newbie

[irocbanshee]

Hey all,
I hope I don't get too many laughs. I am wanting to start a salt water tank. I currently have a little 10g fresh water tank. I am thinking of getting a 30g tank to start a salt water tank. I only rent my current house so I am a bit afraid to do anything bigger right now. I want a 150 or even 200g when I buy my house. This way I can learn on a smaller scale too.
Anyways, to my point. I have read thru alot of things here & searched around on the net for how to guides. Haven't been too successful. I want to build a great tank & I want a clean tank that my fish will enjoy. Are there any recommendations for books to get you going in the right direction. There are so many, I don't know what to think about them.
Thanks in advance, I am sure you will get tired of my dumb questions that are probably pretty elementary. I am trying to learn the ropes so I can get running.
Thanks,
Wayne

 

[buzz]

There are a lot of books. The one I find recommended more than others is "The Conscientious Marine Aquarist."
And my first SW tank was a 29g, so there is nothing wrong there.

 

[nacl-man]

Welcome to the board!
There is a wealth of information just under that search button in the upper right corner. But a few points to keep in mind:
1) It isn't cheap
2) A 30 gallon is OK, but a 44 or 50 would be a better starting tank in my opinion (no offense Buzz, just opinion)
3) It isn't cheap
4) Read read read
5) Patience
6) Read some more
lol. the 6 points for the begining hobbyist!
Seriously though research and a large initial investment are they keys to success.
The large investment to begin with I think is important because you then have everything you could possibly need. In other words, you won't have to buy 2 protien skimmers when you find out the one you bought for 100.00 is a P.O.S, repeat with heaters, lights, filters, substrate, you name it.
Get yourself a decent RO/DI (Reverse Osmosis) unit (check dry goods to the left). A decent protien skimmer (try to stay away from the SeaClones IMO). And some good reading material.
Don't forget the search button up there.
Good luck! The only stupid question is the one that is not asked, especially when you consider the amount of money that can go into a tank that could be wasted.
Ask Away

 

[daniel411]

Welcome!
Best piece of advice I could give you is ask the same question over and over again. Everyone has a different opinion on how to do something in this hobby. Everyones still learning, well.... except Beth and Bangguy Pick up a book like "The Conscientious Marine Aquarist", that Buzz reccommended. To gain a decent base of understanding. Also, go "slow", take your time, and research everything from your substrate, filters, heaters, pumps, decorations, and eventual livestock.

 

[lesa]

Welcome aboard
Everyone of us statred somewhere with freshwater in our lifetime and made the big jump to sw!!
No question is a dumb question that is how we all learn
PATIENCE is the key in this hobby
Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[shep]

I agree with nacl-man, larger tanks 40-60 gallons are much easier to keep stable than a 20-30 gallon. also roughly plan on spending about 10-15 dollars per gallon of water in tank just to get you up and running

 

[buzz]

No offense taken Saltman...yes, a bigger tank would be better. I was just saying a 30g tank is do-able. That's where I started as well.
Of course, I have since upgraded to a 60g, and then recently to a 100g, so I probably spent more in the long run...

 

[nacl-man]

Originally posted by Buzz
No offense taken Saltman...yes, a bigger tank would be better. I was just saying a 30g tank is do-able. That's where I started as well.
Of course, I have since upgraded to a 60g, and then recently to a 100g, so I probably spent more in the long run...
lol
yeah when we move into our townhose I have "permission" to set up a 75. Then when we get our house I get to have my 400 gallon dream tank in our basement, plus a 100 in the living area. I can't wait to get a house!
Cheers!

 

[birdy]

Along with the consciencious marine aquarist, I would recommend The New marine Aquarium, by Michael S. Paletta, spells it out very clearly and simply.

 

[nacl-man]

Originally posted by Birdy
I would recommend The New marine Aquarium, by Michael S. Paletta, spells it out very clearly and simply.
ohh that is a good one. make that two recommendations.

 

[irocbanshee]

Ok....you are right. I went to a couple of shops. I have picked out my aquarium. It is a 46g bowfront w/ stand. I think I am getting a good price @ $350 for tank & stand. Not sure if it is fantastic, but I really like that tank & stand. I found a nice filtration system, er well it came highly recommended. It ran around $150. I can't rember the name however. It was rated for a 75-125g tank. The shop recommended over filteration rather than under.
A good heater I was told I could get around $30-40.
I have also decided to go w/ a live coral tank & live sand. I was told I could get my tank up & going a couple of weeks earlier over the usual 6 to 8 weeks.
They also suggested maybe adding a submers. pump inside the tank to help circulate as live coral really thrives well.
Is the Reverse osmosis something that is a must have? As well as the protein skimmer? Is there anything I have written that I was told that is way off base or something else I need to think about? Or even still something I am paying way to much for?
Thanks alot everyone for the incouragement & help. It is nice to know that I can lean on someone for help & not get a cold shoulder for being a newbie.

 

[irocbanshee]

oh...one more question....would doing a sump system be a waste of money on a 46g tank or just a good quality filter system?

 

[nacl-man]

Originally posted by irocbanshee
oh...one more question....would doing a sump system be a waste of money on a 46g tank or just a good quality filter system?
No, not a waste of money at all.
Go with RO/DI it is a big big plus. $200 (average) for an RO unit that can be used for the entire time you are maintaining a tank is peanuts compared to the frustrations of problem algae.
What do you mean by a live coral tank? Do you mean live rock? If your LFS told you to keep corals, they are looking forward to dropping the lighting bomb. Be prepared to need at least 200 (minimum) watts of lighting over your tank. That is a couple of hundred dollars easy. A lot more depending on what exactly you want to keep. IMO start with a fish only tank and work your way up.
HTH

 

[irocbanshee]

Originally posted by NaCL-Man
No, not a waste of money at all.
Go with RO/DI it is a big big plus. $200 (average) for an RO unit that can be used for the entire time you are maintaining a tank is peanuts compared to the frustrations of problem algae.
What do you mean by a live coral tank? Do you mean live rock? If your LFS told you to keep corals, they are looking forward to dropping the lighting bomb. Be prepared to need at least 200 (minimum) watts of lighting over your tank. That is a couple of hundred dollars easy. A lot more depending on what exactly you want to keep. IMO start with a fish only tank and work your way up.
HTH
What is DI? I understand Reverse osmosis.
You are right...I meant to write live rock. The light I am looking at is around $100. Reasonable?

 

[jjgomillion]

Originally posted by NaCL-Man
A decent protien skimmer (try to stay away from the SeaClones IMO).
Ask Away
Why do you say this? I just started my tank. Originally I bought a Berlin Air-Lift 90 (VERY BAD SKIMMER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) and I returned it. I then bought the Seaclone100 for my 29 gallon. All seems well with it. The foam is nice and brown and the water in the collection cup is cloudy. However I do not have any livestock yet. only what came on my LR, which was a lot by the way!
Well, anyways just curious, so I can know what to really look for. I am new to this!!!!

 

[jjgomillion]

Originally posted by NaCL-Man
A decent protien skimmer (try to stay away from the SeaClones IMO).

Why do you say this? I just started my tank. Originally I bought a Berlin Air-Lift 90 (VERY BAD SKIMMER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) and I returned it. I then bought the Seaclone100 for my 29 gallon. All seems well with it. The foam is nice and brown and the water in the collection cup is cloudy. However I do not have any livestock yet. only what came on my LR, which was a lot by the way!
Well, anyways just curious, so I can know what to really look for. I am new to this!!!!

 

[jjgomillion]

Sorry for posting that twice!!!!

 

[nacl-man]

Originally posted by jjgomillion
Why do you say this? I just started my tank. Originally I bought a Berlin Air-Lift 90 (VERY BAD SKIMMER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) and I returned it. I then bought the Seaclone100 for my 29 gallon. All seems well with it. The foam is nice and brown and the water in the collection cup is cloudy. However I do not have any livestock yet. only what came on my LR, which was a lot by the way!
Well, anyways just curious, so I can know what to really look for. I am new to this!!!!
Mine is currently about 5 months old and it is not skimming up to par with what it was doing before. I've cleaned it repeatedly and followed the troubleshooting steps and it doesn't seem to do the trick. It may or may not work out. That is why I tagged "IMO" next to that.

 

[nacl-man]

Originally posted by irocbanshee
What is DI? I understand Reverse osmosis.
You are right...I meant to write live rock. The light I am looking at is around $100. Reasonable?
Deionization. Removes the contaminants that RO can not. A typical RO unit removes 94% of contaminants, add a DI unit (a lot will come with both) that number jumps up to at least 99%. There is some science to it that I don't fully understand. It basically just means cleaner, purer, lab grade water.
What type of light are you looking at?

 

[birdy]

I have a 46gal bowfront, the biggest thing that I regret is that I bought a worthless stand with no room for a sump. If I were you I would go with a sump, you can put a good in sump skimmer (DO NOT SKIMP ON THIS ONE) and a refugium with macro algae. you can also run carbon or other types of media in it as needed.
What type of filter is the LFS store trying to sell you. IMO you only need a skimmer and a sump if you are going to have a FOWLR and a live sandbed. You will want at least 50-60lbs of LR (I have about 90lbs), I have and still recommend a DSB, but that is something you will have to research and decide on yourself.
As far as lighting goes, if you are just going FOWLR then you don't need to spend much money on it, just a double bulb NO fixture with a 10k daylight and a 03 actnic should be fine, if you want corals then that is another story.