Starting A 4X2X2 Marine Tank

[matt_storey]

Ahoy salty boys.

After much deliberation (and ear ache from the missus) i'm getting rid of my tropical stock and using the tank to start a marine project.

Always been wanting to go salty for a while but from what i was reading it sounded so complicated, but now im ready for the challenge.

Obviously i cant get set up until the tropical fish im keeping are sold/rehomed which isn't a bad thing as it gives me time to research and read up.

What im really wanting to know is what i will need equipment wise? Some sort of stocking ideas, rough cost of live rocks, corals, sand?

I'm a total noob to this so appreciate as much help as i can get


2 final questions. 1. Am i right in thinking its better to start bigger with marines? 2. Would it be cheaper to buy a 4ft marine set up instead of setting up a 4ft tank?

 

[james_fish]

Good luck on the salty side Matt, send my best wishes to your wallet too!

Make sure you make a good old journal on your... journey to SW

James.

 

[lljdma06]

This is a nice sized tank and yes, while the initial cost may be higher for a larger tank, the system will be far more stable, so the costs balance out in the end.

Since this was a freshwater tank first, let me ask, have you treated the fish in this tank for any sort of disease, especially ich? If you had to treat for ich, usually the medications are copper-based, which is deadly to invertebrates, so it wouldn't hurt to invest in a copper test and test the water in the tank for copper. I did this for my 36g and as it turns out there was no copper in the tank, but it was worth it for the peace of mind. It saves some money if you can convert a tropical tank which is what I did.

What's the lighting in this tank and what type of corals do you see yourself growing? I was very lucky, having converted from planted setups, it was easier for me to just keep the lighting I had and swap out the bulbs. If you have enough light already for softies, this is a great way to save some money in an initial setup, by just opting to switch out the bulbs in your current fixture.

I wouldn't skimp on LR. What you can do is purchased what they call baserock for the bottom of the tank and then put LR on top of it. The LR will eventually seed the base rock. You can also save money by using uncured LR. But I'll be honest, I opted for cured LR from a very good lfs. Saved me the hassle of a heavy or lengthy cycling process.

Other equipment you'll need

Sump
Protein skimmer
heater
powerheads (aim for 20x turnover unless you are doing a planted marine, then 10x is fine)
Buckets to store water and for mixing SW
algae scraper
smaller buckets
syphon tubing

How do you plan on getting your water? There are a few ways...

1. purchase it from your lfs (expensive)
2. harvest it from an ocean
2. make your own with RO/DI water and a salt mix

This is a question to ask because your tank is large and you can find a decent RO/DI unit for not too much on eBay. I gotta work, but this will get you started for now.

llj

 

[matt_storey]

I personally haven't treated anything in this tank, cant say the previous chap hasnt though.

That is ALOT of helpful information, thanks! looking into prices now

 

[lljdma06]

I personally haven't treated anything in this tank, cant say the previous chap hasnt though.

That is ALOT of helpful information, thanks! looking into prices now

If it's a second hand tank and you don't know the history and you've never kept invertebrates in it, I'd test for copper just to be safe. While I myself haven't been doing marine systems very long, the best systems I've read about, and I've been reading the journals for year, alway err on the side of safe.

As for stocking, what's the size tank in gallons?

Btw, you have a very nice Missus. I only hope that when I finally get married, I'll have a very nice Mister, who'll let me have my tanks.

 

[lljdma06]

Whoops! Forgot to add one more crucial piece of equipment. A refractometer. This measures the specific gravity of the SW. How salty the water is. There are cheaper hydrometers, but a refractormeter can be purchased for as little as $35 depending on where you shop. I spent more because I'm lazy.

And test kits. In the beginning, you'll need to test for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and pH. As you move on, you'll need to add Calcium, Phophorus, Alkalinity, and Magnesium tests to your roster, especially if you want to keep corals. Many here recommend Salifert kits, I can't afford them where I am so I'm using API. Gets the job done. You gotta beat the nitrate test solution bottles to death, though, to get good results on your tests.

 

[matt_storey]

Its a 120g (US) - How does that leave me for stocking

Managed to get rid of all my stock so now emptying the tank.

I imagine the bacteria in my filter is no good what so ever for a marine set up so is it possible to wash it under the tap (to kill the bacteria) or should i just buy new media?

I've also picked up a small 2ft old marine tank with some live rock and sand in which i assume will be fine to put in this new set up. It has all been out of the water for a few months.

 

[lljdma06]

I'm about to get on the road now (just finished with church) but I'll get back to you. Hold your thoughts for a wee spell.

Did you test for copper yet?? I really would recommend doing that & the tank has to be filled with water for that.

L

 

[matt_storey]

Negative on the cooper checked it last night - will still give it a thorough clean though.

Just been reading up a bit online. Is a filter required? dont i just need a protein skimmer and lt of live sand and rock for the initial set up?

Think im going to start with a fish only set up and gradually add some corals (when my wallets replenished )

 

[ChilliPepper]

No filter is required. Your live rock is your filter, that's why it's important to have the right amount of it. Protein skimmer a must on a tank this size, and live sand is not needed, as the live rock will seed it in time.

Also, with the size of the tank, you may want to investigate getting the tank drilled so you can use a sump. Makes life a lot easier, and looks so much nicer too as you can put most of the equipment in the sump

 

[matt_storey]

Ah brilliant, can sell the filter then

Is there a specific sand i need to use? Am i right in thinking coral sand?

As for a sump a) is a necessary? b) do i need to drill the tank to have one? c) what exactly is the purpose of the sump?

What i'm hoping to do is set up a basic simple system and gradually over time add to it.


Sorry for all the questions, i just want to be 100% confident in what i am doing before i go ahead

 

[demasonisrule]

Ah brilliant, can sell the filter then

Is there a specific sand i need to use? Am i right in thinking coral sand?

As for a sump a) is a necessary? b) do i need to drill the tank to have one? c) what exactly is the purpose of the sump?

What i'm hoping to do is set up a basic simple system and gradually over time add to it.


Sorry for all the questions, i just want to be 100% confident in what i am doing before i go ahead

a)No, not necessary, but definitely helps b)No, you don't need to drill, but it is much more reliable if you do (HOB overflows can loose suction, and that can cause huge problems) c) The purpose is hide your equipment (you won't have heaters, skimmers, etc. in your DT), increase water volume, it can add more flow by way of the return pump, the water level in your DT will remain constant, with only the water level in your sump changing with evaporation, it enables you to have a refugium more easily, and it is also a better spot to dose chemicals than the display.

 

[matt_storey]

Sounds like i should look into it. How large a sump will i need? i have a 2x1x1.5 tank i bought today (simply because it came half full of live rock, a hydrometer and more) will that suffice?

Also is it coral sand i need?

 

[matt_storey]

Brought 20kg of live sand, Will probably need double that but due to the cost i thought it best to buy 1 bag and see how much more i needed.

Just need a rough estimate on how much LR i'll need. i have about 10kg currently (no where near enough, but it was free with a tank i bought) Whats the best way to clean it?

As for starting up, whats the best way to do it? add sand, rocks, water, heater? As the rock works as filtration is the skimmer required for cycling?

Again sorry for all the questions!

Oh! lol, can i start the cycling/curing process with the 10kg of LR i already have and gradually add to it over the 6-8 weeks cycling?

It may seem i'm trying to rush things i know... I just want to feel like im doing something and not staring into an empty tank

 

[ALW]

Sounds like i should look into it. How large a sump will i need? i have a 2x1x1.5 tank i bought today (simply because it came half full of live rock, a hydrometer and more) will that suffice?

Also is it coral sand i need?

Sumps should be around 1/10th the size of the main tank. You will need about 50-60kg. If you bought Live rock then it should already be cured. As for stocking, depends on the shape of the tank. Is it long? What are the dimensions LxWxH?