very very new to saltwater

[dsmjuggalo]

Hey guys im bobby from indiana. I need tons of help. Ive been reading up on this forum for days now and am seeing tons of things i have no clue about. I have a 39 gallon tank that i want to use for my first saltwater tank. i have been reading around and have some ideas of what i need but i wanted to toss a idea out there and see if anyone could give me any ideas. I have nothing but the tank and stand but I want to buy everything i need to get this tank up and running and start curing some lr. so if someone could make me a list of the bare minimum i can get by with to start the process of curing this while i learn about the different fish and accessories it would be greatly appreciated.thanks in advance

 

[jerryatrick]

Welcome Babababobby,
Lets start with filling the tank with water. Reverse osmosis water should be used to fill the tank. Next will be the live rock. For a 39 gallon tank you are going to want at least 40 pounds of live rock. Then you have to choose your substrate. Whatever substrate you choose you can add it after the live rock is placed to your liking. The bare minimum that your tank will need equipment wise.... a heater and a couple of powerheads. Let the tank cycle and during this time read up and then we can start talking about other equipment.
Saltwater Test Kit - you are going to be testing your water parameters during the cycle. Do a search for tank cycle.

 

[dsmjuggalo]

thanks for the quick reply, i plan on purchasing 50 lbs of lr. are there any substrates that are better than others. so for right now i dont need any special lighting or protein skimmers or anything along those lines right now. ill just need the tank,substrate,heater and powerheads?

 

[jerryatrick]

Originally Posted by DSMjuggalo
http:///forum/post/2745803
thanks for the quick reply, i plan on purchasing 50 lbs of lr. are there any substrates that are better than others. so for right now i dont need any special lighting or protein skimmers or anything along those lines right now. ill just need the tank,substrate,heater and powerheads?
Personally I prefer sand. You will not need lighting during the cycle. A protein skimmer can wait.

 

[dsmjuggalo]

what about filtration right now? i have zero experience with powerheads are there any to stay away from?

 

[jerryatrick]

Originally Posted by DSMjuggalo
http:///forum/post/2745810
what about filtration right now? i have zero experience with powerheads are there any to stay away from?
The Live Rock will be your main source for filtration. Down the road you can decide if you want to add a sump or some form of mechanical filtration.
Powerheads - Personally I like the Koralia power head. Do some research on them. In saltwater it is very important that you have good water flow in the tank.

 

[yearofthenick]

Originally Posted by JerryAtrick
http:///forum/post/2745797
Welcome Babababobby,
Lets start with filling the tank with water. Reverse osmosis water should be used to fill the tank. Next will be the live rock. For a 39 gallon tank you are going to want at least 40 pounds of live rock. Then you have to choose your substrate. Whatever substrate you choose you can add it after the live rock is placed to your liking. The bare minimum that your tank will need equipment wise.... a heater and a couple of powerheads. Let the tank cycle and during this time read up and then we can start talking about other equipment.
Saltwater Test Kit - you are going to be testing your water parameters during the cycle. Do a search for tank cycle.
Wait a second, Revers osmosis??? this is a saltwater aquarium, right? Hopefully he's going to add a salt mix or something to his RO water, right JerryAtrick?

 

[dsmjuggalo]

thanks so much for the input, anyone else who wants to chime in feel free...imma go check out those koralia powerheads

 

[subielover]

Yes, salt is needed

Mix the salt with ro/di water.

 

[jerryatrick]

Originally Posted by YearOfTheNick
http:///forum/post/2745815
Wait a second, Revers osmosis??? this is a saltwater aquarium, right? Hopefully he's going to add a salt mix or something to his RO water, right JerryAtrick?
wow... good call. Totally forgot.
You will need to buy a salt mix. Their are a ton of threads on here that you can search for that discuss salt mixes.
Sorry about that and thanks nick

 

[jerryatrick]

Originally Posted by subielover
http:///forum/post/2745817
Yes, salt is needed

Mix the salt with ro/di water.
I could have sworn he said he was keeping oscars

 

[yearofthenick]

Originally Posted by JerryAtrick
http:///forum/post/2745825
I could have sworn he said he was keeping oscars

Haha! Oscars! Awesome.
By the way - bobby gimme a minute to type out a list for you, I'll do it right now...

 

[socal57che]

DSMjuggalo, Where are you located?
YearoftheNick, To what part socal R U moving? Your water changes may have just got a LOT easier.

 

[texasmetal]

For now you could just buy pre-mixed saltwater at a LFS to fill the tank. It isn't real cheap, but it saves the hassle of hoping you mixed it right/got the salinity right. Unless you want to invest in a refractometer off the bat.

 

[dsmjuggalo]

thanks yearofthenick,and 57chev i live in evansville indiana. i had thought of investing in a refractometer or hydrometer first off because i know ill need one

 

[snakeblitz33]

hah, you're not jerryatrick for nothing.
Koralia powerheads are really nice for extra water flow. You might want a maxijet 1200 behind your rocks so that detritus won't build up.
You should get a nice filter with a biowheel - penguin filters are good, but I also like Emperor filters. (like an emperor 280) Also - stay away from seaclone protein skimmers. Seaclones are pieces of crud. Go with something like a coralife super skimmer. Those are wonderful.
40 to 50lbs of live rock and 40 lbs of live sand would definately be needed.
Very carefully select your fish list and make sure that if you want corals later that you are going to get reef safe fish and also start saving up for a really good light such as a t5 system or power compacts. If you want sps corals, I suggest learning some reef chemistry and getting a light that is better, such as a metal halide 250 watt. 14 to 20k
Good luck and if you need more help, feel free to PM me.
pm

 

[jerryatrick]

Originally Posted by DSMjuggalo
http:///forum/post/2745831
thanks yearofthenick,and 57chev i live in evansville indiana. i had thought of investing in a refractometer or hydrometer first off because i know ill need one
Check out the threads at the top of this section. Good reads.

 

[socal57che]

Originally Posted by TexasMetal
http:///forum/post/2745830
For now you could just buy pre-mixed saltwater at a LFS to fill the tank. It isn't real cheap, but it saves the hassle of hoping you mixed it right/got the salinity right. Unless you want to invest in a refractometer off the bat.
This is why I asked where he was located. Birch Aquarium at Scripps offers their water to aquarists free of charge.
I used premix saltwater from my LFS on the first tank. (55g)
I mixed water for the 100g. Never again.
I filled the 72 for free.

 

[texasmetal]

Originally Posted by socal57che
http:///forum/post/2745836
This is why I asked where he was located. Birch Aquarium at Scripps offers their water to aquarists free of charge.
I used premix saltwater from my LFS on the first tank. (55g)
I mixed water for the 100g. Never again.
I filled the 72 for free.
I just heard of this. Makes moving to San Diego that much more appealing. But do you have to pay to get in?

 

[socal57che]

Originally Posted by TexasMetal
http:///forum/post/2745837
I just heard of this. Makes moving to San Diego that much more appealing. But do you have to pay to get in?
Nope. Thet have spigots at the pier. It's part of the Oceanographic Institute.
From the Birch Aquarium website.
How can I get seawater for my aquarium/business?
The seawater tap at the base of the Scripps Pier is open to the public 24 hours a day. The water is sent through sand filters to remove the larger particles. This is the same seawater used by aquarists at the Birch Aquarium at Scripps. The Scripps Pier is located at the end of Discovery Way. Take La Jolla Shores Drive to the Naga Way entrance; turn west onto Naga Way; at the split, turn left to continue on Naga Way; at the stop sign, turn right onto Discovery Way; the pier will be directly in front of you and the tap is to the left of the pier entrance. If you have further questions about the seawater tap, please e-mail the aquarists at Birch Aquarium at Scripps: aquariuminfo@ucsd.edu.