Starting a saltwater aquarium

T

tang_gal

Guest
Alright, we're looking to start a saltwater aquarium and visited our lfs today. We priced a 90 gal with a nice solid oak stand and "everything to have a productive tank" and it came out at around $1600. The guy we talked to has been doing saltwater tanks since 1968. We were recommended to have a lot of live rock and live sand. For filters to use a wet/dry system. A protein skimmer and a UV sterilizer. The fish we are interested in but aren't sure what goes together or if they're too big for a 90 gal tank. We are planning on buying them small as the owner of the lfs said this would work for compatibility issues. We are interested in 1 angel 1 butterfly 1-2 tangs and a clown fish. Among some cleaners and stuff I don't know very much about. Now to me that seems to be too many fish for a 90 gal. It's 48" long and I can't remember the other dimensions. How many fish is too many for 90 gal?
Also the live rock there is cured and between 3.50-5.50 a lb is that a good price? We are looking to have a colorful tank with what as decorations (live or fake) I'm not sure?
I do have the book " The Conscientious Marine Aquarist" and have been reading it, but I'm still clueless to some things.
Thanks for your time!
 
ocellaris_keeper

ocellaris_keeper

Active Member
Your doing it right and asking all the right qeustions. First let's talk about your tank set up. Here is what you should do to set up a good filtration system.
Get yourself some Powerheads, two heaters and set up your tank with the right salinity 1.0225 and 78 degrees. Let set up for about three days.
then prepare your tank by doing the following:
1. Deep Sand Bed With Plenum bottom for Nitrate reduction:
Place about 1" of sand on the bottom of the tank and place 1/4" plastic tubing (like the stuff you buy at the LPS for air pumps) adn curt into pioece and lay on top of the sand. Place a piece of plastic screening on top of the tubing (this will create an anaerobic oxygen poor environment where nitrate absorbing bacteria will thrive. Place 3" of Live sand on top of the screen for a Deep Sand Bed of 4"-4.5".
2. Add your live rock in a way that gives your fish some places ti hifde when spooked and glue them into place (so they don't fall onto your fish when disturbed).
3. Connect your Wet/Dry filter with the protien skimmer with no media in it (this is where you will do water top offs and add trace elements into the tank.
4. Watch the water parameters closely (the nitrogen cycle of a LR/LS tank happens fast) and add your clown fish after about three weeks. Do not add any more fish for two months..
As far as the number of fish in a 90 gallon - please use your good judgement.
 
wamp

wamp

Active Member
We are interested in 1 angel 1 butterfly 1-2 tangs and a clown fish
The fish will be a while down the road. The fish on your list, besides the clown, need a mature system. You will need to have the tank up and running for a while before adding tangs or angels. The butterflies are a very difficult fish to keep so that would be even further down the road. It is a shame the best looking fish are so hard to keep. I gues thats the way nature designed them.
Keep reading the book. It will prove to be the best thing you can do.
Also, if you have an ample amount of rock, say around 90-100lbs, you will not need the Wet/Dry filter. The rock is the filter and unless you really overload the tank, you'll be fine with just rock and sand.
The price for the rock sounds pretty good for a LFS. I would also look in the U-Build it section here. They have some nice rock for a great price.
 
patrickfox4@msn

patrickfox4@msn

Member
WELL I WOULD LIKE TO SAY YOU WOULD GET OFF ALOT CHEAPER IF YOU LOOKED IN THE PAPERS OR BARGIN FINDERS TO BUY YOUR TANK YOU CAN GET A WHOLE SET UP FOR LESS THE HALF THE PRICE YOUR TALKING SO LOOK AROUND BEFORE YOU BUY FROM A PET STORE
 
nacl-man

nacl-man

Member

Originally posted by tang_gal
Also the live rock there is cured and between 3.50-5.50 a lb is that a good price?
That is a good price... cured live rock from the stores around here is 8.50 to 10.00 a pound. If you get it make sure they pack it in some water for your trip home!
I think if you are able to order LR on-line you will save yourself some money, since you are going to have to cycle your tank anyway it may be better to save the cash and spend it on un-cured rock.
Hope that helps.
Cheers.
Matt
 
yellowg555

yellowg555

Member
You can get some good cured Marshall Island rock for $2/pound. I used it and it pretty much cycled my tank in under a week. I've had ammonia and nitrite levels at 0 for almost 3 weeks now.
email me at yellowg555@yahoo.com if you want further info about this rock.
 
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