First timer

[Vhartmann22]

Hey everyone!!!
First time saltwater tank guy over here. I will be setting up a 8 gallon tank any suggestions and comments would be great!!! Also if someone can answer heater vs. no heater debate that would be great! As well as any corals or fish that would work best with the setup I will have. Thanks again!

 

[masterswimmer]

Welcome to MR.

Not sure where you would have heard there is a heater vs no heater debate? I've never heard that before. I think you might be thinking of skimmer vs no skimmer debate on a tank that small. Possible?

 

[Mano29]

Hey men I think for ur 1st saltwater tank a 8gal is not a good idea because I think smaller tanks are harder to keep

 

[andylee]

Agree with both above.
Unless you keep your house at a steady 79 degrees or so, a heater is a must.
Smaller tanks are much harder to keep stable.
No offense, but consider doing a lot of research before diving in to avoid frustration and dead animals.

 

[Vhartmann22]

Well some say the light that you receive from the set up will create enough heat others say it won't. Also what do you think about a protein skimmer vs. not using one? In regards to tank size unfortunately that is all the room I have at this time.

 

[Vhartmann22]

That's a beautiful tank

 

[Mano29]

Oh ok I had a deep blue 7.5 and I had a heater on it Juz remember u have to be on top of ur tank so can be stable... My lil tank gave me way more problems them my big tank good luck

 

[Vhartmann22]

Thank you what would you suggest in tips for a nano?

 

[andylee]

The small pumps in a tank that size won't generate much heat. You will need a heater.
If you don't skim, you will have to do frequent, large volume water changes, which is managable in a tank that size.
As others have said, stability is a challenge, because one dead snail can end up generating enough toxins to kill the entire tank.

 

[Vhartmann22]

Thanks andylee

 

[duromega]

Welcome to Manhattan Reefs
Enjoy your stay !

Good luck with your new tank, i kmow you will be upgrading in no time

 

[Reef Reaper]

you will have to cycle the tank for a few weeks. i can give you some sand to help you cycle the tank faster. where are you located?

 

[Vhartmann22]

I'm from Long Island

 

[theMeat]

Where on long island. I'm in Valley Stream. You're welcome to some of my sand too.

 

[Vhartmann22]

I'm from Smithtown

 

[BKLYNREEF123]

With your first tank it will be a challenge to maintain stable parameters in that small of a system. In terms of heaters I would say you will not only need a heater for the 8 gallon but one for heating up water that you will need for water changes. You will have to have the salinity and temperature matched very closely to the tank before doing these changes that you will need many of. All in all you will do a lot of work and not be able to have many fish and corals. I would save the expense and effort now of messing with a pico tank and focus your efforts into clearing a space for something larger. Good Luck

 

[theMeat]

Have seen some awesome micro tanks. Can be awe inspiring how some pack so much pow in such a small space. They'r usually accompanied by a bigger tank so you can pick/swap livestock between the two, and then water changes in the small tank, with water from the bigger tank are a snap. My crystal ball tells me there's a bigger tank in your future.

 

[Vhartmann22]

Ok everyone so a friend of mine is giving me their 14gallon bio cube however the tank is diseased with acropora. One should I take the tank? Two I obviously want to start from scratch but how do I get rid of it/ what do I do ????

 

[Reef Reaper]

Acropora is a hard coral. Do you mean 'aiptasia'?

 

[masterswimmer]

Not to mention that aiptasia is a pest not a disease.