Ok so I am starting a 16 gallon bowfront saltwater tank. I was wondering if someone experienced in saltwater could make a checklist of what i need and what are some good brands to look at. Please help.
Starting a salwater and have never done it before.
- Thread starter BigFish
- Start date
Allright, I'll start the list, although I am pretty new to this myself, and I am sure BigGourami will fill in where I left off, he is much better at this stuff than I am.
First decide what you want, such as fish only (FO) fish only with live rock (fowlr) or a reef tank, etc.
But in any tank:
-Ability to read stickies lol
-Patience
-RO water, or a unit to make such
-Salt
-Hydrometer or Refractometer to measure that level (I'd choose the latter)
-Marine Test kit
-Filteration of some sort, and there are quite a few options with this one, some of which don't even involve filters at all.
-And with regular water changes you can probably skip the skimmer, as it's a smaller tank
Most likely the setup you choose will also include:
Live Rock
Substrate, of either sand or crushed coral. I choose to not run live sand, as the rock is live, and the live sand will become live later as a result, so it's an overkill imo
And then depending if you do corals or not, you will need certain lights, and additives (and then test for those additives, but I recommend starting more basic at first)
First decide what you want, such as fish only (FO) fish only with live rock (fowlr) or a reef tank, etc.
But in any tank:
-Ability to read stickies lol
-Patience
-RO water, or a unit to make such
-Salt
-Hydrometer or Refractometer to measure that level (I'd choose the latter)
-Marine Test kit
-Filteration of some sort, and there are quite a few options with this one, some of which don't even involve filters at all.
-And with regular water changes you can probably skip the skimmer, as it's a smaller tank
Most likely the setup you choose will also include:
Live Rock
Substrate, of either sand or crushed coral. I choose to not run live sand, as the rock is live, and the live sand will become live later as a result, so it's an overkill imo
And then depending if you do corals or not, you will need certain lights, and additives (and then test for those additives, but I recommend starting more basic at first)
be prepared to spend $$$$$
1. protein skimmer(aqua c/red sea/coralife)
2. refractometer(any brand,,just make sure its for aquarium use)
3.reverse osmosis unit(any brand,,have tried many all the same)
4.water movement device,,(sump/powerhead/hobfilter/wavemaker/empty canister filter)
5.salt mix(instant ocean,,,its cheap and good)
6.quality test kits for ammonia/nitrate/kh (elos/api/red sea/safaleart)
7.quality lighting{corals only} (coralife/current/sunlight/orbit)
1. protein skimmer(aqua c/red sea/coralife)
2. refractometer(any brand,,just make sure its for aquarium use)
3.reverse osmosis unit(any brand,,have tried many all the same)
4.water movement device,,(sump/powerhead/hobfilter/wavemaker/empty canister filter)
5.salt mix(instant ocean,,,its cheap and good)
6.quality test kits for ammonia/nitrate/kh (elos/api/red sea/safaleart)
7.quality lighting{corals only} (coralife/current/sunlight/orbit)