i think i'm ready...

[Anonymous]

to set up a new tank again. BUT - a wee one this time. since we are renting a condo, i can't do a big tank. that will just have to wait until we get our house (which will hopefully be in the next year or so).

so, i have this little tank that i'd like to set up so my youngest can enjoy it the way my oldest enjoyed my 40g.

anyway, i've been outta practice for about 3 years (if not more) now so will need some guidance. the tank i have was a gift from another rdo member and i'd really like to use it - and i don't wanna do freshwater.

here are it's specs (still in unopened box):

6G
11.81x13.39x11.81"
18 watt 50/50 dual spectrum bulb
11W, 300L/H, 0.8m pump
110V, 60Hz (power supply)

i can open it and take pics if needed. i would like to set up a little reef, if possible. i realize there are many things i need and need to do first.

will you help me?

 

[Anonymous]

I wonder if your kid would like a mantis? I had a small green mantis in a 5 gal tank that was loads of fun. You could keep some mushrooms and softies for color.

 

[Anonymous]

GAAAH! The topside lights, they hurts my eyes Precious! (giggle) well of course we will help you.

 

[Anonymous]

... and i don't wanna do freshwater.

Shame. That tank would make a great set up for a pair of annual killifish...

 

[Anonymous]

Loverly. Notho I believe?

 

[Anonymous]

Loverly. Notho I believe?

Nothobranchius rachovi Beira. Pretty easy to get, too

 

[Anonymous]

I wonder if your kid would like a mantis? I had a small green mantis in a 5 gal tank that was loads of fun. You could keep some mushrooms and softies for color.

8O won't it try to get out?

 

[Anonymous]

GAAAH! The topside lights, they hurts my eyes Precious! (giggle)

:lol:

 

[Anonymous]

DON'T DO IT CORAL! 8O



Those killis would be awesome though...

 

[Anonymous]

DON'T DO IT CORAL! 8O

the reef, you mean? too difficult? i don't wanna subject any critters to any harm. but i do love the SW fishies... FW never really interested me as much. is there no way to set up SW in this tank? if reef is not recommended...

 

[Anonymous]

Well, there isn't any reason you couldn't keep some lower light corals and I would think 3-4 of these guys would be fun to watch:

oh, and one of these...they are sooo cute!

 

[Anonymous]

DON'T DO IT CORAL! 8O

the reef, you mean? too difficult? i don't wanna subject any critters to any harm. but i do love the SW fishies... FW never really interested me as much. is there no way to set up SW in this tank? if reef is not recommended...

Nah, you can do a reef in that tank. Just needs more lighting IMO, but keep in mind I'm the guy who put a 175w halide over a 15 gallon tank in 1997 when everyone else told me I'd boil the tank

Of course, you could compromise and go brackish. I happen to know where you can get some pseudomogil cyanodorsalis, which are the best reason by far to do a brackish tank...

A small group of 5 or 6 would do fine in your tank at about half-strength seawater.

 

[Anonymous]

i love the idea of shrimp... they are one of my favorites after all. and low light corals are just fine. or i could upgrade the lighting, too. i just want something i can enjoy and appreciate again. and i want me kids to share the experience.

i don't mind getting the things i need to do this properly, so please, feel free to help me compile a list.

first things first, i need to get some water and live rock in there for cycling, right? i don't want to cycle the tank with fish. i don't remember how long it takes though but i'm not worried about taking my time in order to do this right.

are we still using sandbeds these days or is another setup preferred? i used live sand for my old tank way back when.

 

[Anonymous]

i should mention some other details about this tank. it's called a "nano-cube 6" and on the side, there is a description of the filtration system:

mechanical/sponge filter
chemical activated carbon
biological/ceramic rings-bioballs

other info:

double ball-bearing fans
flip top canopy
heavy duty abs plastic

should i take pics?

 

[Anonymous]

Chuck, those brackish critters are pretty. They don't live too long in full strength NSW do they?

I am looking for some small pretty fishes for my 150 gal that is easy to take care off. I want something small (guppy-sized) and not too shy. Any recommandation?

<hi jack alert>

 

[Anonymous]

If all you want are say some zoos or mushrooms, the light you have is fine. Yes, you want liverock and saltwater setup before you get the critters, esp the sexys-they dislike nitrates. I'd go with a shallow bed, and feed lightly on such a small tank.

To start: you will need a good set of test kits, a source for good water (with a tank that size even store bought), a digital hydrometer (better than the old swingarm) some rock and some sand.

 

[Anonymous]

i love the idea of shrimp... they are one of my favorites after all. and low light corals are just fine. or i could upgrade the lighting, too. i just want something i can enjoy and appreciate again. and i want me kids to share the experience.

Well, for saltwater, there are really a couple of different directions you could go. A low light reef, a critter tank, a macro algae tank... deciding which way you want to go will have a bearing on what hardware to suggest.

Aren't too many lighting options for a 12" tank, but there's always the 70w clip-on halides and also some 36w PC fixtures like this one...
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/p ... atid=13733

first things first, i need to get some water and live rock in there for cycling, right? i don't want to cycle the tank with fish. i don't remember how long it takes though but i'm not worried about taking my time in order to do this right.

Depending on the rock, a month or two.

are we still using sandbeds these days or is another setup preferred? i used live sand for my old tank way back when.

You can if you like. For such a small tank unless you're planning animals that need to burrow or something, I'd probably go with just a thin layer of sand rather than a DSB. Giving up 3-4" of depth on a tank that small can be really painful.

 

[Anonymous]

Oh, and start a build thread! That way we can tag along

 

[Anonymous]

Chuck, those brackish critters are pretty. They don't live too long in full strength NSW do they?

'Fraid not. This particular species can survive in full strength sea water short term (full freshwater, too), but it shortens their lifespans significantly if they're housed that way.

I am looking for some small pretty fishes for my 150 gal that is easy to take care off. I want something small (guppy-sized) and not too shy. Any recommandation?

Sure: rhabdamia gracilis, a 3/4" schooling cardinalfish. But you'll never be able to get any, unfortunately. For guppy sized saltwater schoolers I think you're going to stuck with some of the commercially available cardinals as your best bet, stuff like the orange lined or threadfin species. They get a little bigger than 2", so not quite guppy sized. If you're willing to go up to around three inches, there's a carribean basslet species that's great, chalk bass. Definitely a good bit bigger than a guppy though.

 

[Anonymous]

okay.

shallow sand bed it is.

next question:

where to go in orange county to get started? rock, salt/SW(premix), sand, etc. i'm right on the corner of santa ana, garden grove, fountain valley and westminster. no kidding.