New Nano

[Orodreth]

Hello all you saltwater people!

Up until now I have been a freshwater person with two tanks to my name and now, as seems to be the natural course, I am heading into marine territory. Soon (a couple of weeks) I will be getting my new nano tank - a 24g one. I think its the JBJ Nano Cube kind...although don't quote me on that just yet.

I have been researching quite a lot already, especially using all the links and topics on this forum, but there are still some things I am unsure of. I guess that is inevitable really as there are a fair few differences from freshwater. One thing I will certainly be doing is taking it all slowly and only doing things after I know exactly what is going on.

Any tips or advice is, of course, most welcome and indeed encouraged!

There are lots of things I wanted to ask but typically I have forgotten most of them right now - one I do remember is about RO water. I have read lots about it although, as is always the way, the internet is very contradictory. Is RO water a MUST have for marine tanks? It seems most people around here do use it and so I was thinking that it is. If you don't use it, what can occur?

Okay, well I'm done for now. Sorry for the silly question,

Bye bye.

 

[BigC]

Is RO water a MUST have for marine tanks?

Whilst you can use tap water, RO water is best as the unit will discharge most (90+%) impurities from the raw tapwater. Using tapwater will lead to all sorts of Algal problems in the long run and it will leave you disheartened and maybe make you give up. So go with RO water from the start, either produce your own or buy it from a reputable LFS.
Regards
BigC

 

[Orodreth]

Thank you for answering my question, I guess RO water it is then


Is there a specific salt anyone can recommend based on their own experiences and also what size do you think I should buy? Does it have a shelf life or anything?

 

[Crazy fishes]

Thank you for answering my question, I guess RO water it is then


Is there a specific salt anyone can recommend based on their own experiences and also what size do you think I should buy? Does it have a shelf life or anything?

There is a hundred and one different salts out there and everyone has their favourite. One salt which I think most people are pleased with, and I use because I think its brilliant, is Seachem reef salt if you are keeping a reef or marine salt if it's fish only. Buy as big as you can, I buy the bucket because in the long run it is cheaper. Just provide a cool dry storage space and the stuff is fine for years to come.

Regards

 

[SkiFletch]

Your questions can't really be answered easily without knowing what you want to put in your tank

Keeping a reef with photosynthetic corals and inverts is the more common way people go (especially those who use JBJ nano cubes). given that, yes RO is pretty much a must. If you're going fish only or fish only with live rock however and don't have plans for corals, you can sometimes get away with tapwater. Unfortunately that varies by locale too...

Same goes with salt mix. Seachem reef salt is fantastic if you're keeping a reef. If not, any old salt will do.

Hope that helps