BRAND NEW to this hobby, looking for advice.

[spiked09]

I recently purchased a 2nd hand 55g tank and stand. I am in the final stages of refinishing the stand and will be setting up my new tank very soon.
I have always wanted a saltwater tank but wasn't planning on setting this tank up with saltwater until one of the salesman I work with talked me into it the other day. He used to run a pet store that sold saltwater fish, has had numerous sucessful setups of his own and has recommended a LFS that sells only saltwater fish, corals, etc. He knows the owner personally and will be introducing me to him. So I am confident that SOME of the information I am about to receive will be accurate. LOL
I don't want to get carried away with too complicated of a setup right off the hop and I want to ease the pocket book into this venture, that and the wife (more so the wife) LOL.
I am not 100% sure of which critters I want to house yet . I do want some clown fish for sure and a shrimp but I am still reading/learning about the different choices I have.
The tank was used for freshwater before I purchased it and came with a Eheim Classic external filter, 200watt heater, some lava rock (not sure if the real or not), a pump and some extra filters.
So far this is what I have been told that I will need to get started.
1. A protein skimmer
2. Good light bulbs
3. Crushed coral
I am looking for advice on what to use to clean my tank for the 1st time
Which is the best skimmer
What kind of bulbs to get
and opinions on crushed coral
Thanks

 

[badoleross]

The first thing I would do is make sure your tank is safe for SW. Seeing as it was used in FW there may be copper in the tank that is not reef friendly. Clean the tank with a solution of muratic acid (1/2 gallon to 55 gallons of water )and srub the tank good. Use a long handle brush a long gloves, muratic acid can be nasty. Rinse and refill with water, let it run a couple/3 days and test for copper. As far as converting to SW I woud recommend adding a sump with an insump skimmer to the tank and getting about 70lbs of LR to start. Use sand instead of crushed coral. Crushed coral has a dentency to be a nitrate issue later on and most people regret using it, myself included, and end up changing it out for sand.

 

[fishy7]

Hey Spike

Welcome to the hobby...
Bad is giving very solid advice. especially on the CC VRS LS. I read many posts where they end up switching to LS.
GREAT job on doing research and taking it slow

, most do not.

You are well on your way to having a successful SW setup.

Good luck.

 

[scu ba]

Couldn't he test the tank for copper before he goes thourgh all that trouble cleaning it? I have never changed from fw to sw but just wondering. LOL

 

[spiked09]

Thanks Bad. I will pick up some acid this weekend and do a extensive cleaning job. The acid won't affect my silicone will it?
Also how about the rocks that came with the tank, can I use them? and if so should I clean them the same way 1st?

 

[scu ba]

Also I have crushed coral and regret not getting sand in my tank. Now i can't get sharks, rays and some wrasse. Have fun!!!

 

[spiked09]

Originally Posted by FISHY7
Hey Spike

Welcome to the hobby...
Bad is giving very solid advice. especially on the CC VRS LS. I read many posts where they end up switching to LS.
GREAT job on doing research and taking it slow

, most do not.

You are well on your way to having a successful SW setup.

Good luck.

Thanks Fishy7. I appreciate the welcome note.
I intend to take this hobby very slow, enjoy it and learn from those who have "been there, done that". Patience is probably the no. 1 factor in SW from what I have read so far. I am okay with that and look forward to the day when I have a awesome setup to gaze upon for hours on end.

 

[sagxman]

I wouldn't use the rocks that you have. Go buy about 50lbs of live rock, or buy about 30lbs of saltwater base rock and 20lbs of live rock if you want to spend less money. After some time the live rock will seed the base rock and it will become live.
I agree with the live sand suggestion. It requires a lot less cleaning as well. When you do water changes you don't vacume the live sand. But crushed coral you have to vacume to keep your natrates down.
Decide very soon if you want a reef with coral and what types you are interrested in. This will help your choice for lighting. Many corals and some inverts like clams and anemones need very high power lighting. Don't skimp on lighting now if you plan on adding these types of items.
Make sure you fill your tank with RO/DI water. Tap water is a big mistake some new people make. You'll end up with algae out the wazoo.
Good luck!

 

[spiked09]

Thanks for the replys everybody.
I was hoping to avoid the added expense of adding a sump tank, live rock or sand. Aside from that I am not sure that I could fit much more than a 20gal tank in my stand and from what I have been reading that might not be big enough for a sump.
I spoke with my freind regarding the live rock or live sand vs crushed coral and he said that yes LR/LS were both very good ideas but that I would most certainly need a sump in order to keep things "healthy".
I just wanted to keep this simple. Have a few clowns, crabs, shrimp etc. Can this be acheived without creating a sump and incorporating live rock or sand?
The reason I am asking is that I haven't even finished my stand 100% yet so if I am going to want/need a sump down the road I am just wondering if I should just bite the bullet and do it now. This would mean holding off on setting up my tank for a while as my funds are limited and this will be a little by little project (payday to payday).
Aside from being a tad nervous about the entire drilling of holes in my tank, not being sure if I can fit a big enough tank in my stand to act as a sump the live rock here in Alberta goes for roughly $7-$10 per pound! From what I am reading I would need atleast 50-60lbs, is that right? I am not sure how the wife would feel about dropping $500-$600 on rocks!! LOL
I guess what I am looking for here is some advice from those that have been there, done that. People that have started out with the same goals as me (wanting to keep it simple) only to regret not waiting a little while longer, paying the money to get a sump, live rock, coral, etc.
One other scenario I can explore is that I found a ad in my local paper for a 55 gal saltwater tank w/stand 100% complete with fish, LR, filter, lights and everything I would need for $700.00. It didn't state whether or not that included a sump so I am not sure about that yet. I am awaiting an email response from the seller. Perhaps dropping $600-$700.00 for the entire ball of wax would be the way to go?? It may be much cheaper then starting from scratch.
Thoughts and opinions appreciated

 

[agent707]

And be sure you read the ENTIRE THREAD titled what's the 1st thing you wish you had known :jumping:

 

[sagxman]

I don't think a sump is a must. Don't get me wrong. It can be very useful, but I've had my tank for about 4 years without one. I have LR and LS. I think the LS is easier than the CC because I don't have to clean it.
The key to remember is that the LR and LS is a natural filter. In saltwater you really need those IMO.
You may say you want to keep it simple right now (that's what I said too), and down the road you will want more and more. It's an addictive hobby. I've spent more money doing upgrades than I would have if I had just gotten what I needed to begin with.