6 replies to this topic

[Stevescort]

Hey all,

Im sure this has been asked a thousand times, but i'm thinking of setting up a small Marine tank and would love some advice.

I have 2 spare tanks:

1. Standard 2 foot tank
2. One of those Aqua One tanks, about 75 litre i think (about 1.5 foot square), with a silver hood with built in lights.

I guess the 2nd tank wuld be easier as it already has lights on it, but the 2-foot tank has a greater surface area. Which one should i use.

I am thinking of putting in the tank:
Sand substrate, a couple of small live rocks and maybe some coral.
Only one or two fish, something cheap and small with personality.
A couple of cleaner crabs or shrimps, maybe a sand filtering star.

As far as the setup goes, i was thinking:

1400L/H U/V Canister Fillter
Internal Hang on Octopus Nano Marine Skimmer (up to 80L)
Coral Reef Turbo Wave Maker (up to 1500L/H)

I have very limited marine knoweldge, but have had FW tanks all my life.

Any advice would be great on filtration, fish types etc

[Iamsam]

i would go with the standerd 2 foot just beouse i think it would be easier to add things to the tank (skimmers etc) than having to battle with a lid.

Your filtration sounds good but i would recommend you lose the cannister filter and just run the skimmer with live rock and lots of flow; a cannister will cause you nothing but trouble with nitrates etc.

And as for fish i guess its just a matter of what you like, a pair of clown fish (gold banded marons) in a anemone always looks nice, and maybe a couple of decora gobys or the likes.

Regards
Sam

[Stevescort]

yeh i have since decided against the canister, ill use it for my amazon tank and maybe use the hang on bio filter i have on that for the marine tank.

As for fish, i was thinking maybe Banggai Cardinalfish. Possibly 3 of them.

[aqua86]

i would go with the standerd 2 foot just beouse i think it would be easier to add things to the tank (skimmers etc) than having to battle with a lid.

Your filtration sounds good but i would recommend you lose the cannister filter and just run the skimmer with live rock and lots of flow; a cannister will cause you nothing but trouble with nitrates etc.

And as for fish i guess its just a matter of what you like, a pair of clown fish (gold banded marons) in a anemone always looks nice, and maybe a couple of decora gobys or the likes.

Regards
Sam

I think sam basically summed it up, lose the filter and run a hob skimmer, use the two foot as you will probably require slightly better lighting than your build in one has, but that depends on the corals you want to keep, but if in the future you decide to keep some more demanding corals at least with 2 footer you can upgrade the lighting if you want, where as with the built in it will be alot more work,
as far as your substrate goes i would recommend fine crushed marble 000 grade very cheap and available. as much "quality" lr as you can afford with plenty of water flow, which will proide sufficient filtration.

take a trip to vebas if you dont live far away they have a little all in one system running with lots of morphs a pair of clowns and some shrimp and a few others if you chose to go down that path

but as long as you follow : no canister filter, use a skimmer to suit, lighting that is required to house your desired occupants, and lr with plenty of water flow, and a fine grade substrate you cant go wrong, i would also get your tank filled with nsw which you can collect yourself or have some to deliver for very cheap under around 20-30$ for your size, and top up using ro/di water, i recommend investing in a unit i paid 245$ for mine i think there are a few cheaper ones, basically removes all metals chemicals ect from the water. you can purchase this type of water from some food outlets, its called aqua pura, i was using this until i got my system, but got very expensive doing top ups on my f5t, with 5lt+ evaporation a day. send us a pm i can give u all the info on who can deliver nsw, where to buy ro/di water, and where to get your own ro/di system, or if you have a few drums laying around, drop em off to me and ill get them filled for you. takes a while as these systems just dribble out the water, you get about 1/3 usable water, 2/3 entering, exits through a waste tube, so best leave them with me but 100+ litres will keep you going for a while =P

any other question please ask

Ian

[Iamsam]

or if you have a few drums laying around, drop em off to me and ill get them filled for you. takes a while as these systems just dribble out the water, you get about 1/3 usable water, 2/3 entering, exits through a waste tube, so best leave them with me but 100+ litres will keep you going for a while =P

might be a little difficult seeing as he is in brisbane

[Stevescort]

I think sam basically summed it up, lose the filter and run a hob skimmer, use the two foot as you will probably require slightly better lighting than your build in one has, but that depends on the corals you want to keep, but if in the future you decide to keep some more demanding corals at least with 2 footer you can upgrade the lighting if you want, where as with the built in it will be alot more work,
as far as your substrate goes i would recommend fine crushed marble 000 grade very cheap and available. as much "quality" lr as you can afford with plenty of water flow, which will proide sufficient filtration.

take a trip to vebas if you dont live far away they have a little all in one system running with lots of morphs a pair of clowns and some shrimp and a few others if you chose to go down that path

but as long as you follow : no canister filter, use a skimmer to suit, lighting that is required to house your desired occupants, and lr with plenty of water flow, and a fine grade substrate you cant go wrong, i would also get your tank filled with nsw which you can collect yourself or have some to deliver for very cheap under around 20-30$ for your size, and top up using ro/di water, i recommend investing in a unit i paid 245$ for mine i think there are a few cheaper ones, basically removes all metals chemicals ect from the water. you can purchase this type of water from some food outlets, its called aqua pura, i was using this until i got my system, but got very expensive doing top ups on my f5t, with 5lt+ evaporation a day. send us a pm i can give u all the info on who can deliver nsw, where to buy ro/di water, and where to get your own ro/di system, or if you have a few drums laying around, drop em off to me and ill get them filled for you. takes a while as these systems just dribble out the water, you get about 1/3 usable water, 2/3 entering, exits through a waste tube, so best leave them with me but 100+ litres will keep you going for a while =P

any other question please ask

Ian

Hey thanks.

The only part I'm not sure about is the skimmer. You mean protein skimmer yeah? How do i know which one is "to suit" my tank? You just mean the right size? Or is there another variable i need to consider?

I'll be trying to cut down on evaporation and I'll be topping up with rain water, like with my F/W tanks.

Basically i dont wanta full tank, just some live rock, a couple of soft corals, a few Banggai Cardinalfish and some cleaner critters

Thanks guys.

And yes. I am in Brisbane. I'm sure there might be a closer forum, but your forum was more appealing

Steve

[aqua86]

Hey thanks.

The only part I'm not sure about is the skimmer. You mean protein skimmer yeah? How do i know which one is "to suit" my tank? You just mean the right size? Or is there another variable i need to consider?

I'll be trying to cut down on evaporation and I'll be topping up with rain water, like with my F/W tanks.

Basically i dont wanta full tank, just some live rock, a couple of soft corals, a few Banggai Cardinalfish and some cleaner critters

Thanks guys.

And yes. I am in Brisbane. I'm sure there might be a closer forum, but your forum was more appealing

Steve

no just make the skimmer quite important pay the little bit extra for quality if you know what i mean.THERE IS a difference

Yes brizzy is a trek,

Just take your time, dont rush anything, and if you can avoid it dont make sacrifices just wait until you can afford or certain things become available. do it properly the first time and you will have no regrets. I have already heard of one attempt on this forum (not mentioning any names) where that person went into building his reef aquarium, originally to show it can be done on a low cost, but have heard recently, it all went to ****. so just take your time listen to advice and dont make large sacrifices as far as initial setup goes.

and visit www.masa.asn.au if you have any marine related question for the best most experienced advice, i am not experienced but i feel as if i have asked the pros of all over aus and learnt heaps of good advice in the short time i have been involved with marines