low maintenance

chipdesigner9

chipdesigner9

New Member
Hello, I always wanted to setup a salt water tank with those exquisite colorful fishes(scorpion, lionfish, puffers, etc)
I have a lot of experience with tanganykan cichlids. My tanks all use crushed corals since these cichlids like high PH.
The title of this post is low maintenace , because I manage to have tanks
with these kind of fish and I have a very clean aquarium by :
1. never change water, but only added water when water gets evaporated.
2. never used a temperature thermostat (such as ebo jager) in any aquarium
3. feeding once a week or when I am home
I am travelling, and could be away for 3 weeks.
I have been reading some books about salt water.
But the books about salt water setup is very similar to fresh water setup when I started the hobby 20 years ago.
I mean they recommend every detail equipment.
So I want to ask the forum for personal experiences, if possible to have salt water tank without needing to regularly change water , or needing to have temperature control. Are salt water fishes very sensitive?
And about light? is light on required all the time? My sun room have plenty of brightness. I probably would only turn on the light at night for viewing.
My sunroom is addition to the main house, so no insulation, even in northern california, can get pretty chilly at night or very hot during summer.
I read the books saying "you may need chillers to keep water cold during hot days" that is too much!!!!
So is it possible to have a salt water tank with some live rock, and some hardy fish (such as puffers?), with just good filtration mechanism, sand, crushed coral gravel. That is it. Is it possible?
thanks,
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
Nice avatar!!!!
Welcome to the boards! I really hope you enjoy your stay.
Freshwater is actually quite different than saltwater. Saltwater aquariums are a little more involved than fresh water. They need to be topped off daily depending on the size of the tank. Also, with it being in your sun room, you will have algae issues. Also, being away from the tank for so long will require you to have a great deal of automation equipment (water top off unit, heating and cooling, fish feeder, light timer, etc.) With you being gone so long at a time if a fish dies and you leave it in a newly established tank - it could kill the rest of the tank.
How dedicated would you be to it?
How big of an aquarium would you start?
Have you thought of a specific stock list? Certain fish require certain care... If you can't meet the needs of the fish, you shouldn't keep it...
 
gemmy

gemmy

Active Member
Honestly, I would not go with a SW tank given the above information. Now, not every system requires regular water changes or heaters or chillers, but they all do require some degree of good maintenance practices. I recommend to have a heater on most tanks (especially one that could be vulnerable to elements like being in a sun room that can get cool). I recommend at least bi-weekly water changes, especially when starting out. As far as feeding some fish need to be fed several times a day and others once a week, most fish should be fed at minimum every other day.
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
Yeah, I also agree with Gemmy. While it would be AWESOME for you to keep a saltwater tank - I don't recommend it either. You're gone too long at a time and probably don't have anyone with the knowledge and experience to take care of it. If you are going to try it, automation would be good. Still though, in a sun room with the sun - indirect or not - you will probably have major algae problems in the tank.
 
1guydude

1guydude

Well-Known Member
u could always pay someone to take care of it i guess?!?!? I didnt read all that..... but +1 i like ur avatar as well
 
chipdesigner9

chipdesigner9

New Member
ahhh but those salt water fishes are so cute.
well, maybe I will try anyway, I will do the most necessary setup, and add some
low cost salt water fish to start.
if I cannot get away with just using filtration, (no heater/lights), I will then
remove the salty water and turn into a brackish fresh water tank, where I can still put figure 8 puffers and moray eels.
 
reeferchief

reeferchief

Member
If your going to take the chance of starting one at least get a heater..they are $40. At least this will give stability to temp
 
chipdesigner9

chipdesigner9

New Member
yes, I think so. I will add a heater.
I am interested in exquisite , behavioral fish, etc.
the other day I saw a mantis shrimp, wow so beautiful, but the dealer told is very mean.
I also like those fish "scoprion" that some colors blend with the background. Is very interesting.
Why no dealer sell octopus? or squid?
 
beaslbob

beaslbob

Well-Known Member
Yes it is entirely possible to have a low maintenance marine tank just like a low maintenance Fw tank.
The key to either to me is exactly the same. Balance out the tank with plant life and then let the plant life take care of the tank.
As a result you can do no water changes and very low levels of feeding.
In a marine tank we just use algae whether on live rock, in a refugium or an algae truf scrubber. While there are few saltwater plants, there are macro algaes which are very effective.
What I did on my 55g for instance in 2003 was partition the tank using 1/4" square plastic grid (egg crate) lighting diffuser. I placed it 3" in front of the back glass then added 2 shop lights behind the tank pointing forward. So the area between the glass and the egg crate fromed a refugium which allowed macros and pods to thrive. An added benefit was they also provided food for my tangs in front of the egg crate.
As I result I ran that tank with unmeasurealble nitrates and phosphates untill 2009 with no water changes. Fish and corals lived for years.
just my .02
 
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