Where to begin? ^_^

[mommafish]

I have had freshwater tanks for the last 30 years and am an avid guppy breeder. I have considered a saltwater for a long time but never made the plunge.
My 8 yr old is beside himself wanting us to start a saltwater, but I don't know where to begin. I would like to begin with a 55gallon. What do I need? Do you have to have live rocks? Which fish are best for a beginner that would be cool enough for an 8 year old boy?

 

[lobstergrabber]

From Everything I have read 55 is the magic number. Big enough to be relatively stable and not too big. I think the live rock makes the tank and if you use enough is all the biological filtration you will need. As far as which fish. Clowns are hardy and what 8 year old is there that would not delight in watching their antics. Biggest thing is to not let wanting to make the kids happy make you rush the cycle. Do it right the first time and you will be happy you did.
Rich

 

[mommafish]

OK, I'm confused - if I have live rocks I don't need any other kind of filtration? No water filter?

 

[birdy]

If you have LR (you need 1-2lbs of LR per gallon of water in tank) and a live sandbed (4-6" is prefered method) this is all you need for BIOLOGICAL filtration, you still need some other types of filtration, a protien skimmer is highly recommended and a refugium of macro algae is optional but highly recommended. The Key to sucessful saltwater is research, taking it slowly, and not overstocking. Keep reading and asking questions.
Welcome!

 

[mommafish]

OK, so I need live rock, live sand and a protein skimmer, right? Anything else? chemicals? tests? etc.....

 

[infalable]

Welcome Mommafish. Do a search on the topics you are interested in. I bet just about every question you have there will already be a trhred for it many times over. As you learn you will have more questions and a search will have more answers. For those questions that you cannot find an answer for just post them here. These folks are the best. Good luck. Aslo, buy a book abot sw. There are very helpful.

 

[birdy]

There is so much information it is hard to find a place to start.
I really really suggest you start with a few books.
The New Marine Aquarium, by Michael S. Paletta
Natural Reef aquariums, by John H. Tullock
Consceintious Marine Aquarist, by Fenner
You can also do some searches on this sight on starting a tank.
Here is a link also, (I hope this one is okay it doesn't seem to sell anything or have a BB). http://www.reefcorner.com/reef%20keeping_101.htm
You need test kits for Ammonia, pH, Nitrite, Nitrate, Alkalinity, Calcium, Phosphate.
I would also recommend using RO/DI or Distilled water to decrease the chance of having nuisance algae.
As far as adding chemicals you will probably need a pH and alkalinity buffer and possibly some calcium additive. But only add chemicals of things you can test.

 

[azeritis]

I am sorry to be the one who puts forward the 'bad' news but:
It takes a lot more than live rorck and live sand for a successful tank. I am not claiming to be an experienced hobbyist but i have kept saltwater tanks for ten years or so.
My best advice is that you should invest in agood recently published book before investing in a tank. Then you will be able to determine what you need, how to set it up, and probably what are the costs involved. This hobby is expensive,
However, I can suggest some necessary things for a fish only tank:
Live rock, sand bed, powerheads, protein skimmer, lights, heaters, test kits.
You also need a quarantine tank (lr, ls not needed for this tank) with some type of filtration.
Buckets for mixing and keeping freshly made saltwater for changes (you will have to have a heater and a powerhead for this purpose)
You really need a source of reverse osmosis water (either a unit so you can make it, or a supllyer where you can buy it)
And my advise: There is no way to cut corners in saltwater tanks. You must do it right from day one, or you will up paying the price at some point (I am speaking from experience here)
If you do it right in your first try, this is a very rewarding hobby, and your family will spend hours of enjoyment. If you mess up, you will end up searching for ways to get rid of it.
There are people that get by without q tanks, without ro water, however, I have not met one of them yet. I only read about it in message boards.....
I am really sorry if I disapointed you but you will read, hear or realize the necessity of the time and money involved here.....

 

[birdy]

Excellent Post, everything said above is true, I have put so much time and money into my tank it isn't funny, I researched for 6mo before I even put a drop of water into my tank, and I still would change the way I did much of my tank. It is so hard when people come on the board and say what do I need to have a saltwater tank, you want to help but if it takes an author hundreds of pages to explain it in a book how can we explain it in a few sentences. Best thing to do is research and read as much as possible and then when you have the basic idea ask more specific questions. Use the search feature and read as many posts as possible. There is no easy or quick way in this hobby, it takes a lot of time, money, and patience.

 

[beaslbob]

Originally posted by MommaFish
I have had freshwater tanks for the last 30 years and am an avid guppy breeder. I have considered a saltwater for a long time but never made the plunge.
My 8 yr old is beside himself wanting us to start a saltwater, but I don't know where to begin. I would like to begin with a 55gallon. What do I need? Do you have to have live rocks? Which fish are best for a beginner that would be cool enough for an 8 year old boy?
gee me too. started back in the late 70's. Even had a salt tank back then. If you are familiar with a balanced planted freshwater tank then you know where I am comming from. If not the email me at beaslbob@aol.com or search the web for planted aquariums
You do not need to have live rocks for a saltwater tank. All you basically need is a tank, water, marine salt, and some means of circulation. I like and recommend play sand from home depot for a substrait. I also highly recommend macro algae/plants from the start. I also recommend using a molly to cycle the tank. Just like your guppies they have babies in the tank.
I think you will find you experiences with freshwater has direct parallels with salt.
Welcome and best of luck

 

[cb]

WELCOME TO THE BOARD...................... The main thing with saltwater tanks is patience that is the big difference between saltwater and freshwater. You need to let the tank cycle and then go slow when adding the livestock. If you search the different forums on this board I am sure you will find the answers to most of your questions. Good Luck and don't be afraid to ask someone if there is something that you don't understand there a quite a few people on this board that have alot of knowledge when it comes to saltwater set-ups and they are always willng to help. I have learned alot from here and a still do.

 

[mommafish]

Thanks for all the help and keep it coming! I have ordered a book and have been researching for about a year. I know from experience with my freshwater tanks that they hobbyists can tell you a lot more than any book in the long run.
Just one question - what exactly is macro algae? I live in a small town, so I don't have a decent store nearby for advice.
Thanks!

 

[cb]

The best place to get advice is from here or one of the books mentioned the lfs will not always tell you the truth they are out to make money and that's it.

 

[mommafish]

So what is macro algae and what fish would you start with that are easy to keep but have enough "cool" factor for my 8 year old?

 

[col]

Mommafish
Who is going to be maintaining the tank? I doubt if an 8 year old is able to manage a 55 gallon tank.
I would personally recommend a basic set up (in terms of $$$$ also) just to make sure the boy isn't going to lose interest after a short while.
Filtration and lighting can be upgraded at any time, and a skimmer can be added if needed.
Also live Rock can be added slowly and built up, rather than spending hundreds $ at once.
Good luck
Yeahhh bob
please put me out of my misery and tell more about macro algae. You mention it in almost all of your posts.

 

[reefnut]

Originally posted by MommaFish
easy to keep but have enough "cool" factor for my 8 year old?
A clown would be cool enough . My 6- year old daughter loves my clowns thanks to Finding Nemo...
Clowns are generally hardy and easy to care for. After your tank matures a little then options open up.

 

[wrassecal]

First of all you say you've been researching for a year...very, very good Second of all you say your 8-year-old is beside himself for a tank.....I surely do hear you there! It's that way around here too and 8 year olds can be a lot of help...thing is as I'm sure you know it's momma that's really going to have to do all the work (with help of 8 year old, of course)...so I hope you are beside yourself with excitement too...you are going to need it. I would think 30 years of keeping freshwater gives you a pretty good idea. So here is what I think just for starting out, for what it's worth......
If you are really into the sw definately go 55 gal or larger. You will need the tank, proper amount of lighting in the proper spectrum, a substrate of your preference, test kits for at least the minimum ammonia, nitrite and nitrate to begin with, properly mixed saltwater at the correct specific gravity and ph, a couple of powerheads for water movement and at least a hang on bio filter ( I used a Emperor 400). (I feel like I'm sharing a recipe). Once you have all this set up you will need to cycle your tank. I do not ever recommend the use of live fish for cycling. Their lives are at risk. To start the cycle you can use live rock or even a grocery store shrimp. internet research and a good book will explain all that. The cycle could take several weeks by which time your 8-year-old will probably have lost interest which is another reason live rock is good idea. This is all you need to start with (as if that isn't enough). Once your tank is fully cycled and steady with 0ammonia, 0nitrites and 80 or under on nitrates you can add a fish. There are a zillion "ifs" but if fish are what you are after then you can do a fish only. You probably won't want an empty tank so people usually go with live rock. From the fish perspective it is good because it gives them places to sleep, hide, swim in and out etc. as well as the other benefits mentioned above.Percula or false percula tank raised Clownfish are probably the best hardiest, cutest, community fish to start with.
When people mention macroalgae they are generally talking about caulerpa which comes in several varieties. Sometime gracilaria (sp). Anyway, you don't want it in your main display tank mainly because it grows like crazy and will take over unless you have a tang ( but that is a whole nother story) Just starting out, I wouldn't worry about it, that will come further down the road when you are hooked! Be prepared to continually add needed equipment like skimmers, refugium, sumps etc, oh yeah if you are like me within a year you'll be upgrading to a bigger tank

 

[stillfrodo]

From my limited experience and i mean limited i recommend those books
Concientious Marine Aquarist
And palettas book.
Patience and please listen to the people on this board who have lots of experience. Thier knowledge is wonderful,

 

[jlem]

If you plan on doing a fish only tank with no corals then you don't need all the live rock and the deep sand bed. A very good reliable setup for a 55 gallon fish only tank is a good filter like a magnum canister or an emporer 400 filter, a decent skimmer like a sea clone or back pak and either crushed coral or sand at about 1-2 inches deep. Lace rock is pretty cheap at $1.00 or so a pound and after a couple months will look like live rock anyways. I would throw in a lb or 2 of live rock to get some corraline algae spores going. Simple 10K lights will look very nice and if you have a canopy then a simple 2-40 watt flourecent kit will be plenty. Remember that lots of peole give advice for what has worked for them and most of us have reef tanks which are totally different then fish only tanks. Nitrates do not have to be at zero in a fish only tank so a DSB will just take up 4-6 inches of you tank and will cost hundreds after you buy the sand, live rock and critter kits that ir takes to really build a good deep sand bed that will last for years. I am not saying that DSB, and live rock, and big old skimmers with lots of light are horrible. I just think that they are overkill and to expensive for a fish only tank.

 

[mommafish]

Originally posted by Wrassecal
8 year olds can be a lot of help...thing is as I'm sure you know it's momma that's really going to have to do all the work (with help of 8 year old, of course)...so I hope you are beside yourself with excitement too...you are going to need it.
The cycle could take several weeks by which time your 8-year-old will probably have lost interest which is another reason live rock is good idea.

LOL - Yes, I am excited as well and know I will be doing 98% of the work, but I must tell you - my son will take a lot more than that to lose interest. He has memorized the entire aquarium handbook that I have to the point that he can name every fish he sees, tell me what it eats, how large it will grow and what kind of fish it can be kept with. If he is not a future marine biologist I have never seen one!
I just want to do it as well as possible because he is so attached to his fish he truly mourns one when it dies. He has had his own 20 gallon aquarium for a year now with a dwarf puffer, african frog, lemon tetras, neon tetras, red-tailed shark & some striped tetras. He has never had to be told to take care of it and is very devoted to their care and upkeep.
Thank you for your summary, it was just what I was looking for!