Can anyone help me with a checklist?

[superpeytonm]

Basically I'm new to saltwater tanks so I just want someone who knows what they're doing to kind of make me a checklist of all the basic stuff that I'll need. That way I can research them and get some prices in my head to start saving up. I just really want to make sure I've got everything right. Thanks!


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[markodeniro]

Have you got a tank or looking at buying one? Bigger is always better for maintaining chemistry. You need powerheads 10 - 20x strength of tank capacity, 1 or 2 heaters, skimmer, live rock 1kg to 10litres.


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[cgthebeast]

^+ 1 plus your filtration (are you going to go with a sump or a hob) and what kind of bottom do you want
Rocks usally go a pound per gallon as it is the same with sand. If you go with a bigger tank then a skimmer is needed. Of your going to keep corals then high quality lights are a must an reactors would be something to look at also

1.tank
2.stand
3.base or live rock
4.live sand
5.heater
6.skimmer
7.filtration (sump or hob)
8.reactors
9. Powerheads or wave makers
10.salt mix
11.liquid test kits
12. Ph buffers
Now if you go with a sump this is also needed
1.un sump skimmers
2. Sheets of acrylic or plastic for baffles
3. An overflow or you could drill it
4. If drilled by your self then a diamond bit hole saw of what ever size you want.
5. Filter socks


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[Reefing Madness]

#1-Dry Rock, there are a few hitchhikers on Live Rock that people want to stay away from, so they opt for using Dry Rock, or Dead Rock. Macro Rock is a good place to start looking for that. Either way you go you will need a minimum of 1lb per gallon. You can use Fully Cured Live Rock, and have the tank cycled in just a few days also. Other way is to use just a couple of pounds of Live Rock and the rest Macro or Dry Rock.

#2-Replacement filter media like filter floss and activated carbon (if you get a filter) Which is really not necessary.

#3-Multiple Power heads (2 or 3) 10x your water volume for just a Fish Only With Live Rock, and at least 20x your water volume for a Reef Tank. So lets say your going reef, and you have a 100g tank, you would need flow in that tank at minimum of 2000gph, or 2 1000gph power heads.

#4-Protein Skimmer, rated at 2 times your water volume. Unless your tank is under 30g, in which case you can do 10% water changes a week to rid the system of detrius. But, you'll have to watch the water parameters close, if things go haywire, you'll have to do more water changes.

#5-Saltwater Test Kits. Reef Test Kit. Test for Ammonia, Nitrites, Nitrates, PH, Phosphates, Calcium, ALK and Magnesium.

#6-Saltwater fish food. Mysis Shrimp, Squid, Cyclopease, Algae Sheets, Romaine . Flake food is not really a good food to feed your marine fish.

#7-Aquarium vacuum. This one is iffy. Most don't use one, if you have enough flow in the tank you won’t need one

#8-Rubber kitchen gloves

#9-Fish net

#10-Two, clean, never used before, 5-gallon buckets

#11-Aquarium thermometer, digital being the best.

#12-Brush with plastic bristles (old tooth brush) - needed for cleaning the live rock if you don't get Fully Cured Live Rock.

#13-Power Strip, possibly GFCI outlets by the tank.

#14-Optional but definitely recommend getting a Reverse Osmosis or RO/Deionization filter for the make-up water, and a barrel for storing the water.

#15-Possibly a Quarantine Tank for your new fish. They sit in here for a few weeks to kill off parasites and bacteria, to keep it from getting in your main tank

#16-Heater rated for your size tank.

#17-Saltwater Mix. Marine Salt. Instant Ocean is the cheap Salt that beginners and Advanced use alike.

#18-Saltwater Hydrometer or even better a Refractometer, which is more accurate. There is also a Digital Meter that is way advanced if you have the cash.

#19-Aquarium filter (not absolutely necessary if running with adequate amounts of live rock, but nice to have if you need to use a mechanical filter or activated carbon, or GFO and such)

#20-Aquarium substrate such as live sand or crushed coral. Some go bare Bottom, others choose the 1-2" bottom, others, more advanced will try the Deep Sand Bed, which is over 6" deep.

http://www.scaquariums.com/sc-aquariums-sca-301-65-gallon-protein-skimmer.html

Aquarium Nitrogen Cycle | Cycling Methods | Ammonia & Nitrates

aquarium heater in Aquarium and Fish Supplies | eBay

power heads | eBay

NEW 0 10 Salinity Refractometer Salt Water Aquarium | eBay

Dry Live Rock for Sale | Aragonite Sand | Aquarium Supply - Marco Rocks

Bulk Dry Live Rock & Live Sand - Bulk Reef Supply

Live Rock: Live Saltwater Aquarium Rock

Fish & Aquarium Supplies: Marine Substrates, Sand, Crushed Coral, Live Sand

Aquarium Lighting Information Guide | Reef & Planted | PAR PUR

Macro Algae: Your Source For Quality Marine Plants and Macroalgae | Gulf Coast Ecosystems

what your coral needs | Successful Reef Keeping

t-5 lighting | eBay

cree led aquarium | eBay

Aquarium Salt Mix: Salt for Saltwater and Freshwater Fish Aquariums

Aquarium Water Testing: Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Reef Master Liquid Test Kit

Reef Aquarium Care: Kent Marine Liquid Calcium Supplement

Saltwater Aquarium Buffer: Kent Marine Superbuffer-dKH pH Buffer and Alkalinity Builder

 

[superpeytonm]

Thanks everyone. I don't have the tank yet, but I'm looking at buying one. I'll probably go with a hob filter. Not sure on the bottom yet. What's the best to use?


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[chefbill]

There is also a bunch of stuff you wouldn't normally think of: Shop towels/paper towels, timers, thin airline tubing to drip acclimate, bone cutters, xacto knife, tongs/tweezers, super glue, epoxy putty, eggcrate (always handy), extension cords, log book/phone app to track params, mag float or scraper, 2oz and 4oz disposible cups (for thawing food, mixing additives or kalk etc), appropriate food, kalkwasser or other supplements, turkey baster. I'm sure I'm missing a bunch.

LOL looks worse than it is. The vast majority of that list you have or is just a few dollars, another chunk of the list is stuff you won't need right away.

 

[chefbill]

Not sure on the bottom yet. What's the best to use?


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There is no "best". What you plan on keeping will influence what sort of bottom you use and personal aesthetics is the other biggy. With bare bottom, you can have huge amounts of flow without a sandstorm. But bare bottom means no wrasses or other sand dwellers. To each their own.

 

[superpeytonm]

What kind of filter do you recommend? I've been doing some research, but it seems very overwhelming.


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[cgthebeast]

I've always used an aquaclear on my saltwater. I like the media chamber in it but rember to rinse out the media on any filter with tank water regularly


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[superpeytonm]

What about a sump? Do I need one? I'm looking at a possible wet dry filter.


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[cgthebeast]

You can go sump also but I highly recommend to drill the tank if possible cause a hob over flow can lose siphon an Drain the the tank. I'm building a sump for my 55g upgrade instead of going back to the aquaclear that is currently on my 10g.
Sumps have lots of benefits as hiding equipment, fully customizable, more water volume, algae can grow in it if you have a fuge, you can fit a bigger skimmer, you can fit reactors in it, you can build a diy algae turf scrubber, really the possibilities are endless.

Now for the wet dry filter, there alright but the bio balls commonly found in them trap deturis an other objects that decompose. I find that a compartment filled with rubble rock, a good skimmer, filter socks, and a fuge gives everything needed for a saltwater tank



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[Sniperhank]

Sumps are always a good idea. More water helps dilute mistakes or possible issues. Wet/dry are ok but aren't really the best, to the point they are typically frowned upon when it comes to reef setups. The bioballs end up being nitrate traps unless they are cleaned weekly, simply by dunking in old tank water during a water change is the simplest way I can think of.

 

[superpeytonm]

Seems as if sumps are the better way to go. So I'll go with one of those. Although, I'm not very familiar with them.


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[Reefing Madness]

How does a sump work? | Melev's Reef

Reefkeeping 101 – Sumps! by Marc Levenson - Reefkeeping.com