Ready to tackle SW, please help!

[osuaquarist]

Hi my name is Alex

I've been in the fish keeping hobby for the better part of my young adult life, but I have always kept freshwater aquariums. In part this was due to the huge learning curve that SW tanks require, but I think I am ready for the challenge now. Earlier this year my roommate and I set up a 125g planted community tank and now that it has almost come to a tentative completion I feel the urge to expand my horizons. However, because I am a student and have already spent the better part of my loans on the freshwater tank I want to spend a minimal amount on my first SW

I have been reading these and other forums quite a bit for the past few weeks and feel like I have a good enough handle on things to make an attempt but I want to get some feedback from the experts (you

).
I was thinking of a very small tank around 5g to minimize my investment, there are many different tanks this size such as the eclipse series and others. Should I go ahead and use one of these set ups with the built in lamps and filters or should I make one from scratch.
How much light do I need for beginner soft corals, would a 25-35w compact florescent do the trick or do I need to customize one of the eclipse hoods with a ridiculous amount of light?
How many members should my clean up crew contain, and which species would do best?
I was thinking about going bare bottom but would this be a poor choice for a goby or the CUC, the general consensus I have found is that I could keep 1 small goby in a 5g.
I was planning on using about 7-10lbs of LR. In some threads different persons mention using super glue or silicon to create their LR formations, is this a common occurrence? Is it recommended? Also Some have said that they use the same glue to attach corals and such to the LR is this what ppl generally do?
Is a protein skimmer absolutely necessary for this type of set up?
And finally can you give me an estimated total cost of setting up and stocking a 5g SW tank.
---I really appreciate everyone on these forums, everyone seems really willing to help each other out and it seems like a great community. I can't wait to join the ranks!
-Thanks,
Alex

 

[caseysimp7]

I would recomend a biocube

 

[ser_cyclops]

the bigger then better i think but if u have to have a small tank get atleast a 24gallon

 

[whiskey]

Start as big as you can go. You're going to want to upgrade once you start, trust me.

 

[matt2364]

Thanks for the suggestions but my point is to keep cost to a minimum. Will a 5g set up cost the same as a 24g nano cube? It would cost about $200+ for the tank alone and even more if I wanted to upgrade the lights. I was hoping to complete a tank with about $150-$200 is this not possible?

 

[new2salt1]

REPLIES IN TEXT:
Hi my name is Alex

-Hy Alex, welcome.-
I have been reading these and other forums quite a bit for the past few weeks and feel like I have a good enough handle on things to make an attempt but I want to get some feedback from the experts (you

).
- I dont want to over-simplify this hobby, but dont let it fool you. This is something that can be done successfully, and it is not too difficult - if you practice patience and take advice from someone you know has done this before with success -
I was thinking of a very small tank around 5g to minimize my investment, there are many different tanks this size such as the eclipse series and others. Should I go ahead and use one of these set ups with the built in lamps and filters or should I make one from scratch.
- You will pay more building it yourself. DO NOT buy the eclipse. Lighting is terribly underpowered. Buying an Eclipse is the equivalent of buying a Porsche and putting a 60 mph governor on it. The lighting brings out the color. The blue hues of actinic lighting, accompanied by the bright white of 10,000K bulbs is what you want. Get a BioCube 8. If you MUST save $30, get the JBJ Nano 6. Eclipse = garbage. -
How much light do I need for beginner soft corals, would a 25-35w compact florescent do the trick or do I need to customize one of the eclipse hoods with a ridiculous amount of light?
- The Eclipse does not give you 25-35 watt. Forget about Eclipse, please. 3 watt per gallon is my minimum. BioCube 8 = 4.5 watts/gallon, Nano 6 = 3 watts per gallon. Go with the former -
How many members should my clean up crew contain, and which species would do best?
- Species? Whatever you like. Assorted Hermits, Snails, a crab, and a fancy shrimp. I like to go 2:1, snails:hermits. And 2:1, snails per gallon. So I would say 12-16 snails (a few turbos, 6 trochus, 6 nass), and 6-8 hermits (depending on size, you could add more/less) -
I was thinking about going bare bottom but would this be a poor choice for a goby or the CUC, the general consensus I have found is that I could keep 1 small goby in a 5g.
- Many gobies will feed off of algae in the sub, or pods in the sub. Same for the CUC. You CAN go bare bottom, but I would cut the goby out of the plans and just give the CUC plenty of rocks-
I was planning on using about 7-10lbs of LR. In some threads different persons mention using super glue or silicon to create their LR formations, is this a common occurrence? Is it recommended? Also Some have said that they use the same glue to attach corals and such to the LR is this what ppl generally do?
- You don't want to super-glue your rock formations, for many reasons. Not the least of which is you will need to move rocks for 100 different reasons. Also, when you break down the tank or need to move it, the reef shouldn't be one single mass. Yes, you can use superglue to glue coral frags to rocks, or small rocks with corals on them to the Live Rock. For example, I had a small frag of zoas that got blown off the parent colony. I netted them, glued themto a piece of rubble, and then glue the rubble to a 5# piece of LR. Very simpe -
Is a protein skimmer absolutely necessary for this type of set up?
- Not only is it not necessary, I say it's a waste. Too often people think a protein skimmer = water change not needed. These tiny systems use up the trace elements in our salt mixes so quickly, and need new water. Nothing tops a water change. Frequent, small changes are all you need <30 gallons in my opinion -
And finally can you give me an estimated total cost of setting up and stocking a 5g SW tank.
- I would go 8 gal. If you must do 5 gallon, I would piece it together yourself:
$10 - 5 gal tank
$25 - HOB filter w/ push-light, LR & Chaeto
$10 - Rio Powerhead
$50 - One of many 18-36 watt 50/50 set-ups
$200 - 10 gal RO, Tropic Marin Salt, Aragonite Sub, Hydrometer, Reef Test Kit, Water Test Kit, Siphon, Thermometer, Heater, 7-10# LR, a clown goby, 3-5 different nano corals.
You could do this for $300 pretty easily I believe. If I were you, I would skip the first 4 items and go with:
$150 - 8 gal BioCube +$200 = $350.
Thats $50 well spent. -
---I really appreciate everyone on these forums, everyone seems really willing to help each other out and it seems like a great community. I can't wait to join the ranks!
Good luck bud!
-Thanks,
Alex[/QUOTE]

 

[new2salt1]

Originally Posted by matt2364
Thanks for the suggestions but my point is to keep cost to a minimum. Will a 5g set up cost the same as a 24g nano cube? It would cost about $200+ for the tank alone and even more if I wanted to upgrade the lights. I was hoping to complete a tank with about $150-$200 is this not possible?
If you wanted to do it this cheap, you would have to have no test kits (not recommended), cheaper salt (no recommended), less rock (see not recommended), and less corals (DEFINATELY NOT RECOMMENDED).
If you had a friend with a reef tank who coud lend you his test kits, hyrdo, give you 5 gallons of cycled tank water, and 2 pounds of sand, you could probably buy the BioCube for $150 and be up and running with everything buy Rock, corals, and your fish for about $200. Then you can stock it as you have more money.

 

[matt b]

TRUST ME you do NOT want to do a 5gal for your first saltwater tank!!!! the smaller the tank the harder it is going to be. for one the evaporation is going to be crazy so your going to have to top off twice a day. and the water is going to be very un stable for that small of tank. i would just get a like 14gal biocube a heater a powerhead and then you can add stuff like sand and rock as slow as you want you just cant add fish coral ect until the tank has rock sand and has fully cycled. and where are you in ohio? i could give you some names of good fish stores that could help you out alot.

 

[osuaquarist]

Thanks for all the information New2salt1, and Matt B.
It looks like i need to do some additional thinking and research before I start SW. Maybe I will just exercise a bit of patience and hold off a few months until summer when i will have more disposable income.
Matt, I live in Columbus and I frequent Aquarium Adventure on a regular basis. If you haven't been you should check it out for sure it's got a huge show room and a large selection of fresh and saltwater fish as well as plants and corals. I've also heard about Phishy Business near the Easton mall but I havn't been able to make it out there. There is also a large wholesale SW fish store in Dayton that has a large selection as well as some very large specimens.

[hr]
All in all I will probably just wait until I can afford a larger tank, maybe a 12 or 24g. Thanks for all the help!

 

[matt b]

Originally Posted by OSUaquarist
Thanks for all the information New2salt1, and Matt B.
It looks like i need to do some additional thinking and research before I start SW. Maybe I will just exercise a bit of patience and hold off a few months until summer when i will have more disposable income.
Matt, I live in Columbus and I frequent Aquarium Adventure on a regular basis. If you haven't been you should check it out for sure it's got a huge show room and a large selection of fresh and saltwater fish as well as plants and corals. I've also heard about Phishy Business near the Easton mall but I havn't been able to make it out there. There is also a large wholesale SW fish store in Dayton that has a large selection as well as some very large specimens.

[hr]
All in all I will probably just wait until I can afford a larger tank, maybe a 12 or 24g. Thanks for all the help!
ya i go to phish business and reef systems. reef systems is in johnstown and it just at a guys house but he has some of the best coral in ohio

 

[matt b]

i just checked out aquarium adventure and it seems like a *****.. just trying to sell stuff but i could be wrong

 

[osuaquarist]

Originally Posted by MaTT B
http:///forum/post/2449705
i just checked out aquarium adventure and it seems like a *****.. just trying to sell stuff but i could be wrong
I go there all the time and they are really helpful about everything. It isn't a mom and pop type store but they train their workers well and everyone is really into the hobby. I have yet to get a bad piece of advise and they are willing tell you when you are doing something wrong. There is also a whole foods store in the same complex, it is the best grocery store I've ever been to you should check it out. Bring $2.50 to pick up an awesome piece of gourmet pizza while ur browsing the isles.
I'm going to go check out phishy business tonight, should be fun!

 

[matt b]

Originally Posted by OSUaquarist
http:///forum/post/2450571
I go there all the time and they are really helpful about everything. It isn't a mom and pop type store but they train their workers well and everyone is really into the hobby. I have yet to get a bad piece of advise and they are willing tell you when you are doing something wrong. There is also a whole foods store in the same complex, it is the best grocery store I've ever been to you should check it out. Bring $2.50 to pick up an awesome piece of gourmet pizza while ur browsing the isles.
I'm going to go check out phishy business tonight, should be fun!
i just went to aquarium adventure and it was a nice store but i was trying to get help bcus i wanted a piece of coral and they like blew me off bcus i was a kid but maybe they where busy or something but i just left. they had a cool shark tank tho

 

[osuaquarist]

Originally Posted by MaTT B
http:///forum/post/2450657
i just went to aquarium adventure and it was a nice store but i was trying to get help bcus i wanted a piece of coral and they like blew me off bcus i was a kid but maybe they where busy or something but i just left. they had a cool shark tank tho
Aw that sucks, I've never had that happen before but that is lame

I stopped by phishy business tonight but only had 20min to look around. It was awesome! They had so many awesome corals they will definitely be my place when I set up a tank. Their 450g in the back was to die for too. Thanks for the recommendation =)

 

[matt b]

Originally Posted by OSUaquarist
http:///forum/post/2451011
Aw that sucks, I've never had that happen before but that is lame

I stopped by phishy business tonight but only had 20min to look around. It was awesome! They had so many awesome corals they will definitely be my place when I set up a tank. Their 450g in the back was to die for too. Thanks for the recommendation =)
if you like there corals then you NEED to check out reefsystems he has like 10,000 gals running in a green house in his back yard

but man hes got some sick corals!! just go to reefsystems dot com