Brand new Salt water hobbyist

jake169

jake169

New Member
Hey Guys,
I have been bitten by the bug, and instead of a freash water set up, which I had about 10 years ago, I am getting a little braver and going into the salt water terriotory. Honestly I am just overwhelmed with all the info and practices out there. I just wanted to know what I should get in the beginnig to get my tank started. So far this is what I am thinking. I am thinking abt a 55g, I will start with filling the tank with live salt and live rock, not quite sure if the LR should be cured or not, cause I will leave the LR and LS in the tank with the water and filters runnig for a about a month or two to cycle the water and get it right and start of the cleaning crew of shrimps and crabs. I am also thinking of doing corals so will need a good light, can someone point me to an affordable good light fixture for a 55g tank. If someoe could point me in the right direction to start of with right in the beginnig as set up and stuff is concerned that would be greatly appriciated. Also I will be running two filters a FLUVAL405 and a wheel filter.
I know this question might have been asked a few times, but I am just overwhelmed all the info and would like and appriciate a staight to the point procedure to get started.
Thanks a lot,
Jake.
 
iampumpkinman

iampumpkinman

Member
I couldnt suggest just one specific thing, but just for starters, one thing that ive heard is to take the size tank you originally want, and double it, because once you get into it, you only get deeper and deeper into it.
You dont necessarily have to double it, but i took the advice, and im really glad i did. (granted, i only have a 60, its much better than my 24 i was going to get)
Money and space situation is a big factor too.
At any rate, welcome to the boards!
Almost anything you need to know can be answered on this website, and everybody is friendly!!
 
scrapman

scrapman

Member
I started like you in oct 06.... I knew almost nothing... I bought a 90 gal tank... 6 mos later... it is absolutely gorgeous.... thanks to this site (look a ny # of posts/stupid questions/ and all..)... I read a lot... visited all tle LFS in a 100 mi radius.... event in NJ/NY while visiting my sons.
GO FOR IT.... it is a lot of commitment ( and also $$).
The only thing I didn't do right.... was to get a small tank... the bigger, the better!!
 
geridoc

geridoc

Well-Known Member
Skip the wheel filter - it is unnecessary in marine tanks. Rely on live rock and sand to do the heavy filtration work for you. Since you are starting from scratch, you can cure your lr right in the tank.
 
sfoister

sfoister

Member
Just keep in mind that it only needs to be as expensive as you make it. Everyone told me it was very expensive and I should have a lot of disposable income, etc... I have come to find out that it is only really expensive if you start with bad habits, learn lessons the hard way.
The tank never says "spend money on me! come on buy a $60 piece of coral this weekend even though you're starving to death and eating ramen noodles!"
My tank sat for a month with nothing but rock until I decided I wanted to spend the money on corals and fish. Self control and patience.
 
browniebuck

browniebuck

Active Member
Be prepared to become an addict!!! My wife and I started in December and, within the first two months, were both interested in a 125-200 gallon tank (currently have a 55g). I would definitely go with the advice of getting the biggest tank you can house and afford, as you will undoubtedly become addicted.
A way to save on rock and sand is to buy some live sand and live rock and supplement it with non-live sand and lace rock. You would especially be able to do this, as you are starting from scratch and you would be able to have the live rock and sand "enliven" your other sand and rock.
Also, if you are willing to drive a little (we drove over two hours in three directions), you can find great local fish stores (LFS) and better prices on stuff to start up.
WELCOME...my name is Mike and I am a saltwater aquaraholic.
 
grumpygils

grumpygils

Active Member
Originally Posted by Jake169
Hey Guys,
I have been bitten by the bug, and instead of a freash water set up, which I had about 10 years ago, I am getting a little braver and going into the salt water terriotory. Honestly I am just overwhelmed with all the info and practices out there. I just wanted to know what I should get in the beginnig to get my tank started. So far this is what I am thinking. I am thinking abt a 55g, I will start with filling the tank with live salt and live rock, not quite sure if the LR should be cured or not, cause I will leave the LR and LS in the tank with the water and filters runnig for a about a month or two to cycle the water and get it right and start of the cleaning crew of shrimps and crabs. I am also thinking of doing corals so will need a good light, can someone point me to an affordable good light fixture for a 55g tank. If someoe could point me in the right direction to start of with right in the beginnig as set up and stuff is concerned that would be greatly appriciated. Also I will be running two filters a FLUVAL405 and a wheel filter.
I know this question might have been asked a few times, but I am just overwhelmed all the info and would like and appriciate a staight to the point procedure to get started.
Thanks a lot,
Jake.

Jake,
Send me an e-mail for lighting. Welcome to the hobby!
Mc "McFlylab@aol.com"
 
jake169

jake169

New Member
Guys thanks a lot for the warm welcome, just got back from ***** and now I am lingering on a 65g or 75g tank. I can't go too big (live in a apt) and am worried abt the wieght and also moving later on in a cou[ple of years. Also is it ok that I mix up the live sand and live rock with the fake ones, probly do a 70/30 ratio with more live stuff than fake, seems economical. I am thinking of buying a metal halide light fixture to begin with, since I will be putting some corals in later so it does make sense to get a regular fixture and then spend more for the metal halide. what do you guys think. I wanted to put in two filters so I can get away with doing water changes every three weeks. Can someone let me know if the below set up I am doing is right or if I need to do something different.
Buy tank, hook up the filters, put LS/FS, put LR/FR fill with water, leave for a month check on water levels and such than add the shrimps and crabs and such after which start with samll damsels.
Once again thanks a lot for the great welcome.
Jake.
 
browniebuck

browniebuck

Active Member
It is definitely ok to mix the live with the fake (especially economically). Even if you were to do a 70/30 mix the other way, over time, all of the fake will become live. I would add the fake sand first along with the water (I have been told by several people that freshly mixed saltwater is toxic for 24 hours, which would be included with the live rock and sand). After the 24 hours, then I would add the live sand to avoid the sand from settling on the rock. After the sand has settled, then I would add both the lace (fake) and live rock and get to aquascaping :thinking: .
It sounds like you are willing to be patient, which will make the more fake than live ratio work even better, as there will be nothing eating the pods that are on the live, which allows them to breed and inhabit the fake.
Have fun and RESEARCH, it will pay off, trust me!!!
 
coralnew

coralnew

New Member
Hi, I am in your same situation. Just had little knowledge about things to start. So went and bought a 75G tank and stand and a fluval filter listening to the LFS. Then came to the boards and for last 1 month my tank has been sitting there without even water. learned a lot of stuff. The lighting I bought, I end up returning. The fluval filter I returned and got a wet/dry which again returned. Apparently they increase your nitrates in long rung unless you clean them every week. ( Especially if you plan to keep corals). So many suggested to get a skimmer and I did. So basically your filteration should come from the skimmer and LR.
Mh and T5 was another hassle. I guess they both perform the same. Some like Mh and some like T5. And really depends on what you keep in the tank. I went for a T5 bec that was cheaper.
Then comes the sump and overflow( to drill or to get a HOB overflow). still deciding ???
Let me know what you decide also. Good luck
 
coralnew

coralnew

New Member
Again 65 and 75 be very careful Isnt the height of 65 higher than the 75 ? I guess you will then need a more powerful lighting if you go with 65.
 
jake169

jake169

New Member
I am definetly not going with the sump, too much hassle and space involved, I was speaking with the local LFS and he suggested to get two filters, the Fluval which I would be cleaning about every two months, and the wheel filter which I would need to clean every two weeks or so, am I wrong here, or is there anything wrong with the fluval filter, For the wheel filter I was thinking of the marineland 400 biowheel. Anybody have any experience with this set up.
 
grumpygils

grumpygils

Active Member
Originally Posted by Jake169
Thanks Mike, can you point me in the right direction regarding the light fixture.
You can't post other websites on this forum, shoot me an e-mail. mcflylab@aol.com
Mc
 
iampumpkinman

iampumpkinman

Member
Another thing to give you a little perspective, if there is a petsmart around you, check their tanks, and do a price comparison.
Also, look at the *****/petsmart online pages, because they usually have cheaper prices.
Print out a page with what you want, and if it is cheaper online, they will price match in the store.
Good piece of info to have
 
browniebuck

browniebuck

Active Member
also, once you determine what type of lighting you want to go with, try looking on e-bay (or another

[hr]
site) to find them. I found a light that I would have paid nearly 50% more for at the LFS.
I currently have 260 Watts of Power compact which have been working wonders for my tank. I am still researching as to what corals I can get with that lighting, but that wasn't my original goal anyway (I am more into the fishies and inverts)
 
iampumpkinman

iampumpkinman

Member
Indeed, e-bay rules.
If you didnt see my thread a little bit ago, i got a 60 gallon tank, hood, light, heater, skimmer, and filter for $31.00.
I love that stupid website.
 
coralnew

coralnew

New Member
Originally Posted by iampumpkinman
Indeed, e-bay rules.
If you didnt see my thread a little bit ago, i got a 60 gallon tank, hood, light, heater, skimmer, and filter for $31.00.
I love that stupid website.
Sure that is not leaking ??
Just kidding!!
 
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