my saltwater tank setup

[kristine bean]

I just wanted to show my setup of my brand new, and very first saltwater tank. My boyfriend helped me get it all setup and filled. I'm so excited!! I just need a hydrometer and a skimmer now. I'm hoping I can fit the skimmer without having to move that shelf up a few notches. But we'll see....How does it look?

 

[rcl]

boy your boyfriend must really know what he is doing! Those pieces of coral sure look nice. That's a perfect spot for a goby to hide in! Maybe the happier they are, the more they will frown

 

[kristine bean]

yes my boyfriend rocks!

 

[Adrinal]

hmm from the avatars I would say... you are bf gf?

I just want to say a few things.

1) cool looks fun... I would get some rock for that back wall. mostly dead rock but some live rock would be nice too (before you get fish).

2) You know you are screwed now right? SW is even more addictive than FW and your life will now be under the hobbie's control. But, at least you will enjoy it.

Muhwhahahaha.

 

[kristine bean]

yes, us two geeks are together. we are also big BubbleBobble fans <3
hehehe

Does live rock make it more difficult to maintain? I didn't read much up on it because it looked kinda complicated. Plus I didnt wanna overcrowd such a small tank. Any suggestions of dead rock?

 

[Adrinal]

The main trend with SW tanks (fish only or reef) are to use Live rock for the filter.
If you do this most people will not use bioballs or other such stuff... though many still will trap the big pieces of poo in a filter and clean that as often as possible.. most dont even do this.
the SKIMMER is the seccond most importiant thing in this set up... it will mix all the water up, add air and pull out the ,,,well, protien.

Live rock.. yes you can get dead rock.. the more porus and less absorband the rock the better.
Live rock just means that it is from the ocean... it would be like if stores sold dirty filters and called them "live" filters.

In the same way that you can take a new filter, put it in an old running tank, then put it in your new tank with all the great bacteria.. you can seed dead rock with a few pieces of live rock.
I haven't really found a great deal on dead rock... I got some live rock when I first started... I am sure I will want more but I plan on trying to make some in the summer (I live in an apartment style condo... need to wait till I can drive over to my folks' and use their yard hehe).
It is best to get all your live/dead rock at once. The Live rock takes a while to cycle because there is lots of dead stuff in it.... the bacteria must eat it then die, then other bacteria eats that and dies... untill balance is found. besides it is fun to see all the different shrimps and worms and stuff come out of the rock... (latter your fish will eat them all probably hehe.

You also need to take the time to try to find BAD CRABS!!! mine got some fish before I found them they call them hitchhickers.
If you get Live sand that will help too

If you are going Fish only tank, you can use the same methods as the FW tanks. if you wish to stick with what you know.

Oh right your question... No, live rock makes it easier to maintain

 

[kristine bean]

okay well thanks for all the tips!

I will have to investigate on prices of live rock. I do have live sand though. maybe if I move my plants up I can fit a small rock behind there...

 

[Adrinal]

Not to be misleading... probably the next step is to figure out what you really want in the tank. Then go from there. If you have a certian fish or shrimp in mind...

From there you can decide how you wish to filter the tank... LR isnt a must... but if you do want LR you should get it First and leave lots of time for the rock to cycle... sorry I wanted to clarify that... I think I was making it seem like LR is the ONLY route.. that is not my intent

So figure out your end goal then you can work toward it

 

[Landlocked]

Just a note: If you're planning on getting new fish/invertebrates, be sure to read up on them first, so that you don't put them in, only to have them chow down on all of your other creatures.

Also, wait a good two weeks between additions.

 

[kristine bean]

Yeah thats definitly a good idea! I have been researching about sw fish for a good while now about each one's diet, compatibility, tank size requirement, etc, and I think I'm finally ready to make some decisions. Its difficult when different books and sites say totally different things though. But of course I'll be taking my time and doing every step correctly and not trying to cut any corners. This is serious stuff!

Also, this may be a totally stupid question but i haven't been able to find an answer yet: what do I do about the snails and hermit crabs when they get bigger? Don't I have to provide them with new shells or something? What happens when they outgrow theirs??

 

[Doggfather]

great looking tank!!!

 

[Landlocked]

Also, this may be a totally stupid question but i haven't been able to find an answer yet: what do I do about the snails and hermit crabs when they get bigger? Don't I have to provide them with new shells or something? What happens when they outgrow theirs??

First of all, it's folly to try to keep large hermit crabs and snails together in a tank. The hermits will just eat all the snails for their shells, even if the shell is useless to them. If you're going to want scavengers/algae eaters, choose either hermits or snails. Don't put them both in a tank together.

If you do choose hermits, you should provide a large variety of unoccupied shells for them to move into. Be sure to give them a good selection of different-sized shells.

 

[kristine bean]

aha! okay good thing I asked. wasn't a stupid question after all!


Adrinal - the fish I had planned to keep was a Yellow Watchman Goby for sure. I guess I would like some bumblebee snails or something also. And at first I wanted a pyschodelic mandarin but then I read that he doesnt get along with other gobies. So I went back to the drawing board. I thought of getting 2 orange-lined cardinals but I haven't been able to find them at my fish store and I only want to order fish online as a last resort.....Recently I thought the bi-color blenny was kinda cool and he's supposedly a peaceful algae eater, but then I read that some have been known to nip on inverts?? And then other sources said that he doesn't. I'm just confused now.....Also, do you think the blenny and goby would be friends? Or would the blenny be aggressive against a goby? I'm in a rut here

 

[Adrinal]

well, now you have reached the point I am at.
I have only had a SW tank for 2 years... and only one... and well I have taken things VERY slow...I have done most of my research on equipment and inverts...
I really cant recomend lots of different fish species
I would like to hear how your experiences go though

Some day I would like a mandarine fish as well... but you need a huge tank and LOTS of rock to grow its food... pods... not sure what a pod is... (but I have read extensivly on these fellas

I am now moving into stage 2 where the tank goes from FO to reef...
I only have a Yellow Tang ATM (its pretty cool... but needs a long tank for darting).

Anyhow GL with the fish choices

 

[kristine bean]

yeah that mandarian is badass looking. i really really wanted him!! but yeah you're right, he needs to be in a well established tank with live rock and have a lot of room and all that. Maybe for my NEXT tank I'll get him. Knowing me, in a few years I'll want to get a much bigger tank with fancier stuff once i'm experienced.