A Newb With Questions

[Zari]

Ok here in a couple months, probably around June, I plan on diving into saltwater(was gonna do a Cichlid tank but the dark-side grabbed ahold of me)
I'm planning on doing FOWLR(75gal) for about 3 years, hopefully in 3 years time I'll be moving outta my parents house, after I move out I plan on going into corals. I have a couple questions I was planning on doing a Berlin system with a skimmer and live rock will just that work for a bunch of inverts like hermit crabs(how many would you suggest) and a couple fish, 1 Clown, 2 or so Firefish, a Whip Fin Fairy Wrasse, and an Orange-Black Fairy Wrasse.
Or will I need a sump for all these fish instead of doing just live rock and skimmer?
Is this a good stock?
Also does anyone have good advice, suggestions, tips, and what not?

 

[Olunds]

Would love to help you but i just joined the darkside myself. Hope you get the answers your looking for, SW forums here are alot slower then the fw.

 

[Zari]

Would love to help you but i just joined the darkside myself. Hope you get the answers your looking for, SW forums here are alot slower then the fw.

Yeah I've noticed that in my few days of poking around lol

 

[Greg31]

Same boat as you both, and agree its pretty slow here haha. I suggest reefcentral.com.

 

[TMartinez]

Ok here in a couple months, probably around June, I plan on diving into saltwater(was gonna do a Cichlid tank but the dark-side grabbed ahold of me)
I'm planning on doing FOWLR(75gal) for about 3 years, hopefully in 3 years time I'll be moving outta my parents house, after I move out I plan on going into corals. I have a couple questions I was planning on doing a Berlin system with a skimmer and live rock will just that work for a bunch of inverts like hermit crabs(how many would you suggest minimum 1/3 tank size up to 1 per gallon) and a couple fish, 1 Clown, 2 or so Firefish, a Whip Fin Fairy Wrasse, and an Orange-Black Fairy Wrasse. Stock seems fine. These fish are all rather small so you could even keep more depending on setup.
Or will I need a sump for all these fish instead of doing just live rock and skimmer? Sumps are nice but not required. You can do a Berlin system but recommend a HOB filter too as well...
Is this a good stock? Yes
Also does anyone have good advice Take your time, suggestions cirulation pumps and time, tips more time, and what not?

And this forum (as a whole) is freshwater based but a number of us do salt. Most of your questions will be answered but more than likely at night as us with salt tanks needs daytime jobs to afford all this crap lol

 

[FLESHY]

I feel that we have become a pretty good little saltwater community.

We are definitely growing, and I feel that we are a lot less judgmental than many other sites.

Not bad if you are already on the site and just want a place to bounce some ideas around.

 

[enwelz]

I agree, I haven't had much luck on other sites as salt water and reef forums seem like good ol'boys clubs, where you have to know your stuff to play ball with them. Thats the great thing about this site that got me hooked. Initially i was looking at a guys 50,000 gal fresh while I had a 30gal tropical community tank, next thing i know i'm working on a 100 gal berlin sump setup fueld by hoops and fleshy's advice. I'm learning and getting pretty comfortable with marine, and im educated in the science of it just not the controling of it but this site is welcoming, and is full of people who want to expand their hobby, instead of keep it to themselves. /end rant

As for my suggestions, I agree with TMartinez fully in the fact that time is your greatest ally. The fact that you are waiting about 3 years for coral will be benificial as long as you can effectively move your ecosystem without killing it(biofilter not fish, fish moving is easy). I know not everyone agrees but I HIGHLY recommend Seachem Stability as it has made my life much easier over the years IMO. Aside from that add fish slowly, you will never regret waiting an extra few days to do some research to understand what your fish will become, marine species change much more drasticly than fresh water fish do over time, for the most part at least. Some LFSs will have a nice little 3 inch electric blue angel fish that they are sure it won't get "that" big, next thing you know you have a massive fish that you have to upgrade for(you can always do this if your wife won't let you upgrade, just make sure she likes the fish). Other than that, Live rock is your friend, and try and get it all at once since your tank cycles everytime you add more. Stay away from mechanical filtration if you can, or clean it often. I run a canister on mine with a water polisher in it but other than that, they trap detrius which will start to create nitrates faster than money will drain out of your pocket after you start a marine tank.

Last advice... Friggin enjoy it, its awesomness in a tank.

 

[Otherone]

I was shocked the 1st day I set up a protien skimmer absolutely blew my mind how much crap came outta the water. It filled the cup 3 times on the 1st day a few weeks later it's only about 1/2 full at weeks end.

I have two 55's and 5 tanks well over 100 gallons each. With the freshwater tanks large weekly water changes are my best friend - 50% weekly insures great success. To do this with my 180 Salty and 30 gal sump I'd be payin' $100+ a month just for salt. Might not want to skimp on the skimmer it will pay for it's self.

 

[enwelz]

I was shocked the 1st day I set up a protien skimmer absolutely blew my mind how much crap came outta the water. It filled the cup 3 times on the 1st day a few weeks later it's only about 1/2 full at weeks end.

I have two 55's and 5 tanks well over 100 gallons each. With the freshwater tanks large weekly water changes are my best friend - 50% weekly insures great success. To do this with my 180 Salty and 30 gal sump I'd be payin' $100+ a month just for salt. Might not want to skimp on the skimmer it will pay for it's self.

Check and see if your local aquarium sells water, the seattle aquarium sells their filtered sea water that they use in all of their exhibits for 5 cents a gallon. Saves me a fourtune. I just pull up to the loading dock thats open 24 hours a day and swipe a card that turns the hoses on... Sweet deal

 

[FLESHY]

Thanks for the kind words enwelz.

I think that with your stocking levels, you should easily be able to run a berlin system.

I ran a 75g tank with a small blue hippo tang, a pair of clarks clownfish and a small wrasse with no h2o quality issues. Probably could have had more fish.

Good flow, good skimmer, and h2o changes are key in a berlin system.