beginner needs advice on alot

[johnny2010]

Hi everyone, i am new to the salt water hobby, i have a 75 gal tank and not much else, anyone who can help i would be much appreciative, i need pumps, skimmer, lights, i am wanting to set up a tank with fish and live rock. i am familiar with aquariums just not salt water, i have had fresh my whole life. probably nothing at all the same but i am not totally in the dark, lol. any help would be great, thank you.

 

[flower]

Welcome to the site!
A check list to be able to start I RECOMMEND:
Fill the tank with RO water only (reverse Osmaoes)
Bucket of Saltmix
Hydometer or refractometer
Thermometer
Live rock
Live sand
2 power heads (Koralia #3)
Some type of filter, like a canister or a sump system
Lights
Master saltwater test kit (API brand I like the best)
That should get you going...

 

[deejeff442]

welcome,you will get alot of different opinions here .you just need to figure out the way you want in the end.
imo the best way to keep a salt tank is to put a sump under the dt.for a 75 i would loo to get a 20 or 30 gallon long .
a basic set up is 1 pound of rock for every gallon.2-3 inches of arogonite sand.for a 75 tank i would get me 3 number 3 korilia powerheads.
get a tub to mix the new water seperate from the dt.a refractor for salinity,a test kit.
if you know freshwater then you know how to cycle a new tank .go to the new hobbiest forum and read the first pot on keeping a tank 101.
this will help with basics.a skimmer is not needed right away and lights for a tank without corals dont matter .any light fixture will do.
so,clean the tank ,mix up some water,add the sand,add the rock,put the powerheads in and fill the tank.let it run a day then add a raw shrimp to start the cycling.pretty much it .you can add an overflow box for a sump anytime.start testing for ammonia in a few days and off you go.
i am sure you will have more specific question after this.there will be plenty of people here to help.

 

[fishhugger]

I am sure you know this, or have at least read it before, but be prepared to spend money and possibly alot of DIY work.
I have wanted to setup a SW tank since I was 13. My parents were convinced it would be too complicated and expensive so they wouldn't help me. 3 years later with what little birthday money I had I decided to try setting up a SW tank. My grandma bought me 10 lbs of live rock from here. I had new cheap power heads and a box of instant ocean salt for up to 20gallons....well I quickly ran out of money, had my tank setup for the next half a year with nothing in it but water and rocks, ran out of salt, was sick of topping it off everyday and making no progress, no one would help me out with money (=P) and it's hard to find a job without a license and both your parents working....got frustrated and gave up. EVERYTHING got thrown out.
Another 3 years later and I am now in the process of converting my old 55 gallon cichlid tank to a SW tank, I about halfway there but I have already spent a good $300, and have much to go.
If I can offer you any advice at all....be prepared to spend money, if your an impatient person dont even bother, go to the top of this page and read the 101 tips, and look through the other post as well....read then and reread them.
To start off though, you should focus on learning the nitrification cycle.
Learn about your choices of water. Everyone here would recommend you to get an RO/DI unit, I would buy one before you consider buying anything else, it will play a major role (I still have yet to buy one and wish I had while I still had money)
Buy a refractometer not a hydrometer.
Use sand, not crushed coral (CC)

 

[acrylic51]

Some good advice already given above. The only thing I don't agree with is general rule on LR!!!! There is no real general rule now a day. It comes down to the style or look you would like to achieve. Using that guideline most end up with a heap of rock piled sky high and basically not needed. I do recommend a good book, and a lot of research on all you purchase before hand. Try to buy the best you can afford, because there is nothing more frustrating than wasting money, when you could have waited and saved a tad more to step up.
A refractometer is a good investment.

 

[meowzer]

Welcome to SWF and to the SW hobby
YUP, you have received some good advice from all.....definitely read the top threads in the new hobbyist section (which was already advised) and go thru a lot of the threads in the forum all together
you will learn a lot by reading about all the experiences we share here, not only on setting up tanks, but on the livestock, equipment, maintenance, etc...etc
and ask away if you have questions

 

[fishhugger]

Quote:
Originally Posted by meowzer http:///forum/thread/383006/beginner-needs-advice-on-alot#post_3346556
Welcome to SWF and to the SW hobby
YUP, you have received some good advice from all.....definitely read the top threads in the new hobbyist section (which was already advised) and go thru a lot of the threads in the forum all together
you will learn a lot by reading about all the experiences we share here, not only on setting up tanks, but on the livestock, equipment, maintenance, etc...etc
and ask away if you have questions
+1. I read through most threads daily. Even if you have no input on them at all, or it may be something that doesn't pertain to you, I would still look.
I never thought I would want to own corals, but now when I get my tank setup I plan on starting off with maybe some LPS and some soft corals. But because I already read a good deal, I wont be rushing to figure out what I'm doing when the time comes. Same thing goes for a lot of painting and other DIY projects...even tank drilling. You might not think you want to do it now, but should you decide later on you will already have a good amount of knowledge. (I even saw a guy drill the side of his established tank , he just drained about 1/4th of the water and had an extra set of hands...something that you should probably consider before hand...but you get the idea)

 

[johnny2010]

thank you all for your advice, and i have spent the better part of my day at work reading alot of threads here and other places as well, i knew this was gonna be expensive so i got it in my head early on to not rush anything, so as i slowly buy the equipment i will need that i dont already have i now have something to do at work, so i guess it works out for the best lmao

 

[monsinour]

i would advise reading my first 2 threads. I was a noob, and this place advised me greatly. I know I spent some coin, but I also think that i spent less than what the average person spends when entering the hobby. I do know that when I upgrade to some big arse monster tank, it will be one huge expense.
Post #1 of "building my 56 gallon reef" contains links to my first 2 threads. One is a livestock selection list and the other is the equipment list. I have to say that doing it in that order made things easier. It was harder to narrow down what i wanted in the tank as opposed to choosing what equipment i needed to support that livestock. The threads are long so dont read them all if you dont want to. But take the idea of how I did things and run with it.

 

[acrylic51]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Johnny2010 http:///forum/thread/383006/beginner-needs-advice-on-alot#post_3346569
thank you all for your advice, and i have spent the better part of my day at work reading alot of threads here and other places as well, i knew this was gonna be expensive so i got it in my head early on to not rush anything, so as i slowly buy the equipment i will need that i dont already have i now have something to do at work, so i guess it works out for the best lmao
Another key thing I found long ago in this hobby is; never keep track of what you spent on the hobby....It'll drive you nuts....Just remember to have fun!!!!