new to hobby

tryisforfail · Dec 12, 2012

so i found you guys threw google and before i registerd i looked here to find somthing that would help me get started and didn't really look much but the title didn't answer what i was looking for

so anyways ive been in the fresh water hobby for a good 6 years now and have always wanted to have a salt water tank, but have no clue were to begin or what to look for or what to buy, im looking to start with a smaller tank like a 30 or 35g just would like to no whats the best way for some1 like me to start a nice and healthy tank, money isn't an issue but i dont wanna spend a bunch load on somthing i may not be intersted in when i get everything going so can some 1 help me get started please

SeahorseKeeper · Dec 12, 2012

Hi, welcome to R2R!! If you want to start with a smaller tank, I would go with a 40 breeder with a sump setup. The 40 breeder has great dimensions. The sump will give you a little extra water volume and a place to put some of the equipment (heater and skimmer). The first year of having a saltwater tank is probably the toughest. The tank goes through its ugly stages of diatom and algae outbreaks. Patience is key in keeping a saltwater tank.

Do you know what type of livestock you want to keep? Do you want corals or just fish?

Downbeach · Dec 13, 2012

I would start by reading this bookhttp://www.bulkreefsupply.com/the-r...y-by-julian-sprung-and-j-charles-delbeek.html. I would also suggest that one of the first pieces of equipment you get is a good RO/DI unit like this one. A good refractometer with some calibration solution like this one. I would also get some basic test kits for pH, NO2, NO3 and NH4 herehttp://www.bulkreefsupply.com/testing/salifert.html.