My first Saltwater Tank!

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Forgot to mention...you'll probably also need extra powerheads. The circulation provided by the protein skimmer is not enough. Rule of thumb is 5-10 gph of flow for every gal of water. Hence, for a 30 gal Reef tank, you'll need 150-300 gph of circulation.

Can you imagine Nemo (percula clownfish) without his anemone (though technically, anemones are not corals)?
 
First Tank
FOWLR

1 Get a power strip that can alternate your power heads. (gives the tank some current)

2 Get some compact lighting off of ebay ---you can get a 130 watt fix (2-55 watt 50% daylight& 50% actinic) to your door cheap! If you want to grow purple coralline you will need both the watts and actinic blue.

3 Spend the money on a wet dry filter or fabricate your own---the money you waste on custom filter cartages cost more then a wet/dry

4 Keep asking questions, listen to others, Read a book but most of all----Be your own filter.

P.S. And thanks Alter__Ego--------nice link on the base rock. www.hirocks.com
 
Does any of you guys have a protain skinner for sell by any chance?. I tested the water on my tank and I believe its too salty(is there such a thing with saltwater). I have a filter running but the gravel(crushed corals ) are getting very ugly with some dark algeas looking things grown in there. I think I m just going to start over!
 
Perfect sounds like your tank is off to a great start. To give up now would be a waste.
Did you know that the average Saltwater hobbyist gives up the hobby within 18 months---don’t be that chump!---Be the guy that buys there hardly used equipment for pennies on the dollar!

Sounds to me that your tank is cycling and that is good---“I said it sounds like” you can expedite the cycle with proper water circulation and a 20% water change. Yes a protein skimmer will definitely help if you would like pm me your email and I will keep my eye out for a nice used skimmer (I am on ebay to much to be healthy---I would forward the auction to your email-I don’t know if they want me posting auction links on this site)
P.S. I have over $1,200 invested in my coral alone and that is just my 55 gallon reef---and I use a $35.00 protein skimmer furthermore it is so efficient that I only run it about 30% the rest I leave for my homade Refugium (seaweed filter)
 
Reefstalker said:
Forgot to mention...you'll probably also need extra powerheads. The circulation provided by the protein skimmer is not enough. Rule of thumb is 5-10 gph of flow for every gal of water. Hence, for a 30 gal Reef tank, you'll need 150-300 gph of circulation.

Can you imagine Nemo (percula clownfish) without his anemone (though technically, anemones are not corals)?
Click to expand...

A 29 gallon aquarium is not going to need a superb protein skimmer. All he needs is a nano skimmer.
 
H20Boy said:
Perfect sounds like your tank is off to a great start. To give up now would be a waste.
Did you know that the average Saltwater hobbyist gives up the hobby within 18 months---don’t be that chump!---Be the guy that buys there hardly used equipment for pennies on the dollar!

Sounds to me that your tank is cycling and that is good---“I said it sounds like” you can expedite the cycle with proper water circulation and a 20% water change. Yes a protein skimmer will definitely help if you would like pm me your email and I will keep my eye out for a nice used skimmer (I am on ebay to much to be healthy---I would forward the auction to your email-I don’t know if they want me posting auction links on this site)
P.S. I have over $1,200 invested in my coral alone and that is just my 55 gallon reef---and I use a $35.00 protein skimmer furthermore it is so efficient that I only run it about 30% the rest I leave for my homade Refugium (seaweed filter)
Click to expand...
$1,200? on a 55? thats more than my pay check can handle. but anyways, I hope what you saying is right. cause I m not the one to give up easily so therefore I will add some mollies and cleaner shrimp in there for a lil while and see where Im at.

Again I appreciate all of you guys help! I m also working on some picts soon, but with only one digital camera in my house thats nearly iimpossible(everyone uses but cant tell me where they place it)
 
dont put any live shrimp or fish in your tank they will just die, you should get some live rock the die off from the rock is what cycles your tank, if you whant good SW info go to nano reef.com or reef central.com i have 3 SW tanks(a 1g a 2.5 & a 10g)and they are realy cool, even you just get NO floresant lights you could keep some zoos and mushroom coral
 
Now that your tank is up and running][/I]
what is your light source/Hr. on per day
What type/kind of filter are you running
In addition to your filter return, what are you using to create current
I feel that running a skimmer at this point is secondary. Your tank is small and between water changes and effective filtration you should not have a problem.

The harder your tank cycles now the better--makes for a stable tank down the road.
 
H20Boy said:
Now that your tank is up and running][/I]
what is your light source/Hr. on per day
What type/kind of filter are you running
In addition to your filter return, what are you using to create current
I feel that running a skimmer at this point is secondary. Your tank is small and between water changes and effective filtration you should not have a problem.

The harder your tank cycles now the better--makes for a stable tank down the road.
Click to expand...

I Have a power head that I believe is alil too strong for the 29 I had a normal Aquaclear filter in there, but thinking of replacing with a skimmer ( which is both a filter and protein skimer all in one) but thats like 50 bucks for a small one!
I have normal flourence lights in the tank. I heard that powerGlo or marineGlo are very gud for the saltwater, what do you think? does anyone uses that type of lights ?
The lights stay on for about 7 hrs but I m staring to think that, thats too long.
 
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