Plan for first saltwater tank

Tidal Gardens
Jump to Last
C

Colin_1122

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Oct 2, 2019
Messages
241
Reaction score
91
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Hey guys. This is my first saltwater tank so I would just like to be sure I'm not forgetting anything important. I'm getting an AIO JBJ 30g rl which comes with dual return pumps (2 x 256 GPH). I'll get about 20 lbs of dry rock and 10lbs of live rock with live sand as well. I'm going to use an AI prime 16hd light with a Tunze 9001 skimmer and a cobalt aquatics neo-therm 100w heater. I plan on keeping a pair of clowns, a coral beauty or firefish, and eventually a mandarin if I can get it to eat frozen food. I want mostly LPS and eventually a BTA. My clean up crew will have a tiger conch, hermit crabs, a cleaner shrimp, and tuxedo urchin. I'll use instant ocean sea salt and blue ocean coral rx to dip my corals. Is there anything else I need or should change?
 
AS
Deltec
Looks good so far! The only thing I would add is patience! You have a great plan laid out, but just don't forget that it will take time for it all to come to fruition.

Also, if you use Instant Ocean Reef Crystals instead of sea salt, you won't have to worry about dosing for your corals for a while.
 
Have patience even though it’s hard. Don’t forget about an ATO and welcome!
878191EF-2838-4AB0-B3BA-95B7E6AA16B5.gif
 
ATO for sure. Coral beauty might be cramped in a 30 gallon. Just me.

Mandarin, only with a established system with copepods that are sustainable. Trying to train one to eat frozen is tough and they eat all the time. Otherwise they can starve.
 
Flippers4pups said:
ATO for sure. Coral beauty might be cramped in a 30 gallon. Just me.

Mandarin, only with a established system with copepods that are sustainable. Trying to train one to eat frozen is tough and they eat all the time. Otherwise they can starve.
Click to expand...
+1 on the Mandarin info here. That said, if OP can get an aquacultured Mandarin, then he should not run into as much issues with feeding it, as aquacultured ones will readily eat foods other than just live copepods. They are a bit more expensive though. However that increase in initial cost might be worth it in the long run.
 
Last edited:
Welcome to R2R!! I agree with others that your tank is too small for a Mandarin. They eat around 3,000 pods daily. It's not possible to provide that much frozen food for them to thrive. He might live for a few months, but will slowly starve.

There are many great options for small fish. Just do your research and you'll do fine. Good luck!
:)
 
Ok thanks for all the help guys. I was wondering if an air stone is enough to mix saltwater or should I get a power head as well??
 
Top Shelf Aquatics
Nutramar Foods
Welcome!!! Great equipment list... you've definitely done some good research already.

My only addition for what you should be thinking about... what's your quarantine plan?
 
Idoc said:
Welcome!!! Great equipment list... you've definitely done some good research already.

My only addition for what you should be thinking about... what's your quarantine plan?
Click to expand...
I’m only planning on getting about 3 fish so I’m not sure if I even need to qt the fish. I figured it’d be pretty easy to spot treat if I see anything. If you guys think I definitely need to qt before I put them in the tank I have a spare 10g and aqua clear bio filter that I could set up. I plan on dipping any corals as well. Not quite sure what to do with inverts besides rinse them?
 
Colin_1122 said:
Hey guys. This is my first saltwater tank so I would just like to be sure I'm not forgetting anything important. I'm getting an AIO JBJ 30g rl which comes with dual return pumps (2 x 256 GPH). I'll get about 20 lbs of dry rock and 10lbs of live rock with live sand as well. I'm going to use an AI prime 16hd light with a Tunze 9001 skimmer and a cobalt aquatics neo-therm 100w heater. I plan on keeping a pair of clowns, a coral beauty or firefish, and eventually a mandarin if I can get it to eat frozen food. I want mostly LPS and eventually a BTA. My clean up crew will have a tiger conch, hermit crabs, a cleaner shrimp, and tuxedo urchin. I'll use instant ocean sea salt and blue ocean coral rx to dip my corals. Is there anything else I need or should change?
Click to expand...
If my setup I'd dump the heater. Here on website, public aquarium institutions, and some members have had issues with those PLASTIC heaters. All else looks great
 
ReefBot Lab, Automated Water Tester
Colin_1122 said:
I’m only planning on getting about 3 fish so I’m not sure if I even need to qt the fish. I figured it’d be pretty easy to spot treat if I see anything. If you guys think I definitely need to qt before I put them in the tank I have a spare 10g and aqua clear bio filter that I could set up. I plan on dipping any corals as well. Not quite sure what to do with inverts besides rinse them?
Click to expand...

Many, including me, prefer to minimize risk and prophylactically treat fish prior to them going into the main tank. Others don't treat but prefer to monitor their new fish for a few weeks to see if any diseases show up.

Either of these options work best if in a separate quarantine tank, though. Once the fish are in your display tank, sometimes your treatment options are limited...ie, no copper use if you have inverts/corals, etc... It's a risk for sure... so many fish seem to be coming in from wholesalers with diseases or internal parasites. Many local fish stores run their tanks with hyposalinity or low levels of copper to suppress those diseases while in their tanks.

If you already have a 10g and hob filter, you're almost set... just need a cheap heater and maybe an airstone.
 
Idoc said:
Many, including me, prefer to minimize risk and prophylactically treat fish prior to them going into the main tank. Others don't treat but prefer to monitor their new fish for a few weeks to see if any diseases show up.

Either of these options work best if in a separate quarantine tank, though. Once the fish are in your display tank, sometimes your treatment options are limited...ie, no copper use if you have inverts/corals, etc... It's a risk for sure... so many fish seem to be coming in from wholesalers with diseases or internal parasites. Many local fish stores run their tanks with hyposalinity or low levels of copper to suppress those diseases while in their tanks.

If you already have a 10g and hob filter, you're almost set... just need a cheap heater and maybe an airstone.
Click to expand...
Yeah that’s probably best. Especially bc I want some designer clowns and don’t want to spend a ton to have them die of diseases. What do you use to treat your fish?? Sorry, I’m new to saltwater
 
Deltec
Colin_1122 said:
I’m only planning on getting about 3 fish so I’m not sure if I even need to qt the fish. I figured it’d be pretty easy to spot treat if I see anything. If you guys think I definitely need to qt before I put them in the tank I have a spare 10g and aqua clear bio filter that I could set up. I plan on dipping any corals as well. Not quite sure what to do with inverts besides rinse them?
Click to expand...
Your just starting out. Using Best practices from the start will improve your success. Take it from someone that didn't start Qt'ing ... You need to get your QT tank set up and running and QT Everything IMO...
 
CasaReefer said:
Your just starting out. Using Best practices from the start will improve your success. Take it from someone that didn't start Qt'ing ... You need to get your QT tank set up and running and QT Everything IMO...
Click to expand...
How do you recommend qt inverts??
 
Tidal Gardens

IF YOU HAD TO TAKE A REEFING EXAM, WOULD YOU PASS?

  • Yes!

    Votes: 32 45.7%

  • Not yet, but I have one that I want to buy in mind!

    Votes: 9 12.9%

  • No.

    Votes: 26 37.1%

  • Other (please explain).

    Votes: 3 4.3%
See comments…

New Posts

Top Shelf Aquatics
Nutramar Foods
Dinkins Aquatic Gardens
Chewy.com
World Wide Corals
Tidal Gardens
TCK Corals
Deltec
New Posts
Back
Top