I am a complete noob to saltwater!!

gig603 · 10/22/2009, 05:18 PM

Hi, i am going to set up a 3 gallon reef tank. I have a few questions to ask. What will i need? I have the tank,filter and extra cartridges, instant ocean sea salt mix, hydrometer, live sand, heater and test kits for ammonia, pH, nitrites and nitrates. How do you cycle the aquarium with live rock or some kind of fish?
once the aquarium has cycled When can i add live stock? I was thinking about some corals, clown fish,snails, hermit crab. Try to get back to me as fast as you can.

dsn112 · 10/22/2009, 05:29 PM

You really need to relax, and slow down and do some research. Being new, and setting up a tiny tank will take time for you to perfect. get your tank set up with sand and lr and let it go for a few months and cycle and then just maintain your levels before you add anything.

A clown probably doesn't belong in a tank under 10 gallons. And as far as corals, most are very sensitive and I would not recommend adding any for a while.

addictedtofish · 10/22/2009, 05:29 PM

Man a three gallon is tiny, something as simple as a little evaporation will swing your salt level drastically, your going to have to be on top of this tank to have good success. Try to get some cultured sand and live rock (cured) from your lfs and add livestock slowly over the next few weeks(testing weekly before new additions.

gig603 · 10/22/2009, 05:33 PM

At my lfs They have a 3 gallon with a clown. There the ones who got me started on wanting a 3 gallon with a clown.

dsn112 · 10/22/2009, 05:34 PM

Remember, the LFS has alot of experience in keeping tanks, and they will tell you a ton of info that is wrong because they want you to buy things from them.

gig603 · 10/22/2009, 05:37 PM

The employee wouldn't let me buy a fish because my tank wasn't done cycling. He is cool.

dsn112 · 10/22/2009, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gig603

The employee wouldn't let me buy a fish because my tank wasn't done cycling. He is cool.

I was at a lfs who told me that a naso tang would be fine in a 30g tank until it was fully grown.

Do what you want. But the majority of us who have kept tanks successfully will tell you to slow down and research, but you clearly have already made up your mind of what you are doing.

gig603 · 10/22/2009, 05:44 PM

I have done tons of research. Well maybe your local fish store just hires random people. What is the name of it?

gig603 · 10/22/2009, 05:55 PM

Thanks for your advice.

reefergeorge · 10/22/2009, 06:02 PM

Read the stickies at the top of the page. All your questions will be answered.

I have a 2.5 gallon pico reef, and and a 12 gallon nano cube that I started with. There is no way I would put a fish in the pico.
I don't even keep fish in my 12 anymore, after those tiny clowns outgrew the 12 in a little over a year, and had to be moved to a larger tank.
I also have to top off the pico every day or the sg. will go through the roof.
If I were you I would start with at least a 10.

Frogmanx82 · 10/22/2009, 06:05 PM

If you really want to get into this, you should get a bigger tank. 3 gallons just isn't going to be satisfying. The clown will not be happy and neither will you. It is very hard to keep that little bit of water in good condition for a saltwater fish to live in.

If you like clowns you want a tank big enough for a pair. Even a 15 or 20 gallon tank seems small but that should be minimum size to start with.

gig603 · 10/22/2009, 06:12 PM

ok. thanks

gig603 · 10/22/2009, 06:13 PM

OK, never mind the clown just some inverts then?

wab · 10/22/2009, 06:16 PM

YO, the lfs has enough water cycling in house so that he can do a 50 % water change and the water parameters are the same. the fish never notice, you would have to mimic that at home. I started with a 10 gal and that was to much work so I went bigger and all I do now is enjoy my tank and maintain. GOOD LUCK

gig603 · 10/22/2009, 06:31 PM

But i am going to buy the water from them.

10/22/2009, 05:18 PM	#1
gig603 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 28	I am a complete noob to saltwater!! Hi, i am going to set up a 3 gallon reef tank. I have a few questions to ask. What will i need? I have the tank,filter and extra cartridges, instant ocean sea salt mix, hydrometer, live sand, heater and test kits for ammonia, pH, nitrites and nitrates. How do you cycle the aquarium with live rock or some kind of fish? once the aquarium has cycled When can i add live stock? I was thinking about some corals, clown fish,snails, hermit crab. Try to get back to me as fast as you can.

10/22/2009, 05:29 PM	#2
dsn112 Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: South Jersey Posts: 1,139	You really need to relax, and slow down and do some research. Being new, and setting up a tiny tank will take time for you to perfect. get your tank set up with sand and lr and let it go for a few months and cycle and then just maintain your levels before you add anything. A clown probably doesn't belong in a tank under 10 gallons. And as far as corals, most are very sensitive and I would not recommend adding any for a while. __________________ I'm disturbed! I'm depressed! I'm inadequate! I got it all!! Current Tank Info: Fluval Edge w LED freshwater. Looking at doing a 20-40g long penninsula fowlr soon

10/22/2009, 05:34 PM	#5
dsn112 Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: South Jersey Posts: 1,139	Remember, the LFS has alot of experience in keeping tanks, and they will tell you a ton of info that is wrong because they want you to buy things from them. __________________ I'm disturbed! I'm depressed! I'm inadequate! I got it all!! Current Tank Info: Fluval Edge w LED freshwater. Looking at doing a 20-40g long penninsula fowlr soon

10/22/2009, 06:05 PM	#11
Frogmanx82 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 1,515	If you really want to get into this, you should get a bigger tank. 3 gallons just isn't going to be satisfying. The clown will not be happy and neither will you. It is very hard to keep that little bit of water in good condition for a saltwater fish to live in. If you like clowns you want a tank big enough for a pair. Even a 15 or 20 gallon tank seems small but that should be minimum size to start with. __________________ Exodus 8:2 Check my homepage for tank pics and details. Current Tank Info: 90 gallon, 2x maxspect R420R LED, 4 Ocellaris Clowns, Yellow Eye Kole Tang, Flame Angel, Foxface Rabbitfish, Banggai Cardinals, Azure Damsel, rock flower anemone, cleaner shrimp, serpent star

10/22/2009, 06:16 PM	#14
wab Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: nj Posts: 512	YO, the lfs has enough water cycling in house so that he can do a 50 % water change and the water parameters are the same. the fish never notice, you would have to mimic that at home. I started with a 10 gal and that was to much work so I went bigger and all I do now is enjoy my tank and maintain. GOOD LUCK __________________ 1 year plus and still I DON'T KNOW!!!! LOL Current Tank Info: 45 high 30 breeder sump/refuge diy

10/22/2009, 05:29 PM	#3
addictedtofish Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Chicago IL Posts: 38	Man a three gallon is tiny, something as simple as a little evaporation will swing your salt level drastically, your going to have to be on top of this tank to have good success. Try to get some cultured sand and live rock (cured) from your lfs and add livestock slowly over the next few weeks(testing weekly before new additions.

10/22/2009, 05:33 PM	#4
gig603 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 28	At my lfs They have a 3 gallon with a clown. There the ones who got me started on wanting a 3 gallon with a clown.

10/22/2009, 05:37 PM	#6
gig603 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 28	The employee wouldn't let me buy a fish because my tank wasn't done cycling. He is cool.

10/22/2009, 05:44 PM	#8
gig603 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 28	I have done tons of research. Well maybe your local fish store just hires random people. What is the name of it?

10/22/2009, 05:55 PM	#9
gig603 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 28	Thanks for your advice.

10/22/2009, 06:02 PM	#10
reefergeorge Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: St Louis MO Posts: 4,222	Read the stickies at the top of the page. All your questions will be answered. I have a 2.5 gallon pico reef, and and a 12 gallon nano cube that I started with. There is no way I would put a fish in the pico. I don't even keep fish in my 12 anymore, after those tiny clowns outgrew the 12 in a little over a year, and had to be moved to a larger tank. I also have to top off the pico every day or the sg. will go through the roof. If I were you I would start with at least a 10.

10/22/2009, 06:12 PM	#12
gig603 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 28	ok. thanks

10/22/2009, 06:13 PM	#13
gig603 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 28	OK, never mind the clown just some inverts then?

10/22/2009, 06:31 PM	#15
gig603 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 28	But i am going to buy the water from them.