emilai333

I will be moving into my own apartment next summer or fall, and although there is a possibility that I may be spending an unknown amount of time overseas (in which case I may even have to get rid of my goldfish ), if I am not traveling I would like to set up a nano reef tank. Something in the 5-10g range. My thoughts are that I would like to have one fish or at most two if I do a 10g- probably gobies, a marine hermit crab, and a few small, nifty corals.
I have never done saltwater before and I know that a small tank is much less stable than a large tank (and therefore more difficult for a beginner). I still would like to try a nano tank. I hope that given sufficient preparation, I will be up to the challenge. Someday when I have space, I want to have a 100g saltwater reef aquarium (or bigger) (and in it, a maroon clownfish... I SO want one...). Those don't fit too well in tiny one-bedroom apartments, though. Also, I like little tanks, little fish, and little inverts.

OK so, my questions:
1. All the coral options are kind of making my head spin. Could anyone either give me advice on corals that would work well in a nano tank together, have the same light requirements, and so on, or direct me to a reliable, fairly simple starting point to find out on my own?
2. I've read that hermit crabs can be damaging to coral polyps/other inverts. Is this true? Are there "safe" species? What species would be good in this size tank?
3. Although I believe I can find an appropriate fish on my own, I may as well ask the experts - can you recommend a species that would be appropriate for A) a beginner and B) a nano tank? I'd like something colorful!

Thank you in advance!

Mike

Sounds like you already realize that smaller tanks can be more difficult and more work to keep them going. Temp, pH and salinity swings can wreak havoc.

1. Look into xenia or or other soft coral species. Mushroom corals can be really colorful too.

2. I've witnessed red leg hermits on my acroporas (SPS coral). I don't know if they were eating or what. But I didn't like them being on the coral.

3. I'm definitley not an expert but a single captive bred banggai cardinal or pajama cardinalfish might do ok in a 10 gallon. Obviously the bigger the tank the better but if you stay on top of your water changes and keep the water in good shape and feed it healthy foods it should do fine. But even puttting them in a 10 gallon tank makes me uneasy. Some keep clownfish in smaller tank setups since they don't usually have a large swimming territory in the wild, staying close to their host anemone usually. To me, putting any fish is in a 10 gallon or smaller is really pushing it.

au01st

How about a goby paired with a pistol shrimp? They would be a perfect fit in a 10 gallon.

I'm currently setting up a 30 in the bar (still considered a nano by SW standards) and plan on a pair of Onyx Black Clowns, a Helfrichi Firefish, and a goby/pistol shrimp pair. I already have the tank, light, and sand, just need to figure out if my counter will support the weight of the tank, and where to re-home my bettas.