Jumping in feet first

[fraustdemon]

Picked up a FOWLR nano setup last night via Craigslist. My first foray into saltwater and its a 10 gallon tank. I know its going to be tougher to cut my teeth on a tank this size, but I'm ok with that. Just means my 125 will be easier when I get it setup after I move in march.

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So the current setup is:

10 Gallon Leader Tank

~300 gph power filter. It had 2 small filters on it when I picked it up, but I replaced them with this one. I'm seeding the new filter pads with the old filter floss.

Tetra 100W submersible heater (static heat setting)

Marineland Single Bright 18" LED bar

Fine grain sand (not sure if actually aragonite or not, but the stuff is super fine whatever it is)

Coraline Crusted LR

1 Sergent Major Damselfish

Egg Crate to keep the cat out


I'd like to stock some corals and switch out the damsel for something else (goby or clown) which will go into the big tank when I get it setup. I know I need to get a RODI unit for sure at some point (possible xmas present) and find somewhere to get RODI water in the meantime.

Suggestions on a replacement light? Something affordable, I'm not attached to LED's for this project (though i'll be going reefbreeders value fixtures for the big tank).

Going to start mixing waterchanges with reef salt. What are some good brands?

Grabbing a hydrometer and some odds and ends tonight. Eventually will pick up a refractometer. Doing some parameter tests when I get home.

What else do I need to change to make this a coral friendly tank?

Thanks in advance!

 

[brandonmason]

I use reef crystals and have been pleased with it. I had a 15 gallon tank in which i put ebay 3 watt leds over and they did fine with lps and softies. I want to say they cost around $50. Oh and welcome to the addiction

Sent from my ZTE-Z990G using Tapatalk 2

 

[redstang]

Welcome! Remember to take things slow.

For a replacement light you can build a DIY LED light for a reasonable budget. Maybe find a used Kessil 150, which might still be overkill, at a decent price.

I also use reef crystals and as far as I know I have nothing to complain about lol!

 

[fraustdemon]

RedStang;906787 wrote: Welcome! Remember to take things slow.

oh yeah, slow and steady. Thats why I dont have that 125 full of water right now. That one is going to be an intense and fun build.

I'm going to check the water parameters tonight and work on getting/keeping those good and stable before I go mucking about with new livestock/lights/etc.

 

[fraustdemon]

I'm looking at RapidLED for lighting. Would this be sufficient for keeping some LPS and possibly SPS in this tank?

Solderless CREE LED's:
4 Royal Blue
3 Neutral White
2 UV

1.4" wide Drilled/tapped Heatsink
Mean Well LPC-35-700 Constant Current Driver


Checked the parameters. 0 Ammonia and Nitrite. ~40 ppm on Nitrate. Ph 8.3 Salinity 1.022 on my cheapo Hydrometer (will be getting a refractometer in the future)