advice on set up a 30 gal. tank
- Thread starter rpeacock
- Start date
a&m aggie 04'
Active Member
Everyone that i have talked to usually says to stay away from smaller tanks, they are for experts. Larger tanks are easier to start with b/c you have margin for error. The problem with alot of people is money, a large tank costs alot!! I just set up a 58 gallon and have spent way more than i thought i would. Id like to start a small 15-20 gallon in a few months just b/c ppl say its hard to do. I like challenges. Just be patient, this forum offers tons of help on any subject. Good luck on your tank!!
Mark
Mark
carrie1429
Active Member
I agree that larger tanks are usually easier to start with if you have never had experience with saltwater. Although a few people say that it is easier to maintain a smaller tank, like me my 26 gal was easier than my 84 gallon, people have different opinions with differnt tank sizes but IMO a good starter tank size is a 55 gallon. Also another bad thing about newbies starting small tanks is that a lot of times they overstock them, and not all newbies do this but quite a few do. Or they want big fish and their tank is too small. Have you gotten anything to start it yet?
NOTE: it is not a good idea to go to the LFS on help starting a tank, most the time they give bad info or they are just trying to make a sale, not all LFS are bad but there are a lot that aren't very good.
NOTE: it is not a good idea to go to the LFS on help starting a tank, most the time they give bad info or they are just trying to make a sale, not all LFS are bad but there are a lot that aren't very good.
a&m aggie 04'
Active Member
the general rule is something around 1" of fish per 5 gallons. So you could have around 6 inches of fish.
j21kickster
Active Member
Unfortuneatly this is a question that will have to be self tought just to ask "help on a new tank?'' well we could go on for hours. One thing i will suggest it to buy the book The New Marine Aquarium by Michael S. Paletta (20$) it is a great way to start off. there are may articles on the web to read. just read anything you can get your hands on. a small tank is by no means difficult. you just need to make sure of a few things
1. Know basics of SW care.
2. Dont overstock the tank
3. The key is the Live Rock and Live Sand.
4. Replace evoporated water with RO/DI. Chek daily to every other day.
5. water change 2X amonth
Other than that there isnt much else to do. Now after this post i might get some objection but i know from personal exp. I maintain 5 diff tanks under 20gallons. If you are content on getting a small tank try to get one with a built in filteration like the 12 gal sold on www.aquariumpros.com it is under 200 and has an intregrated overflow and wet dry filter. i have this model and currently have several soft corals thriving in it as well as a few small fish( percula clown, neon goby) it has been set up for 2 years and all water parameters are perfect. i dont dose with any additives just what is replenished through the water changes. But like i said earlier know what you are doing and you will be fine. these tanks require far less care than my 47 gal and 300. good luck to you and before you leave read my signature.
1. Know basics of SW care.
2. Dont overstock the tank
3. The key is the Live Rock and Live Sand.
4. Replace evoporated water with RO/DI. Chek daily to every other day.
5. water change 2X amonth
Other than that there isnt much else to do. Now after this post i might get some objection but i know from personal exp. I maintain 5 diff tanks under 20gallons. If you are content on getting a small tank try to get one with a built in filteration like the 12 gal sold on www.aquariumpros.com it is under 200 and has an intregrated overflow and wet dry filter. i have this model and currently have several soft corals thriving in it as well as a few small fish( percula clown, neon goby) it has been set up for 2 years and all water parameters are perfect. i dont dose with any additives just what is replenished through the water changes. But like i said earlier know what you are doing and you will be fine. these tanks require far less care than my 47 gal and 300. good luck to you and before you leave read my signature.
j21kickster
Active Member
About lfs not being good- well i work at one and i can assure you that i can set you off on thte right foot as far as setting up a tank and stocking it goes. when choosing a lfs if you have a choice- the one of a kind stores are usually better also ask around for stores that have good reps. look around the store, if they have a large selection of equip, fish, additives, tanks, books, chances are that there will be some people who work there that know what they are doing. i know the one i work at does, where as the one a few blocks away isnt much help. granted they have good livestock they just dont know much. their stuff looks good b/c it dosent have time to go bad b/c of frequent sales.
carrie1429
Active Member
Okay well there are quite a few LFS that are pretty good and some chain pet stores are good too like the one work at. Sorry just had to point out that some chain pet stores are good.
But IMO I think its just better to get all your info on this board, this is a real great BB where you can get good advice from experts, a lot of people who work in the pet store you don't know if they know what they are talking about or not.
But IMO I think its just better to get all your info on this board, this is a real great BB where you can get good advice from experts, a lot of people who work in the pet store you don't know if they know what they are talking about or not.
aileena
Member
I started with a 29gallon and had no problems at all and I never had a saltwater tank before; however, make sure you do your homework. If I were you get pre-mixed saltwater from a store, they usually sell it cheap and then your tank will cycle quicker too.
Then get some crushed coal and rinse it out really good to get all the dust out of it with a strainer preferably using the saltwater from the store and not tap water never use tap water. Buy a protein skimmer and a powerhead and hook it all up. Wait a week or two and then add about 30pds of LR. Wait another week and add fish or inverts. There you have it! If you mix the water yourself it will take a lot longer! Good Luck
Then get some crushed coal and rinse it out really good to get all the dust out of it with a strainer preferably using the saltwater from the store and not tap water never use tap water. Buy a protein skimmer and a powerhead and hook it all up. Wait a week or two and then add about 30pds of LR. Wait another week and add fish or inverts. There you have it! If you mix the water yourself it will take a lot longer! Good Luck
robchuck
Active Member
Welcome! Also consider a deep sand bed instead of the crushed coral. I've used both, and like both; but there a lot of members on this board that really like having a DSB-it helps alot with reducing nitrates. Just ask around (there are ALOT of experienced members on this board); there's no such thing as a stupid question, but you can easily make a stupid mistake (read: expensive mistake )
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