Looking to get started...

[treg]

Hi
I am looking to setup my first ever saltwater tank and my first fish tank in about 3 years. I could really use some info on where to start. I have a 29 gal (tall) tank now and might go look at others before I start my tank. Maybe a 55. Right now all I really know is I want LS and LR and a couple clowns... Not sure how to get there. Should I start with the salt and sand then test the water before I order my live rocks (from swf.com of course)? Then wait 4-6 wks for the water lvls to be right again from adding the rock and order a couple clowns? Im really over whelmed by how much there is to read in this forum.
Also, would the Premium Florida Keys Live Sand or Nature's Ocean Bio-Activ Aragonite - Live Sand - be a better choice? Would 40-45 lbs be right about for my 29g tank?
Thanks to anyone who can leave comments. Any advice would be great.

 

[elan]

welcome to the board.....you are on the right plan of action... LR and LS... I would suggest getting some of both types of LS.. diversity in a tank is often a very good thing...
for the amount, you will need your length and width... and then figure out how high you want your sand..... 4-6 inches seems to be the consensus for a deep sand bed... there are a few sites out there that have calculators to help you figure out how many pounds you will need....
good luck

 

[cboyfan2020]

Since this is your first sw tank I would suggest getting at least the 55g to start with. It will give you more room for error as far as water chemistry and such. Also Lr and Ls are excellent choices. I would suggest reading, reading, reading. It seems like a lot but you will be much happier in the end. Get some good books to read and use as a reference such as "the conscientous marine aquarist". Also ask lots of questions and remember one of the basic rules in this hobby...." only bad things happen fast, good things take time."
By the way welcome to the board/community

 

[treg]

Elen,
Both types of LS, Good Idea!
Cboyfan,
I would love to have A 55 or even a 75 gal tank but I do have to keep cost in mind. I already have the 29g with hood and the stand. Plus the 55 will need more sand and rock... But I do plan on looking at some soon and see what the cost will actually be. Im going to need a new light, pump, filter and all that good stuff too so a trip to a big aqua store not to far from here will give me a good idea on what im getting into... The 55 is a real good posibility as long as it meets the W.A.F. of course.
Another question I have is, the hood I have has a single 24" Fluorescent bulb. If I get a 24" VHO @ 75w will that be enuff light? Because if I have to get a new ballast, I might as well just get a 55g tank with it. Also what type of bulb would best work in a setup of fish, live rocks and maybe some coral? I see there are a varity of bulb colors...
Thanks for the replies so far, hope to hear more.

 

[cboyfan2020]

you are probably going to hear that you need more light but I run 80w NO on my 55g and I have many corals although they are not the most light loving ones. I keep leathers, mushrooms, polyps, xenia, flowerpot, ricordia, etc. I would do some research on what corals you want to keep and find out what their light needs are. I am switching to a 120g and a 4x96w PC setup beause I think the corals will flourish more under more lighting. If you want some easy corals to start with go with mushrooms and leathers.
My petsmart and ***** sell 55g tanks with stands for like 125 bucks. Thirty gallon tanks run about $75. I would sugest saving money for a little bit and getting the bigger tank. You will be happier in the end.

 

[mightyoxjuice]

I would suggest that you use the 29 as a hospital or quarantine tank. New arrivals should be kept in qt for a couple of weeks to make sure that they are healthy. No need to introduce ich to a tank.
The advice on here is pretty good. Some lfs have good people, but I would take everything that they say with a grain or truckload of salt. You have to remember they are in business to make money.
Don't skimp on equipment. Buy good quality equipment it is much better in the long run. If you have to save before you purchase new stuff then do it rather than using something cheap that you will only have to replace.
Also buy as big of a tank as you can afford, you may regret it later if you buy too small of a tank.
Ask lots of questions, read, read, and read some more.
Welcome to the board.

 

[nacl-man]

Originally posted by Treg
Should I start with the salt and sand then test the water before I order my live rocks (from swf.com of course)? Then wait 4-6 wks for the water lvls to be right again from adding the rock and order a couple clowns? Im really over whelmed by how much there is to read in this forum.

As far as LS and LR go. You are on the right track!
Search around these forums for 'cycle' and that should answer the majority of your questions about timing. Your cycle could take much longer than 4-6 weeks... or it could be over in a week (though not at all likely).
Take it from someone who screwed up his first tank . The advice you have gotten so far is golden. Take your time. Read. Read. Read some more. Don't skimp on equipment. Read some more. Then when you are done with that. Read a little more and get your first fish.
I'm not trying to be a *#(% but not reading enough is the mistake that I made, and I belive many of the first time mistakes made are made just for the fact of not knowing any better! This hobby is relentless on your wallet if you make mistakes. This forum is packed full of excellent information.
Welcome to the board!
Cheers.

 

[fshhub]

Originally posted by mightyoxjuice
I would suggest that you use the 29 as a hospital or quarantine tank. New arrivals should be kept in qt for a couple of weeks to make sure that they are healthy. No need to introduce ich to a tank.
Don't skimp on equipment. Buy good quality equipment it is much better in the long run. If you have to save before you purchase new stuff then do it rather than using something cheap that you will only have to replace.
Also buy as big of a tank as you can afford, you may regret it later if you buy too small of a tank.
Ask lots of questions, read, read, and read some more.
Welcome to the board.
I could not agree more, except with the statement, that you may regret it later, You will never regret it, but YOu would be happier in the long run, DEFINITELY, if you go bigger. It gives you more to play with, room for more fish, and is much easier to care for. IMO, if you can do it, and it fits the budget, get the 75. Getting the biggest you can swing and afford is the best decision you can make. Plus, the bigger foot print(length x width) creates a bigger, better, more effeicient bio-filter which will also help you out. In this hobby, size does matter, and not just for show and appearance.

 

[timo]

Get as big of a tank as you can afford. Look on-line for good deals from reputable vendors. Also find such deals for accessories online and the price offset from buying retail will get you the "extra" stuff for the bigger tank.

 

[elan]

well you already have a tank... 29 gallon.. yeah.. somewhat small..... but i think you can learn alot from your 29 gallon... you will probably want a DSB in there even if you make it a quarantine later... (i would plan on that when setting up your tank in the home)...
this will be a good test run.. just remember...treat this like a test run.. any rocks, you can transfer to a larger tank... any water (and the salt in it) can also be transferred... as far as the sand bed... that may get a little more tricky, and would take some reading up on.
as far as lights... dont get any... figure out what you want to do first... set up your system.. and get it going.. sand and rocks are fine........you arnt going to need great lighting for the first couple of months anyway (coralline aside, but thats not that big a deal).
and waiting for it to cycle should give you some time to read up and ask lots of questions. figure out what is out there…. what you want to keep in there… and what kind of lighting you will need to support them.
yeah.. a larger tank is probably better…. i am probably doing well with my tank because i have a larger one.. or just simple luck… or all the reading and knowledge out there i learned……i would like to think the last one…..and the option which makes the most sense.

 

[treg]

Originally posted by elan
well you already have a tank... 29 gallon.. yeah.. somewhat small..... but i think you can learn alot from your 29 gallon... you will probably want a DSB in there even if you make it a quarantine later... (i would plan on that when setting up your tank in the home)...
this will be a good test run.. just remember...treat this like a test run.. any rocks, you can transfer to a larger tank... any water (and the salt in it) can also be transferred... as far as the sand bed... that may get a little more tricky, and would take some reading up on.
This is exactly what I was thinking last night. My wife and I went to Aquarium Adventure Yesterday where we looked at some pretty nice 58 and 75 gal tanks and stands. The cost is pretty high for a first timer I think. Although they are very nice real wood stands and would look great if setup proper.
While I was there I purchased the book The Conscientious - Marine Aquarist (as told to by cboyfan ) along with a Marine Fish and Reef magazine. So I have some reading to get me started. I was thinking of starting with the 29 (remember, I already have it sitting here.) with sand and rock and maybe a couple clowns later as a learning tank. I do not expect things to go "as planned" the first time... With the 29 up and going I could get some hands on learning while I read and take the summer to plan out what I want to do with a 75.

 

[elan]

The Conscientious - Marine Aquarist is an excellent book.. i got it and read it cover to cover...... but also remember.. we are in the infancy of reefkeeping.. there are many more things i am sure we will discover.. interesting enough, over the last several years there have been some very inovative ideas.. often very simple and very inexpensive...but it still drives people (like me) to spend lots and lots of money... i figure $25-50 a gallon..