Simple saltwater setups?

[Omrit]

I have been interested in trying my hand at saltwater for a while,and I wanted to start with something simple.

A macro-algae tank with some live rock and crustaceans looked interesting. I have a 75 gallon or a 30 gallon I can use for this.

I had some questions I wanted cleared up after reading so many conflicting things about saltwater care.

1. Can I just mix salt with my well-water? Water is on the harder side with a lot of calcium. Some say RO water only especially for corals, but if I don't want coral will my well-water be okay?

2. Are things like a protein skimmer necessary,or will the tank be filtered from a powerhead moving water through liverock+macro algae? Planning to keep a lightly stocked tank if that is relevant to this question.

 

[ichthyogeek]

Hmm...depends on everything you're keeping, as well as what exactly is in your well water.

Typically the argument for using RO or RODI water is to reduce nitrates and phosphates present, to limit pest algae growth, something that will be remedied by the usage of macroalgaes. Another common argument is that it keeps out heavy metals, like copper, zinc, and iron, the former being problematic for a variety of invertebrates.

As for protein skimming, again it depends. What's your stock list?

 

[Omrit]

Hmm...depends on everything you're keeping, as well as what exactly is in your well water.

Typically the argument for using RO or RODI water is to reduce nitrates and phosphates present, to limit pest algae growth, something that will be remedied by the usage of macroalgaes. Another common argument is that it keeps out heavy metals, like copper, zinc, and iron, the former being problematic for a variety of invertebrates.

As for protein skimming, again it depends. What's your stock list?

Not sure what is in my water aside from calcium,but I recall it being low in heavy metals

I am not sure about a stock list as everything is up in the air right now.


As far as fish are concerned I was just going to get a couple to add some diversity in the tanks movement as inverts are mostly bottom dwellers. I like most marine fish, so whatever species will work is fine.


For inverts I was looking at some combination of cleaner shrimp, peppermint shrimp(or really any shrimp), a small crab, hermit crabs, a conch, a cowrie,and a group of snails. I was also interested in an arrow crab,sea urchin,and the shame faced crab although it looks like they will pose problems for other inverts(or for the macros in the urchin's case). However if I am mistaken then I also like those three.

Really I am open to any stock list.

 

[tlindsey]

Not sure what is in my water aside from calcium,but I recall it being low in heavy metals

I am not sure about a stock list as everything is up in the air right now.


As far as fish are concerned I was just going to get a couple to add some diversity in the tanks movement as inverts are mostly bottom dwellers. I like most marine fish, so whatever species will work is fine.


For inverts I was looking at some combination of cleaner shrimp, peppermint shrimp(or really any shrimp), a small crab, hermit crabs, a conch, a cowrie,and a group of snails. I was also interested in an arrow crab,sea urchin,and the shame faced crab although it looks like they will pose problems for other inverts(or for the macros in the urchin's case). However if I am mistaken then I also like those three.

Really I am open to any stock list.

A small Goby specie compatible with invertebrates will work. https://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/features/gobies-for-the-reef-aquarium/

 

[tmandzik1]

I have been interested in trying my hand at saltwater for a while,and I wanted to start with something simple.

A macro-algae tank with some live rock and crustaceans looked interesting. I have a 75 gallon or a 30 gallon I can use for this.

I had some questions I wanted cleared up after reading so many conflicting things about saltwater care.

1. Can I just mix salt with my well-water? Water is on the harder side with a lot of calcium. Some say RO water only especially for corals, but if I don't want coral will my well-water be okay?

2. Are things like a protein skimmer necessary,or will the tank be filtered from a powerhead moving water through liverock+macro algae? Planning to keep a lightly stocked tank if that is relevant to this question.

I would say a protein skimmer is certainly not necessary, but it does a lot by removing waste before it has a chance to breakdown. I use Marinepure media in my sump to supplement the live rock, as it is super porous and provides more surface area for bacteria. I believe the macro algae is beneficial and will help to remove nitrate, but just like with freshwater plants, you would need a lot of them to offset the waste produced by fish. Do you use the well water in freshwater aquariums?

 

[tmandzik1]

Not sure what is in my water aside from calcium,but I recall it being low in heavy metals

I am not sure about a stock list as everything is up in the air right now.


As far as fish are concerned I was just going to get a couple to add some diversity in the tanks movement as inverts are mostly bottom dwellers. I like most marine fish, so whatever species will work is fine.


For inverts I was looking at some combination of cleaner shrimp, peppermint shrimp(or really any shrimp), a small crab, hermit crabs, a conch, a cowrie,and a group of snails. I was also interested in an arrow crab,sea urchin,and the shame faced crab although it looks like they will pose problems for other inverts(or for the macros in the urchin's case). However if I am mistaken then I also like those three.

Really I am open to any stock list.

Six line wrasse would be nice, or any other reef safe wrasse. Damsels are good because they come in a variety of colors and are probably the least sensitive. A pair of ocellaris clowns would be a good option too.

 

[Omrit]

I would say a protein skimmer is certainly not necessary, but it does a lot by removing waste before it has a chance to breakdown. I use Marinepure media in my sump to supplement the live rock, as it is super porous and provides more surface area for bacteria. I believe the macro algae is beneficial and will help to remove nitrate, but just like with freshwater plants, you would need a lot of them to offset the waste produced by fish. Do you use the well water in freshwater aquariums?

Yes I use the well water in all my tanks. I have bred several cichlid species(African and SA), shrimp,dwarf crayfish,and goldfish in this water with adding anything to it. I'm not sure if that counts for anything, but I always figured the water must be pretty good if eggs will hatch in it.


I might just go for the protein skimmer. They are not as expensive as I remember, and it seems some are for sale on marketplace.


Also about Damsels I thought they were a no-go because of high aggression? Wouldn't they attack things like shrimp?

 

[tmandzik1]

Yes I use the well water in all my tanks. I have bred several cichlid species(African and SA), shrimp,dwarf crayfish,and goldfish in this water with adding anything to it. I'm not sure if that counts for anything, but I always figured the water must be pretty good if eggs will hatch in it.


I might just go for the protein skimmer. They are not as expensive as I remember, and it seems some are for sale on marketplace.


Also about Damsels I thought they were a no-go because of high aggression? Wouldn't they attack things like shrimp?

I think you should try the well water. I don’t see a problem with it unless you were keeping corals. The damsels are known to be aggressive towards other fish as they mature. I haven’t heard of them eating shrimp but that’s a good question. There’s different types of damsels so I wouldn’t dare to say that none of them would attack a shrimp.

 

[Omrit]

I think you should try the well water. I don’t see a problem with it unless you were keeping corals. The damsels are known to be aggressive towards other fish as they mature. I haven’t heard of them eating shrimp but that’s a good question. There’s different types of damsels so I wouldn’t dare to say that none of them would attack a shrimp.

Will look into the damsels more, but it is looking like they might be a poor option to keep with shrimp.

The aquarium shop near me typically has gobies,blennies,dwarf angels, jawfish, and then some other small peacefuls. I think I might get a dwarf angel of some kind I really like them, and they don't bother non-coral inverts from what I read.


What saltwater fish do you keep if you don't mind me asking?

 

[tmandzik1]

Will look into the damsels more, but it is looking like they might be a poor option to keep with shrimp.

The aquarium shop near me typically has gobies,blennies,dwarf angels, jawfish, and then some other small peacefuls. I think I might get a dwarf angel of some kind I really like them, and they don't bother non-coral inverts from what I read.


What saltwater fish do you keep if you don't mind me asking?

I currently have in a 180 gallon, a yellow tang, a sailfin tang, 2 yellow tail damsels, and a four stripe damsel. I also would like to put a clown pair and a wrasse in the tank.