Beginner Please Help!!

[ladybugg]

Beginner in trouble. :help: I just got a 30g fish tank w/stand. I know nothing about. Ive been to the pet store but they're really unhelpful. Could someone please tell me exactly what i need to get my tank started. thanx. :help:

 

[coachklm]

please figuer out what kind of tank you want....what made you start a tank? the fish the corals the biodiversity?
common equipement list :
skimmer
powerheads
lights
salt
test kits no2,no3,ca, amm,ect.
more will come along ....ohh and
substrate (if you want it ....)
we need to know what kind of tank you want
fowl (fish only with live rock)
fo (fish only)
reef( corals, fish and invertabrates that are reef safe )

 

[jhov2324]

Get a book called The New Aquarium by Micheal Paletta, good book for beginners,
Here's a list anyway:
If you want a Reef Tank, then you'll need to invest in better lighting.
Thermometer
Heater
Filter- Canister or Wet/Dry w/return Pump/check valve
Protein Skimmer
Power Head
Timer
Salt
Live Sand or Crushed Coral
Live Rock
Water Test Kits
Refractometer or a Hydrometer(unaccurate)
Fish Net
MagFloat
Bucket
Quarentine Tank if possible.
Water
Fish
Good Luck, any other questions ask on this site, the people here have helped me alot and are very informative, I'm still asking questions,

 

[slappy]

welcome to the board

 

[some1fishy]

Before you venture of, both posts above make good points. Read and research first. The more knowledge the less chance for early mistakes. Trust us, we all make mistakes and thsi is the place for help.
Start with a good book or two and learn about the different set ups and plan accordingly. Then worry about the equipment and set up.
The new marine aquarium and the concientious marine aquarist is also a good start.

 

[ladybugg]

I want to go with a fish only with live rock tank. I was told to need ro water, live rock, non live sand, oceanic salt, Ammonia, Nitrites, Nitrates, and salinity test kits. What kind of filter would i use? What kind of lighting(30g hexagon tank)?

 

[jhov2324]

Fish only, you don't really need better lighting, but if you want it to look good then go for it,

 

[turningtim]

25lbs of good LR and the sand will be seeded from the LR. This will provide good bio-filtration. get a HOB overflow 300-600 gph (gallons per hour). Set a small 10-15 gal tank under the stand and get a good skimmer. You'll need a return pump to get the water back to the tank, mag 5 maybe.
Or you could go with an HOB (hang on back) filter. I like emperors myself and then a HOB skimmer Aqua c makes a good one. Don't get a prizm skimmer nothing but trouble.
Good test kits are a must (Salifert) and a refractometer, do waste time and money on a hydrometer (highly inaccurate).
JMO
HTH
Tim