Starting up a new aquarium and in need of info!!! please help

H

harrison

Guest
Im starting up a new aquarium completely new to the saltwater hobby. kept tropical and freshwater growing up and want to try out this! I have funds to purchase a 160L - 200L tank and would like to know what other immediate items i will need. Also i will 100% be wanting to house clownfish and an anemone for them plus a clean up crew to help keep the tank as clean as possible! any ideas on what makes the best clean up grew would be greatly appreciated. ThankYou H
 
geoj

geoj

Active Member
Sump or no sump?
The light MH, LED, or T5HO?
LR or no LR?
Sand DSB, SSB, or BB?
You can't use PH if you keep an anemone so you will need some closed loops installed...
 
gemmy

gemmy

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by GeoJ http:///t/391041/starting-up-a-new-aquarium-and-in-need-of-info-please-help#post_3465985
Sump or no sump?
The light MH, LED, or T5HO?
LR or no LR?
Sand DSB, SSB, or BB?
You can't use PH if you keep an anemone so you will need some closed loops installed...
This is not true. A closed loop would be ideal, however a powerhead can be used in the tank and safely house a nem. I have a 55 and at one point had 4 powerheads. I also have a nem and never had my nem sucked into it. Caution needs to be exercised.
 
superman

superman

Member
There's a ton of things you'll need in addition to all the abbreviations you may or may not know. Get a few books for beginning saltwater aquarists, as well as help from this board. You can get a good idea of a cleaner crew from the packages for sale on this site. Take a look at what they recommend for your size. Also, consider the fact that you will need to cycle your tank. This means putting a clean up crew, or anything, in too early is probably not the best. There's also plenty of books on fish, inverts, and corals out there that can be very helpful in selecting livestock.
 
njbillyv

njbillyv

Member
I have a feeling you may be underestimating the cost (in both time and money) of setting up a saltwater aquarium. Since you are new to the hobby I would suggest starting out with a nano-cube. They come already completely set up so you won't have to piece them together. You just add live rock, sand, water and start cycling it.
A good 29 gallon nano, with lighting that will allow you to keep corals and decent pumps, will run you about $500 - $700 (maybe more). This is a good starter system to get you going, then you can decide if you want take the plunge into a bigger, more complicated and expensive set-up.
Good luck!
 
nicknacs

nicknacs

Member
Or if your really impatient like I was, get a used already running one off craigslist that includes the water
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by harrison http:///t/391041/starting-up-a-new-aquarium-and-in-need-of-info-please-help#post_3465946
Im starting up a new aquarium completely new to the saltwater hobby. kept tropical and freshwater growing up and want to try out this! I have funds to purchase a 160L - 200L tank and would like to know what other immediate items i will need. Also i will 100% be wanting to house clownfish and an anemone for them plus a clean up crew to help keep the tank as clean as possible! any ideas on what makes the best clean up grew would be greatly appreciated. ThankYou H
Hi,
Welcome to the site. Please read the 101 tips at the top of the new hobbyists section, it's very helpful.
Other imediate items:
A master reef test kit
A how to begin a saltwater tank book.
For an anemone...super good lights. Metal Halides are in my opinion still the best for nems. LEDs I know nothing about. nems take the strongest most powerful light available.
You need power heads
A skimmer
Live rock and mix with dry rock to save some money
Live reef sand is best...but dry aragonite is fine. (don't get crushed coral)
A filter...your choice, but a sump or wet/dry is best.
Salt mix
RO water...your own unit is best, but any grocery store sells RO water for under 50 cents. DO NOT USE TAP or WELL WATER
You need an hydrometer, a refractometer is best, but to adjust your SG (salt in the water) a hydrometer will do fine. should be at 1.021 to 1.024
I hope that answers some of your questions....do stay close and keep us posted as you go...you will find lots of great help to here on the site.
 
sweatervest13

sweatervest13

Active Member
Welcome to the site!!!
It is good to see someone starting new in the hobby. Make sure you research everything you buy first. A lot of stores try to take advantage of new folks getting into the hobby and tell them to buy lots of stuff that you don't need. Check/ shop around once you decide what you need for your setup and find a good deal. Usually the actual fish tank is the cheapest part. Good luck!!
 
slice

slice

Active Member
Hmmm...OP was logged on only long enough to make one post then left..another "drive by"?
Didn't like waiting 5 hours for a response?
Hope he comes back.
 
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