Complete Newbie To Marine Has A Few Questions.

[VaegaVic]

I've been keeping tropicals for years now and when I move to the big house with the Mrs, I shall be having 1 Trop, 1 Marine and 1 pond.

The Mrs has always wanted a small marine tank, a nano if you will.

Problem is, I have absolutely no clue how to keep them. All the information I can find jumps straight in with terms I'm unfamiliar with.

I've been looking and though that a 60L Biorb with a marine conversion kit would be a perfect, small and cheap (compared to other marine tanks) starter marine.

Ideally for keeping 1-5 marine animals and that's it.

Anyone shed some general light on this idea? Including stocking.

 

[seffieuk]

I've been keeping tropicals for years now and when I move to the big house with the Mrs, I shall be having 1 Trop, 1 Marine and 1 pond.

Vic, sounds lovely

The Mrs has always wanted a small marine tank, a nano if you will.

Don't balme her, however the smaller the tank the more difficult to keep - dont go below 125 litres

Problem is, I have absolutely no clue how to keep them. All the information I can find jumps straight in with terms I'm unfamiliar with.

yes, we have a secret language,

I've been looking and though that a 60L Biorb with a marine conversion kit would be a perfect, small and cheap (compared to other marine tanks) starter marine.

No, no, no, please no!

Ideally for keeping 1-5 marine animals and that's it.

You say that now, but once you get started

Anyone shed some general light on this idea? Including stocking.

Can I suggest you read a couple of the threads re: nano tanks - try taking a look at Harrys, he is just starting a 125 litre tank and has been really good at asking questions his questions will help you understand what is required (its in the journel section within reef chitchat). You could also read my nano thread which is in the nano section. Get a pen and paper and write notes and then ask lots of questions for clarification. Start a thread in either the journel section or the nano section, that way you can keep everything in one place and it makes a great read for other newbies

Marines are an expensive, addictive hobby and most of us take things very slowly, mistakes can be costly

Good luck with your research and looking forward to your first questions

Seffie x

ps

to get you started:

FOWLR = fish only with live rock
Reef = live rock, corals and fish, inverts
skimmer = takes out organics from the tank, means less water changes and cleaner water
flow (powerheads) = need at least x 20 but more is better (most people use koralias when they start out)
RO = reverse osmosis water, takes all the heavy metals, phosphates etc out of the water, a must for a reef tank with corals.

 

[VaegaVic]

Excellent thank you so very much

Tropical fish is where my heart is unfortunately, so no worries about being bitten by the reef bug. I don't actually like Marine tanks as I every single one I've seen looks dirty. I have a slight cleaning OCD so a dirty tank will literally cause me to go insane.

Can I ask as to why not the marine biorb? I never recommend these for cold or trop, but thought they would be a good idea for marine?

 

[ben1987]

Excellent thank you so very much

Tropical fish is where my heart is unfortunately, so no worries about being bitten by the reef bug. I don't actually like Marine tanks as I every single one I've seen looks dirty. I have a slight cleaning OCD so a dirty tank will literally cause me to go insane.

Can I ask as to why not the marine biorb? I never recommend these for cold or trop, but thought they would be a good idea for marine?

because its crap

not enough surface area for gasseous exchange, their idea of adequate filteration for marines is a joke ( read up on berlin method )Not big enough really, crap shape - fish swim in circles, lighting isnt good enough for corals, nowhere for a skimmer....the list is endless!

 

[Gallagher]

plus, if you have a cleaning OCD the biorb can be a nightmare, and it looks extra dirty, due to the dreadful light they have one at my lfs and the clowns look so sad , compared to the ones in the proper reef

 

[Harry1996]

you could start off with a juwel tank like me or an orca tl450 its 58L or the tl550 its 128L both kits come with a skimmer,uv,heater,compartments wich you fill with live rock rubble and cheato,good lights for soft and lps corals but the skimmer is very bad in the 450. they also come whith 2 blue LEDs and 2 fans to keep it cool.

 

[VaegaVic]

you could start off with a juwel tank like me or an orca tl450 its 58L or the tl550 its 128L both kits come with a skimmer,uv,heater,compartments wich you fill with live rock rubble and cheato,good lights for soft and lps corals but the skimmer is very bad in the 450. they also come whith 2 blue LEDs and 2 fans to keep it cool.

Excellent, thanks for that, shall be ordering one in the near future for some clowns or perhaps a single seahorse.

 

[ben1987]

Read Seffies journal in the nano section! That will probably sell you an orca TL550