Looking to start first saltwater aquarium
- Thread starter Ok_cowboy1
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Brew12
Electrical Gru
I watched craigslist for a few months before I saw this one come up. Actually, I saw it over a month before I bought it as the price dropped from $2500 to $2000 to $1500 to $1k. It's a bit bigger than I wanted for a first tank but just couldn't pass on that deal.
Waiting is the issue. It could take awhile before a bargain pops up. You just never know.
T5/led combo. I use one myself and I've built them for other people. I just use a t5 fixture, remove some of the bulbs and install leds. the t5s benefit coral health and the leds provide that cartoonish blue look that so many people seem to like.
Brew12
Electrical Gru
Might need a second heater. Not sure 200W will be enough.
Also, make sure you budget for a quarantine tank! You won't need it until you wish you would have used it!
OP
OP
Ok_cowboy1
Active Member
How big does the quarantine tank need to be?Might need a second heater. Not sure 200W will be enough.
Also, make sure you budget for a quarantine tank! You won't need it until you wish you would have used it!
Joey waid
Well-Known Member
Around 20 gallons, I think a ten would work too.
Brew12
Electrical Gru
I really try to stay away from specific recommendations on stuff like this because of my lack of experience, but doesn't the type of fish you want to quarantine matter too? Hardy fish being fine in a small tank, more sensitive fish needing a larger tank for water stability?
beaslbob
2500 Club Member
something just for your consideration. (if you haven't already set it up)
I put a 1/4" square plastic grid (lighting diffuser for dropped ceilings) (also called egg crate) about 3" in front of my back glass on a 55g. Then added two 4' 2 tube fluorescent utility lights behind the tank pointing forward to light up the area between the egg crate and back glass.
That formed an in-tank refugium to grow macro algaes as well as pods.
Nitrates dropped to unmeasureable in 3 weeks and phosphate followed a few months later.
total coasts were $10 egg crate, $8/fisture $6/two 6500k 32 watt tubes. about $38 or so.
IMHO this can totally replace, live rock, live sand, skimmers, filters, water changes and so on. The macro algaes simply do all that and return oxygen and fish food as well. Plus the macros also break up ammonia cycles by consuming ammonia directly.
For establishing the tank, I would recommend you use male mollies. Once you get them to survive a couple of weeks you'll be ready for the more expensive marine only fish.
But that's just my .02
and best tank ever.
I put a 1/4" square plastic grid (lighting diffuser for dropped ceilings) (also called egg crate) about 3" in front of my back glass on a 55g. Then added two 4' 2 tube fluorescent utility lights behind the tank pointing forward to light up the area between the egg crate and back glass.
That formed an in-tank refugium to grow macro algaes as well as pods.
Nitrates dropped to unmeasureable in 3 weeks and phosphate followed a few months later.
total coasts were $10 egg crate, $8/fisture $6/two 6500k 32 watt tubes. about $38 or so.
IMHO this can totally replace, live rock, live sand, skimmers, filters, water changes and so on. The macro algaes simply do all that and return oxygen and fish food as well. Plus the macros also break up ammonia cycles by consuming ammonia directly.
For establishing the tank, I would recommend you use male mollies. Once you get them to survive a couple of weeks you'll be ready for the more expensive marine only fish.
But that's just my .02
and best tank ever.
It can vary from fish to fish, yes. but the first few fish people generally purchase are the more hardy ones. after they gain more experience they can move on to more difficult species and it could be best to qt them by themselves.
