dlaub64

Neither a long time view nor poster, but here it goes.

Now, I have quite a lot of questions, and I know that alot of them belong in different sections, but I am kindof hoping to get it all wrapped up in one instead of making half a dozen threads.

So heres how it starts: About a year ago, after keeping freshwater fish for nearly 5 years, I decided to try and start a 10g nano saltwater aquarium. And for some reason (please oh please dont flame me for this), despite however many times I had been informed, I thought I could get away with cutting corners, as I had for all those freshwater years. Well as you may have guessed it failed miserably, and ive been very distraught over the sight of an almost empty fish tank sitting in my room...a tank of salty water maybe 4 inches deep, and 10 lbs of live rock completely wasted, its very depressing to look at. $200 wasted, and I really learned my lesson. But I dont want to waste more money, and I learned from cutting corners and now its time to start doing things right. So here comes the questions.

Right now I have about an inch of blue sand, I would really like to keep it, because since I spray painted the back side of the tank black, and the light really brightens it up. Besides rinsing the sand thouroghly, is there any other precautions I should take in order to completely remove the salt from the sand?

Now IM sure theres no saving the live rock, so I figured I could clean it up and use it in the tank, because I like doing my own aquascaping like that giving it sort of a natural look. (even though I know blue sand isnt exactly natural) And I was wondering what kindof precautions I should take on the rocks to make them suitable for freshwater use.

But wait, theres more!!

I spent 40 bucks on two different powerheads, im really not sure of the GPH, but Its not very high, and its adjustable. I dont want them to completely go to waste, I was hoping to use one and maybe make a fountain out the other (not for the fishtank). But I was always under the impression of freshwater fish extremely dislike currents, so should I not use the powerhead at all, or are there fish that will enjoy it?

Now for the stocking part. Im going to keep only about 5 lbs of the live rock in there, and with the sand, Im probally looking only at about 9 gallons of water. With the rocks I was planning on making a few collumn like shapes to leave room for swimming. I dont really want to add any plants (neither fake nor real), but if it really matters I figured Id add maybe 2 or 3 silvery collored plants (tall/thin, to match the collumn look).
I know with only 9 gallons I cant expect too much. But, I was hoping for either some type of schooling fish that I can have quite a few of. I know they would have to be about half an inch at max to have a decent amount of them, but Im not sure of what. It has to be at least something that will go with the blue sand and black background. Or I was thinking just a single like a mini puffer (pardon my ignorance, I cant think of its propper name) or a single small catfish (I dont know if there are any that are really suitable for 10g's, and I dont know if they prefer to be with other fish), but I sortof would rather not have more then just one fish....I know I am a difficult person. I would really like, if possible, one central fish, with a few other smaller ones that are all similar to each other, besides the central)
Also I want a decent little cleanup crew. IM sortof leaning away from Pleco's because they get big, and every single fish tank ive ever has had one, so im just not feeling it. I usually get those 10Cent cleaner shrimp, but they really dissapear fast. Im hoping theres types of freshwater shrimp suitable that are a little hardier. And I guess snails would be ok. But other then that I dont really know what I should get as a cleaners.


WEll I guess thats about it, sorry for the long post.

Fish Addict

WELL...

okay... so summarizing it you'd like 2 types of fish, a main one, and just another type?

Hmm... You could maybe do a school of neons, and... I can't really think of anything else. You could get some Red Cherry Shrimp, or Amanos...

cerianthus

I have 10 G Seahorse tank w button polyps which for sure would have perished in someone's tank. i am receiving more frags from other hobbyist this weekend.

Can i convince you to try one more time since you have invested on LR, pH, etc., only if you have a patience. I will be more than happy to guide you step by step.

You may be difficult person to deal with but my question is Do you want to keep aquarium, be it FW or SW?

If you do really want (devotion) to have nice and lively tank at home, i will help.

First.

LR should not be used for F/W. Could boil or whatever. No go for FW unless want to do Brackish or Tanganykan shell dwellers ( one that stays small) or maybe small Livebearer (guppies, platy, balloon mollies).

Tank should be cleaned and rinsed several time to get rid of any mineral build up on glass. Check ph of water that has been running in 10 G for few days to make sure pH is closer to neutral for tetra, other common fw community fish. If pH is still high (alkaline), stay with livebearer.

Sand. What kind of sand? Depending on what kind, may or may not be usuful in FW.

PH, usually in 10 Gal, may have whirlpool. Not a good idea, unless some modification are made such as adding cartridges to work as filter which will slow down the flow rate.
To my knowledge, Hagen PH have cartridges available.

So, I hope I have answered some of the questions. but I still say stay with SW if you are willing to listen. Remember I have nothing to gain by trying to convince you. I just don't want you loose the hobby after spending time, efforts, and money.

Patience, willingness to listen and heart for fishes will eventually lead to success and enjoyment. Oh, one more thing, routine maintenance is very important aspect of fish keeping.

Do some study (research)before you spend another dime on this tank.
LMK

dlaub64

Ok thanks, but I really dont want to dable in saltwater again, not at least until I have some real income.

Now the sand, when I first got it said on the package it was for fresh or saltwater aquariums. ALthough I do not know what kind it is exactly.

I dont see wahts wrong with the LR being used in FW, I mean, if I bleached it to remove everything (and ofcourse rinse it extremely thouroghly), would it still not be ok?

Also the power head has a sponge on one side so as it circulates water it collects..., and I am positive I can turn it down enough so its hardly any flow at all. Also if I get a longer tube that attaches to it, It blows bubbles so it acts sortof like an air stone.

cerianthus

Live rock is very calcerous which will release minerals to water which makes water very hard. Only live bearer will do well since they are from more alkaline and harder water than most common FW community fishes on the market. You may be able to have some fishes which might get use to hard water but that might only happen after many many tries and loss unless you are lucky on first try. But why

Sand: if the packaging said for both, why not use in FW after vigorous rinsing.

I still say stay with SW provided you don't go overboard with livestock. Can have pair of NEMO with couple of shrimps, snails, hermits, and even some frags of LPS and/or softies(w/ good lighting)
This will take few month to stablize but definitely possible.

Had 5-1/2 G Nano Reef w/ HOB filter and one Minijet , PC lighting for few years. Real challenge was to keep the tank cooled during summer time. Lots of Ice bottles in the Freeze. One mishap can boil the tank.


I do not know your location. I need more info in assisting.

dlaub64

thanks again, but I REALLY dont want to get back into saltwater

Matt

Welcome To FishLore.

I think what you should do is research,research,research,research and research some more about SW tanks and how to care for them.

I wouldnt use the live rock in a FW tank even if you very thoroughly cleared it.

-Matt
-Matt

Matt

Try this link it should help u learn more: http://www.fishlore.com/SaltwaterAquariumSetup.htm

Hope That Helps.

P.S. Sorry for double typing my name in the above post.

Plecolover12

Well, you can add 1 blue gourami. They only grow 6 inches. And you could add a platy and a ghost shrimp. It would fit nicely in the tank. I do not know the answers to your other questions. Sorry.

Matt

ONLY 6 INCHES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry if this sounds rude but i have to disagree with you. 6" is far to large for a 10g tank IMO. I think he should just research and then start the SW tank again instead of going through all this hassle of changing for SW to FW and then in a while back to SW.

-Matt