new to saltwater
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i am not sure if you could have a sw tank without live rock but i would strongly reccomend it, it makes everything easier, and have lots of it too. the live rock has living organisms on it that will take care of the waste made by your fish and inverts. depending on what size tank you have, i would have 1 pound per gallon. i have 25lbs in my 26 gallon bowfront sw tank.
the live rock will be your main source of biological filtration but you could add a power filter to act as mechanical filtration. i am just speaking of setting up smaller sw tanks, i dont have any experience with sw sumps or protein skimmers.
the live rock will be your main source of biological filtration but you could add a power filter to act as mechanical filtration. i am just speaking of setting up smaller sw tanks, i dont have any experience with sw sumps or protein skimmers.
Live rock and sand act as biological filters.if you do it right you may not even need a filter,just a good protien skimmer.By doing it right I mean keep a small bio-load,no large preditors.Shot for more of a reef aquarium,these are much easier to keep than a fish only tank.Whatever you do,dont buy all live sand and live rock.buy fine and course agronite(dry,enough for a 4 or 5 inch base) than seed it with a small amount of live sand,the same with live rock(3/4 of a pound per gallon approx.),buy a majority base rock than buy a couple of nice pieces of live rock to seed the rest.This will save you a bunch of money.filters arent really needed on these tanks but what you could do is put on a hang- on refugium w/ some caulerpa and a mud substrate.A good skimmer is a must,just dont over skim unless you have a larger bioload.What kind of fish do intend on keeping?how big is your tank?any invertabres(clams,stars,anenomes,featherdusters etc...)?what kind of lighting?corals?I hope I have helped and also given you something to think about.I love the saltwaters.Let me know if you have any questions I would be more than happy to give a helpin hand 
I3u11he4d said:Live rock and sand act as biological filters.if you do it right you may not even need a filter,just a good protien skimmer.By doing it right I mean keep a small bio-load,no large preditors.Shot for more of a reef aquarium,these are much easier to keep than a fish only tank.Whatever you do,dont buy all live sand and live rock.buy fine and course agronite(dry,enough for a 4 or 5 inch base) than seed it with a small amount of live sand,the same with live rock(3/4 of a pound per gallon approx.),buy a majority base rock than buy a couple of nice pieces of live rock to seed the rest.This will save you a bunch of money.filters arent really needed on these tanks but what you could do is put on a hang- on refugium w/ some caulerpa and a mud substrate.A good skimmer is a must,just dont over skim unless you have a larger bioload.What kind of fish do intend on keeping?how big is your tank?any invertabres(clams,stars,anenomes,featherdusters etc...)?what kind of lighting?corals?I hope I have helped and also given you something to think about.I love the saltwaters.Let me know if you have any questions I would be more than happy to give a helpin hand
i dont have a tank for it yet im considering setting one up because i really want a volitan lion. what size tank would i need for one and what is a protein skimmer?
my sugestion is that you should do a lot more research before you get the sw tank. For the lion i alway's recomend at least a 75G and a protein skimmer is a divice that is used to remove protein(waist) from the tank
A protein skimmer removes waste by producing a stream of small bubbles which attach themselves to any organic or inorganic compounds found in the water causing them to rise to the surface into a collection cup.Here are a few good books to read before you go any further/ NATURAL REEF AQUARIUMS / THE REEF AQUARIUM VOL. 1 & 2/ THE CONSCIENTIOUS MARINE AQUARIST/ MARINE REEF AQUARIUM HANDBOOK. I3u11he4d said:Congrats.. ....what do you have in it?whats your set up?
I set up a FOWLR tank. I used live sand and started with one big chunk of live rock. I'll add more as the tank continues to mature -- and pay day rolls around. I've always been a freshwater loyalist, but I fell in love with a Harlequin Tusk over the weekend.
tusks are a very beautiful fishspryandspringy said:I set up a FOWLR tank. I used live sand and started with one big chunk of live rock. I'll add more as the tank continues to mature -- and pay day rolls around. I've always been a freshwater loyalist, but I fell in love with a Harlequin Tusk over the weekend.
but sometimes they refuse to eat
