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New Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 4/18/2011 11:08:45 PM
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| Hello, I'm new to the site and am loving it already. I have lots of experience in freshwater tanks but have always wanted to branch out in salt water. I'm a total newb at it. I've been reading some of the great advice on here already but I was wondering what information you guys with experience could give a very newb newb to start out with, so I dont wind up with lots of costly mistakes. Stuff like where to start, is there a certain order in which I need to do things, i'm seeing things on here like cureing the salt water, how do I do that. etc etc, my future fish's lives are in you're hands, Help me please.
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New Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 4/18/2011 11:08:45 PM
Posts: 26,
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| What I want to put in it would be some sea horses, shrimp, coral and annomes (major sp) maybe a few clown fish and the really pretty blue ones. But I was wondering where I need to start, what size tank to start with, how to set it up in what order stuff like that. What ever yall cold tell me would be really great. I'm still setting up my 55 gal freshwater tank. And me and bf are getting married in 2 weeks and i'm not allowed to take on another expense until after the honey moon lol But I wanted to get my research done b4 investing in equimpent and time and didnt want to kill the fish and animals on a whimm trying to learn
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Average Member
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Last Login: 1/4/2013 1:37:45 PM
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LilGuppie (4/12/2011)
What I want to put in it would be some sea horses, shrimp, coral and annomes (major sp) maybe a few clown fish and the really pretty blue ones. But I was wondering where I need to start, what size tank to start with, how to set it up in what order stuff like that. What ever yall cold tell me would be really great. I'm still setting up my 55 gal freshwater tank. And me and bf are getting married in 2 weeks and i'm not allowed to take on another expense until after the honey moon lol But I wanted to get my research done b4 investing in equimpent and time and didnt want to kill the fish and animals on a whimm trying to learn i can help you out quite a bit on this subject and so can leobayr. feel free to PM either one of us. I would really avoid seahorses starting out. they require a lot of maintenance (ex. feeding about 8 times per day) and they cant really be klept with anything else. but if you do want to do seahorses, set up a tank just for them. as far as starting off, get a tank, aragonite sand, a good quality protein skimmer, salt mix, and about one pound of live rock per gallon of your tank. mix the salt according to the directions with reverse osmosis water or RO water for short. and put the tank together with sand, live rock, water, and a few powerheads and let it run for at least a couple of weeks. make sure to test for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate daily during that time. KH and Ph are also important but that can be explained if you would like. after a few weeks, turn on the skimmer, wait until you dont read any ammonia or nitrites and are getting low nitrates and then you can begin to add fish. PATIENCE is key. things with saltwater are expensive and wasting your time and money by being impatient is the worst feeling. take it from me and others who have went through it, its not fun. Just be patient and everything will work out and youll have an awesome looking reef tank. 
4 gallon Finnex pico aquarium- Iwagumi tank with orange eye black tiger shrimp.10 gallon- Planted Asian biotope with CPD's, sparkling gouramis, and a breeding pair of Betta albimarginata. <link to pics of my tanks- http://board.fishchannel.com/Topic225475-16-1.aspx>
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Fish Moderator
Group: Moderators
Last Login: 5/3/2013 12:06:32 PM
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Welcome to the fish channel and congrats on your up coming wedding! I agree with Matt that you will require lots and lots of patience. I myself is building a 135 gallon reef tank. But I have been at it for 5 years. I have made costly mistakes before by rushing into things without researching things that should be concidered. For example and #1 is water chemistry and what it requires to keep things alive. research everything from the substrate to what you want to have swimming in the really nice Ecosphere you are building. Best advise I can give anyone it to research and go at a very slow pace, also ask questions. Don't be afraid to pm us if we don't respond right away. Oh yeah read everything you can get your hands on it helps ten fold. Once you get the reef bug you are hooped there is no cure.
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http://board.fishchannel.com/Topic208662-16-1.aspx
Fish keeping is not a hobby but a way of lifeBuilding a 135 gallon reef tankBarracuda 4300gph by sequence pumpBuilt an 8 bulb 55 watt 10,000 k light with 4.5 watt moon light30 gallon sump with a 30 gal. remote refugemini bubble king EV180 Protein skimmer 40 gallon Planted 4 Altum Flora Discus
11 plants ,4 Ghost shrimp,1 Clown & 1 Bristol nose Pleco1 Zebra Apple SnailEhiem 2213 canister filterHydor 425 powerheadEhiem Jager 200 watt heatert-5 compact 6500k lightNeptune Systems Aquacontroller jr
PLEASE PM ME IF YOU WISH
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Fish Moderator
Group: Moderators
Last Login: Yesterday @ 6:38:40 PM
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Welcome to FishChannel forum.
Mr. Miracle Grow” for aquarium plants Help those in our hobby to exceed beyond their expectations. Logistical Aquatic Engineer
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New Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 4/18/2011 11:08:45 PM
Posts: 26,
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| We have 3 pet shops in town and I drool over the reef tank they have every time I go in there. I'm stil setting up my 55 gal freshwater now, when I get it done and can afford the salt water one i'm going to try it. That will give me plenty of time to do my home work.
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New Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 1/27/2013 12:26:02 PM
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| DOnt rush into it. Decide what you want then set up your tank accordingly. And do your research.
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New Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 12/11/2011 7:36:53 PM
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Hey guys, I've had my SW tank up and running for a couple of months now and I love it. I'm also very new to these tanks and have a couple of questions. I have a clown fish, Damsel, 2 hermit crabs, starfish and a horseshoe crab and just a small amount of live rock in a 37 gal tank. All of a sudden in just the last week, I've developed an algae problem and don't know what to do about it. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
thx,
Chris
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Average Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 2/21/2013 6:54:53 PM
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| Algae blooms from having too much light or too much food(poop). You either have too much light or not enough water changes or proper filtration. Also, a horseshoe crab is way too big an animal for a smaller tank like that. He will outgrow that one pretty quickly. I also would suggest avoiding getting damsel fish, unless it's green chromis. Especially when they are added early, they become extremele territorial and will harass and killl the new fish you try to add once they have already established themselves in the tank. They are cheap and pretty easy to keep alive, so most people get them as beginners, but soon love top hate the fiesty little buggers.
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New Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 12/11/2011 7:36:53 PM
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| Thx for answering. It could be my lighting then, because I just have a stock florescent. I am getting T5, so maybe that will help. It's interesting that my fish store here told me to get the crab to help stir up my sand, because it's brown on top. You may be right on the food also. I'm using flake and it looks like the damsel isn't eating, so I put a bit more, that might be why. I'll lessen that and see what happens. I change water every other week. Thanks for the info. Hopefully I can get it figured out.
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