New to Marine

[Sunny.C]

Hey guys,
I have a 4 foot tank, and i want to get a marine setup going. I know nothing about marine and because i am on a tight budget i want to start by buying piece by piece. I am thinking i should start by buying the filteration system, what do you guys think? If you guys agree i don't know if i should go for a canister filter or those custom filter where they drill a hole in the tank and another little tank filter is at the bottom, don't know what they are called. What do you guys think?Please advise.

 

[Navarre]

doing this bit by bit will take time but during this time you can do alot of research so when the time comes to finally fill the tank you will be aware of most of the traps and dangers that most hobbiests face.

I would not invest in a canister filter as they have very limited scope for a marine tank. If you are on a tight budget then its certainly not high on the list of priorities.

Get the tank drilled and put a "Sump" under the main system. this allows much more water volume and extra filtration. I would suggest a Mineral/Miracle mud system for a beginner like yourself as this is a very natural and hassle free way of aiding the main tank to filter its water.

The tanks main filtraion should be done with liverock. Now this cannot be purchased right away as your tank will not be setup immediately so i would wait until the last moment before buying it. Make sure you save hard though becaus eliverock is not cheap and you will need alot of it. (1kg per 2 gallons / 1lbs per 1 gallon)

Your will need to seriously consider the type of lighting for the sytem and this will of course be governed by the types of corals (if any) you wll have in your tank. If you are in no hurry then i strongly recomend that you invest the extra cash and get a set of Metal halide lights.

Another i mportant factor is the skimmer. Whilst mineral mud tanks dont need skimmers I would still recomend one if you are starting out on this hobby will no experience.

Hope this helps.

 

[Sunny.C]

Ok...
1. The sump filteration is this something i need to do?? or do i need to get someone out to do this??? If it can be done is there any guides available???
* Also is there any links where in explains how a sump system works??

2.Can someone break it down for me what i should purchase first, and what are they used for???

 

[steelhealr]

SunnyC...just a list of a few things. Navarre is the large tank/sump expert, so, I'd consider his advice seriously. Some things to put on your list:

1) tank/sump as per Navarre above
2) powerheads for circulation
3) protein skimmer
4) heaters
5) temp probe /thermometer
6)algae scraper/magfloat
7) siphon
8) sea water...start thinking about whether you will make your own or purchase it; making your own will require an RO/DI filter or purchased distilled water
9) refractometer (if budget is an issue, a hydrometer will do, but, they stink in my books)

Live rock
live sand

SH

Ok...
1. The sump filteration is this something i need to do?? or do i need to get someone out to do this??? If it can be done is there any guides available???
* Also is there any links where in explains how a sump system works??

2.Can someone break it down for me what i should purchase first, and what are they used for???

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[Tiggs]

having just set up a 4ft 100g tank my advice is .....dont.

until you can spend enough money to not do it cheap and enough time to be able to research the sort of questions you are asking here i think you are heading for problems.

hope im wrong...........but i doubt it.

T

ps- live rock is the best example to put you off.

1kg per 2 gallons -a 4ft tank is what? 60g+ (mine is 4ft but over 100g) so you are looking at 30kg at least (i have over 70kg)

now times that by £10 a kilo if you can get it cheap (yes you can buy 2nd hand but even that is £6-7+)

so theres maybe £300+++ gone on lumps of rock.