and turned on the bubble wand to start the mix. I then used my hydrometer and it leveled out at about 1.020. (the hydrometer box said it needed to be "seasoned" for 24 hours in saltwater before it could give accurate readings, so that number could be off).

Checked again this morning and salinity was still 1.020. I added about 3/4 cups of salt, waited an hour as the bubbles and filter stirred it up, then checked again. Now 1.021. I'm worried about adding more salt because I don't know how accurate the hydrometer is right now. Could I have messed everything up by mixing in the tank with the sand bed, or could the salt not be mixed in yet, or is the hydrometer just off as it is not "seasoned" yet?

Anyway, I'm really excited about things. I have all my test kits except a saltwater pH tester, which I'll pick up tomorrow when the stores open again.

Oh, and lights :)

I ordered that 96 watter from Hello Lights... saved about 30 bucks too. Should be here next week sometime.

Thanks for everyone's help!
 

OCCFan023

OCCFan023

Superstar Fish
#2
Jul 29, 2004
1,817
5
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35
New Jersey
#2
hey lord, I am in the exact same position as you are or I hope to be. I have a ten gallon tank that am considering turning into a salt tank so I can try my hand at salt so I can get use to it before I try a like 150-200 salt tank. I am reading on neccasary equipment for such a small tank. I have one quick question for you though, the hydrometer do you just put your water in it and it tells you the salinity, and if so is it suppose just be a rading of a 100 or so. Im sorry to ask a question in your thread but I just wanted to ask you since it sounds like you know what your alking about before I start a thread that may be answered. Your setup sounds real cool too, I hope its going well
 

lordroad

lordroad

Large Fish
#3
Sep 2, 2004
989
7
0
43
Shelby, NC
www.joshday.com
#3
Hey OCC, glad to hear you're coming over to the salt side.

I have a "Deep Six" hydrometer. As I understand it, most hydrometers float on the surface, but this one is submerged. A dam is filled with water, you remove the hydrometer and place it on a level surface and then check your reading.

The Deep Six has an indicator area between 1.021 and 1.023. Your salt levels are supposed to fall in this area, according to the hydrometer. Very easy to read and kinda fun too... though I can't vouch for its accuracy.

There is also something called a refractomer, I believe, which is much more accurate, but expensive. My hydrometer cost only 8 dollars at petsmart.

Here's what I'm using for equipment: a penguin mini HOB with the media removed, a 96 watt quad tube 50/50 light, and live rock and a sand bed for biological filtration.

Good luck with starting your tank.
 

OCCFan023

OCCFan023

Superstar Fish
#4
Jul 29, 2004
1,817
5
0
35
New Jersey
#4
yea i was looking at the lights at hellolights like you mentioned and saw some I really liked. I get the mounting system but I need to find like a clear top so that the light can get through on the legs because right now I have the basic black hood made for the light to lay in that like hole spot. I would proably use my 170 biowheel and just take out the biowheel and media and use it for water movement and maybe a small powerhead for additional flow. use play sand form homedepot and get some nice live rock maybe 15 pounds or so. (Your using a 20 inch lighting system right thats the one I saw)
 

1979camaro

1979camaro

Ultimate Fish
#5
Oct 22, 2002
5,862
2
0
43
San Ramon, CA
#5
lordroad: while the swing arm hydromoters can be innacurate, generally they are fairly close. It is true that they need a little time in water before all of the mold release agents wash off but I would imagine it is fairly accurate by now. Something my LFS does is tests hydrometers with their refractometer. If you bring your hydrometer in he will test the reading on it compared to his refractometer so then you know how much you are off and so you know how much to adjust your readings. Also, sometimes IO is a little slow to dissolve and salt mix does not dissolve hardly at all in cold water so if you are not running your heater now is the time. I don't think you are in any sort of trouble though, just take your time and adjust slowly...besides, at this point fi you over salt you can always change a little saltwater out and add some fresh because there is nothing alive in there yet.

OCCFan023: just remove the top all together...the glass will block a significant amount of light
 

lordroad

lordroad

Large Fish
#7
Sep 2, 2004
989
7
0
43
Shelby, NC
www.joshday.com
#7
Thanks Camaro.

Salinity has leveled off at 1.022. From what I've read, that should be acceptable.

I called my LFS and they were open, so I made a trip over there. Alongside a saltwater pH kit, this is what I came away with:



Fiji and tonga pieces, ten pounds. Beautiful rocks, the picture doesn't do them justice.

pH is 8.4. Temperature is 78.

I plan on letting this sit for a month just to be sure I don't start stocking in the middle of a spike. Though no life has emerged yet, honestly, I am content just watching the rock and the bubbles. Can't wait to start seeing stuff... this sure beats fishless cycling in a freshwater tank! *thumbsups

I'm still reading through The Complete Book of the Marine Aquarium, which I borrowed from the library along with a much outdated book, copyright only 1997! While most of the stuff I've learned from google searches, the forum, and PM'ing other users, the book is a nice reference, even though it states keeping a marine tank under 20 gallons is impossible. It's fun to compare this book to the other one, just to see how far the hobby has advanced in a decade, and how far the hobby has advanced since 2003 when the Marine Aquarium book was published.

Now I can't wait for my light to get here.
 

lordroad

lordroad

Large Fish
#12
Sep 2, 2004
989
7
0
43
Shelby, NC
www.joshday.com
#12
Not having a hood or canopy is to keep the water cooler from the higher intensity lights as well as to not mess with cleaning salt creep that accumalates on the underside of canopies/hoods. From what I undestand, fish jumping out of saltwater tanks isn't as common with freshwater, but I can't say for sure.
 

lordroad

lordroad

Large Fish
#16
Sep 2, 2004
989
7
0
43
Shelby, NC
www.joshday.com
#16
Update

It's been a little over 24 hours since I added live rock, and things are still sailing smoothly, more or less.

I chose to keep a bubble wand in the tank because I just like the look of a curtain of bubbles. Though it looks much cooler in saltwater due to the sticky fizz of the bubbles in the high salinity, the water makes the wand too buoyant and the suction cups could not keep it down. I removed it today and replaced it with a Regent aquatech powerhead (regent is a stripped down marineland name).

I also had a heater problem. I was using a trash whisper heater, and while moving it today to place the powerhead, I noticed some of the black mesh paint peeling away and flying about in the tank. I immediately removed the lousy heater and junked it. Replaced it with a marineland 75 watt unit.

(Note: If anyone uses whisper heaters, I highly recommend scrapping them with extreme prejudice. This is the second time one of their heaters has degraded on me. First time killed my favorite clown loach, and I'm just thankful I removed it now before it could hurt my new system.)

Last night I saw my first sign of life, a tiny translucent critter no bigger than a pin head strolling about the rock.

However, today, it seems like some of the rock is dying. Strands of crap are hanging out, fluttering in the current. Also there is some nasty sponge growth that just looks dead and bad... is this normal? The rock was bought cured. When can I expect to see the beginnings of some real life?

I'm still not satisfied with my salinity and will up it to 1.022 (or .023) after I post. Right now it is 1.0215.

One final question... should I put some floss around the filter and powerhead intake, or would this cause problems with nitrates? I don't want to clog the impellors with detritus or sand particles.

Edit: Salinity is now 1.022.

Since a lot of folks are interested in starting ten gallon nanos, here's a breakdown of what I've spent.

Tank was an old freshwater tank so I don't count the cost there... though a ten gallon tank is like 12 dollars.

Playsand: $3
Instant ocean 25 gallon mix: $12
R/O water: 25 cents a gallon, but seven dollars for the jug, so approximately $8 (check to see your water from your water authority. Mine contains phosphates as well as other little gremlins)
HOB filter: old freshwater penguin, resale $25 if you find a good deal
Live rock: $86 for ten pounds
pH test kit: $8 (I was feeling generous since I got such a good deal on the rock so I bought it at my LFS)
Other test kits: let's say $20 even... again, I had all these since I have freshwater fish
Cheap powerhead: $20 at Wal-mart
New Marineland heater: $25

Total: $162 (not including tank, test kits, or filter for water movement)

Well, I had to spend that $175 out of my cut of our wedding checks somewhere, didn't I? ;)
 

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1979camaro

1979camaro

Ultimate Fish
#17
Oct 22, 2002
5,862
2
0
43
San Ramon, CA
#17
i wouldnt use any floss around the intakes

if there were sponges on your rock and they were exposed to air then the die off is to be expected. the other stuff could be algae growth or some such things, but if it is die off for sure then i think the assumption must be that the live rock was not fully cured...as far as when you will see "real" life the little pods and such is probably the most real life you will likely see other than algae and a few feather dusters
 

lordroad

lordroad

Large Fish
#19
Sep 2, 2004
989
7
0
43
Shelby, NC
www.joshday.com
#19
Funny you mention that, S.Reef. I joined a local reef club and I heard the same thing.

I did a little snooping... and I do mean a little... and I found this article on the subject:

http://www.reefs.org/library/article/r_toonen9.html

I'd love to hear what you think about it. Reason I went with playsand was from the recommendation of a friend who's kept a 29 gallon reef system for almost 2 years. He used playsand. But he also uses R/O water, like I do.

Anyway, about the tank... things look fine, no real changes or cool stuff yet. I'm tracking my light order and saw that it shipped today to Greensboro, NC, the main UPS junction around here. It's due to arrive by the 4th, but hopefully I'll get it Friday or Saturday.

Edit: Did my first ammonia test today and discovered 8 drops of freshwater ammonia test solution + salt water = cloudy lemonade. I'll pick up an SW test kit sometime tomorrow or the next day...
 

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