Starting a salt water tank

festaedan

Piranha
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Jul 25, 2013
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As an early christmas gift I'm getting a 29 gallon to make saltwater. I wanted to know the basics and what products I'd need. I'll probably pick up supplies on saturday or later next week. I don't plan on making it a reef tank because I want to stay under $500. Thanks in advance!
 

festaedan

Piranha
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Jul 25, 2013
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anybody?
 

Cu455

Fire Eel
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Mar 8, 2011
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Look into an all in one system, such as biocube or Nuevo. I think they are great. They look awesome because many of them are rimless or a bow front. A lot of people don't like them because the lack of customization on them. You can make changes to them there just aren't many. You can get all set up for under $500. Check out local reef fourms for used ones. A lot of people growout out of them. They are great to start with.

If you go the piece by piece route. Get a powerhead, heater, tank, sand, salt and live rock. Put it togeather and let it cycle them add a few fish. If you keep it lightly stocked and no coral or easy coral that's all you need. You don't want to overwhelm yourself at the start. A lot of people buy coral, LEDs, dosers, RODI units, controller, auto top off systems and a ton of other crap. All it does is overwhelm them and have them leave they hobby. Keep it simple and take it slow.
 

BIG-G

Goliath Tigerfish
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Dec 12, 2005
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Cu455 got it right. Just start with the basics. If you have already decided on the tank then as far as equipment goes a heater a couple powerheads, and I would also recommend a protein skimmer.
A good protein skimmer will help a lot to remove dissolved organics in the water and really improves water quality.
 

festaedan

Piranha
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Jul 25, 2013
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Thanks guys, If I have a 78 wat light on the tank could I keep any corals? If so which ones could I keep?
 

festaedan

Piranha
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Jul 25, 2013
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T5's
 

festaedan

Piranha
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Jul 25, 2013
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Oh sorry its an LED
 

festaedan

Piranha
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Jul 25, 2013
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It sais "Marineland Reef Capable LED Lighting System W/Timer"
The same website has a T5 48 wat, is that enough for a 29 gallon reef with low light corals?
 

Cu455

Fire Eel
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Mar 8, 2011
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Do you have a link to the lights? How much are you looking to spend on lights? If you go t5 get 4 bulbs This will give you back to front coverage. If you go with 1 or 2 you will have a lot of dark spots.

Marineland only has 1 watt bulbs, which isn't that great. It will grow low light coral. I have never used or really handle the fixture to have an opinion on it. Here is a review of it.
[video=youtube;qnWO7ym4u4Y]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnWO7ym4u4Y[/video]
 
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