Ashdyre

I've succesfully kept a goldfish tank and a tropical freshwater fish tank for almost a year now, and i want to try something a little more challenging (and pretty!) I just got married and received a 10 gallon tank starter kit, i'm really at a loss of what to do with it, 10 gallons is rather small. Is it at all possible to do anything with saltwater fish in such a small tank?

thanks!

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Chitown1

It can be done, but it is a lot of work and maint. If I had a 10 gal. to use, I would set it up without any fish but with some interesting corals and rocks. The fish waste would cause your params to be very unstable in that small of a tank and at best you could only keep 1, 2" fish at fully matured size making your options very limited.
Given the options and the fact that this is your first SW tank, I would go with something at least 25 gallons to start.
If you do get a 25 or larger tank you could use the 10 as a sump to add water volume without taking a lot of room.

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unclejed

Unclejed here, I have successfully kept a 10 gal. for over 8 yrs. I have live rock, 3 colonies of button polyps, some "hairy" mushrooms", 1 colony of 4 pulse corals and two fish(coral beauty and percula clown), 2 blue leg crabs and snails(when the crabs don't eat them). Just don't over feed or add too many suppliments and do every other week 50 percent water changes and you will be fine. One other option, look into trading in your starter aquarium for a "bio cube", I know it was a gift but it is up to you. The "bio" will greatly cut down on maintenence as it is self contained. I love mine!

Abbey

did you keep these fish at the same time.

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THERE IS A TIME FOR EVERYTHING

chadf

I was wondering the same thing...my coral beauty is a fat 3.5" and very active. I don't think he'd be very happy in a 10g.

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My 90 gallon reef

Striped bristletooth tang, Coral beauty angelfish, Royal gramma, 2 Occelleris clownfish, Lyretail anthias, Tongue coral, Green frogspawn, Palythoa colony, Orange and green ricordeas, Green striped mushrooms, Crocea clam, About 40 snails of 11 different species, Sand sifting starfish, Emerald crab, 130 lbs live rock, 240 lbs live sand

Chitown1

I generally dont disagree with what others say or do, BUT a coral beauty in a 10 gallon tank, that is inhumane at best, impossible long term at the least. I would NOT recommend you try that as IMO it is not a fesible way to keep fish. A coral beauty is a very active fish and needs room to swim that a 10 gallon will just not provide. I find it very hard to belive anyone would sucessfully keep a set up as described for any amount of time, my QT tank is a 38 gallon for the reason of giving the new introductions enough room not to be stressed ALL THE TIME. Not to mention a 50% water change every other week seems far fetched to maintain params in a 10 gallon tank.

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unclejed

Well chitown1 seems a little pesamistic but my 2 fish(and everything else) now reside in a slightly bigger 14 gal. biocube and the fish are probably 2 yrs. old and seem quite content. I think the answer to the space issue may be resolved by the live rock and the formation you set up. This may give the fish a sense of curiosity and "territory" as my coral beauty is constantly going in and out of the spaces in the live rock, which is the same behavior I observe in the 55 gal.(I have a coral beauty in there also). Well, everyone has their own thinking but like I said I have had a 10 gal. now converted to a 14 gal. for about 8 yrs. or so with great success. Hey, what ever you decide...HAVE FUN WITH IT!!!

hugs28

I just started with a SWT too, I got mine from another person, already set up, it is a 54 gallon corner tank.

Now while I am a beginner too and in no way expert enough to give advice, however I will say this, I am already looking for a bigger tank, that is how much I am in love with my saltwater tank already. I have live rock, 8 fish, 2 shrimp, a crab, anemone, toadstool, xenia a couple hermits and snails. And let me tell you, so far this is addicting lol, I want to add some other fish that I like etc... and need a bigger tank to do so. I think if you do a 10 gallon, you will be going bigger in no time lol. good luck no matter what you decide