10g Nano

[bignose]

Don't worry about macro algae just do weekly water changes. Your fixture will do fine for what you want to keep.

[daniella3d]

Not enough light for SPS, clam or anemone. Clam and anemone are not suited for a 10 gallons anyway.

You can use a PC light but zoanthids will be on the brown side. Power compact are too limited in wavelength to color up coral well.

You could get T5HO or LED.

Evaporated water is fresh water, so yeah use RO for top off or your salinity will rise to the top and everything will be dead.

The first thing you should do if you want to get into saltwater is to buy a good ATC refractometer to mesure the salinity. Hydrometer are useless. A good refractometer can be bought for about 20$ on ebay.

Originally Posted by canadianbudz604

hello.... i am new to the darkside and any guidance would appreciated... I have the following equipment:

10g tank regular
Hydor Koralia 1
20" 96w Coralife Quad 50/50 Fixture
Top Fin 30? Filter
Heater
Small adjustable heater
Some small CPU fans to keep the light cool

Now is the lighting good enough to do a reef tank?
I plan on using the live rock and live sand to filter the tank, maybe some Chaeto?! The little filter I have will probably just for flow
I am starting out very slow, as I want to learn... One thing about the water changes and top ups: Do I just add fresh RO water to top up the evaporated water? I am just going to be starting to cycle the tank in the next week so any help is appreciated. Thanks alot

[canadianbudz604]

So I have everything I need to start the cycle.... live rock has been at fish store for 4 weeks just sitting in their tank.. they got fiji premium and and indian jaya branch fused rock so gonna go with 6 lbs of each... Now questions about the cycle.... should i put all the rock and sand in at once and cycle it this way? i have been reading up and their is a million different sites with a million different opinions.. im getting excited to get going

[philg3]

Drop it dry and arrange your rock, then pour your saltwater over a plate or something else flat to prevent the sand from clouding everything. Dont worry if it gets all sandstormy though, It'll clear up overnight.

[Reefie]

Invest in a good test kit! Take your time to let the tank cycle and then take it even slower when you add livestock.

Other than that, welcome to the addiction! Haha!