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Average Member
 
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Hey guys! It's me again with some more questions on saltwater fish and such!
So after doing my research, finding the total costs of things, planning out a budget and making a sort of sketch design of what this tank is going to look life, I think I'm ready to go! But first, I need your opinions on some things.
Should I use a canister filter, a protein skimmer, or both? Is crushed aragonite okay for a substrate?
I am getting a hydrometer and some lights. But on the lights: would Marineland LED Double Bright Lights work? I have never heard of them but the customer reviews online said they were fine.
For the fish: I was thinking on getting two false clownfish, some type of goby, and MAYBE a pajama cardinal, I'm not sure. The tank will be 30 gallons. Is that too many fish? I don't want to overstock my first marine tank.
15 lbs of live rock is going to be added. Too little or too much?
As for inverts...I dunno. I was thinking maybe brittle starfish and some sort of shrimp. Corals? Not sure...it's pretty tempting, but I don't think it's worth the hassle.
What do you guys think? Please respond ASAP! This is my summer project instead of taking summer school! 
_________________________________________Five Gallon: empty QT/breeding tank Thirty Gallon: one gourami, one angel Forty Gallon: one angel, two german blue rams, six bronze cories, seven pristella tetras, three rummynose tetras, two gold honey gouramis Fifty Five Gallon: one salfin pleco, one shibukin, one fancy gold shibukin, two comets, one common
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don't waste your money on led lighting unless the corals or invertebrates need high lighting.
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nano reefs are fun
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Average Member
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I don't think I'll get any corals. I don't think brittle starfish need super high lighting, I dunno...should I really get the LED lighting?
_________________________________________Five Gallon: empty QT/breeding tank Thirty Gallon: one gourami, one angel Forty Gallon: one angel, two german blue rams, six bronze cories, seven pristella tetras, three rummynose tetras, two gold honey gouramis Fifty Five Gallon: one salfin pleco, one shibukin, one fancy gold shibukin, two comets, one common
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led lighting isn't nescessary unless you have corals or other sessile inverts.
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nano reefs are fun
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Average Member
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Ok. No LED lighting.
Anyone know where I might he able to get a lighting system under 80 dollars?
How long does it take for a saltwater tank to cycle with live rock?
_________________________________________Five Gallon: empty QT/breeding tank Thirty Gallon: one gourami, one angel Forty Gallon: one angel, two german blue rams, six bronze cories, seven pristella tetras, three rummynose tetras, two gold honey gouramis Fifty Five Gallon: one salfin pleco, one shibukin, one fancy gold shibukin, two comets, one common
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please do not listen to bettacrazy about saltwater. They do not have any bit of experience with it. LED lighting would be fine. The benefits would be less power consumption and they last for close to ten years. Secondly, use a protein skimmer, and a good one at that. Forget the canister filter. They're nitrate machines. A good protein skimmer is worth the money and you won't regret buying it. Crushed aragonite will work but I prefer aragonite sand. And get at least 15 more pounds of live rock, and your tank won't be overstocked, even with the cardinal. Other than that, good luck, saltwater aquariums are fun and in my opinion, easier than freshwater tanks as far as maintenance goes. One last tip, make sure to use RO instead of tap water for making your saltwater or you may end up with some algae and cyano problems from phosphate in the tap water. And once again, be careful who you take advice from on this site, there are only a few knowledgable people and most of the rest are beginners that won't be able to help you out much, even if they have good intentions, like bettacrazy. Overall, Have fun with it and remember that patience is key.
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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Average Member
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OK. Will Get the LED lighting. No corals, don't feel the need for a reef tank.
Will get thrity pounds of live rock? Are you sure??? I think that's a lot for a thirty gallon tank. Won't it fill up everything?
I'll check to see if they have argonite sand at my LFS.
So far:
-LED lighting (Check)
-Protien skimmer (Check)
Heater i'll get soon...
As for cycling: how long will it take to cycle with live rock? Should i cycle with ammonia?
also, how do you cure water to make it "saltwater"?
_________________________________________Five Gallon: empty QT/breeding tank Thirty Gallon: one gourami, one angel Forty Gallon: one angel, two german blue rams, six bronze cories, seven pristella tetras, three rummynose tetras, two gold honey gouramis Fifty Five Gallon: one salfin pleco, one shibukin, one fancy gold shibukin, two comets, one common
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bmalit (5/23/2011)
OK. Will Get the LED lighting. No corals, don't feel the need for a reef tank.
Will get thrity pounds of live rock? Are you sure??? I think that's a lot for a thirty gallon tank. Won't it fill up everything?
I'll check to see if they have argonite sand at my LFS.
So far:
-LED lighting (Check)
-Protien skimmer (Check)
Heater i'll get soon...
As for cycling: how long will it take to cycle with live rock? Should i cycle with ammonia?
also, how do you cure water to make it "saltwater"? thirty pounds is about the bare minimum. It won't be as much as you think, live rock is pretty dense. In a saltwater tank, you cycle by just adding live rock. Some things will die off naturally, causing an ammonia spike which will help the tank cycle, no need for fish, ammonia or any other source of biological matter, livve rock is all you'll need. It will take a little longer, probably around 8 to ten weeks to fully cycle. Curing water is as simple as making the saltwater with a marine salt mix and reverse osmosis water and letting it sit with an aerator in it for a day or two. It ends up being pretty simple in the long run, I find my reef to be easier to take care of than my freshwater tanks...
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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Average Member
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Thanks for the replies Matt! You've been really helpful .
Now, when you're testing your saltwater, what us magnesium, phosphates, calcium, etc? Never have heard of those when keeping freshwater. Does it have something to do with the saltwater itself?
Specific gravity is measured like 1.020-1.025, I think that's the gravity most saltwater fish like. How do you get a specific gravity to your water?
For the tank:
A protien skimmer
LED lighting
Crushed argonite, maybe this sand called live sand, never heard of it though
30 lbs live rock
Fluval heater
5 gallon quarantine tank
As for fish and inverts:
The fish: I was thinking about getting two ocellaris clownfish, 3-4 green chromis, and a bicolor blenny. Was looking into a coral beauty also, however there are different results on how thy behave and what tank size they need. What do you think?
For inverts, I thought some brittle starfish an some hermit crabs. Okay or not?
Please respond!
_________________________________________Five Gallon: empty QT/breeding tank Thirty Gallon: one gourami, one angel Forty Gallon: one angel, two german blue rams, six bronze cories, seven pristella tetras, three rummynose tetras, two gold honey gouramis Fifty Five Gallon: one salfin pleco, one shibukin, one fancy gold shibukin, two comets, one common
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Senior Member
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Last Login: 12/5/2012 4:02:38 PM
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I was only saying it to help him save money on stuff that is not required to keep his inverts alive.
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nano reefs are fun
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