Thinking Of Starting A S-w Tank

[Kombat]

I've been keeping fw tanks for 3 years and want to start a sw tank. I have an empty 55-gallon with which to do it.

I am considering FO or FOWLR. Honestly, the only reason I wouldn't do a FOWLR tank is the cost of the live rock and extra lighting, though from what I've read they are actually easier to maintain than a FO tank. What's the opinion here on that?

My main concern is water changes. Everything I have read said you need a large container to create the salt mix. Where does this go? My wife, nor I, will be happy with a large garbage can sitting next to the tank in the living room? I just don't get where this large container full of salt water is kept between water changes? What about the water? Is tap water ok or does it need to be filtered/purified somehow?

Also, do I need a protein skimmer if it's a FO tank? What if it's a FOWLR tank?

For a FO or FOWLR tank, will a regular HOB or canister filter suffice? Or do I need a wet/dry system? My reading says yes a standard filter is fine, but just want to ask your opinions.

 

[kj23502]

I've been keeping fw tanks for 3 years and want to start a sw tank. I have an empty 55-gallon with which to do it.

I am considering FO or FOWLR. Honestly, the only reason I wouldn't do a FOWLR tank is the cost of the live rock and extra lighting, though from what I've read they are actually easier to maintain than a FO tank. What's the opinion here on that?

The live rock is well worth the cost in the long run. It will enable you to easily keep certain fish that you wouldn't otherwise be able to keep. (The ones that forage off the live rock.) You don't have to have a fancy light setup to have live rock. you only need that if you're going to have corals. Basic lighting may be enough to grow the popular purple coralline algae.

My main concern is water changes. Everything I have read said you need a large container to create the salt mix. Where does this go? My wife, nor I, will be happy with a large garbage can sitting next to the tank in the living room? I just don't get where this large container full of salt water is kept between water changes? What about the water? Is tap water ok or does it need to be filtered/purified somehow?

Mine is in the basement. I have a few water containers that I'll use to bring it up to do the water changes. We're hooking up an Reverse Osmosis Unit which purifies the water. Since it's FO or FOWLR you may get away with tap water. Keep in mind that many things affect saltwater fish, including the pipes leaching things into the water. Or the city suddenly deciding they need to change what they put in the water.

Also, do I need a protein skimmer if it's a FO tank? What if it's a FOWLR tank?

Not necessarily. Keep up on water changes and have a lower bio-load and I think you'll be fine. Spend the $ you would have on a skimmer and get live rock.

For a FO or FOWLR tank, will a regular HOB or canister filter suffice? Or do I need a wet/dry system? My reading says yes a standard filter is fine, but just want to ask your opinions.

You can have a canister filter. A lot of people put live rock in the canister filter as it's able to deal with more. LR can process nitrates deep within it. I'd scrap the canister filter idea and buy Live Rock instead.

 

[ben1987]

You dont need extra lighting to keep live rock. Extra lights come into play when you want corals. I would say FOWLR would be easier to maintain as there is no filter maintainace or changing of media. with LR you just need flow around it, then it acts as the filter.

You can keep the water change barrel where ever. You need to changed about 10% weekly. I dont store water. I have two buckets that i fill with salt and water. Heat and put a little pump in and wait til the water is clear. Takes an hour topps. You get used to ow much salt you need. Then i drain the tank to a marker and then re-fill with the new stuff. I dotn have a big water butt or anything. Tap water can be filled with phosphates that may cause bad algae though

Tap water should be fine for fish, RO is a must when corals come in. MAke sure your water is a decent quality and make sure you treat it. Any copper that may have been used in the tank before may stop you keeping inverts.

Skimmer would be nice if you were planning on having quite a heavy fish stock. Not 100% needed though. Remember that you will only be able to keep a fraction of the SW fish in that tank compared to the inch per gallon FW rule.

You wouldnt need any filter with LR

 

[shibby]

if going for a FO i would go skimmer and external canister, since you arent keeping inverts you dont have to worry about potential nitrate problems since fish seem fine with nitrate levels well fine up to a certain point.


if you can afford it though i would go FOWLR your be bitten by the reef bug in no time and LR will filter and also cycle your tank

 

[SkiFletch]

Some good advice above. Couple things I want to echo. First, you don't need high lighting with FO or FOWLR. So long as you're not keeping photosynthetic invertebrates or corals, there's no need for high lights. A simple T8 tube will suffice. I'd reccomend getting a tube in the 10000k spectrum just for visual appearance, but the color temp of the bulb is up to you.

Second, if you live in ohio, chances are you have a basement? Great place to store water You can get a big can and some 5g buckets to transfer water out of it

Third, a little rock in the tank would look more natural to me but you can totally mix and match, some live rock, and some base rock (dead/dried LR) to keep costs down

And last, unless you're going with really messy voracious predators, a skimmer is not needed on a FO or FOWLR. Skimmers help keep phosphates at bay and the water very clean for corals. Without corals they are not a necessity.

 

[Kombat]

Thanks everyone for the advice. I've made up my mind to go FOWLR.

Just so I am clear, with live rock, I don't need any filter? I know the LR handles biological filtration, but what about mechanical?

 

[SkiFletch]

LR does an OK job at mechanical filtration but isn't the greatest tbh. If really polished clear water is important to you, a small HOB with mechanical filtration wouldn't be a bad idea. Just be careful to clean it frequently

 

[Kombat]

LR does an OK job at mechanical filtration but isn't the greatest tbh. If really polished clear water is important to you, a small HOB with mechanical filtration wouldn't be a bad idea. Just be careful to clean it frequently

Thank you.