should i go saltwater?

[paOol]

i have a 60gallon which is kinda free.
right now, i have 3 3'' Red bellied piranha in there.
i plan on selling them probably, so should i convert the 60 gallon to salt?

when i got into fish, i always planned on getting a saltwater, but i did some research, and found it to be harding and more expensive than freshwater. so i started off with a freshwater (my other tank).

i have a whisper 60, heater, and flourescent light on the 60 gallon right now.
if i convert to salt, will i still need a protein skimmer? and would my current filter work?
i'd get crushed coral probably, or some sand. (which ones better?)

i want to get some;
1 porcupine puffer
maybe a trigger fish
definately some false percula clown fish
a blue tang (i know he'll be kinda crowded)
i'll probably add more fish later.

anywho, i want a FOWLR setup probably, but i do want some anenomies for my clownfish, so does that mean its not FOWLR anymore?

and what kind of light bulb would i need for the coral / anenomies?

are those fish compatible together?
is 60 gallon big enough?


should i just keep my Piranhas (even though their boring)?

 

[rubberbanddude]

protein skimmers help a ton with filtration. i highly recommend them. im getting a puffer on tues. sorry but the trigger is too aggressive and they get big. maybe a snowflake eel or lion fish. 60 gal is good if ur puffers a baby but they grow slow so upgrading will be needed. Metal halide with acctinic and night lighting also great water conditions(trust me hold off till around a year so u get experience) and high water flow. saltwater isnt too hard if u do research and dont stop doing research...good luck

 

[DeLgAdO]

protein skimmers help a ton with filtration. i highly recommend them. im getting a puffer on tues. sorry but the trigger is too aggressive and they get big. maybe a snowflake eel or lion fish. 60 gal is good if ur puffers a baby but they grow slow so upgrading will be needed. Metal halide with acctinic and night lighting also great water conditions(trust me hold off till around a year so u get experience) and high water flow. saltwater isnt too hard if u do research and dont stop doing research...good luck

well said rubberbanddude

 

[fishnutham]

research and buy the book saltwater for dummies(no insult intended it makes it easy )plus if you have anenomies for your clowns the work and the expense will double and the work stick with fish only at first if you must try s/w its a lotta work..

 

[rubberbanddude]

research and buy the book saltwater for dummies(no insult intended it makes it easy )plus if you have anenomies for your clowns the work and the expense will double and the work stick with fish only at first if you must try s/w its a lotta work..

i have that book its good

 

[mainy999]

Saltwater isnt really hard if you know what you are doing. And I totally agree with everyone else on the Protein skimmer debate. I've heard so many people say that they arent necessary, but they really really help out. As for anemonies, when I got one, I noticed my work doubled. I am constantly checking on it and keeping it away from the filter inlet and the powerhead where it will be (and almost was) sucked in. As for a light bulb, everyone recommends metal halide lighting, but mine is thriving under dual flourescent lights. It all depends on the type of anemone.

 

[fishnutham]

Saltwater isnt really hard if you know what you are doing. And I totally agree with everyone else on the Protein skimmer debate. I've heard so many people say that they arent necessary, but they really really help out. As for anemonies, when I got one, I noticed my work doubled. I am constantly checking on it and keeping it away from the filter inlet and the powerhead where it will be (and almost was) sucked in. As for a light bulb, everyone recommends metal halide lighting, but mine is thriving under dual flourescent lights. It all depends on the type of anemone.

hard to target feed my anemones to much work for me as i have many tanks and somewhat of a life too lol.

 

[paOol]

i really like watching the fish share a symbiotic relationship with the anemones though.
i think i'll pick up a used protein skimmer to save up on some money, and i'll look around amazon for saltwater for dummies.

will sand work in saltwater? i mean pool filter sand, the kind rallysman recomends.
or do i have to go with crushed coral?

how often do i need to do water changes on a saltwater?
do i have to add the salt mix each time? whats the difference between live rock and coral?
thnx

 

[paOol]

heh, just ordered the book for about $4 on amazon. shipping was like $3. woot

 

[Zoodiver]

will sand work in saltwater? i mean pool filter sand, the kind rallysman recomends.
or do i have to go with crushed coral?

Depends on what the rest of the tank will have. Crushed coral is a "catch all" type substrate and is a good choice. You can find very fine crushed coral if you like the look of sand. I am running a sand substrate in my 20 salt at home.

how often do i need to do water changes on a saltwater?
do i have to add the salt mix each time?

Water changes will depend on bio-load. I'd say relativly close to freshwater. If you take waer out, you must add salt again. However, if you are topping it off due to evaporation, you do not use salt. (Only the water is evaporating, the salt stays.)

whats the difference between live rock and coral?
thnx

Live rock is more or less rock that has been in saltwater long enough to have small inverts and other beneficial bacteria growing on.
Coral is a living animal that makes builds it's "house" out of calcuim ontop of the skeletol remains of others.....ending up in a coral reef.
Of course you have to look at low light vs higher light coral. Some like more flow than others. Some have various growth rates etc..... It's a fun thing to read about and then see it unfold before your eyes.