6 replies to this topic

[tim289]

i have a spare 4x2x2 tank at home was thinking of using it for a marine setup was just wanting to know wat filtering i would need and how many fish it could house is it hard to sutup?

[anchar]

You need to plan carefully for any set-up, but there are a few extra "cautions" with a marine tank. Depending on the type of environment you are looking to create, there are different things you need to do. We need more information before we can help you. Firstly, are you looking to recreate a coral biotope or are you jut looking at a few fish? Are you wanting temperate water or tropical water? How big is your wallet?

Andrea

[tim289]

i am just looking at a fish only setup with some live rock and about 4 clownfish nothing to flash

[sirpix]

I have a 4x2x2 marine set up as well and really reccomend http://www.masa.asn....hpBB2/index.php
massive Australian forum with all the knowledge you could desire
Good luck with it
Cheers
Michael

[piscevore]

Obviously you need a heater, get the biggest possible because there is only a $10 price difference between a 50W and a 300W heater. A double light with a blue light and a white light is okay for live rock and some corals (ask before you buy corals if your lighting is sufficient) otherwise buy three double lights with 4 blue light and 2 white, then you can keep most corals available). Substrate is important, you dont want anything too fine otherwise it will end up in the filter, and DONT just go down to the beach and get a bucket of sand! water circulation is important so install a few powerheads in tactical spots. The fish dont want to be blown away but the fish and live rock do enjoy a flow to stay healthy. Airation is important to, make sure that the pump can drive the air to the maximum depth of your tank and then some (2ft in this case). An air pump works like a water pump, but its the opposite. with a waterpump its how high you have to pump that matters, but with an airpump its how deep you have to pump. the one thing I find that people always forget is a thermometer, something to check salinity, and you need to add calcium carbonates to increase the hardness. I also recommend having test kits for pH, kH, NH4, NO2 etc. Then you get the biggest filter you can afford with whats left over, I strongly believe in overkill its the best way to achive a healthy tank. Now that you have spent all your money on setting up youre tank (PS you need salt water, either buy a mix from LFS or get water from LFS, not from the beach, because of pollutants in water) You can save up for the fish while you wait for the tank to cycle. When setting up a marine tank decide on all the fish you want to keep make a list and take it to youre LFS. They will tell you what is compatible together and in your tank, and most importantly the order to introduce them. (basically you want the most aggressive/territorial fish going in last otherwise when you add the less agressive/territorial fish the will get beaten up by the fish that has established its territory already)

Summing up a marine tank is expensive and hard work. If you cut corners you will lose fish which are expensive compared to freshwater fish. If you dont have the time for this or the money dont start it, because it is very labor intensive and losing fish are regular occurance. Get youre marines from a place that buys A grade fish and has a good quarintine period. Most LFS buy cheap fish and dont quarantine them, they sell them straight away and a week later all the fish die, so it turns out cheaper to buy the more expensive graded fish in the end.

I think I have covered the BASICS.

[tim289]

ok i have done sum home work on this and have decide not to do it for a number of reasons time and money being the most important i might just stick with cichlids maybe use the tank as a malawi display tank thanks to everyone who replied your help is appreciated.

[Andrew]

a 4x2x2 would make a great display. let me know if you need any help with cheap equipment for it