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Starter tank

9K views 37 replies 8 participants last post by  nicolaas 
#1 · (Edited)
I am a freshwater fan, but what would you people say is the smallest tank I would be able to keep marine fish?
I am really wanting to try it,but I have a budget. I like reef tanks,so I think I would try that .:-D
So any help is wanted,dead or alive! :-D
 
#4 · (Edited)
Good fish, bad tank size.
10 gallon is not really a good fish to start with fish, its basically for eye candy, corals. 20g long would be a much better choice for keeping fish. Relatively easy also.
Dry Rock, there are a few hitchhickers on Live Rock that people want to stay away from, so they opt for using Dry Rock, or Dead Rock. Macro Rock is a good place to start looking for that. Either way you go you will need a minimum of 1lb per gallon.
Replacement filter media like filter floss and activated carbon (if you get a filter)
Multiple Powerheads (2 or 3) 10x your water volume for just a Fish Only With Live Rock, and at least 20x your water volume for a Reef Tank. So lets say your going reef, and you have a 100g tank, you would need flow in that tank at minimum of 2000gph, or 2 1000gph powerheads.
Protein Skimmer, rated at 2 times your water volume
Saltwater Test Kits.
Reef Test Kit. Test for Ammonia, Nitrites, Nitrates, PH, Phosphates, Calcium, ALK and Magnesium.
Saltwater fish food. Mysis Shrimp, Squid, Cyclopease, Algae Sheets, Romaine Lettuce . Flake food is not really a good food to feed your marine fish.
Aquarium vacuum. This one is iffy. Most don't use one, if you have enough flow in the tank you won’t need one
Rubber kitchen gloves
Fish net
Two, clean, never used before, 5-gallon buckets
Aquarium thermometer, digital being the best.
Brush with plastic bristles (old tooth brush) - needed for cleaning the live rock if you don't get Fully Cured Live Rock.
Power Strip, possibly GFCI outlets by the tank.
Optional but definitely recommend getting a Reverse Osmosis or RO/Deionization filter for the make-up water, and a barrel for storing the water.
Possibly a Quarantine Tank for your new fish. They sit in here for a few weeks to kill off parasites and bacteria, to keep it from getting in your main tank
Heater rated for your size tank.
Saltwater Mix. Marine
SaltSaltwater Hydrometer or even better a Refractometer, which is more accurate
Aquarium filter (not absolutely necessary if running with adequate amounts of live rock, but nice to have if you need to use a mechanical filter or activated carbon, etc.)Aquarium substrate such as live sand or crushed cora. Some go bare Bottom, others choose the 2-3" bottom, others, more advanced will try the Deep Sand Bed, which is over 6" deep.
 
#6 ·
i am jsut stating with salt too
and i have learned that a 40+ tank would be better because smaller bodys of water are harder to keep exact parameters for a beginner
and even if you are going with a fowler and not a reef it its still sugested to but at least t5 ho lighting because regular lighting promotes nuisance algae growth

this guy is awesome his videos are soo informative
http://www.youtube.com/user/newyorksteelo
 
#7 ·
I will have a tank open in a month or so.(20 or a 25gal, both are long)

Do I need a Protein Skimmer?

Will a filter rated 800lp(power filter) and a filter rated 120lp (water fall) be enough?

I like eels, but I don't think it is a possible.

I like the fuzzy dwarf lion fish, I also don't think this is possible.

I also like the flame dwarf angel, I think this one would be possible.

I also like the Spotted Cardinalfish, I also think this one would be possible.

I know next to bogus about salt water so pleas go slow.
 
#8 ·
I will have a tank open in a month or so.(20 or a 25gal, both are long)

Do I need a Protein Skimmer?

Will a filter rated 800lp(power filter) and a filter rated 120lp (water fall) be enough?

I like eels, but I don't think it is a possible.

I like the fuzzy dwarf lion fish, I also don't think this is possible.

I also like the flame dwarf angel, I think this one would be possible.

I also like the Spotted Cardinalfish, I also think this one would be possible.

I know next to bogus about salt water so pleas go slow.
Power filters are not need in a SW tank. Bes to use a skimmer. WIth a tank that size, its not a need to have one, as long as you watch your Nitrates closely, as you can always change water weekly to remove excess nutrients that can couse trouble. You'll need a minimum of 25lbs of Live Rock or Macro Rock, doesn't matter which, but that if your filter, not those mechanical filters.
As for your fish choices, Flame Angel yes, if you got a 25-30g, Spotted Cardinal, yes. Lion fish No, Eels, No. If your wanting any of those fish, your best bet would be to get a 50-75g tank.
You need water movement in a SW tank, power filters are not counted as water movers as all they do is return water back to the tank. You need power heads, rated at a minimum of 10x your water volume.
 
#9 ·
If I have 2 under gravel filters a water fall(120lp) and I take the power head of the power filter(800lp) will the other filters be enough?

Will I be able to keep the flame angel with the cardinal?

I am thinking of a reef set up,but it will be low light corals.

I may be able to put in a other power head(not sure) it is rated 400lp.

Will the fish survive a 5our drive?
 
#11 ·
Ok what filters will work?

What stoking is possible in this tank?

I need a cheep way to keep this tank, so what could I get away with?

Our water hardness is 1-3GH and the PH is 6.4, but sins this is soft I can work with it.

Dos live rock need the same light as coral?
 
#12 ·
Ok what filters will work?

What stoking is possible in this tank?

I need a cheep way to keep this tank, so what could I get away with?

Our water hardness is 1-3GH and the PH is 6.4, but sins this is soft I can work with it.

Dos live rock need the same light as coral?
You do not need a filter in a salt water tank. Live Rock does the filtering for you.
Live Rock does not need the same high lighting as coral does
PH needs to be up around 8
Cheap will only get you dead fish
Stocking ideas for your tank:
Nano Fish
 
#13 ·
Ok what light do I need for the live rock?

Would the 800lp and the 400lp be enough?

I mean cheap like to go with what I have.

How meany spotted cardinals could I keep in this tank?
 
#14 ·
ok what light do i need for the live rock?
you only need normal output lighting for live rock.

would the 800lp and the 400lp be enough?
yes, that will give you roughly 300gph. For a 20g thats enough

i mean cheap like to go with what i have.

How meany spotted cardinals could i keep in this tank?
1. That fish has a requirement for 30 gallons, so putting one in a 20 gallon tank is pushing it.
. .
 
#16 ·
The tank is a 25gal.

I got a power head rated 400l\h and a power head rated 500l\h.

Will a 10watt and a 25watt be enough. both are full spektrime.

I think I will go with a two common clown fish.
The tank is up and running with 4 blue tilapia or pink tilapia.
Posted via Mobile Device
 
#18 ·
The tank is a 25gal.

I got a power head rated 400l\h and a power head rated 500l\h.

Will a 10watt and a 25watt be enough. both are full spektrime.

I think I will go with a two common clown fish.
The tank is up and running with 4 blue tilapia or pink tilapia.
Posted via Mobile Device
Those powerheads will barely get you enough water movement in the tank. You may end up with some dead spots and have debre issues.
Those lights will be fine for a Fish only tank.
 
#17 ·
did you cycle the tank or are you cycling with fish in?

what are you using to test the SG (hydrometer / refractometer).

do you have any CUC (clean up crew)?

Going saltwater requires a little more time and patience than FW,
 
#19 · (Edited)
#24 ·
The fish are native to South Africa and I live in South Africa,we have this species in the dam.

This is how they look wen they are half a kg, they grow up to 4.6kg.
PS:the ones I have are smaller then 1''.
 
#27 ·
I would be more concerned as to why you are cycling a saltwater tank with a freshwater fish? Not only is this harmful to the fish, by using to cycle in the first place you are severely doing harm to it, and then you plan on putting it into the wild.

That is not the way to do it...sorry but I think that is just wrong. Unless you are running a canister or HOB which as people have mentioned are more harm than good on a saltwater tank then you ARE GOING to NEED live rock sooner rather than later otherwise your tank will be a mess..

Just my opinion.
 
#29 ·
Mainly a Freshwater fish but "It also tolerates brackish water"- from wikipedia...

Brackish water is lower in salt content than what is required for a full saltwater tank. Why not set the tank up correctly first time otherwise you are going to messing around with the SG once you are ready to get saltwater fish.
 
#30 ·
Not to mention as well that fish is way too big for a 20g tank already...
 
#31 ·
The fish in the pic is not one of the ones I have,as I said they are smaller then 1''in.

They are hardy enough to live and breed in water with a SG rating higher then the ocean.

I know these fish very well.
 
#32 ·
Why bother asking questions if you know everything

I see everyone trying to help you than you contradict them

I wouldn't waist my time
 
#34 ·
I just said I know these fish very well, I didn't mean any harm:-D
I just wanted to let you know that this fish are fresh and marine water fish,I know people that catch them in the ocean.
 
#33 ·
OK I will get live rock and they a month later get the fish.

I will take out the tilapia and just keep the tank with salt.

Can I cycle the tank with freshwater flakes?

Can I feed the clowns tetra marine crisps.
 
#35 ·
OK I will get live rock and they a month later get the fish.

I will take out the tilapia and just keep the tank with salt.

Can I cycle the tank with freshwater flakes?

Can I feed the clowns tetra marine crisps.
Flake food is not a good thing to feed Marine Fish. I'd go with Squid, Mysis Shrimp,Cyclopese and Phyto Plankton.
Can you cycle the tank with FW flake food, I guess you could but why? Just throw in raw shrimp from the store. Also, the Live Rock will help cycle it, as it has bacteria and biolgicals that will start to grow.
 
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