Might start a saltwater...need help!

[direlime]

Hey,
Thx for viewing. I am planning on starting a FOWLR saltwater aquarium. I know i need a skimmer, heater, powerhead, Live rock, fish(not till later), test kits for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, water hardness, and Ph, marine salt, and well a aquarium. I thought I would go with a 30 - 50 gallon aquarium. Am I missing anything. Is there any suggestions on specific brands? Also I wanted more info on a sump. Can someone update me on what a sump is.

Thx,
Direlime

[MaelStrom]

Looks good except for sand ( live or regular?), lighting, and a device for measuring specific gravity( a refractometer is recommended for this).
You can try looking for my thread for some brand recommendations( I was planning a very similar setup).
This is a good article, and also briefly explains what a sump is
http://www.reefcentral.com/modules.p...showpage&pid=1

[direlime]

Thx alot

[nvsbandit]

get a 40g breeder. that would be an awesome fowlr IMO.

a sump is a place to put your heater and skimmer and chemical filtration out of sight so it doesnt take away from the display tank ( and it adds water volume making the system that much more)

[MaelStrom]

A sump allows you to also build a refuguim, which is a place for you to grow things that will help you filter your water, such as certain macroalgae, plants( mangrove is popular), and provides a place for smaller organisms( inverts) to grow which would be eaten in your display tank. Othres would be more knowledgeable about that though...

[direlime]

I did some research last night and found out that a fowlr is not really what i want. I want a reef tank. Is that not a good idea for a beginner?

[s13]

It can be done, just do your research. My first SW tank was a 10 gallon reef tank.

[direlime]

thanks,
I have read alittle bt and i have heard so many different things. It is hard to get a grip on what is real and what is fake!

<-- I like this smiley

[justintrask]

I recently just started my first SW as well, and I'm going against a lot of people here's advice and I'm going with a 2.5G Nano-Reef. It's been going smooth for a week or so with no major problems. Biggest problem is keeping the temperature steady

[direlime]

2.5G? Is that as small as i think it is or did you mean something else?

[justintrask]

two and a half gallon. I have a Red Sea Nano-Filter on it, about 20 lbs of live rock, 10 pounds of live sand, and a powerhead 301 to create a LOT of current.

Also two 30W lights on it, one blue and one clear

[MaelStrom]

2.5G
Pretty gutsy... Good luck!

[direlime]

Ya have fun with that!

[Suzy Z & J]

hope ok to ask this:
To nvsbandit,
you state you have:
10g Salt
2 clowns (1 black and white one oc)
1 yellow watchman goby
CUC

Is this a 10 gal? and you have 2 different colored clowns?

Sorry, but pet store told me NO to both of what you are doing?

ok, whats CUC....
do you have a picture?
love to see?

Thanks!!!

[Scuba Kid]

CUC stands for clean up crew. Scavenging hermits, algae and detritus eating snails, brittle stars, etc.

The pet store said you couldn't have two different colored clowns together? Sounds like some intelligent employees.
Some different species of clownfish may not get along, but say you have a black percula and a regular orange percula, you probably won't see problems...

In a 10 gallon, two clowns is pushing it. I personally think a pair of clowns should have at least a 20 gallon.

By the way, most pet stores don't have a damn clue about how to properly care for fish. You have to remember that all they want is to sell you stuff, so take all of their advice with a grain of salt.