#1
Posted 28 July 2013 - 02:44 PM
#2
Posted 28 July 2013 - 04:38 PM
Firstly you need to choose if you would like to use a sump or not. A sump is another tank (as big as you fit under the tank) that is connected to the main tank via pipe and pump... You can put the equipment in the sump so you cannot see it. Not only does having a sump add water to your system; therefore being more stable but it also looks better. I strongly recommend a sump.
You will need heaters, a protein skimmer, lighting and wavemakers.
Choosing livestock:
The corals that you can keep depends on the brightness/quality of your lights and the power of your wavemakers. If this is your first marine tank I would recommend Xenia, hammer corals, torch corals, bubble corals, corallimorphs, zoos and toadstools.
Some of the nicer easy to keep fish include Bangaii cardinals, ocellaris and percula clownfish, pyjama cardinals, blue tangs, coral beauty angelfish, most blennies and gobies.
Be careful of some Angelfish as some varieties will eat corals.
Filling your tank:
You have 3 options of where you get your water from to fill your tank. You can either use tap water and just add salt that you buy (you need to add the right amount otherwise fish and corals can die. Another option is to collect water from the ocean (further offshore the better). Or the best option which is to get premixed and already has good bacteria and the right salt level from a local fish store.
Use fine coral sand for the gravel
I strongly recommend you get test kits for ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, calcium, phosphate, pH, kH and salinity.
These are what the parameters should be:
pH 8.0-8.4
Ammonia 0
Phosphate 0
Nitrate 0
Nitrite 0
kH 8-13
Calcium 350-500 depending on what corals you are keeping.
Salinity 1.020-1.025
Feel free to ask more questions.
Cheers and goodluck
- Bermont likes this
#3
Posted 29 July 2013 - 03:04 PM
Agreed, especially the sump part (google sump designs/ you tube or MASA sites) But tap water is a big no no, use RO water - can buy a system or buy from LFS
also there are people who deliver Natural salt water - keep an ibc or a couple of blue 220L drums on hand for water changes. About $50 for 500 - 600L last time I bout it a few years back
Do heaps of research and look at as many systems as you can - on line or in person.
#4
Posted 30 July 2013 - 11:52 AM
#5
Posted 06 August 2013 - 10:30 PM
read read and read some more. Don't impulse buy you will regret it. Spend money on water movement, the more times you can turn it over in an hour the better (with in reason) My last tank i had 135x an hour, a hard ask for a 6x2x2 but it will give you an idea of what you can get up to with out stressing things out.
Also good lighting is also a nessesity unless your going fowlr.
Have a good idea of exactly what you want first then go in that direction, dont just play it by ear it wont work.
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