need some help on setting up a SW tank

[spanair]

hello guys,

I'm starting a SW tank soon, i'm already starting to buy bits by bits and then finally I will get the live rock maybe in a month or so.

At the moment I have a FW tank there where the SW will go, the tank it's a Juwel 180 (180Litres) tank. It has 1 powerhead inside the filter at the moment that came with the aquarium.

What I want my SW to be for now is just basically, live rock, live sand or crushed coral, 1 more powerhead maybe 2, the skimmer and a few fishes plus the R/O thing that makes the R/O water so I dont have to buy it from the shop and some buckets of salt. Then I just want a few fishes, like maybe a small pair of clowns (like nemo) and a few other fishes which aren't too big and dont grow very big.

I went to a couple of shops and they gave me different anwers onto what I will need for setting up a SW tank, but I wanted to ask you guys as you know and will be honest.

So I have a few questions that I will apreciate alot if you can answer and help me on.

1) At the moment i'm just about to buy a Biostar Flotor Protein Skimmer from Aqua Medic. It says that it's good for tanks up to 260litres, and vey good on juwel tanks like mines. Is this skimmer any good or is it not worth buying ?

It's on ebay and I might get it, the descrition for it is as follows:

*Almost Brand new Biostar Flotor Protein Skimmer from Aqua Medic. I bought it a few months ago from Animal House, but as I am moving abroad it won't be of much use there. The Biostar is a very effecient skimmer which can be used for tanks up to 260 litres. Perfect for Juwel tanks with or without a sump. The wheel inside will create a huge biological capacity and add oxygen to your tank. An exellent skimmer, which is also very quiet!!! *

2) my next question is, how much live rock do I need?, it's very expensive, but I dont want to buy more than I need. I'm only going to have a few marine fishes in there for now, and later on when I know more I might get into the reef keeping type thing.

3) what type of substrate should I go for that is best for my set-up?, I know of the live sand or crushed coral.

That's actually all the questions I have for now, but if I have any more doubts I will ask again as I know you guys can honestly help me onto what I need and what not.

Thanks very much

 

[ste2k3]

excellent choice of skimmer . either the biostar or the deltec mc500 internal, its up to you.

I'd go for crushed coral (coral sand or coral gravel) on the bottom but only a fine scattering about 1cm deep.

as for live rock, I'd go for as much as possable. try looking round for second hand rock coming out of a tank someone is closing down. you can normally get this for £6 per kilo and its just as good (if not better) than new rock.

ste

 

[spanair]

that's great thanks, i'll be sure to buy that skimmer and go from there.

Since a very long time i've wanted a SW tank and now I can afford it, just I must get it , i've seen some very very beautfyll marine fishes and other things that I keep going to watch at my lfs, they are just very different to the FW fishes in their own way, and the crushed coral and everything else makes them looks so beautyfull too .

Thanks for the great advice, at least I know what to look for now.

I also have another question .

Will having what I mentioned above be all the necesary things for a fish only SW tank ok? will i need anything else, like a sump or is that optional ?

thanks ste

*What I want my SW to be for now is just basically, live rock, live sand or crushed coral, 1 more powerhead maybe 2, the skimmer and a few fishes plus the R/O thing that makes the R/O water so I dont have to buy it from the shop and some buckets of salt. Then I just want a few fishes, like maybe a small pair of clowns (like nemo) and a few other fishes which aren't too big and dont grow very big.*

 

[ste2k3]

you will need your skimmer, a couple of good powerheads, such as the maxijet 900's or 1200's and a good amount of live rock. I'd use the internal juwel filter as a chemical filter with carbon and rowaphos in. I think thats about it. with the powerheads, put them on the back glass and position them so the jets hit the front glass at the same point so that they cause turbulence and not flow.

ste

 

[spanair]

Thanks very much Ste

Anything else I will let you know, that's pretty much all I need for now, but i'm sure i'll need to ask some other things soon enough being new to the SW scenario B) .

 

[NIGE]

since your setting up an empty tank with just a skimmer live rock and powerheads you could buy un-cured rock and cure it yourself in the tank. When the rocks cured the whole tank will be and your be ready for fish,
just buy a couple of air freshners if your do

 

[spanair]

The tank at the moment is a fresh water set-up with fishes, plants etc in it at the moment. I'll be buying cured live rock as i've heard it's better, and my lfs stocks it for not to bad of a price. Still expensive for a rock , only kidding, but it is

 

[Landlocked]

The tank at the moment is a fresh water set-up with fishes, plants etc in it at the moment. I'll be buying cured live rock as i've heard it's better, and my lfs stocks it for not to bad of a price. Still expensive for a rock , only kidding, but it is

Yes, it's expensive, but it's worth it! It often comes with bonuses, such as creatures and interesting types of algae.