Help, guide and advice for saltwater beginner .

krisg

krisg

New Member
Hello people,
I am starting a fish only saltwater tank and i am so nervous, i have researched a lot and studied for the last 2 months about how to start and care for a saltwater fish tank.
I feel ready but i would still like to have someone help me and guide me through the process of starting the tank. I already have all the supplies but haven't started.
Please if you love fish and have the time and experience, i would love for you to give me some advice.
Thank you so much :)
 
sweat90lx

sweat90lx

Member
Look for SnakeBlitz guides on this forum. His guides have helped me greatly with my tank.
There are many experienced people on this site that will help along the way but his guides in the stickies will answer most of the questions you will have.
I am a noob still. My tank has been running for about 3 months and I am still learning every day. Patience is the key to this hobby. Do not add anything to the tank you dont know about or can test for.
Welcome to the site and enjoy the new adventure.
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by KrisG http:///t/392719/help-guide-and-advice-for-saltwater-beginner#post_3489062
Hello people,
I am starting a fish only saltwater tank and i am so nervous, i have researched a lot and studied for the last 2 months about how to start and care for a saltwater fish tank.
I feel ready but i would still like to have someone help me and guide me through the process of starting the tank. I already have all the supplies but haven't started.
Please if you love fish and have the time and experience, i would love for you to give me some advice.
Thank you so much :)
Welcome to the site!
Sweats post speaks volumes!
How about you list your equipment so we know what you have and go from there...It's a fish tank and nothing to be nervous about. Nothing alive is in it yet so any bumps in the set-up is easy to adjust and fix. You came to the right place for step by step what to do...folks on this site are very helpful.
 
krisg

krisg

New Member
Thank you sweat90lx im gonna look for him! I will be patience, i havent added anything yet and prob wont until i feel 100% secure.
Congrats on your new tank! how is it going?
 
krisg

krisg

New Member
Thank you Flower! Knowing that i have you guys for guidance and support is such a great feeling!
I have a 40 gallon flat fish tank, have the lights, a 50g power filter, a very nice all sumerge heater, live sand, the thermometer and the equipment to read the salt level.
Everything is intact as when i bought it, haven't opened anything.
 
krisg

krisg

New Member
I dont have any live rocks, i read that i don't necessarily need LR for a FO tank but it would be very beneficial to have some so if its going to be for a better and healthier tank i would get some but how much LR would i need for my 40G tank?
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
This is a link to the guides that they are talking about...
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/388776/guides-for-new-hobbyists
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by KrisG http:///t/392719/help-guide-and-advice-for-saltwater-beginner#post_3489136
I dont have any live rocks, i read that i don't necessarily need LR for a FO tank but it would be very beneficial to have some so if its going to be for a better and healthier tank i would get some but how much LR would i need for my 40G tank?
Hi,
Build the rock about half way to the top and leave some spaceand caves so the fish can swim in, around and thru it...leave room on the sides and front of the tank to be able to get a mag float in there to clean the glass.
Put your rock in before the sand. Never build your rock on the sinking, shifting sand it can cause a rockslide killing your critters or breaking the tank. lots of SW critters burrow so you don't want them to make everything topple.
If you already added sand...just push it to one side, build your rock and push it back around the rock.
Also...you need lab type test kits, ammonia strips are fine during the first set up to see when the ammonia begins to rise but the lab type kits are much more accurate and you need good test kits to know what is going on with the tank. Get that before you even begin. Use RO (reverse osmoses) water to fill the tank, not tap water. Walmart or any grocery store sells it by the jug very cheap...having your own 5g jugs will come in handy, and if you possibly can... get your own 5 stage RO or RO/DI unit.
 
sweat90lx

sweat90lx

Member
There is a learning curve but as long as you go slowly it is a very enjoyable hobby. My family is involved and makes it even better.
I started with dry sand and dry rock. I just added some new additions and my first coral. I still get nervous adding anything or putting my hands in the tank but Im getting more comfortable. New fish will hide in the rocks until they feel safe. Thats hard for me because I want to know my little guys are okay but I cant find them.
Like Flower said, get some test kits and learn to use them. API has a cheap kit that is fairly easy to use.
I can be a nerd so I have a notebook I keep of all my progress. All my water tests, maintenance, and additions are logged. That really isnt necessary but if your water conditions stay steady and in range you will have very few problems.
 
krisg

krisg

New Member
Thank you so much everybody!
I started the tank yesterday, i already got the kit and will test it tonight for the first time. Everything has been running for 24 hours, sand hasnt settle yet :( i hope it does soon!
 
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