New to SW.... Need your help!

FL salt 86 · Jan 16, 2016

I've been skimming and reading on this forum for a while now and I am finally wanting to move from freshwater to saltwater aquariums. I have been keeping freshwater tanks for about 10 years now with great success. I keep seeing all of these awesome saltwater tanks and am looking to make the plunge into it. I am looking for some answers on the best way to get started. I am looking to start with fowlr tank. Some of the basic questions I have are pretty much about tank set up. Can someone give me a list of all the stuff/equipment I need to get started? I want to start with that so I am able to get all necessary supplies prior to even starting to get into filling the aquarium. Also am I able to use anything off any of my current Freshwater tanks to get started. Any suggestions on tank sizes as well? I have a few tanks laying here from freshwater aquariums. They are ranging from 6.5 gallon to 56 gallon. Any and all help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance and I am excited to get started.
Matt

KJ · Jan 16, 2016

Welcome to R2R!
How to set up a saltwater reef aquarium tank- REEFEDITION

Salty1962 · Jan 16, 2016

Welcome to R2R.

pondman · Jan 16, 2016

Your best bet is bigger is better. Some equipment from your freshwater could be used just depends what it is

rayn · Jan 16, 2016

Welcome to R2R!

You can use quite a bit from your fresh, just depends what a certain piece is. While not as good as a skimmer, a canister or hob filter is usable. You can always upgrade later too. Nitrates can be controlled somewhat through water changes.

Drilled with a sump would be best.

Wiz · Jan 16, 2016

Welcome

tank, t5/led/halide lighting, skimmer, test kits (nitrate, amonia, alk, calc), refractometer, temp gauge, heater, circulation pump (s), and probably gac. I think that's a fair equipment list before adding water.

Sgt Jonny · Jan 17, 2016

Get a reef ready tank AKA a drilled tank with a sump because you will definitely want one going forward. Also, go big from the start because you will want to upgrade. That's what happened to me anyway. good luck...

FL salt 86 · Jan 18, 2016

Thank you for all the replies... I am thinking now of just selling off my freshwater supplies and starting fresh. Would you recommend going all brand new or try and find a deal of some sort on Craigslist or another similar site

PatW · Jan 18, 2016

Saltwater fish are different than freshwater. Freshwater parameters can swing pretty fast in temperature and in chemistry ranging from droughts to floods. So freshwater fish have to tolerate changes. Reefs are very stable in temperature and chemistry. So marine fish tend to not like change. That is why a larger tank is easier to run. It is easier to keep constant. When you read about keeping marine aquaria the refrain is often keeping things constant.

SaltyJD · Jan 18, 2016

A big bank account!

steve&mari · Jan 18, 2016

Wiz said:
Welcome tank, t5/led/halide lighting, skimmer, test kits (nitrate, amonia, alk, calc), refractometer, temp gauge, heater, circulation pump (s), and probably gac. I think that's a fair equipment list before adding water.

Add a ato and ro/di and its a great list. Link kj posted is full of information. Going slowly pays off and used equipment is fine as long as it's good equipment look it over well. Almost all of our build is from building on a budget with used equipment. But with that in mind always get the best equipment possible it's cheaper than rebuying later over n over. Skimmer ect get larger than needed it's something if you upgrade it'll help having already lol.