New to salt... need some help please....

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GOSKN5

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Oct 24, 2011
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Danville, VA
I just set up a 15 gallon saltwater tank.... i have been in fresh for a while and decided to give it a shot... not going reef, just a folwr set up for now....

I have a few basic questions... forgive my ignorance please...

Salinity: How important is it to remain at one level? The reason I ask is because it has changed a bit in the few days the tank has been running, I assume this is because of evaporation of water leaving behind the salt??

Top offs: Can I add freshwater to top off the tank and adjust the salinity? If only a small quantity is needed?

Water changes: I use a python for my fresh water tanks, can I use the same one to take out the water? Rinse well and then use on fresh tank? What is the best way to add water back? (Add salt and water in a bucket, test for salinity then pour in???)

Temperature: What is a good general temperature for a FOWLR tank? I know it will depend on species etc, but before I get fish etc what should I shoot for and then adjust??


Sorry for the completely NOOB questions... thanks for the help...
 
For salinity it doesn't have to be perfect, as long as there isn't a drop/rise of greater then .002 in the span of about 3 days. Yes fresh water top offs are fine as long as they don't change the salinity by mentioned above.

As for adding the water, the best way is to go get a large plastic garbage can from walmart wash it out, get a good power head for it and just have it filled and always mixing the salt water. This way you not only have a source of wc water ready at all times, you also have a good stock of salt water ready in case some sort of accident happens and you need to salt water immediately there is already water.

You should always make sure when you add in new salt to let it stir at least overnight so that it gets mixed in.
 
puffykid said:
For salinity it doesn't have to be perfect, as long as there isn't a drop/rise of greater then .002 in the span of about 3 days. Yes fresh water top offs are fine as long as they don't change the salinity by mentioned above.

As for adding the water, the best way is to go get a large plastic garbage can from walmart wash it out, get a good power head for it and just have it filled and always mixing the salt water. This way you not only have a source of wc water ready at all times, you also have a good stock of salt water ready in case some sort of accident happens and you need to salt water immediately there is already water.

You should always make sure when you add in new salt to let it stir at least overnight so that it gets mixed in.
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x2.

Try to keep the salinity around 1.026 as that's natural salinity of seawater. Keep the water temperature at 78°F as that will work for 99% of the livestock that you can keep in there.
 
1.023 is good enuff for fish only, the higher salinity levels like 1.026 are more for stoney corals and ornimental clams as it will be higher in concentrations of dissolved sodium, calcium, magnesium, etc...

I'd suggest adding a heater to the w/c tank as temp. plays into salinity and ph readings. Top offs should always be FW and daily as salt doesn't evaporate. Stability is important so stable salinty falls inline and yes you can use the same python if you rinse it after use - I do every week.
 
GOSKN5 said:
cool, thanks for the help everyone... im gonna get all this firgured out... one day!!
Click to expand...

It seems like alot to know and remember but when you know it it just seems natural. Its a very rewarding hobby.
 
not yet, my options are obviously limited.... but I really like the firefish... and clowns of course are cool in a small tank, but my wife doesnt like them because they are so common...

might be looking at finding something different... although leaning toward the firefish because i think they look unique.... so we will see...
 
let me ask yall another question....

how should the powerhead in the tank be aimed? i have it pretty much pointing straight up, any other way I aim it seems to blow the sand around too much...
 
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