Starting new SW tank soon....

Kandoril

Kandoril

New Member
Hello, new to the club, and looking for advice. I am currently doing research and taking some advice to 'join' a club with similar interests. So here i am!


I currently have a 36gal bow-front FW aquarium that is actually my wife's. We've had it for a little over a year. My birthday is approaching in late October and I've decided I would like to start a SW aquarium . I do not want a FO tank , but know I should hold back from starting off with a Reef tank until I have more experience. So I believe a FOWLR tank is the way to go. I intend to center my tank around a pair of clowns. Either pecula or ocellaris, which I am still unsure of which is better (or if it even matters).

I am looking at a 32gal Biocube , a 45gal Biocube , and considering a 55gal to 65gal rectangle tank . I lean towards the Biocubes for the benefit of the built-in sump . A 55g or 65g tank not reef ready involves even MORE work that I am not sure of. I hear using a siphon sump is risky and not quite as good as a pre-drilled tank . Since I don't plan to have an entire colony of fish (maybe up to 6 at most?) I'm also not sure of what size I should strongly consider. Hearing 'Bigger is Better' doesn't always work when you consider cost. Tank , filtration , lighting, etc. I'd like to eventually have a reef tank because they are quite beautiful. In this, I know patience is the way to go, so I would like to know the best way to start my journey toward that goal.

Keep in mind I have not purchased the first thing yet as I weigh my options. So any advice, ideas, suggestions, or examples will be gladly and greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance for the help and for allowing me to join.
 
jay0705

jay0705

Well-Known Member
Welcome to the forum. First bigger honestly isn't better per say it's just easier. The more water volume the more time you have to correct any issues.
Sumps are not the be all to end all. There excellent for many reasons,but not necessarily needed.
Lighting these days is led coming on like gang busters. There not cheap to buy,but do a very good job. Generally are more efficient and more easily programed.
I run only fowlr tanks,no corals. Started with hob filters and never had an issue. Once you go bigger than 75 tho they really don't make a hob big enough. So it's canister or a sump.
My fish diversity is diverse, thankfully to multiple tanks. Clowns,tangs,gobys,lion,damsel,puffers,angles,ect.
When picking your tank size this dictates the fish. Not there size ,but the fish themselves. A kole tang, will Not be happy in a 29,36,40 gallon tank. These are one of the "small" tangs.
I would say besides clowns what else do you want? Let that dictate your tank size.
Then go from there. Keep asking questions.
 
Kandoril

Kandoril

New Member
I used an online marine compatibility guide to check out what other fish I could have with the clownfish and have initially decided on these:

-Banggai Cardinalfish (Kaudern's Cardinalfish)
-Peacock Flasher Wrasse or Blue Flasher Wrasse (Paracheilinus Cyaneus)
*I've read that some Wrasse are predators of Clownfish, so I would know for certain before adding any Wrasse*
-Royal Gramma or Fairy Basslet (Gramma Loreto)
-Bicolor Angelfish (Centropyge Bicolor)
-Dracula Goby (Stonogobiops Dracula)
-Flame Hawkfish (Neocirrhitus Armatus)

I've chosen those for several reasons. Compatibility first and foremost. Secondly that they were listed as Reef-Safe so I could eventually change to a Reef Tank one day and not have to restock. And finally because of the wonderful colors and how pretty they appeared in the pictures I've seen.

This list is by no means all-inclusive nor is it set in stone. It's just a starting point / idea. Nor is it necessarily the order I would add them to the community. I will have done much more research before just 'adding' a newcomer. But it does give you an idea of what type of tank community I'd eventually like to have. Colorful, unique, and compatible fish swimming in a beautiful reef tank is my ultimate goal. As I intend to have the first set of Clownfish as my stars, the rest of the tank will be designed around them.

Thanks for your response and yes, I will keep coming back and asking questions as I have them :)
 
jay0705

jay0705

Well-Known Member
Well you've done your home work. Bi color angels can be tricky to keep. Some dwarf angles will nip at coral aswell. The vast majority of wrasse are reef safe. Not all but most.
 
lmforbis

lmforbis

Well-Known Member
I've never had luck with bicolors. They are truly beautiful fish. Any dwarf angle is a crap shoot as far as if they will eat coral. My flame has been good so far but I've been told they can suddenly change.
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
Oh yes one of my all the favorite fish. the royal gramma. The old time members here can attest to me being an expert on keeping them
 
beaslbob

beaslbob

Well-Known Member
My advice is to start the tank with macro alages then do the rest. (in a refugium as most livestock eat the macros--the refugium can even be just a simple tank partition)

That way things will be balanced and stabilized by the algae making it much easier to maintain.

I also use a male molly to "cycle the tank". If you can acclimate and get a molly to live for a couple weeks the tank (and you also) should be ready for the much more expensive marine only fish.

Finally by using those methods you will also be able to forgo live rock, live sand and other expensive stuff. And buy a larger tank to begin with.

still that's just my .02
 
Kandoril

Kandoril

New Member
Just an update for you all helping me. :) I've decided to go with the new 32g LED BioCube. It fits what I want to have, I love the look of it, and the price is within reason. It will also support most corals I may eventually like to have. I'm leaning heavily toward using dead rock with live sand to start my cycle. I will, of course, modify the filtration system as I've seen ReefThuz do on youtube. It just makes more sense to have a system that works better and costs less to maintain. I am preparing to order a RO/DI unit as I've learned it can be used for more than just the new SW tank. Wastewater can be used for the FW tank as well as drinking water and many other purposes. So the cost is worth the investment. I'll make my own tank water, mix the salt, then store it in 5gal pails (with lids!) until I get what I need to start my new tank. Then I'll store more without the salt mix for top off and water changes. It's nice knowing I won't need to keep it running all the time. That also helps in the decision to buy one.

There is a ton of information (both correct and misleading) out there, so I do appreciate all the advice and comments. It can be a bit overwhelming. I'm glad I started my research about a month before I plan to start my SW tank adventure. Who knew shopping for just a tank could be so demanding? I've flipped and flopped over size, cost, maintenance, reef-ready / HOB / sump / AIO, room to set it up, what would be something I could devote time to, etc. Feels good to have at least reached that decision. :confused:

I'm currently looking into substrate. Half live sand and half crushed coral. Which looks best? Which is more natural for my decided residents? Which will make it easier to keep the tank clean? Again....information overload. So I am also looking into my first set of invertebrates. A bit soon, I know, but never hurts to learn in advance does it?

Thanks again to all the people taking the time to read and respond to my post. :)
 
jay0705

jay0705

Well-Known Member
Crushed coral sucks. Straight sand is the way to go. Type doesn't really matter,meaning coarse or fine. Do not use pool sand.
Personally I would save money on sand using all dry then add 4-5lbs of fully cured live rock to your base rock
 
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