Filter for a 10 Gallon

Ryan · #1 02-26-2005, 05:47 AM

Well I am getting into SW again. Kinda. I am setting up a 10 gallon tank. This tank is going to be a little different. It is ment to be a Display money tank. The point of this tank is to look good but eventualy pay for its self. No or very little fish will be in it. Mostly soft corals like mushrooms, Zoos and polyps will be in there. Fast easy to grow corals mainly. We have decided to go with a 2 bulb 55 watt PC for lighting, water movement will be done through a water movement manifold made out of PVC. This will go all around the top of the tank and holes will be stratigacly be drilled for flow. All i need now is a filter. I was thinking a AC 500. But do you realy think a filter is necessary. I mean with 10 - 15 LBS of LR and a 1 inch Sand bed would i need a filter for like 1 small fish and a peppermint or cleaner shrimp? WC will be done Bi-weekly a 4 litres will be replaced(roughly an ice cream pale). Fish wise i am not sure yet. I was thinking maybe a blue damsel, small goby or an orchid dottyback. Then a peppermint or cleaner shrimp for inverts. I want somthing that helps the tank whether to cure ich or to get rid of aptasia.. What do u guys/ gals think.

Richer · #2 02-26-2005, 05:50 AM

If you got enough LR, you'll just need the water circulation. Something like an AC500 would be nice as a fuge for growing macros, extra water volumn and extra water movement. Just leave the media out of the filter, or you'll get yourself a nitrate factory in no time.

BTW, good luck turning that tank into a "money" tank. Most people I know can't even break even with their tanks, not to mention make anything off of them.

-Rich

Ryan · #3 02-26-2005, 05:53 AM

Why do i need a fuge. THe tank will act as a fuge itself. I have ni fish that feed exclusivly of amphipods if i go with a damsel. A fuge just meant extra lighting and extra power. I guess by paying for itself i meant I could trade in coral frags and save up some store credit then i would get fish for basicaly free. No money just store credit.

Richer · #4 02-26-2005, 05:56 AM

I meant the AC500 could be used to grow macros out of the tank. Certain kinds of macros can and will smother the livestock in your tank. Having it separated gives you a better measure of control over them. BTW, you don't need an extra light if you place your main lights correctly. I had a AC300 fuge that was light from the excess light of my former 2x96watt pc system and it worked just fine.

Noticed you edited your post, good call on not making your tank a purely money tank.

-Rich

Ryan · #5 02-26-2005, 08:05 PM

Nah hoping that i will only spend X amount of dollars then the frags will pay for everything else. ANyway back to the AC. 500's put out 500 GPH i dont need that amount of movement for a 10 gallon only about 10 or 15 times. this is why i wanted to go with the 150 or 100 plus i will have a 100gph pump running my manifold circulation creation. There is plenty of flow. No sps is going to be in there mainly mushrooms, zoos, polpys that kinda thing.

snaggle · #6 02-27-2005, 02:42 AM

go with the next size under the AC 500 and run a AC mini inpeler. that way it will lower the flow rate and you cane have a fuge and a place to put you heater.

Here are some links I found that might help
http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/show...threadid=51500
http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/show...threadid=51361
http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/show...threadid=51356 the last one might not help too much but it will give you an Idea.

Brad