33 replies to this topic

[fish]

Hi guys, thinking of setting up a small saltwater tank, need some tips on how to do it properly as I have never done it before

any help would be great

thanks

[Neakit]

all depends on what your planning to keep.
If your looking to do only fish you can just get some live rock, a few power heads, a skimmer and some fluro lights and you have the basics. The big thing about marine is its very slow, you get your tank and add live rock in and your salt water. scape the rock to your tastes then you play the waiting game. You have to wait for the die off period where any organism thats very delicate that has died will be turned into ammonia etc... While the curing of the rock is happening you have your skimmer working to help lower the bio load. after about 3 or 4 weeks the curing should be done but get a water test to be sure. If its all clear your ok to start stocking the tank. But only slowly so if you add 2 fish at once let it settle for a few weeks and keep getting the water tested. You will also need to keep on top of the salinity so you will need to add fresh water as the tank water evaporates.

[fish]

ok thanks for the help

[fish]

do I put the salt in the water before I add the live rock?

[Neakit]

I am one that fills my aquarium up to about half cause the rock will displace water.

[fish]

have finally been able to stock my saltwater tank, I've only got a female black and white clown fish in there for now, might not put anything in there with it because the person I got it off said she bought 5 of them and this one ate them all

hope you like the pics

thanks

the pink and white coral is a bit ugly, when I get a anemone I'll take it out

Edited by fish, 09 March 2011 - 04:26 PM.

[Neakit]

your along way off of keeping the anenomy. To keep them you need to provide reef conditions and water quality. Also what lights are you using?
One other thing is are you using ro water for top off? If your using dechloriated tap water your introducing copper to your system, all inverts and corals will not survive with copper being added.
It might be worth going on the masa site and doing some research.

[fish]

yeah im using saltwater that i got from an aquarium place

[Bowdy]

Sweet fish. How long did you cycle the tank for with live rock befor you added the fish.

[fish]

3 weeks

[Bowdy]

How many Litres is the tank. I like it. Do you plan to have more coral in there.
What sort of lighting are you using. I'd like a lil marine tank.

[fish]

22 litres, yep definitely getting more coral, lighting is the one from the hood. A little marine tank are cool because there not to big but they still look good, just expensive, the rock in there cost me $70

[Bowdy]

Do you use a skimmer ?

[fish]

nah, cant get a small enough one to fit the tank

[Sarah Jayne]

..

Edited by Sarah Jayne, 03 January 2014 - 07:40 PM.

[Bowdy]

I don't know much about marine but I thort you needed a skimmer with corals.

[fish]

depends on how big the tank is and that star fish rarely gets 3inch

[Sarah Jayne]

..

Edited by Sarah Jayne, 03 January 2014 - 07:40 PM.

[Neakit]

you dont need a skimmer, with a tank that small its not an issue to do a complete water change. Also Fish water conditions are different to the water your actually using.
Reef conditions means you have to provide a stable environment with adequate water flow and light. What lights are you using? Up until leds came mainstream metal hallides and t5s have been the few lights that have successfully been used to keep anenomies alive and to actually thrive. The biggest thing with a marine tank is stability. If you cant keep your salinity stable and your calcium levels and the kh levels. Another thing is you don't really cycle a marine tank it cures.

[fish]

ok thanks might have to go with a harlequin shrimp then

you dont need a skimmer, with a tank that small its not an issue to do a complete water change. Also Fish water conditions are different to the water your actually using.
Reef conditions means you have to provide a stable environment with adequate water flow and light. What lights are you using? Up until leds came mainstream metal hallides and t5s have been the few lights that have successfully been used to keep anenomies alive and to actually thrive. The biggest thing with a marine tank is stability. If you cant keep your salinity stable and your calcium levels and the kh levels. Another thing is you don't really cycle a marine tank it cures.

I dont know what type of lighting it has, but if i put up a pic of that tank only lit up in the dark, will that help??