Hello TealCobra and glad you chose to log on here for info on starting your new marine systems. Id agree that starting a 10-12 is a nice way to jump into the hobby, and you can base much of the predictions about your upcoming 75g on the workings of your 10-12g nano.
Now let me start by saying that I know you know there are many different ways of setting up these systems. My ideas are just mine, and Im sure as this post grows there will be much insight added to the recommendations.
Cost-about 300-500$ depending. Bare bones, Id say $200 for the lights and $40 worth of live rock and two/three fish at 25$ apiece and corals at 100$ (light coral load) salt mix and C_Balance additive totaling 40$.
If you choose to add a skimmer to reduce water changes then add another $100-$200
For your size tank, I will recommend adding 1-3 capfulls of each C-Balance additive (parts A and B) per week, not all in one day. This of course depends on your stony coral load, and the way you bioload the tank with fish and also whether or not you are skimming. Me personally, Id still go skimmerless on a 10-12g but not if you value fish more than corals. A 10g tank with much LR and maybe a clown fish and a blenny of some type, or any other combo of two-three small fish can be kept well unskimmed as long as you change water %50 weekly IMO. A good skimmer will let you be a little lazier on upkeep and will deal with the fish waste correctly so you won't have algae battles. On a tank that size tho, Id say its just as easy and cheaper not to install a skimmer and just go with moderate water changes depending on your fish stocking. Post back when you figure out what you want to have in terms of fish.
I use
www.aquaticeco.com to order all my supplies, including C-Balance. a $10 purchase of C-Balance (calcium and alkalinity additive) will last you three months in a 10g. You can use your check card or your credit card to order from them and they are a very honest company. Maintenance will not be much of an issue in your nano, a 10-12g will evaporate a cup or two of water per day depending on your lighting system, regional humidity etc. Very easy to replace by keeping a bottle of Evian handy and squirt some in each day. The best way to do this is to take a sharpie marker and mark on the back of the glass your water line when you have just made a water change set at 1.024 salinity. As the line drops below the mark due to evaporation, fill it back up with distilled water. If you go a few days before refills (2-3max on a 10g with bright lights) don't fill it all back up to the line at once. Take two days to bring it back up slowly.
Last but not least, use distilled water for your mix. To make a long story short this is what I do and its your best bet for keeping algae at bay.
Good luck and give us the details as you get started.
Brandon M.
