Need help with saltwater tank
- Thread starter crazyskin
- Start date
you will probably get some replies if you ask this in the marine section. one thing you WILL need is lots of money.
Agree with post above. Do you plan on doing a reef tank or a fish only tank? That will help us figure out what equipment you need to make your investments in. Either way I would recommend having some live rock in your tank. I am going to move this to the SW section as you will get more replies there.
hopefully a mod will move this for you...
This question depends on if you want a reef tank or a FOWLR tank.
Regardless, you want top notch filtration (preferably a sump) and a good protein skimmer.
The rest can be discussed after you declare whether its a reef or fish only. Good luck!
This question depends on if you want a reef tank or a FOWLR tank.
Regardless, you want top notch filtration (preferably a sump) and a good protein skimmer.
The rest can be discussed after you declare whether its a reef or fish only. Good luck!
Regardless of Fowlr or Reef, you will need.
Powerheads
An overflow (if its not drilled)
Return nozzles (if there is no loc-line "through-the-glass" kit installed already)
Various PVC plumbing parts
A good skimmer
A sump (Make your own or buy one, whatever budget allows, spacial allowance for a fuge would be good)
Return pump
Live rock
Aragonite sand
Amount of LR and sand will depend on configuration.
Lighting for a reef depends on what type of corals you intend to keep, on a fowlr its all preference and budget.
Size and type of skimmer is going to be sized by budget and bio-load.
The nitty gritty can be hammered out once we know where you want to go.
Powerheads
An overflow (if its not drilled)
Return nozzles (if there is no loc-line "through-the-glass" kit installed already)
Various PVC plumbing parts
A good skimmer
A sump (Make your own or buy one, whatever budget allows, spacial allowance for a fuge would be good)
Return pump
Live rock
Aragonite sand
Amount of LR and sand will depend on configuration.
Lighting for a reef depends on what type of corals you intend to keep, on a fowlr its all preference and budget.
Size and type of skimmer is going to be sized by budget and bio-load.
The nitty gritty can be hammered out once we know where you want to go.
The first, most improtant thing you will need for your first salt water set-up, is a good book on salt water aquariums.
I don't mean to come off as a smart a** here, but I freind of mine talked me into reading a few books before I even started to buy the first pc of equipment and that turned out to be the best pc of advice I got to date about SW tanks. It really helped me aviod a lot of mistakes and avioding the' "new tank keepers syndrome". I helped me understand what I didn't know so I knew the right questions to ask.
You got some great advise here so far.
One thing about this hobby is that there is many different ways to get and keep a healthy tank. Approaches like: sump or no sump, canister filter or live rock, just to name a few. You will find a lot of debate which is better. You really need to do a lot of reading to understand the pros and cons of each and make a informed choice.
I don't mean to come off as a smart a** here, but I freind of mine talked me into reading a few books before I even started to buy the first pc of equipment and that turned out to be the best pc of advice I got to date about SW tanks. It really helped me aviod a lot of mistakes and avioding the' "new tank keepers syndrome". I helped me understand what I didn't know so I knew the right questions to ask.
You got some great advise here so far.
One thing about this hobby is that there is many different ways to get and keep a healthy tank. Approaches like: sump or no sump, canister filter or live rock, just to name a few. You will find a lot of debate which is better. You really need to do a lot of reading to understand the pros and cons of each and make a informed choice.
Cliff519;4837400; said:
+1 I chose to start my SW with a canister and live rock. I chose a canister because that is what I have always used on my FW tanks and it was one less new thing to learn with my first SW. I chose just live rock for the benefits and because I thought jumping right into live corals made the learning curve a bit steep. I also added some, frowned on by many, plastic reef decorations. Although I love the look of SW corals and FW plants ultimately I am more interested in the fish and think the fake ones serve their function well enough. Sometimes better because my fake reef pieces provide more hiding space and displace less water than a big pile of rocks and corals.
Ok, well you need lighting probably t5 or better if you want corals. And sump or cannister filter, and a protein skimmer a couple power heads, live rock sand, a heater thats about it I think. Get more specific questions and I will be able to help more.
Was going to eventually go to coral and live rock, but tyin to figure out what i need basically to get the water cycle going. Mainly what would be a good sump for the tank and it is 150g, and pretty much what i need just to get this going for now will get into coral and stuff after i get this going right. ty
Here's some good info that will help:
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=380427
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=380008
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=380427
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=380008