Beginner Tank

[smog_1130]

Hey everyone! I want to get in to the saltwater fish hobby! However, I am not sure where to start! Are nano tanks good for beginners? Also, is the amount of maintenance the same as a freshwater setup?

Background:
I have been in the freshwater hobby for about a year. I started with betta..then goldfish..then puffers (the brackish ones) (oh yeah they didn't die, I sold them as I upgraded my tank) and now I have a decent Discus tank setup and I love them!

Any advice will be helpful!

 

[razer121]

my simple advice,

good luck ive yet to do it lol there is a very good member here...she is bound to pop in soon sefie i belive is the name

 

[fish_lover09]

Hey everyone! I want to get in to the saltwater fish hobby! However, I am not sure where to start! Are nano tanks good for beginners? Also, is the amount of maintenance the same as a freshwater setup?

Background:
I have been in the freshwater hobby for about a year. I started with betta..then goldfish..then puffers (the brackish ones) (oh yeah they didn't die, I sold them as I upgraded my tank) and now I have a decent Discus tank setup and I love them!

Any advice will be helpful!

hi
imo the maintenance is about the same as a freshwater just a few other things to take on board 1.evaporation 2.salt gravity also "live rock" is where your beneficial bacteria lives so u dont need a filter but imo u should consider a skimmer at this removes phosphate from the water also a nano is a great way to start but imo i wouldnt go smaller than a 20 gallon as stocking is limited on the smaller aquariums

have u got any idea of what fish u would like maybe we could help u work out work size tank and other equipment you would need to get yourself going

 

[leeandstacie]

I am new also to salt water and have a fair bit of tropical experience and one thing that is the same with both is that if you have a small tank and something goes wrong with the water its a #28### to get back to normal IE your 5 year old son unplugs your heater and its off for about 3 hours. That would have more impact on a smaller tank

Cheers

 

[Donya]

Are nano tanks good for beginners?

In general, if "goodness" is measured on a scale where better means easier, then no. As a general rule, smaller is harder since, as others have mentioned, there is much less room for error while learning. However, exactly how much harder a small tank is depends on what you want to keep. A nano for just a few hardy inverts/fish is an awful lot easier and more forgiving than a nano for finicky fish/corals.

Also, is the amount of maintenance the same as a freshwater setup?

Maintenance frequency goes up with smaller tanks, particularly for top-ups to keep it stable. I have to tweak all six of my sw tanks daily as far as top-ups go since they're all in the 1-20 gallon range. My 20 gallon can sometimes go every other day, but that's pushing it a bit. It's been my experience that the rest of the work (cleaning powerhead intakes, water changes, etc.) is comparable to fw tanks of the same size.

 

[smog_1130]

Well I should stay away from nano tanks then. Building up a tank is what excites me the most so I decided I will go for a larger one! I'm thinking of buying this decent size 55 gallon tall tank 30"W x 18"L x 21"H with a sump. Here's a pic:

Do you guys think this will be a good starter tank?

 

[seffieuk]

to the salty side of life, its a great place to be

That looks a really nice tank, but patience is a virtue over here, plan, plan and then plan some more!

I started with an orca 550 which held 26 gallons - it was perfect to learn the trade but I very quickly wanted to upgrade to a bigger tank. So the 55 gallon looks just about perfect to me.

First think about what you would like to keep, fish and coral wise - this will have a big impact on tank size and lighting requirements. Read lots of journels and take notes of the things you like, then research and ask questions - do lots of lists and again ask on here. Treat the planning as part of the fun, look for bargains and don't jump at the first thing you see, nor believe everything you are told by your lfs.

So instead of looking for tanks first, look at what you want to stock and then look for a tank to suit your stock

Start a journel so you can read back on your progress but also so we can help you along the way.

So a plan would be:

• Read journels and pinned threads
• Learn about cycling
• Decide on what sort of set-up - live rock with fish only or maybe live rock with fish and corals, or even no live rock, but I would not reccommend that route.
• Stock, what sort and size of fish do you like and want to keep
• Corals - what sort of corals will make a difference to the lights you choose
• Make a hardware list
• Make a fish list
• Make a coral list
• Start looking out for second hand bargains of hardware rather than buying cheaper new hardware

Anyways, good luck and most of all enjoy the ride, the fun starts here (and the stress!!)

Seffie x