any tips for a beginner in salt
- Thread starter mofisher
- Start date
Sump is the best filter.
Get a nice skimmer.
Minimum tank size is probably 20g...stay away from 10's and 55's...10's because they are dangerously small especially for a beginner (although I have seen some low maintenance 10g's) and 55's because they are awkward for stacking rocks in etc.
Get a nice skimmer.
Minimum tank size is probably 20g...stay away from 10's and 55's...10's because they are dangerously small especially for a beginner (although I have seen some low maintenance 10g's) and 55's because they are awkward for stacking rocks in etc.
Fish, inverts, or Corals?
You can set it up easy if it is fish only. It is still pretty easy for inverts and fish. Corals require maintenance and might require immaculate water conditions starting with Hi-S/RO-DI water. Also your choice of synthetic or natural salt will matter.
If you want a mix of fish, inverts, and corals then you need to first assemble a list of possible candidates. Find their lighting, temperature, water current, and set up requirements. You also need to determine if your choice of fish/inverts are reef safe or if your choice of corals are fish/invert safe.
Once you have a list of the living stuff that you want and understand their care requirements you can then assemble the ecosystem to keep your tank running with minimal care and maximum health.
You can set it up easy if it is fish only. It is still pretty easy for inverts and fish. Corals require maintenance and might require immaculate water conditions starting with Hi-S/RO-DI water. Also your choice of synthetic or natural salt will matter.
If you want a mix of fish, inverts, and corals then you need to first assemble a list of possible candidates. Find their lighting, temperature, water current, and set up requirements. You also need to determine if your choice of fish/inverts are reef safe or if your choice of corals are fish/invert safe.
Once you have a list of the living stuff that you want and understand their care requirements you can then assemble the ecosystem to keep your tank running with minimal care and maximum health.
mofisher;4731799; said:
Live Rock + a rippin skimmer.
FLESHY;4731927; said:
I agree with fleshy but when he says sump, but keep in mind it is not in the same context as a FW sump. Unfortunately the FW guys seem to think having a 90g tank with a 500g sump filled with 3 tons of ceramic rings is da shiznit. Reality is that just like with FW the best thing for a "sump filter" is a nice ammount of plant life growing to actually export nutrients and DOC's as opposed to just processing them into a new flavor of poo. So a sump with a some nice quick growing macros and a dicent quality skimmer rated for 1.5-2x your tank size is one of the easiest ways to maintain good H2O quality in a SW tank IMO. Another up side to this is all the extra macro's you grow/harvest you can toss in to let your fish munch on.
as for the best size tank 75-90g tend to be a nice stable size and you can find them all day on craigs list for very little cash and a 29g sump fits nicely underneath them. If you have a little more to spend you can usually find 6ft 125's on CL for pretty cheap as well. Which a 55g sump fits very nicely under.
Incaico;4733699; said:
2nd that. read, read, read, and read some more. I waited a couple of years before I did anything.
Also smaller tanks are hardy to maintain than bigger ones. I have a 180 but I bought a 36 bowfront to start and try figuring if I can do a small tank, my 180 would be no problem.
Josh