Starting Out... Again!

[jlane1980]

Hi,

My Intentions:

I intend to start a Marine (Saltwater) set-up completely from scratch, with i hope to house Seahorses, and, maybe 1 or 2 compatible fish!

My History:

I had kept a Marine tank for 2 years, a while ago. Unfortunately, i had to get rid of it due to a house move, and not having enough room! I was then given (returned) my first ever tank back, an AR 620T (See specs HERE).
I decided to continue the use of this tank in the way that it had previously been used (Tropical, freshwater). Unfortunately, i'm not getting anywhere near the enjoyment out of this tank as i had previously. I think mainly because i have the Marine Bug!!!

My Plan:

So, in the next couple of days, i'm going to be taking my Fish back to my LFS, their normally pretty good, and would probably give me credit for the store. I'm then going to clean out all of the filters and tank thoroughly! Then, taking my time, doing things properly (i fully expect this to take 4-5 months, or possibly more!) and thinking things through fully, i would like to get this looking beautiful.

My Rules/'Commandments':

1. Thou shalt take my time over every decision, no impulse/snap buys. (Speaks for itself, really!)
2. Thou shalt post/blog everything on here before i do it. (That way, if i'm making a mistake, somebody can try to stop me first!)
3. Thou shalt abide by the adage: "Good things come to those who wait". (I've rushed things before, and whilst it looked good to start off with, it turned out all wrong, in the long term!)
4. Thou shalt follow strict water changing and cleaning schedules. (I'm going to actually make a schedule this time!)
5. Thou shalt listen to ALL advice. But filter it as necessary*. (See below)

So, that's about it. Wish me luck on my long and, probably, arduous journey. I hope to speak again soon. I'll leave you with this:

As Baz Lhurmann once said:
Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it’s worth. But trust me on the sunscreen…


Peace Out.

Jon

 

[sorgan]

Welcome back, seahorses can be hard to keep but we love a challenge on the salty side
Low flow and no stinging corals is the way to go. Gobies, pipefish and the odd blennie will be good with horsies, nothing nippy or to fast to feed.

 

[jlane1980]

Right, now that i've moved this to the right forum I'll list all the equipment i have, also, i'd need to know what things i need. A shopping list, sort of thing.

I have:

AR 620T Tank (full details above). (130L)
Built in Trickle filter (750LpH)
Built in hood lighting (2x T5 lights)
An external Aqua One Aquis 700 Canister Filter (700 LpH)
Internal heater.
Filter media (Wool, Ceramic noodles)


Things I need:

Hydrometer.
API Marine Master Test Kit.
Substrate (I'm thinking coral sand)
Live rock.
I'd like to use something for the horses to hang on to. (I've read somewhere that you can use strands of marine grade rope.) ???
Salt.

I'm sure there's other things i'd need, please, let me know, so i can write a decent shopping list.


I would like to cycle the tank naturally, i'm sure there's a thread on here that would show/tell me how to do that correctly, but is there any differences between Marine/Tropical, when it comes to cycling? What is the best way to cycle a marine tank (fish-less)?

I've been using this link as my main reference/reading source, does anyone recommend anywhere else?

Welcome back, seahorses can be hard to keep but we love a challenge on the salty side
Low flow and no stinging corals is the way to go. Gobies, pipefish and the odd blennie will be good with horsies, nothing nippy or to fast to feed.

Does this mean that i have too much filtration? I was thinking of buying a Powerhead, to add to flow, but may not now!

 

[MrLiam]

I had the same tank as FW its a good and nice tank but its a shame its so tall as I found it difficult to clean due to the height and im not short at 6ft.

 

[Chris_C]

You want a refractometer rather than a hydrometer mate .. hydrometers can give false readings!

 

[woody88]

The LR is your biological filter mate.
Put either cured/ uncured LR in your tank once it's up to temp and salinity and leave it to it.
If you get readings for ammonia (you will if it's uncured LR) just test daily until ammonia and nitrite read zero. Then test again 24 hrs later and if still zero then perform a 50% water change and you should be good to go.

Don't seahorses need an established tank?

 

[sorgan]

Yeah usually, need a lack of bubbles aswell.
Depending on species hydroids can kill them enall

 

[jlane1980]

Perhaps i should have explained myself better!

I intend to eventually have SeaHorses in the tank. Firstly, i would like to fully establish the tank, with LR and 1 or 2 compatible (preferably pretty!) fish, and a clean up grew, of some sort.

Is Woody88 saying that i don't need to cycle the tank the same way as i would with a tropical. Just add Live Rock, wait 24 hours(ish) for the ammonia to drop and jobs done as far a cycling is concerned? It all seems a little too easy to me! Hence commandment no. 3!

Also, how much LR do you recommend, i presume there is a ratio of LR:Litres?

 

[weezawoo]

Hi
It is different in that you don't need to add anything to the tank i.e ammonia like in a FW tank. There will some kind of die off from the LR and this will produce a cycle. You need to keep testing the tank for ammonia nitrite and nitrate etc and when you get 0 do as he has advised

There is a calculator at the top of the page to figure LR required

 

[fishy55599]

Perhaps i should have explained myself better!

I intend to eventually have SeaHorses in the tank. Firstly, i would like to fully establish the tank, with LR and 1 or 2 compatible (preferably pretty!) fish, and a clean up grew, of some sort.

Is Woody88 saying that i don't need to cycle the tank the same way as i would with a tropical. Just add Live Rock, wait 24 hours(ish) for the ammonia to drop and jobs done as far a cycling is concerned? It all seems a little too easy to me! Hence commandment no. 3! it may be done in 24 hours, but your levels need to be right b4 u add anything

Also, how much LR do you recommend, i presume there is a ratio of LR:Litres? it is about 1kg per 9 litre.

 

[woody88]

Yep 1KG of LR for every 9L of water. Or do what I do, whatever how many gallons your tank holds, half it and that will tell you many kg of LR you need min for adequate filtration. Remember the LR is the heart and lungs of a marine tank.
You also need plenty of flow around the LR to allow it to filter. You need 20X turn over.

IE 100L tank would require a 2000lph powerhead to produce 20X turn over per hour.

Cycling a marine tank is much easier and generally quicker than cycling a tropical tank if you get cured LR. Even un cured LR in the early stages of die off wouldnt take that long to cycle.
Once the LR is in you don't do anything apart from testing for amm, nitrite, nitrate and ph. No dosing, adding fish, water changes! Easy peasy! Lol

 

[jlane1980]

OK, that would mean i need about 15kg of live rock minimum, that would cost.... WOW £150. This stuff ain't cheap!

I buy most my stuff from here.

If i added a little of the rock at a time, eg add 50kg, wait for another pay day and then add another 50kg? Would that mess with my cycle, or should i add a fish?

Is cured rock cheaper than the stuff i've found above? I would like to get it cheaper, i have a second child on the way, and i think my wife would kill me if i spent £150 on rocks!!!

Also, ref the water movement (it was suggested that i have 2600lph(ish)), because my plan is to have Seahorses in there eventually, would that not be too much movement for them? I think someone said earlier they need less movement and 'calmer' waters?

Sorry for all the questions. I'm not planning to get any of this up and running for a week or 2 yet, so i want to make sure i get things just perfect.

 

[StandbySetting]

Don't buy rock from your LFS or online retailer, get it from somewhere like aquarists classifieds or from someone breaking down a tank, you'll get it much cheaper.

You want a refractometer rather than a hydrometer mate .. hydrometers can give false readings!

Both can give false readings, both are as accurate as each other providing they're calibrated regularly.

 

[weezawoo]

I use them but with another 10% off
try to find someone in your area breaking down their tank as its normally around £5 a kg!

 

[jlane1980]

Oddly, i was just looking at aquarist-classified, and i can see a few deals there that should make things cheaper!

How do i know it's not going to have dangerous hitchikers on it?