i have a 55 gallon freshwater tank into a saltwater fish and reef tank...but i am clueless

[jay0705]

Most of us mix are own. Over all its cheaper. Choice is yours tho. Again how much sand personal choice. I do about a pound per gallon. I like a deep sand bed tho. Helps with sand sifting fish and alot of wrasse sleep in the sand.

 

[lmforbis]

Getting RO water and making your own salt water is probably cheaper but either will work.

For a 55 I'd get 20-40 depending on the look you want. You want to put rock in first then sand. It will stabilize the rock.

 

[TeeReef]

see good to know i would have put the sand first lol!! ok so i have my know how on my sand my rocks my water i must get a refractometer to measure my salt (i know that is not all i need but this is to start...) im going out to buy both books saltwater for dummies duh...lol and the idiots guide to saltwater ...is there anything else i need rite now before i head out???

 

[jay0705]

Check out fish in the stores. Rem the names. Then research if there acceptable for your tank

 

[one-fish]

Just remember with a 55gal your fish choices will be limited not to say you cannot have an awesome tank just the bigger fish won't be happy I have a 55gal my livestock after 9 months is 2 clowns 1 molly 1 sea urchin 15 or so snails and 3 hermits. Wanting a goby w/pistol shrimp then next a coral beauty that will probably fill my tank

 

[beth]

I would suggest that you spend a lot more time on saltwater forums asking questions and reading a good book or pick up a few books over the next month or 2 before jumping into buying equipment or setting up your tank. Time spent learning and researching will get you where you feel comfortable about jumping into this hobby and you will be better prepared for unexpected things that happen and less likely to make purchases that you may regret later.

The best all round book I have seen is by Bob Fenner:
https://www.amazon.com/Conscientious-Marine-Aquarist-Commonsense-Successful/dp/1890087025/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1493497662&sr=1-2&keywords=The+Conscientious+Marine+Aquarist

Here's the hardcover version:
https://www.amazon.com/Conscientious-Marine-Aquarist-Microcosm-Professional/dp/1890087998

This is a first rate resource for beginners as well as intermediate level aquarists so it will help you just getting started and well beyond that. It's also not a boring read at all. Its organized well, with great pics, diagrams, examples, suggestions, etc.

Advise on what to do is great, but it's best to get suggestions and be in a position that you can make the ultimate decision for yourself. Take the time to learn before getting more equipment and setting everything up.

I would suggest strongly, if you are going to have fish in your tank, that you set up a quarantine tank. Fish always bring in fish diseases. One contagious fish you introduce to your system can kill off all your fish. You can not treat fish diseases in your main system as treatments are not compatible with live rock, live rock, inverts and certainly not coral. So, your next step may be looking into to preventing disasters in the system you plan to set up.

 

[TeeReef]

one-fish thank you for that advice i think you will have way more than i will have my first time out. Beth i hear u and i am taking it all in however if i wait any longer i mind as well not get into saltwater since i have been wanting a saltwater tank ever since i kinda got really into aquariums as a hobby of mine after hurricane katrina back in 2005 so what 10 years now. after my family and i lost everything an aquarium was one of the first things i bought during my rebuilding of our lives, i learned it kept me sane and grounded and at peace after we lost everything in the storm. and kept me from killing my husband LOL!!!! just to watch the fish move allows u not to have to think about anything in that moment. so its pretty significant to me. i cant wait any more i gotta just do it soooo if anything goes wrong it'll happen as im learning lol!!!!

 

[jay0705]

Your definitely going down the correct tract. You don't seem to be just jumping into this.

 

[geridoc]

I second Beth's advice to have a quarantine tank. It isn't a question of whether a fish will bring in a disease that will wipe out your tank, but when that will happen. A simple, inexpensive quarantine set-up will 100% prevent that. The tank can be as small as a 10 gallon tank with no sand or rock, just a piece of PVC pipe for shelter, a heater and a bubble-up filter in the corner. The filter material should be kept in a mesh bag in your display tank so that it gets cycled when the display is cycled, and will be loaded with bacteria. Then, when you get a new organism prep the quarantine by putting the filter material into the bubble-up filter and, voila, the quarantine tank is cycled and ready for the new addition. Isolate for at least 6 weeks (this is hard because you really want the new addition in your display, I know) and be ready to treat for a variety of diseases while you acclimate the new arrival to aquarium food.