Just Bought A New 2 Foot Tank

[Robris]

Hi guys,

I have just bought a new 105 litre 2 foot tank and I am going to go for my first marine setup, now i know its recommended to go much bigger for begginers but this is all I can fit in my house atm so i have no choice but to work with it .

Here is a list of things I am going to buy soon for it, if you could recommend advice any of the parts or if Im missing something then please let me know.

* Filter (looking at Eheim 2213)
* Salt
* Marine test kit
* Protein Skimmer (dont even know what these look like)
* Hydrometer


From what I have learned and read up on so far, this is the process Ill be doing:

1) Fill the tank up with Salt Water (can I mix the salt inside the actual tank when starting? or do I have to do it in buckets and pour it in the tank?)

2) Attach the filter and get it running

3) Add Live Rock into the tank.

Now after these 3 steps do I just leave it running for a few weeks? Or do I add a couple demsels after a couple days and leave them in there to cycle the tank?


Also, I do plan on adding coral to the tank as Just live rock and fish looks a bit dull, so could I get anyone to recommend what type of lighting I should use? (remember its a 2 foot)

Also I understand that Live rock and alot of coral need a good flow through the water, any ideas on achieving this?


Ill stop asking questions for now lol, I know there is a ton of information out there and alot on pinned topics, but getting some answers to direct questions im asking helps alot.


Thanks in advance,

Rob

 

[QuotheRaven]

Some sort of substrate, sand or crushed coral, I prefer crushed coral merely for the PH buffer...

When going for Live Rock you have to decide if your going for cured or uncured, if cured remember to transfer it in water so you minimise die off

Oh and regarding water flow you will want say two 500 litre per hour powerheads for your tank maybe more when corals are in there...

 

[Musho3210]

Im pretty sure aragonite buffers better than crushed coral, but really, neither really do much but look good, they only start to dissolve and buffer in really low pH. Plus crushed coral traps detritus etc which is bad, and burrowing species cant burrow in it... So i would definately choose aragonite sand. JMO though

 

[QuotheRaven]

Ooo Thanks for that response, I might get myself some aragonite now to

 

[Lynden]

I recommend oolitic aragonite sand for almost all setups; by contrast I recommend coarse crushed coral for none. It can be useful in sumps and for buffer in freshwater filters.

 

[Robris]

I recommend oolitic aragonite sand for almost all setups; by contrast I recommend coarse crushed coral for none. It can be useful in sumps and for buffer in freshwater filters.

THe substrate isnt a problem, Im most probably getting argonite.


If I was to get a sump for my tank, would that eliminate the need for the eheim filter I mentioned? I have plenty of room in the cabinet so I wouldnt mind buying another smaller tank to put in there, the problem is I dont know how they run, whether they make alot of splashing noise, and whether or not they are hard to install.

What forces water to travel from a hose/pipe into the sump? And then what forces the water back into the tank from the sump?

 

[pengy666]

Yes, IMHO a sump is the best way for a marine tank!

Do not even waste your money or time buying a hydrometer you need a refractometer! I f you going sump then you can put skimmer inside this and also you will not need an external filter!

But also yes mix the salt water in the tank then add LR then add substrate into tank, If you put LR onto sand you will get dead spots and it can be bad for parmaeters then, so add sand after

Then wait for 4-6 weeks for the water to mature, spike and then add Clean up crew and stock!!

 

[Musho3210]

its not the deadspots that is the problem with rock over sand, its the collapsing

 

[pengy666]

no it isnt.

 

[Musho3210]

flow gets rid of deadspots, get enough flow in the right place, you may not have deadspots with rock over sand. Rock over sand, burrowing fish/shrimp/other things, boom.

Sand over rock, you can still have deadspots, i dont see how rock over sand can create more deadspots over sand over rock. Care to elaborate?

 

[pengy666]

I gotta say that I getting a bit tired of your crap! I havent seen many threads where your reply is anything but the opposite to what any one says,

Oh wait sorry the one where no replied when you went to a discussion about some new food, corporate bull!

How can anything get under a piece of rock? If its pushed into the sand?

I am getting so tired of your crap I really am deciding why I should even bother with this forum.

I also realised why the other day too, your only 14!

 

[Musho3210]

you havent elaborated why there would be more deadspots yet. If there is rock over the sand (that means you added sand first and did not push the rock in) and things dig underneath it, it can shift the weight and collapse the structure

I mean, by all means, leave, im not telling you you shouldnt, it is the easiest way out, but, it seems like a pretty stupid thing to do, JMO though.

No ones always right, not you, and not me, but, if you think you are, and you cant take it when someone else expresses their opinions against you, feel free to find a new forum.

And the very best thing about being 14 is.... i can spend nearly all my time on fish stuff.

The reason why im always disagreeing and nearly none of my posts are agreeing, is because i find it a waste of time going somewhere and say, Ski-fletch is correct or Andy is correct to about every single thread they post on, that would be borderline spamming..... I dont type everything i think, i dont disagree with everyone, i just dont type on the posts that i agree with.

Now, elaboration time from you.

 

[black molly3]

welcome to marine. i stated my first marine a 6gal tank. you are probably best of with arogonite sand as it buffers the ph.
you will need some test kits for ph ect. what are you planning on having a FOWLER (fish only with live rock) is probably best for a small tank like that. im pretty sure you can get a pair of clownfish i that which should look nice but if im wrong then someone please correct me.
here is my unfinished 2ft tank after i went on holiday and it turned into a catastophy when we had a power cut

a refractometer is probably best instead of a hydrometer they are digital and are more accurate.
another piece of advice before buying anyfish reasearch on it first.
goodluck

 

[Musho3210]

ah, here i go disagreeing again, how bad must i be

Refractometers arent digital remember, they use some wierd refraction and mirrors to determine how many solids are in it blah blah blah. Its the digital meters that are digital But yes, most refractometers are better than swing arm hydrometers.

 

[pengy666]

Being not 14 means I can spend bucket loads of money on marine?

I really dont understand what you are getting at?

Its fairly straight forward?

You stick rock on sand nothing is gonna flow under it?