Edward Ramirez' 10 gallon:

1)Size of tank?
10 Gallon TruVu Plexiglass

2)Was this your first reef tank?

No, actually it's my third

3)Do you have any traditionally sized reef aquariums? If so, of what size?

a 60 gallon show tank and a 20 gallon seahorse tank at home

4)How long has this tank been setup?

Since November of 97

5)What hardware are you using, including lighting? If you're using a sump, include it here. Also if you're experimenting with any of the "new" systems, such as mangroves, ATS, or mud filtration, list it here.

No sump.  Currently the system is using a 18" counter current skimmer, no mechanical filtration, and a powerhead inside for flow.  My lighting is a PC 27 watt quad with a supplemental 9 watt white bulb.  The actinic lighting is a 18" flourescent.  The tank is lit approx 9 hours a day.

6)How much live rock are you using?

approx 12 pounds

7)Are you using live sand? If so, how much? If not, are you using any other substrate? Are you using a plenum?

I have a layer of OO aragomax, but it wasn't live when I put it in the tank.

8)Do you perform water changes? If so, how much and how often?

I do a water change about every 2-3 weeks.  approx 50% of the tank volume.

9)Do you add trace elements? If so, what?

I use a liquid calcium supplement, Molybdenum and Strontium.  Occasionaly, when I remember, I put in Iodine.

10)Do you experience problems with overheating? If so, how have you solved them?

  Not overheating per say.  The tank does get up to 85 degress sometimes, but thats as high as it has been.  Personally, one of the projects that I want to build is a kickon unit that can control a hood mounted fan.  When the tank temp hits say, 82, the fan will keep it below that.  IF anyone out there has some advice on that, please send me some email.

11)What corals are you keeping? Indicate how long you've had them, how large they are, and wether you've observed growth in them.

I have 2 colonies of green star pollyps in the tank, who I have proporgated from a mother colony.  1 cutting of a green tree (sinularia), about 30-40 mushrooms, who are doing okay.  Of note, the red ones have been fantastic with dividing themselves, but the other shrooms haven't been as aggressive.  There is also a candalacytis anenome, sebae, and a carpet anenome.  The sebea has been turing brown yellowish as of late.  

12)What other invertebrates are you keeping? Again, indicate how long you've had them, how large they are and wether you've observed growth in them.

Brittle star, about 12 blue hermits, dozen snails.  Id di have a small coral banded shrimp, but an aiptasia muched him right up. 

13)Are you keeping any fish? If so, what?

two amphiron ocellaris.  (Fake percs)  I have been considering getting some sand sifters.

14)Would you say you have a large population of other micro fauna, such as copepods and similar?

I do have copepods, but not in great numbers.  Within the month of March, I started to notice a great deal of construction tunnels in the sand.  So, I guess that it took about 4-5 months for the sand to get seeded by the rock.

15)Are there any species (vertebrate or invertebrate) you seem to fail with regularly in this tank?

I haven't really tried anything that I would claim as tough.  Half of the selection criteria for my tank is in pleasing the people who look at it.  So, if one of my coworkers wants to goto the LFS at lunch, I let them show me what they like, and if it'll work out, I let them pick.  But women being women, they are favorable to the venerable classics, i.e. clownfish, mushrooms, clumsy hermit crabs.

16)Likewise, are there any species you'd describe as remarkably successful in this tank?

Well, I propogated some green star polyps specifically for the tank, and I haven't had to due much for them in terms of upkeep.  They stay pretty stable by themselves. 

17)Do you feed your tank? If so, how often and with what?

I use a Wardley Color Flake, and a Ocean Nutrition frozen food, but in very, very small quantities.

18)On a scale of 1 to 5, with one being completely unsuccessful and 5 being very successful, how would you rate your experiences with this tank?

3.5  I have had some problems with a old filter system that I tried to use.

19)Is there anything about your tank you wish you could change? Something you could have done differently?

Initially I tried to do a small hang on the back filter system, and no skimmer, yuck, what   mess.  So, then I adapted a Amiracle HOB wetdry skimmer combo thing.   Without a doubt, that has been the biggest screw up in history of nanos.  That piece of S>>T has leaked, had pump failures, puts tons of bubbles into the water, and runs at a noise level equivalent to someone talking way too loudly.  I have come back from a weekend to find my desk covered with water from a leak in the filer system.   I have tried two different units, and had the same problems. 
Anyone want to buy 2 Amiracle HOB wet/dry skimmers?



20)Would you recommend a Nano to another reef keeping hobbyist?

Absolutly.  I work in a social service capacity, and seeing the reef tank on my desk, immediatly puts people at ease.

21)Would you recommend one to a non-reef keeping hobbyist?

No, for them I recommend a freshwater setup

22)Would you recommend one to a NON hobbyist?

No

23)Are there any pieces of equipment you've used on this tank you would never use again? If so, what, and why not?

See above,

24)Are there any pieces of equipment you'd recommend reservation-free to another hobbyist?

The CPR skimmer is outstanding! 

25)Do you test your water parameters? If so, what do you test for? And how often?

Nope, not at all.  I just let the mushrooms and the sinularia tell me when it's time to change the water. 

26)Are there any mistakes you've made you think others might be able to learn from? If so, feel free to include them here.

Well, for me, my tank is at work, and you don't want to be seen fiddling around witht the tank while you are at work, so try to make an effort to come in early, or stay late to make adjustments.  Make liberal use of the chemical products that are available.   I use a phosphate remover and a silicate remover to alleviate the amount of algea and diatoms that the tank has.

27)If you have any additional comments you'd like to make, by all means, include them here.

My tank is at work, should anybody find themselves in Anaheim Orange County, I'm pleased to show you the tank.