Completely new to the saltwater world. Needing advice on my first steps to setting up a successful tank. Starting out with a 55 gallon
- Thread starter cavispecs
- Start date
kenman345
Member
Some advice from another Newbie, start slowly and patiently. you cannot rush nature more than just a little bit and even that may cause some hardships along the road. Start with a FOWLR setup, that's Fish Only with Live Rock, then once you have that all set up and running well, you should make the decision to do Corals or not. You will want to get used to the maintenance of your tank and be aware of the added needs of your tank if/when you go to a reef setup.
Another piece of advice is to look into an aquarium controller and invest in backup measures. You will end up spending money on timers and stuff but a controller will help you not have a huge mess of timers and get the most control of your system. It will also help you automate and keep track of your tank so that it is always running smoothly and you can enable countermeasures to make sure it stays that way.
Another piece of advice is to look into an aquarium controller and invest in backup measures. You will end up spending money on timers and stuff but a controller will help you not have a huge mess of timers and get the most control of your system. It will also help you automate and keep track of your tank so that it is always running smoothly and you can enable countermeasures to make sure it stays that way.
trigger40
Well-Known Member
i would listen to kenman345. reef tanks are not the best for a begginer. take your time and bild up slow. and once your salt levels are stable(it takes about 3 days) you can add your sand and LIVE ROCK no corals. corals requier a very stable envirnment, and that takes a long time to achieve. once you got all your equipment running and salt stable put your live rock in and then your sand. then you start the ammonia cycle and let every thing level out then you can start adding fish.
cavispecs
New Member
Yeh, Kenman seemed to know what he was talking about. I will eventually want coral, but this can get expensive if mistakes are made. I will have my tank Sun. Going to get bio filter, thermometer, protein skimmer, hydrometer, and test kit on Mon. Also what is best to use, live coral, or live sand? And in some of the research I have done, I need about a 110 gallon bio filter for 55 gallon tank? How long does the ammonia cycle usually take? I appreciate all of the help.
silverado61
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by cavispecs http:///t/397697/completely-new-to-the-saltwater-world-needing-advice-on-my-first-steps-to-setting-up-a-successful-tank-starting-out-with-a-55-gallon#post_3545805
Yeh, Kenman seemed to know what he was talking about. I will eventually want coral, but this can get expensive if mistakes are made. I will have my tank Sun. Going to get bio filter, thermometer, protein skimmer, hydrometer, and test kit on Mon. Also what is best to use, live coral, or live sand? And in some of the research I have done, I need about a 110 gallon bio filter for 55 gallon tank? How long does the ammonia cycle usually take? I appreciate all of the help.
Don't forget to get a heater.
You don't need a protein skimmer right away. Especially if your only doing a FOWLR tank for now.
Get a refractometer instead of a hydrometer. Much more accurate.
What kind and type of test kit?
Don't use crushed coral. It's too hard on the clean up crew (CUC) and you'll have to clean it. With live and a good CUC you don't need to clean it.
Ammonia cycles take their own time. Could be two weeks. Could be six weeks.
Follow Bang Guys advice and read up on the New Hobbyist Threads.
Originally Posted by cavispecs http:///t/397697/completely-new-to-the-saltwater-world-needing-advice-on-my-first-steps-to-setting-up-a-successful-tank-starting-out-with-a-55-gallon#post_3545805
Yeh, Kenman seemed to know what he was talking about. I will eventually want coral, but this can get expensive if mistakes are made. I will have my tank Sun. Going to get bio filter, thermometer, protein skimmer, hydrometer, and test kit on Mon. Also what is best to use, live coral, or live sand? And in some of the research I have done, I need about a 110 gallon bio filter for 55 gallon tank? How long does the ammonia cycle usually take? I appreciate all of the help.
Don't forget to get a heater.
You don't need a protein skimmer right away. Especially if your only doing a FOWLR tank for now.
Get a refractometer instead of a hydrometer. Much more accurate.
What kind and type of test kit?
Don't use crushed coral. It's too hard on the clean up crew (CUC) and you'll have to clean it. With live and a good CUC you don't need to clean it.
Ammonia cycles take their own time. Could be two weeks. Could be six weeks.
Follow Bang Guys advice and read up on the New Hobbyist Threads.
kenman345
Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by silverado61 http:///t/397697/completely-new-to-the-saltwater-world-needing-advice-on-my-first-steps-to-setting-up-a-successful-tank-starting-out-with-a-55-gallon#post_3545808
Don't forget to get a heater.
You don't need a protein skimmer right away. Especially if your only doing a FOWLR tank for now.
Get a refractometer instead of a hydrometer. Much more accurate.
What kind and type of test kit?
Don't use crushed coral. It's too hard on the clean up crew (CUC) and you'll have to clean it. With live and a good CUC you don't need to clean it.
Ammonia cycles take their own time. Could be two weeks. Could be six weeks.
Follow Bang Guys advice and read up on the New Hobbyist Threads.
A heater is definitely important as well, good catch there.
1 thing I recommend is a quarantine tank. It's gonna cost ya, but in the end, you'll have a much better sense of the hobby and also know that your investment in the hobby will have greater returns. Also, you cannot just go based on the water volume to decide on the amount of fish you will get. To a certain point that will be fine, say, a 29 Gallon having 3-5 fish in it. Yea, very likely you could, but fish need hiding places or places that lend themselves well to the specific type of fish for them to live in and hide from other fish if they are scared or sleeping. The best way to stock a tank is to maximize these spaces for the various fish you want. Many Goby's live on the bottom of the tank, so sand and hiding spots near the bottom will be important. Some fish, like Hawkfish, like to perch themselves wherever they can, so you may want to have some higher up areas for the fish to watch over the tank for you, to enjoy the interesting dynamic of this type of fish to the maximum. It's important to watch your tank just as much, if not more than doing tests on the water. You can learn a lot about the environment you are trying to maintain just by enjoying it. If you listen to what your tank tells you, and do your research on the fish you want, then you will likely have a successful tank with a happy set of inhabitants.
Originally Posted by silverado61 http:///t/397697/completely-new-to-the-saltwater-world-needing-advice-on-my-first-steps-to-setting-up-a-successful-tank-starting-out-with-a-55-gallon#post_3545808
Don't forget to get a heater.
You don't need a protein skimmer right away. Especially if your only doing a FOWLR tank for now.
Get a refractometer instead of a hydrometer. Much more accurate.
What kind and type of test kit?
Don't use crushed coral. It's too hard on the clean up crew (CUC) and you'll have to clean it. With live and a good CUC you don't need to clean it.
Ammonia cycles take their own time. Could be two weeks. Could be six weeks.
Follow Bang Guys advice and read up on the New Hobbyist Threads.
A heater is definitely important as well, good catch there.
1 thing I recommend is a quarantine tank. It's gonna cost ya, but in the end, you'll have a much better sense of the hobby and also know that your investment in the hobby will have greater returns. Also, you cannot just go based on the water volume to decide on the amount of fish you will get. To a certain point that will be fine, say, a 29 Gallon having 3-5 fish in it. Yea, very likely you could, but fish need hiding places or places that lend themselves well to the specific type of fish for them to live in and hide from other fish if they are scared or sleeping. The best way to stock a tank is to maximize these spaces for the various fish you want. Many Goby's live on the bottom of the tank, so sand and hiding spots near the bottom will be important. Some fish, like Hawkfish, like to perch themselves wherever they can, so you may want to have some higher up areas for the fish to watch over the tank for you, to enjoy the interesting dynamic of this type of fish to the maximum. It's important to watch your tank just as much, if not more than doing tests on the water. You can learn a lot about the environment you are trying to maintain just by enjoying it. If you listen to what your tank tells you, and do your research on the fish you want, then you will likely have a successful tank with a happy set of inhabitants.
silverado61
Well-Known Member
A startup on a QT doesn't cost nearly as much as a startup on a display. Don't scare him/her off now. Lol
cavispecs
New Member
I am experienced with freshwater, just have no clue what im doing when it comes to saltwater. This is definitely gonna be a learning experience, just hope not a costly one. Considering I got a used 55 gallon with stand for 125, I have already saved a good amount of money on the tank and stand. If someone doesnt mind. can i get a list of brands and items to start my cycle, just so i can compare with what i have jotted down to purchase.
silverado61
Well-Known Member
Yes, a heater lol. Forgot to list that. As far as the test kit goes, was talking about a master test kit? Which has the ammonia and ph tests required to test the water. So live sand is better?
In my opinion crushed coral is detrimental to a saltwater tank. Sand is the only way to go. Live sand is even better. Test kits, salifert and seachem are the best. Followed by red sea. Imo
In my opinion crushed coral is detrimental to a saltwater tank. Sand is the only way to go. Live sand is even better. Test kits, salifert and seachem are the best. Followed by red sea. Imo
beaslbob
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by cavispecs http:///t/397697/completely-new-to-the-saltwater-world-needing-advice-on-my-first-steps-to-setting-up-a-successful-tank-starting-out-with-a-55-gallon#post_3545764
I am needing as much advice and opinions as possible for my very first saltwater tank experience. What do I buy? I am looking to do coral, some rock, and fish. Please help.
Just to keep it (possible too) simple, I recommend you start the tank with macro algae in a refugium. The refutium can even just be a simple in tank partition to seperate the livestock from the macros.
my .02
Originally Posted by cavispecs http:///t/397697/completely-new-to-the-saltwater-world-needing-advice-on-my-first-steps-to-setting-up-a-successful-tank-starting-out-with-a-55-gallon#post_3545764
I am needing as much advice and opinions as possible for my very first saltwater tank experience. What do I buy? I am looking to do coral, some rock, and fish. Please help.
Just to keep it (possible too) simple, I recommend you start the tank with macro algae in a refugium. The refutium can even just be a simple in tank partition to seperate the livestock from the macros.
my .02