Difficulty level of salt-water

[dudey]

I have always wanted to do a salt water tank but was never ready to tank the plunge and get into it. Been reading around and think I may be ready.
Anyways heres my situation

I just got a free 30g tank, stand, hood, filters, heater, the whole setup. The filter is an emperor280 biowheel and was wondering how hard it would be to set up as a saltwater. I know I need a protein skimmer but thats about where my knowledge ends.

My main attraction to salt are eels and lionfish (nemo fish just dont do it for me) I know the 30g is too small for probably both an eel and lion fish, but would I be able to keep possible a solo lionfish in the 30 or am I pushing his space as well? Also what else would a need for the salt? If im not trying to grow coral and would I need an upgrade on my light or would the standard freshwater light be fine for a little bit of live rock?

IF I do decide to do a reef tank (with dora and nemos (in order to satisfy my girlfriend and get her to leave me alone about all my other tanks )) how hard would that be? and would I be able to do that with a drawf lion?

Any help would be appreciated

Thanks

 

[sweeTang21]

you will want to get a Dwarf Lion, Fuzzys are the most commong dwarf to get. The say they require 30gallons, but idealy the tank should be larger. If you wanted just this solo fish i think you'd be fine. You will want to get about 25-30 lbs of live rock to add some hiding places for the lion. Im guessing your not planning on having corals so dont worry about your lighting, the basic tank light is fine.

Id suggest getting the tank started with RO water, mixed with a good saltmix to about 1.025, add your Live sand and Live Rock, get the cycle started and then worry about what your want to stock the tank with. The filter can be used but really isnt the most efficient filter for Saltwater. A few steps will need to be taken to ensure a good filter. Id keep the white floss they have in there, the mechanical filtration portion, and either add live rock rubble in a filter bag, or some Matrix, which can be purchased at any petsmart store. Matrix is a material that will allow beneficial bacteria to grow, which are what you want, because they keep your water toxins down. Water changes will need to done once weekly to help rid of the rest of the toxins and also to replace any minerals in the water.


Im sure i missed something that hopefully someone else will chime in and tell ya about

 

[dudey]

thanks for the input.

How hard would it be for clowns, with some anemones, and a tang or so and could a dwarf co-hab with them?

 

[Teen Aquarist]

I started sw fish keeping just about three years ago. I had no experence what so ever wth fish keeping. I Read bob fenners book about fish keeping and that gave me a good hold on things.i suggest reading it. I am wrighting this on my cell phone so sorry for bad spelling/grammer. You dont need a protien skimmer my reef tank has been set up for 3 years without one. Be careful with the lion fish their sting is quite painful. Yes one dwarf lion fish could live in a 30 you could also get a little dwarf puffer thoughs are really cool. You dont even lr just some for the fish to hide behind or in like pvc pipe. Also you need to get a new filter. You could use the fw with no coral, but make sure the say saltwater safe too. Best of luck and welcome to the saltwater world!

 

[Tangs Rule]

thanks for the input.

How hard would it be for clowns, with some anemones, and a tang or so and could a dwarf co-hab with them?

No tangs can be in a 30 gallon, that is too small for them. They love open water and love to swim. A 30 gallon for anenomes and clownfish is fine. You just have to spend some $$$ on a good light and keep the water parameters in check.

 

[sweeTang21]

agreed. You could go the power compact route if you wanted to. Only suggesting that because T-5 does not make a 30inch High Output unit, which is what would be needed. You could go smaller and do a 24" but thats up to you.