Help a NOOB out :)
- Thread starter Gruntking
- Start date
good to see you in the salt section 
I find myself only coming to the salt section and fishing section anymore. Let us know if you need some specific help.
I find myself only coming to the salt section and fishing section anymore. Let us know if you need some specific help.Welcome to salt...
I have said this before and i will say it again, there needs to be a sticky thread on nano sw tanks. It seems to be a common question and it would make life alot easier. I don't know how to go about starting one but if someone could it would be great. Saltwater is ALOT different than fw in the fact you aren't holding fish in a body of water but maintaining an eco system. Patience and equipment are key. Even your fish and inverts play a role in the tank operation.
Enjoy and have fun!
I have said this before and i will say it again, there needs to be a sticky thread on nano sw tanks. It seems to be a common question and it would make life alot easier. I don't know how to go about starting one but if someone could it would be great. Saltwater is ALOT different than fw in the fact you aren't holding fish in a body of water but maintaining an eco system. Patience and equipment are key. Even your fish and inverts play a role in the tank operation.
Enjoy and have fun!
Careful going to LFS's and asking questions because they frequently are motivated to give you answers that lead you to buy stuff from them. This may not be the best. The best thing you can do is some online research and lots of reading. There is a lot to know and you will never stop learning, I know I haven't.
There are several ways to set up a SW tank. You'll hear terms like live rock, live sand, protein skimmer, etc, etc. These three things in particular are part of your filtration. Some will say you don't need a protein skimmer, but I can't emphasize one enough. I went without for about six months and suddenly tank crashed and I lost everything.
First off, you'll want to get as big a tank as you can get. The bigger the less chances of water chemistry foul ups. It's a lot more crucial than a FW setup. Just know that if you do go small, you'll need to be a lot more focused on doing water changes and monitoring water chemistry.
Most will tell you you need to wait at least six months before thinking about adding corals.
The start up costs for a SW tank are pretty astronomical, but once you have all the equipment, they are no harder to maintain than FW. The biggest difference is adding salt!
Also, lighting can/is very important, depending on what you're keeping.
Basically, you need to do a lot of research to see what you want to do. Most importantly, BE PATIENT! Can't stress that enough.
Also, it's better to plan for what you might want down the road so you don't spend gobs of money constantly having to upgrade equipment. If you're ultimate goal is a reef, get the right lighting/equipment now. It may be overkill at first, but trust me, it'll be worth it in the long run.
Good luck!
First off, you'll want to get as big a tank as you can get. The bigger the less chances of water chemistry foul ups. It's a lot more crucial than a FW setup. Just know that if you do go small, you'll need to be a lot more focused on doing water changes and monitoring water chemistry.
Most will tell you you need to wait at least six months before thinking about adding corals.
The start up costs for a SW tank are pretty astronomical, but once you have all the equipment, they are no harder to maintain than FW. The biggest difference is adding salt!
Also, lighting can/is very important, depending on what you're keeping.
Basically, you need to do a lot of research to see what you want to do. Most importantly, BE PATIENT! Can't stress that enough.
Also, it's better to plan for what you might want down the road so you don't spend gobs of money constantly having to upgrade equipment. If you're ultimate goal is a reef, get the right lighting/equipment now. It may be overkill at first, but trust me, it'll be worth it in the long run.
Good luck!
I agree with most of this, but I am one of those people who believe you don't need a skimmer to be successful. I kept a 28 gallon reef for 1.5 years without problems. Tanks crash for lots of reasons and people with skimmers have tanks crash as well. Its hard to say your tank definitely crashed just because you didn't have a skimmer. Proper tank cleaning and water changes can keep your tank running smoothly. Alot of people rely on skimmers too much and then slack on things like water changes because they have the skimmer. They are nice to have and keep your water extra clean and I do keep one on my tank now. Anyway, just start slow and do lots of research. This isn't the type of thing where a paragraph can be typed and you read it and are ready to go. You could read a book just on the types of live rock and the hitchhikers that can be found on your live rock. I've been doing saltwater for about 3 years and read forums almost daily and still learn new things at least every couple days. Be patient and realize that you will most likely have some setbacks. I did everything right for 3 years only to have my heater fry my 28 gallon a couple months ago. Saltwater is awesome though and definitely worth the hassle. Good luck.
EastBay;5082766; said:There are several ways to set up a SW tank. You'll hear terms like live rock, live sand, protein skimmer, etc, etc. These three things in particular are part of your filtration. Some will say you don't need a protein skimmer, but I can't emphasize one enough. I went without for about six months and suddenly tank crashed and I lost everything.
First off, you'll want to get as big a tank as you can get. The bigger the less chances of water chemistry foul ups. It's a lot more crucial than a FW setup. Just know that if you do go small, you'll need to be a lot more focused on doing water changes and monitoring water chemistry.
Most will tell you you need to wait at least six months before thinking about adding corals.
The start up costs for a SW tank are pretty astronomical, but once you have all the equipment, they are no harder to maintain than FW. The biggest difference is adding salt!
Also, lighting can/is very important, depending on what you're keeping.
Basically, you need to do a lot of research to see what you want to do. Most importantly, BE PATIENT! Can't stress that enough.
Also, it's better to plan for what you might want down the road so you don't spend gobs of money constantly having to upgrade equipment. If you're ultimate goal is a reef, get the right lighting/equipment now. It may be overkill at first, but trust me, it'll be worth it in the long run.
Good luck!
PSU,
I agree. What works for one doesn't always work for another. THat was my experience, and once I did get my skimmer, I didn't have any more tank crashes.
The most important part was the "go slow" approach. I think everyone can agree on that!
I did research for my SW for about six months before I even bought one piece of equipment. And yes, I'm constantly learning (although I had my SW for about 6 years before I switched over to my SA cichlid tank).
I agree. What works for one doesn't always work for another. THat was my experience, and once I did get my skimmer, I didn't have any more tank crashes.
The most important part was the "go slow" approach. I think everyone can agree on that!
I did research for my SW for about six months before I even bought one piece of equipment. And yes, I'm constantly learning (although I had my SW for about 6 years before I switched over to my SA cichlid tank).
Welcome - take it slow - salt, hydrometer, 5 gal bucket - mix it then test it - you are on your way. Cycling with LR is far easier than fish and a serious advantage Salt tanks have over fresh but this hobby is down right expensive when building reefs.
I can see the appeal of small tanks to cut costs, almost did it myself, however after caring for 180 gal I can see why small tanks can be a fabulous disaster. Salinity and other water parameters can change very quickly and with small tanks the PPM is not on your side.
I can see the appeal of small tanks to cut costs, almost did it myself, however after caring for 180 gal I can see why small tanks can be a fabulous disaster. Salinity and other water parameters can change very quickly and with small tanks the PPM is not on your side.
I just started a 30 gallon nano myself and have had terrific luck so far. I actually have a friend who owns a shop in my hometown and after purchasing all of the equipment I needed including live rock and sand, a very expensive light, and a nice backpack skimmer I just asked my buddy to give me 5 buckets of cycled tank water when he did a water change. This assisted my tank in a faster cycle but may not be the most effective way to cycle a tank, I'm just giving you my experience. But as always the best advice I have received or given to anyone is slow and steady keeps everything alive and your wallet from being empty.
