New to Salt Water Fish and Needs Advice

[arooon]

Ok I have had fresh water fish tanks before and have always done pretty well w/ them. Well recently I found an aquarium that I really liked I decided to try salt water fish. I haven't purchased anything yet b/c I wanted to do some research first and thought maybe some of you experts could help. The aquarium that I was looking at is a 32 gal. w/ a built in cabinet. So I would really appreciate answers to the following questions.
Is that tank big enough? What would you suggest to get for the tank equipment wise (filter, lighting, etc.)? Should I get Coral reef? Should I get live rocks? Is sand the best for saltwater fish tanks? How many fish would you advise for that size of tank?
I would really really appreciate it if someone could help me out. If you would like to email me some information my e-mail is a_rooon@yahoo.com. Thanks again!

 

[get reel]

Yes your tank is big enough. As far as lighting, there is plenty of options for you. For your situation you may try one of the pc's(power compact's). Filtraion can be taken care of by the live sand & live rock that you may add. I say may because you could go with a UG (under gravel) filter and crushed coral, and some kind of a canister filter. But you will be cleaning it more and its just more of a pain. Besides' why not let, what looks pretty anyway, take care of your biological filtration. Corals are a little more down the road, but deffinitly a possibility. The # of fish really depends on your situation, and what your biological filter can handle. There is also the protein skimmer that takes out the waste and other undesirables. I know there's quite a bit more I'm not mentioning here, but I'm sure there's plenty of others out there to fill in the (many) gaps. Anyway, good luck with whatever your decisions

 

[get reel]

I forgot to mention the use of a wet/dry filter. But I would only use it if you decide to go with a fish only tank. As they can become "nitrate factories". Good luck again.

 

[carrie1429]

Yes your tank size is fine for a marine aquarium. Saltwater does take a bit more care than freshwater no doubt and a lot more money, but the extra effort is worth it. You should wait on buying corals and that because it is easiest to start with fish only and not corals, you can definitely get corals once you have a better understanding of saltwater but I advise you not to get them yet. I would most definetely suggest getting live rock because it provides natural filteration and it looks very pretty once different organisms start growing in it. It does cost a bit a money in some areas but LR is definitely worth it. I would also get live sand. LS can help reduce nitrates and ammonia if deep enough and has many tiny organisms (like LR) living in it to help with biological filteration. You don't have to clean it (like you do crushed coral), the inverts clean it for you. The main thing in saltwater is to go slow and be patient. Many new hobbyists are eager to get fish when their tank is barely a month old. IMO you should go slow and everything should go alright, rushing into things like buying fish too fast and all can make problems. As far as how many fish the rule of thumb is 1 inch of fish for every 5 gallons of water. Also depending on what type of fish. The best way to learn how to do saltwater would be to go and buy a book and read up on how to do all this and ask questions here an this board.

 

[arooon]

Ok so I should get live rocks and live sand and hold of on the coral. I was doing some research on different types of fish and some books and sites said that types of fish need places to hide. So will rocks be enough? And is it ok to get anemones? B/c I read that some fish like to have those.
Sorry if I am asking stupid questions but I know very little about these types of tanks.

 

[bang guy]

Hi Aroon,
Click on Dry Goods over to the left and find the book by Robert Fenner titled "The Consciensious Marine Aquarist". The price is right and it will give you some great insights and help you to ask more specific questions.
Guy

 

[arooon]

one more thing....let me see if I understand this If I have live rock and live sand I won't have to get a filter?

 

[get reel]

Ditto on BangGuy's advice. A good book or two are the most important tools in this hobby.

 

[kpogue]

I too kept FW fish for may years and still do. I finally decided to get into the reef tanks after many years of self doubt.
I started w/ a 30 that I already had. It is advised to start with the biggest you can get, but I think the 30 was just the right size. Not to big, not to little. Trust me, I know, I have a 150 that's 7 weeks old.
In my 30:
65w smart lite retro (I installed a pc fan to cool it down)
30 w actintic
Seaclone 100 skimmer ( ok, but not the best)
Fluval 404 - carbon & sponge only. I installed the surface skimmer attachemt to it. Works great
Aquaclear 301 PHead
PowerSweep 214 PHead (save your $)
Ground Probe
Back Up Power Supply
Heater (100w)
Livestock:
Red Skunk Cleaner Shrimp 1
Ocellaris Clown Fish (tank raised)1
Arrowhead Crab 1 @ $4.99 4/6/02 (L)
Firefish Goby 1
Royal Gramma 1@ $7.99 4/9/02
Banggai Cardnalfish 1
Yellow Tailed Damselfish 1
Mandiran Green Goby 1@ $15.00 4/18/02 (B)
Corals:
Galaxia -
Buttons/Sun Polips
Green Metallic Mushroom
4 Star Anemones
1 Encrusting Gorgoian (purple)
2 Ribbon Gorogians
2 Flame Scallops
2 Serpent Stars
1 Anemone
1 Pink Cladella
1 Green Metallic Brain
1 Purple Mushroom
55 Lbs LR
40 Lbs LS
I use only RO/DI water. I have to say at this point, I like it better than my 150!
Oh, BTW total costs - $1074.00
Keith

 

[bang guy]

Keith -
Get yourself another Skunk Cleaner. I guarantee you will not regret it. They will be friendlier (if possible LOL), they will breed, and the resulting Larve will feed you fish and corals. Worry about your Arrow crab though....

 

[kpogue]

I have 2 skunks in my 150. I was thinking about it for the 30 but just havent gotten around it.
My Arrow is a sleeper, he was one of the first items I added to it way back when. I keep him well fed.
What I do have to worry about though are a couple of NAST A** crabs that have shown up in my 150. I saw one rip a snail all to h last night. They look like red emerald crabs but have a lot of spiked hair on them.
I ordered a M Shrimp trap that is supposed to be good for crabs too.
Keith

 

[arooon]

So "The Consciensious Marine Aquarist" will help me out a lot?
B/c I need a Dummies guide to Saltwater Tanks. If this is really the best book to get let me know b/c I am considering ordering it today. Thanks for all the help.

 

[kpogue]

Anything you read will help you immensly. I haven't read the book mentioned, but I have heard alot of good things about it. I think too, your experiences w/fw fish will come in handy. I thank God I have not made the mistakes with SW that I made when I 1st started w/fw !!! I would have never, and I do mean never had been able to financally recover from them!

 

[arooon]

If I order this book does anyone know how long to get it?

 

[bang guy]

Aroon - Buy the book. I don't agree 100% with everything in there but overall it's an exceptional intro to reef keeping (and SW in general). It will save you many hours of frustration, confusion and many $$ not to mention livestock.
Get the book
Kev - Use a tall water glass to catch the crab. Rubberband a piece of silversides or other meaty stinky bait to a piece of reef rubble and drop it into the glass. Place the glass into the tank near where you saw the crab just before lights out. Lean the glass against a rock. The idea is the crab will climb down into the glass to get the food but can't climb back out. You may get some snails or other critters in there but be patient. The tipped glass works