I have a 10 gallon marine tank. how overstocked am I and what size tank should i look for in the future?

Question

3 tiny damsils
1 tiny clown fish
1 yellow head jawfish
Chocolate chip star fish
Blue lyinka star fish
4 turbo snails
3 cleaner shrimp
2 camel shrimp
8 pounds of live rock
1 piece of polyips coral

Answer 1

Id say a minimum size to move up to just for the jaw fish and the blue star because of the sizes those fish reach a 30 gallon should be minimum but 40-55 preferably. Just watch out for the chocolate chip star they arent reef safe so watch your coral. Try to spot feed the chocolate chip star to make it not so interested in eating your polpys.
Addition: when or if you move up to the larger tank it is a very good idea to keep the 10 gallon and a doctor tank. If one of your fish gets sick you can move it to the 10 gallon so you can medicate. you cant treat the tank with the inverts because of the high copper doses.

Answer 2

Most people would say that your tank is quite over-stocked. It actually depends on how much time and work you are willing to devote to keeping the tank clean and how much you are willing to spend on equipment. If you had a "Protein Skimmer" caring for you tank would be easy. But a skimmer on a 10 gallon tank would be sort of dumb looking and also "overkill" and very expensive. There are other,less expensive ways to do what you are trying,all will require considerable research,and some level of "sweat equity".
I hope you have adequate lighting for the coral,or it won't last very long.
Good luck.

Answer 3

This would also depend on your filtration system, Disolved oxygen which should be 5 -7 ppm (see this article: http://aquarium-answers.blogspot.com/2007/02/aquarium-test-kits.html ).

A larger tank is always easier to maintain and with a larger aquarium it is also easier to add a better filtration system including a Mud Filter, UV Sterilizer, and more.

Do you have live rock? this is important for a healthy bio cycle.
A 2" + fine (#00) sand bed is important for Jawfish as well as some anaerobic de-nitrification.

I recommend this article for more saltwater basics that includes filtration links and more:
http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Basic_Saltwater.html

Answer 4

not to bad, the only thing that stands out is the jawfish. generally not for 10 gallons.

But you can be looking at a 20 long to 29 gallon.

Answer 5

55 gallon

Answer 6

I would think that a 10 gallon is too small to be a salt water tank. I'd start with a 75 gallon or more. Saltwater fish require much more space than freshwater. Keep the 10 for a quarintine tank.