Wanting to do a SW setup

[fsubulldogs]

so i have been keeping FW fish for about 4yrs, i am wanting to take the plunge into SW fish. i will be moving in about 7months to my permanate home because i will finally be done with college in May. YES!!! anyway, i have a couple smaller tanks and a medium tank. 16g bowfront, 29g, 55g which would be best for SW? my fiancee wants clownfish, so are they easy to take care of? Which fish would be best for a new SW keeper? Also what do i need to have a stable SW set up. i have done research, and looked on here but have seen and read different things. i know nothing about SW, type of substrate, live rocks, protien skimmer, filtration, lighting, how to perform water changes. please help as i have a spiked interest in SW, and would like to set one up when i get a more permanate home. Also what is FOWLR? I have seen it on here a couple times and have no idea what it is. Thanks in advance. I appreciate all advice from fellow MFKer's

 

[Rychek]

Before you invest in a SW equipment, do a ton of research. Then do some more. There is a lot to learn and options out the wazoo. Some things carry over from FW, but others are best forgotten in the transition. SW is the same as FW in regard to water volume: more water is easier to maintain. I would recommend the 55g for a first time SW setup.

FOWLR stands for Fish Only With Live Rock. In practice this usually means there aren't any corals/anemones in the tank. Invertebrates seems to fall in the cracks between FOWLR and Reef, though, technically, inverts would denote a reef tank. FOWLR is probably the easiest tank type for a beginner to maintain.

Clownfish are hardy fish. Contrary to popular belief, they do not need an anemone to thrive, which makes them a great beginner fish. Just be careful about how many you get and what type you get. Not all clownfish have the same temperament.

As far as equipment goes, you will need the following (in no particular order):
Patience (seriously, you'll need lots and lots of patience)
Tank/stand (obviously)
water (preferably Revers Osmosis/Deionized)
saltmix
hydrometer or refractometer (the refractometer is much more accurate, but more expensive)
heater
powerhead(s)
lights*
filtration**
substrate (this could be considered optional by some)

If I were you, I would do the following: use the 55 gal tank, get at least 55 lbs of cured live rock (though the more the merrier) and enough small grained sand to have at least a 3" deep sand bed. I would get a protein skimmer (any skimmer is better than no skimmer, but I'm not about to start a skimmer religious war by recommending any particular brand. You'll have to research that one on your own) and a powerhead or two. Instant Ocean salt mix is good enough for a FOWLR setup and can be purchased for a fair price at PetsMart (brand name dry good are brand name dry goods no matter where you buy them). With these components you can begin cycling your tank, but REMEMBER to do your research first. It will pay big dividends later on and your future tank inhabitants will thank you.

*The type of lighting you'll need depends entirely on what you intend to keep in your tank. If you are going to go fish only, or fish only with live rock, any light will work. If you ever want to do corals, anemones, clams, etc. you'll need quality lighting such as T5 or Metal halide.

**When I say "filtration" I mean some configuration of the following: substrate, live rock, protein skimmer, power filter, sump, refugium, etc. For ease of maintenance, live sand, live rock and a protein skimmer would be sufficient. If you have 1-2 lbs of live rock/gallon of water you don't need a power/canister filter or bio-balls in a sump. 3"-6" of live sand will further reduce the need for such filters.

 

[sweeTang21]

i like clownfish myself and have always gotten tank raised. these fish are more adaptable to change and dont usually carry the unknown possible disease as some wild caught fish can. more then none it never happens but its still a risk. i would also like to mantion something about a cheap 10 gallon tank with a small filter, that you can use a QT tank, or hospital tank. new arrivals and sick fish go in these tanks and they can be treated more effectivley. treating the display tank would be useless as well as a bad idea becasue of the live rock. the live rock would absorb most of the meds makin them useless. Its also a bad idea becasue if you wanted corals down the road, you could have introduced copper into the tank, and this would make life for the coral and inverts very hard. with saltwater its always a good practice to have a QT tank and only treat that tank.

a second on the RO water, i wouldnt just try to use it, i WOULD use it lol. this water is much more stabile. tap water has so many impurities that can cause everything from unwanted algae, to toxic chemicals that can kill your corals and inverts. RO/DI water is exspensive for initial setup, but only small cost on the water bill and replacing The cartridges after so many gallons pass through it.

 

[fsubulldogs]

could i use a regular HOB filter or do i need a special filter for SW? as for the substrate could i use regular PFS or some other type of non-live sand substrate or do i need live sand? I didnt plan on doing this until i get a few months of ideas and information. its to much money to just jump into it. as for the water changes with the RO/DI water before i plan on doing the WC do i put the water in a bucket and add the salt to get the salinity right? or do you do like FW, put the water in and then treat in the tank? or if i dont get RO water can i fill up buckets of water set it out treat it, add the salt then add to the tank? or would it just be cheaper in the long run to get RO water since i wont have to buy chlor-out and the other chems? like i said before i really appreciate the help and information on here.

 

[sweeTang21]

yes premix saltwater for about 24 hours or longer befor each water change. i would invest in the live sand myself. its the eaisiest to use. crushed coral is like saltwater rock, and this can make your tank very dirty as far as nutrients in the water. remember to test on a regular basis, atleast once a week before water changes.

to answer your last question its probably going to be cheaper to use ro water. the only thing you need to do with it is get it to the right SG and temp, then add some form of buffer to get the ph and alk up, then let it mix with a powerhead to keep it stired up, then add to the tank 24 hours later.

the reg HOB filter will be fine, but for a 55 gallon, i would do a sump, your tank volume increases and your water will stay cleaner and the maintanence is just as easy. read into sumps and refugiums to get a better understanding of what your ill need. it helps to see pictures as well so find some good info with pics and words. remember pics say a thousand words lol. good luck and keep the Q's coming.

 

[cichlidman1888]

You will do fine with one of your tanks, my first SW tank was a 10 gallon , and it honestly was not that hard . Just make sure you are religious with your water changes and you will have no problems. Clownfish are awesome, have had many, Even though your damsels are your good starter fish, watch what you get because i had a blue devil damsel beat the hell out of a clown and kill it.. !!!!