Starting plans for 1st saltwater

yikesjason · 03/03/2011, 11:58 PM

I finally got bit by the saltwater bug. I have been a freshwater planted guy for a few years and started into discus about a year ago. Now I am looking at doing my first saltwater.

Here is what I am thinking after a couple of days of research. It is based off of a couple of similar tanks I have seen so far.

Mr. Aqua 12 gal long
I have a Marineland double bright LED (I got this thinking I would do a low tech planted tank, but it probably won't be enough for saltwater)
Subcurrent filter
Koralia nano 425 ? (not sure if this would be enough)
Some small heater that can be hidden by the subcurrent
I would like to get a JBJ ATO (appears to be the best option for me)

rock
sand
macro algae (I am a fw planted guy, what else would I do)
1 black false percula
1 flame goby
some shrimp
some snails

I am not sure that I want to get into corals, I am thinking a FOWLR would be easier to start with. Is that correct?

yikesjason · 03/04/2011, 12:01 AM

I read the "read me first" sticky, a lot of great info. The whole "don't refer to finding nemo names" is understandable here, but it sure helps with convincing the wife.
- "Honey, wouldn't you like to have a small tank with a nemo fish?"
- "Oh, that would be so cute!"

Puffer29 · 03/04/2011, 01:59 AM

Yes FOWLR is quite a bit easier to get into. Corals demand a lot of patience. Your stocking list looks good. Good luck!

Qtip760 · 03/04/2011, 02:54 AM

I'm not sure what fish you mean by "flame goby". I'm guessing firefish?

Also, just my opinion but, with a 12g tank I'd say Two fish is about your max so not sure about the FOWLR idea. At the same time i guess you could start with that. Since your planned fish are reef safe so you could always add some corals later if you get bored.

yikesjason · 03/04/2011, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Qtip760

I'm not sure what fish you mean by "flame goby". I'm guessing firefish?

Also, just my opinion but, with a 12g tank I'd say Two fish is about your max so not sure about the FOWLR idea. At the same time i guess you could start with that. Since your planned fish are reef safe so you could always add some corals later if you get bored.

Thank you both for the input. And I do mean firefish.

From reading, it sounds like 3 is about the top limit for a sustainable 12 gal, so I will keep just below that for ease sake. Maybe add one more if I do add a sump.

"not sure about the FOWLR idea" is that just because it might not be very interesting with just two fish?

I purposely am looking for reef safe fish and inverts so I can leave that possibility open in the future. I am thinking of ease and budget right now.

yikesjason · 03/04/2011, 07:56 AM

Two questions.

- Do corals also help with water quality much? Or is it more just the live rock that does that work?

- Does it make economic sense to buy RODI and premixed water from an LFS? I imagine that without my own RODI, I will have to buy water anyways.

yikesjason · 03/06/2011, 12:23 AM

In FW planted tanks, there are high light/high tech tanks that get complicated and expensive.
Example- My 150 gal

Then there are the low light/low tech tanks that can be a lot simpler and cheaper
Example- My 29 gal

Is there a rough equivalent with saltwater?

almostazoo · 03/06/2011, 12:44 AM

RODI is a must you will go through the water fast enought to justify the purchase. I use 14g of top off water a week and I only have 135g total water volume. LR is the filter/helper in export.

Sk8r · 03/06/2011, 01:01 PM

Lol---corals are WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY easier than those plants. Don't sell yourself short.
You can do a coral garden for far less effort.

spieszak · 03/06/2011, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sk8r

Lol---corals are WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY easier than those plants. Don't sell yourself short.
You can do a coral garden for far less effort.

+1
I did FW for years and couldn't keep plants happy...With little to no effort you can throw in some mushrooms and xenia and have them do well. With a little more effort you can do a little more. You are already good at monitoring your params, and the patience it takes to alter your params, which puts your ahead of the curve.

yikesjason · 03/06/2011, 02:40 PM

That is good to hear. I have always been nervous about saltwater.

lacosta28 · 03/06/2011, 04:27 PM

Normally people would suggeset a bigger tank if you are just starting off. They tend to be easier since you have so much water volume and little mistakes wont be as costly. Seeing as how good you have done with FW I think you will do great with a SW tank.

yikesjason · 03/06/2011, 06:07 PM

I might go for a little bit bigger tank. One of the main reasons I was thinking of doing this one is that it wouldn't take that much to light it. I think I will stick with this or a similar tank, but I might add a sump under it.

03/03/2011, 11:58 PM	#1
yikesjason Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 52	Starting plans for 1st saltwater I finally got bit by the saltwater bug. I have been a freshwater planted guy for a few years and started into discus about a year ago. Now I am looking at doing my first saltwater. Here is what I am thinking after a couple of days of research. It is based off of a couple of similar tanks I have seen so far. Mr. Aqua 12 gal long I have a Marineland double bright LED (I got this thinking I would do a low tech planted tank, but it probably won't be enough for saltwater) Subcurrent filter Koralia nano 425 ? (not sure if this would be enough) Some small heater that can be hidden by the subcurrent I would like to get a JBJ ATO (appears to be the best option for me) rock sand macro algae (I am a fw planted guy, what else would I do) 1 black false percula 1 flame goby some shrimp some snails I am not sure that I want to get into corals, I am thinking a FOWLR would be easier to start with. Is that correct?

03/06/2011, 12:44 AM	#8
almostazoo Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Avondale Posts: 241	RODI is a must you will go through the water fast enought to justify the purchase. I use 14g of top off water a week and I only have 135g total water volume. LR is the filter/helper in export. Last edited by almostazoo; 03/06/2011 at 12:50 AM. Reason: add on

03/06/2011, 01:01 PM	#9
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Lol---corals are WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY easier than those plants. Don't sell yourself short. You can do a coral garden for far less effort. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

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03/04/2011, 12:01 AM	#2
yikesjason Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 52	I read the "read me first" sticky, a lot of great info. The whole "don't refer to finding nemo names" is understandable here, but it sure helps with convincing the wife. - "Honey, wouldn't you like to have a small tank with a nemo fish?" - "Oh, that would be so cute!"

03/04/2011, 01:59 AM	#3
Puffer29 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: simi valley ca Posts: 17	Yes FOWLR is quite a bit easier to get into. Corals demand a lot of patience. Your stocking list looks good. Good luck!

03/04/2011, 02:54 AM	#4
Qtip760 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Diego County Posts: 39	I'm not sure what fish you mean by "flame goby". I'm guessing firefish? Also, just my opinion but, with a 12g tank I'd say Two fish is about your max so not sure about the FOWLR idea. At the same time i guess you could start with that. Since your planned fish are reef safe so you could always add some corals later if you get bored.

03/04/2011, 07:56 AM	#6
yikesjason Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 52	Two questions. - Do corals also help with water quality much? Or is it more just the live rock that does that work? - Does it make economic sense to buy RODI and premixed water from an LFS? I imagine that without my own RODI, I will have to buy water anyways.

03/06/2011, 12:23 AM	#7
yikesjason Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 52	In FW planted tanks, there are high light/high tech tanks that get complicated and expensive. Example- My 150 gal Then there are the low light/low tech tanks that can be a lot simpler and cheaper Example- My 29 gal Is there a rough equivalent with saltwater?

03/06/2011, 02:40 PM	#11
yikesjason Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 52	That is good to hear. I have always been nervous about saltwater.

03/06/2011, 04:27 PM	#12
lacosta28 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Albuquerque Posts: 632	Normally people would suggeset a bigger tank if you are just starting off. They tend to be easier since you have so much water volume and little mistakes wont be as costly. Seeing as how good you have done with FW I think you will do great with a SW tank.

03/06/2011, 06:07 PM	#13
yikesjason Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 52	I might go for a little bit bigger tank. One of the main reasons I was thinking of doing this one is that it wouldn't take that much to light it. I think I will stick with this or a similar tank, but I might add a sump under it.