|
|
|
Starting Member
 
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 11/6/2009 8:39:19 PM
Posts: 100,
Visits: 133
|
|
Hello everyone, so today I became curious to what a saltwater tank really was. My image of saltwater tanks usually just includes reef tanks. (I'm assuming the reef includes live rock AND corals but not sure) I was just wonder what the different types of saltwater tanks would be like. I know that not all saltwater fish can be compatible with live coral so I was just wondering how those fish would be kept.
I eventually do want to try and set up a large reef tank as well (about 200 Gallons) but I want to start smaller first. I'm not quite sure how I would go about setting up a tank around 50 Gal or if I could even go to a smaller size then that. I've heard over and over that the smaller the tank the harder it is to maintain because changes in water quality would be much more noticeable. (Understandable since it's the same way for freshwater)
So I guess my questions are, what types of saltwater tanks are there? How small is safe enough for a beginner? Last question would be what are good stocking options for a beginner tank?
2 Gallon Hex
1 Male Crowntail Betta [Octavius]
10 Gallon
1 Male Betta [Lepidus]
1 Albino Cory [Salt]
1 Pepper Cory [Pepper]
|
|
|
|
|
Fishkeeping GURU
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 3/9/2010 8:08:42 PM
Posts: 12,694,
Visits: 6,319
|
|
There are essentially three main types of saltwater tank and a few interesting extra types that are pretty rare. The three main ones are "fish only" (often referred to as FO), "fish only with live rock" (or FOWLR), and reef.
The FO is just a tank with saltwater fish, maybe live sand or just plain sand or gravel, and usually fake decorations (or occasionally dead coral but I don't recommend this as the collection of these pieces is detrimental to the environment). They are not a great option IMO because they don't denitrify very well.
A FOWLR is a great choice for someone who doesn't want to added responsibility of corals or anemones (or can't have them because of fish that would eat them). It includes live rock which is a great substrate for the denitrifying bacteria to live in and is full of places for fish and invertebrates to hide. It's a lot more attractive and natural IMO than a FO, but does not require the expensive lights that a reef tank does, so it can be a lot easier on the wallet than a reef.
A reef tank is any saltwater tank with corals and/or anemones, and is a lot harder to take care of because of the needs of the corals, but is worth the work. It's probably best to work up to a reef after trying your hand at a FOWLR, but the great thing is, you can just add corals to a FOWLR tank that has been set up for years and upgrade the equipment and you're ready to go.
The other kinds I was referring to earlier were things like seagrass/macroalgae "planted" tanks, coolwater reef tanks (similar to tropical reefs, but different enough that I think they bear mentioning), and set ups specific to oddballs like seahorses or jellyfish. I wouldn't call any of these a "beginner" set up, except for the seagrass/macroalgae tanks, which would be great for someone new to the hobby.
As for tank size, it truly is easier to take care of a larger tank, so I wouldn't go under a 40g for your first (either a 50 gallon or a 40 breeder is a good size because it is wide and allows more room to stack rock front to back...something like a 55 would be harder to aquascape).
And as stocking goes, the trick is to stock lightly and really know your fish. All saltwater fish are somewhat hard to keep compared to freshwater fish just because they are more sensitive and more aggressive, but if you do your research and mix them well (taking care to stick to fish that stay small enough), you succeed with almost any of the popular saltwater fish.
.
|
|
|
|
|
Starting Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 11/6/2009 8:39:19 PM
Posts: 100,
Visits: 133
|
|
That was some really great info! Thanks for all of that. I will probably then start with a FOWLR tank and then work my way into other types. I was researching a bit on seahorses because I really liked them but I will probably start with hardy fish that will do well in a nice live rock tank.
If I was to plan a live rock tank in a 40 breeder then, what would people recommend as some good hardy beginner fish? Also, would it be possible to cut that in half to a 20 gallon instead? I'm just wondering because I don't know if I can hold another 40 gallon along with the 55. 
So possible stocking options for both a 40 and a 20? 
2 Gallon Hex
1 Male Crowntail Betta [Octavius]
10 Gallon
1 Male Betta [Lepidus]
1 Albino Cory [Salt]
1 Pepper Cory [Pepper]
|
|
|
|
|
Fishkeeping GURU
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 3/9/2010 8:08:42 PM
Posts: 12,694,
Visits: 6,319
|
|
A 20g, which actually qualifies as a nano tank in saltwater applications, would be tough for a beginner. There's very little forgiveness in terms of water quality in that size tank, and you could have a maximum of two fish, which is not enough for most people. In a 40g you could have four or five small fish like the clownfish, royal gramma, firefish, dartfish, other small gobies, certain smaller wrasses, or a few of the more peaceful damsel species like the yellowtail blue damsel.
A 40g also gives you the opportunity to upgrade to a reef much more easily as most of the equipment is sized for larger tanks, and certain invertebrates like anemones are not suitable for nano tanks. I would go for the 40g if you possibly can, and if not, be prepared to make a lot of sacrifices in terms of stocking and maintenance.
.
|
|
|
|
|
Senior Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 1/5/2010 3:59:32 PM
Posts: 1,091,
Visits: 2,471
|
|
| My aquarium was a 40 breeder before I moved and it was damaged (now its a 10 gallon with 1 clown fish) any I had about 70 pounds of live rock and about 30 pounds of sand (I am cheap went with dry marine sand vs live) and fish wise I had 1 percula clown, 1 lawn mower blenny, as well as 1 pygmy angel (lemon peel) and invert wise it was 1 emerald crab, 4 snails, unknown number of hermits, 1 sand sifting star, and 3 peppermint shrimp, and some mushroom corals that came in on the live rock. For filtration I used a Aqua C remora skimmer, and for water movement I used 2 korallia powerheads, lighting consiting of a power compact fixture from Corallife. I spent a couple thousand to get it all up and running, but iI bought everything new due to lack of used equipment, so you can possibly do if for much less looking around on craigslist and the like. I've seen people desperate to sell on craigslist for as little as 200-300 for a 30-40 gallon set up with everything including fish just not in my city.
*****************************************
29 gallon f/w glowlight tetra's, 4 cories, Neon tetra, zebra danio. 29g f/w convict cichlid. 10g s/w Percula Clown
|
|
|
|
|
Fishkeeping GURU
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 3/9/2010 8:08:42 PM
Posts: 12,694,
Visits: 6,319
|
|
I went the Craigslist route and set up my 72g soft/LPS coral reef for about $1200 total. I too have a Remora skimmer, five powerheads (two of which are Koralia...I love those), and I had a coralife PC light, but I switched to a T5 when the coralife went and much prefer it. I went with cheap sand too (not marine sand, but calcareous play sand from Home Depot) and lots of live rock (I'd guess about 150lbs). Many of my corals have been freebies from local reef club members and the marine biology lab at the college I went to, and I was even given a couple of fish when I purchased various things from the reef club members. I now have a coral beauty angel, two occelaris clowns, a yellowtail blue damsel, a blue/green chromis (had two but lost one a long time ago and have been worried about getting another for fear they would fight), and a mandarin dragonet (not recommended for a smaller tank than mine though...I am pushing it as it is, but she's doing fine).
.
|
|
|
|
|
Starting Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 11/6/2009 8:39:19 PM
Posts: 100,
Visits: 133
|
|
Hrm...alright well I guess if I want to try and start it up I should probably look on craigslist then xD. Hopefully I can find a good deal or what not. I was looking into nano reefs for a while though but I figured it would be harder since it leaves little to no room for error. If I start to build one I'll probably start really slow with just some live rock and a few fish. I was a bit intimidated by reefing early on since I hadn't learned all I could about freshwater yet and I think it just seems harder then it really is. xD I'll read much more about it before I start and probably ask a few more questions.
Also, my one question would be, for a coral setup, are certain corals not compatible with others besides lighting reasons? I know some of the corals who sweep can potentially kill other corals so I was just wondering how that type of setup would work.
2 Gallon Hex
1 Male Crowntail Betta [Octavius]
10 Gallon
1 Male Betta [Lepidus]
1 Albino Cory [Salt]
1 Pepper Cory [Pepper]
|
|
|
|
|
Fishkeeping GURU
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 3/9/2010 8:08:42 PM
Posts: 12,694,
Visits: 6,319
|
|
It's more about the distances you keep them from one another than whether or not you keep them in the same tank. Although, that being said, many SPS keepers do not recommend keeping them with soft corals or LPS, presumably because they can get stung and they are delicate. I can't say one way or the other as I have never had SPS.
.
|
|
|
|
|
Starting Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 11/6/2009 8:39:19 PM
Posts: 100,
Visits: 133
|
|
Ahh, I see that makes sense. I'm not sure of the growth pattern of corals. I've seen many examples of tanks but I can never figure out how they decide where and how to put the corals there and how to figure out if its safe to put certain corals in certain places. It's all so confusing. 
2 Gallon Hex
1 Male Crowntail Betta [Octavius]
10 Gallon
1 Male Betta [Lepidus]
1 Albino Cory [Salt]
1 Pepper Cory [Pepper]
|
|
|
|