Hardware for a salt water aquarium...

puffer_fish_man

puffer_fish_man

New Member
What are hte the basic things I need if I`m going to set up a salt water aquarium? :confused: I am really new to this hobbie. In fact I havn`t even bought the tank yet. I am really interested in buying a Porcupine Puffer Fish. Is there anything special I need for this fish?
P.S. Could someone please post
I really need some help :(
 
007

007

Active Member
welcome . . . .
first and most important piece of equipment for the novice:
get your hands on a good book such as natural reef aquariums by tullock or the concientious marine aquarium by fenner.
you will have such a better understanding of this hobby after reading it.
 
karajay

karajay

Active Member

Originally posted by Puffer_fish_man
I am really new to this hobbie. In fact I havn`t even bought the tank yet.
That's a good thing!
I agree with 007, read up and thoroughly research EVERYTHING before you buy. It will save alot of grief and money.
Welcome to the hobby and swf.com :)
 
dacia

dacia

Active Member
Porcupine puffers do best when they are NOT is reefs. They will normally eat inverts like shrimp, so go with a fish only tank, or a FOWLR (fish only with live rock). They also can grow to be really really big...my LFS had one that was at least 7 or 8 inches long! So I would suggest a tank at least 75 gallons. I think somewhere along the lines of 125 gallons would be better, but since you are new to the hobby, I suppose no one has told you how much it costs yet... :D
Basic stuff for a FOWLR that size:
-a decent heater, preferably by Ebo-Jager
-an equally decent protein skimmer (unfotunately, the good ones are pricey)
-aragonite sand as a substrate (southdown playsand from Home Depot or live sand), rather than crushed coral...sand is, in the long run, lower maintenance and looks more life-like
-a filter capable of holding carbon (some don't use these, but IMHO, you can never have too much filtration)
-at least 3 Maxi-Jet 900 powerheads for circulation
-test kits for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and pH (this is especially useful when cycling the tank before adding your fish)
-LOTS OF PATIENCE!
Welcome to the board! Feel free to ask any and all questions. GOOD LUCK!!!
 
dacia

dacia

Active Member
I forgot to mention that you also will need a good RO/DI unit to purify the water before you add it to the tank. Tap water contains lots of nasties that I am sure you do not want to subject little fishies to.
 
sandman12

sandman12

Active Member
If u go brand new um.... $800 or more. A used tank can be alot cheaper. I 75 with stand new will cost around $500 i think. I got my 125 for $270 with a pump and supplements, and iam building my stand. The frame cost me $50 the whole thing will coast me around $125 +the canopy
 
007

007

Active Member

Originally posted by Puffer_fish_man
Could I get an estimate on how much all this will cost?
To give you an estimate, I have about $1K invested in my reef tank . . . . and its only 22 gallons, and most of it was DIY.
FO tanks that rely on mechanical filtration are much much cheaper, but if you go to a FOWLR, then there is the added expense of natural filtration. i.e. live rock and live sand. Then to do a reef tank, you would have to by lighting which puts the costs into a whole new ballpark.
I would say that if you wanted to do a FOWLR tank, and you bought all new stuff, you could do it easily for a grand. (this is with the thought in mind that you want to keep a puffer fish)
 
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