should i stick with freshwater

[lgarvey]

Hi guys,

I'm completely new to fish keeping, but have immersed myself in the subject.

I recently purchased a Juwel rio 125 litre aquarium after I talked myself out of a 260 litre. Actually the LFS employee helped me when he said ti was over 1/2 a tonne of water! I panicked and went for the lesser, but more restrictive tank.

Also, I have listened to what people have said about keeping freshwater to build up competency, but... i'm continually mesmerised by saltwater fish.

Money is not a huge issue, and certainly I'd be happy to upgrade the tank in the near future to a 260 or 300 litre minimum, but I kind of resnt having to upgrade a new tank.

Is it practical to run a 125litre as a starter marine tank? Could I house some fish that typically need larger tanks, for a short period, whilst they are small? My two favourite are the yellow tang and the copperband butterfly. Both of which I know tend to need large areas.

If I did set up the 125 as a marine how long until I needed to upgrade?

Look forward to some feedback.

L

[adammreef]

lgarvey



To Reef Central

[reefworm]

that's a good size for a starter tank - not too huge but large enough to be forgiving. I do seem to be posting this link a lot, but it's full of information needed when starting out, upgrading, etc.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1031074

and welcome on board RC!

[Playa-1]

I think you can start in Saltwater and be successful. Just do you homework before you get started. I suggest you start by following this link. Then read as much information as you can on this site. You should be well prepared to get your feet wet at that point.
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2008-01/tips/index.php

[Rustylugnuts]

If money is not an issue the 1st tank would make a great sump for that larger tank. The links that reefworm and playa posted are a great way to get started.

Could I house some fish that typically need larger tanks, for a short period, whilst they are small?

You could do this but be prepared to set up the larger tank in a few months because some of these fish grow fast.

[Aquarist007]

take the plunge you will find there are alot of guys who will help you out on this site

[jenjen]

I have a 55gal FW which has been running for years, and recently started a SW reef. I think the main "competency" the FW experience has given me is understanding that you need not over react in fish keeping, and knowing what a "sick" fish looks like.

If you make sure to read up on equipment and parameters and ask lots of questions, I don't see any reason why not to start straight into salt.

BTW - I love my FW babies!!! (though the reef is the definite show piece)

[Maxi]

Welcome to RC lgarvey.

I started with freshwater tanks for about 5 years. Then I went on reefcentral.com somehow, and I sold all of my freshwater stuff. Except the tank.. I need that. Haha.

In my experience, a reef requires much, much more maintenence than a freshwater system does. And, more equipment. But the results are priceless of what a piece of the ocean looks like in your house.

You don't need to start with freshwater and then go onto a reef, just ask a lot of questions on this website, and I mean a lot. Even if it means asking the same question 3 times like I do, just to make sure I get it right. (I think I'm a PITA for doing this..lol ) But you will get answers from everyone that knows the answer to your questions.

I'm guessing a 125L tank is 33 gallons.

Yes, that is a good tank to start off IMO. I started with a 3g, and I am already upgrading because a 3g can become unstable really quick.

Happy reefing, and good luck!

[singold]

Welcome to RC !!!!!

[reefworm]

Getting tunnel-visioned on your questions I forgot 2 things:

Your initial question: "Should I stick with freshwater?" Answered well by others, but I'll add my $.02 - NO! Take the plunge. As Maxi says, it's well worth all the work, $$ and frustration.

and also:

Welcome on board RC

[jarrett]

hey quit trying to sucker another chump into this adiction guys. i bet the guy at your fish store said that your first fish/coral would be free too didnt he. no just joking i kept fresh water for a couple years but going to salt was the best decision ever. i originally got a 14g nano and three days later bought a 180gal. trust me do saltwater read lots first and dont cheap out its roughly $10 a gallon to start up so see if your budget will handle it. oh and dont cheap out on lights youll kick yourself in the butt for it later trust me. good luck have fun and welcome to the most adicting thing since crack.

[jarrett]

sorry i lied its about $40 a gallon to do properly. ha my bad

[lgarvey]

Wow, what a fantastic response! Thanks for your input - I feel truly welcomed!

I just ordered a teratec 1200 (1200 litres per hour) external filter. Hopefully this will be of some use if I go marine?

Also, is live rock an absolute necessity? I hear that it offers biological flitration, but it also appears to be the most expensive part, and takes time to 'cure.' I would invest in a good protein skimmer. I'd also need some sand, and a marine test kit. I have a heater, internal filter + external filter, juwel lighting in the tank's hood.

Would I need anything else?

I bought all of my kit new and then a friend went and got a 180 litre tank at an absolute bargain price. Since then I've started looking around and have found numerous marine set-ups going for what seems to be a bargain.

For instance this is available right near to where I live: -
-------------------

Hi i have a juwel 180 set up for sale it is set up for marine fish but only will come with the tank, skimer, lights, all rock and gravel, powerhead, bubler, the filter is needed for another setup but i will give the contence of the filter to add to yours
there is 1 clown fish , regal tang, damsel blue/yellow
i am asking around £200 but will concider a sensible offer colection from manchester area

-------------------

I'm not sure how that tank set-up could be broken down and transported and rebuilt, in time for the first, which are also being offered to live through it!?

If I kept with the 125litre / 33 us gallon tank, would I be able to have a copperband butterfly... with a small tank mate or two?

Thanks again for your support!

L

[lgarvey]

PS. Is RO an asbolute necessity, or could I use dechlorinator / water conditioner instead?

With the filtration and the protein skimmer (and the live rock if it is needed), how frequently woudl I have to do water changes?

L

[greggnyce]

Your are better off buying the liverock now instead of trying a complicated husbandry strategy, only to end up buying liverock and trying to cure it later and add it. Order from marco rocks or somwhere like it and it will not be as expensive as the rock in the LFS. Then you can seed the tank with live sand or a peice of cured rock.

[Sk8r]

Live rock IS your filter, and you should have 1-2 lbs per gallon. I don't use a physical filter at all, just a refugium and remote deep sandbed in the sump: I bought "used" live rock from another tank and didn't cure it. Just used it as was. More biodiversity that way, IMHO. Fresh and salt are in my experience so different it makes little difference (except cost) which you do first.

What you do need are patience, willingness to go slow, and money. The latter can be less if you buy good used equipment: someone is always moving, getting married/divorced, or upgrading and you can get their rig for about 1/3 of what you would pay new.

Opportunely I just posted a thread on what it costs and what I'd do now if I were starting from scratch, for a 55g tank.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1437439
Hope that helps.

[Bruno3047]

The main difference between FW and SW is this.

When you lose a fish in FW, its $3.00

When you lose a fish in SW it could be $100.00.

Also, a separate QT (quarantine tank) is a MUST in SW.

[jarrett]

yes absoulty live rock and ro water are nesesary. if you are starting to think about was to ditch equipment to save money you might want to rethink considering this as a hobby. not trying to scare you out of this but heres what you need, skimmer, 50lbs live rock give or take, uv sterializer, ro unit or bottled water, argonite sand bed, good quality heater, depending on how hot your house is might need a chiller a tank with a sump/fuge would aslo be the best approach . ro is not truly needed but without it your going to fight algae the whole time and trust me all of us will agree thats no fun. now with that being said do you need all the live rock at first, no, but sooner or later you will. a tank you size to set up will cost roughly 1500 so see if thats withen your budget and if it is have fun. oh one more thing read, read, read, read. P.S. id recomend at least a 5% wc every week. let us know how shes going

[Kiel'thalin]

Just some items (equipment wise) I would recommend in order by cost of most to least expensive:
1. Lighting
2. Protein Skimmer
3. Water Flow via powerheads or closed loop
4. Reef Ready tank with Sump (could use an External Siphon Overflow)
5. Live Rock
6. RO Unit
7. Top off system
8. Alkalinty/Calcium Supplement Scheme
9. Refractometer
10. Test kits for Alkalinity/calcium/nitrate

I think most "new" people on here and kinda get confused with what all is involved with a SW setup. I would start Reseaching why those 10 things mentioned above would help you get going in the right direction. Oh, I will mention, it does get expensive...

[Rustylugnuts]

live rock and ro water are nesesary

+1

For instance this is available right near to where I live: -

Buying used is an excellent way to save a ton. If you do decide to go that route find out exactly what the seller is including in the package and post here on RC to us know what is included and how much it is. Lots of folks here would be happy tell you if its a good deal or not. Many times the package will be worth buying just for the live rock alone even if you throw away every piece of equipment that comes with it.