noobie wanna start SW tank <20Gal

[mkmt]

Hi,all.. I would like to start a small SW tank(low budget). I've read up quite alot info here & other site. Recently I've bought a tank(abt 17gal) & filter(underwater filter). LFS isn't so helpful at my area.

Now i'm a little lost with accessories that i need to buy some more. What are the test kits & meters that I must get first? Please guide me through.thx

 

[smn723]

Minimum test kits for starting out your setup would be ph, ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates...also you are going to need a refractometer for testing the salinity of your saltwater mix. anything else you are lost on?

 

[mkmt]

thx ya..
Do I need water conditioner for distilled water before adding salt?
Should I place coral sand bed before salt water cycling in the tank or after?

 

[melosu58]

http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=76139

 

[roka64]

I would ditch the under gravel filter. They are not needed in SW and can easily become clogged. I would take back the CC and use sand. I would just buy the dry sand as opposed to the "live" sand.
I'm on well water and use RO/DI to filter my water. I am not sure on what is involved in using city water. I would not use distilled water.
You can add the coral and then the water or vice versa.
I would suggest you premix your water first in a separate bucket, to get the hang of how to do it. Also, add a ph to bring the temp up to what your tank's temp should be 78-82ish degrees, especially if you are using a hydrometer (I would spring for a refractometer).

 

[mkmt]

sorry, my eng is bad. i didnt mean under gravel filter. mine is fluval3plus filter. is that ok for my small tank? Now i'm test running normal water to see the wave strength.

How many inch of CC should i base for my tank?
Do I need to conditioned the water before adding salt?
What do you mean by add a ph? Do u mean I need to get this temperature to measure correctly if i use hydrometer?

sorry for many question. I've read many guides in this week & information overloaded at the moment. please help .thx thx

 

[Ziggy953]

Small SW tanks require constant attention. With a small volume of water they can easily foul and kill everything in the tank. I understand the budget issue all to well! You will need to do regular PWCs after you have cycled your tank to keep things balanced. Many of us that have small tanks ( I have a 5 gallon nano) also have larger tanks that can supplement their filtration. If you have an LFS near by that sells RO/DI water I would suggest using that as apposed to tap or distilled!

Scott is talking about adding a PH to the bucket that you mix your SW in to raise the temp and make sure the salt is mixed well. When you mix SW you should let it mix for at least 24 hours before using it in your tank.

The filter you have selected is going to need to be cleaned weekly. You will need to change the carbon weekly as part of your cleaning. The more LR you put in the tank the better your filtration is going to be.

Get all of those test kits mentioned above as you are going to need to monitor your water closely because of the small size.

Starting out with a small tank can be a challenge but it can be done assuming you are willing to put the time in it.

 

[Kurt_Nelson]

What do you mean by add a ph? Do u mean I need to get this temperature to measure correctly if i use hydrometer?

A "ph" is an abbreviation for "powerhead" . I think roka64 meant to say add a heater to get your temp up. (I'd add a powerhead also, to keep the water mixed and aerated.)

Do I need to conditioned the water before adding salt?

If you're using distilled water, like you mentioned, then no... you don't need to add anything to it except your salt mix.

 

[mkmt]

thx for d input,guys.. I don't plan to have an extra tank. Since the LFS is just across the road, I would ask the shop to keep the fish like suggested in some article.
Can I use fluorescent light to temp up for mixing salt & add on water? I'm from malaysia & I don't think temp is so far different. What's the acceptable temp different?
How many inch of CC & sand should I put for my tank? So I should use Dry sand instead of Live? Any advantage if i can get Live sand?

tq..

 

[roka64]

"Live" sand would be good if you get it fresh. I kind of doubt from gathering, packaging, shipping to the warehouse and shipping to the LFS, then sitting on the LFS shelf would have much live bacteria, but I could be wrong.
Kurt is right, I meant both a ph and a heater to keep the temp consistent. Since you are going with a smaller tank, heat may not be such a big deal, if your room temp can keep the temp close to your tank's temp, for your premixed water.
To be honest, I would take the CC back, it ends up on top of the sand and requires consistent cleaning. I had it in mine and ended up taking it out. It will also limit some of your choices on sand stirrers and clean up crew.

 

[Lance M.]

I would not use distilled water.

? Distilled water has nothing in it. I have been using distilled water for the past 9 months. Just mix it with the salt and increase the temp.

Don't use crushed coral substrate unless you want to be siphoning it all the time to keep it clean. Just get some regular dry aragonite sand, it's cheaper then the "live" sand and you can get a couple cups of sand from your lfs to make the sand live.

You want the water temperature between 78-80 degrees, same for the water your going to use for pwc. You will want a heater to keep it constant in your main tank and a small heater to go in the container you use to mix the water.

What do you want to make the tank? Reef or FOWLR?

 

[roka64]

Distilled water has nothing in it.

I have heard they sometimes use copper tubing to distill, but I could be incorrect.

 

[Lance M.]

Well I have my own tap water filter/deionizer and no copper tubing there.

 

[Kurt_Nelson]

Well I have my own tap water filter/deionizer and no copper tubing there.

Either I'm missing something, or you haven't been using distilled water then. You've been using DI water.

 

[Lance M.]

unless I'm missing something, DI water is distilled water. or am I wrong?

 

[Kurt_Nelson]

DI = DeIonized
distilled = distilled

Distilled water is just that - distilled. It is supposedly pure because water is heated to boiling and the steam is captured, leaving the impurities behind. Roka64's point is that after the steam is captured, it may pass through copper tubing to condense it back into water. What impurities it picks up along the way... who knows.

DI water is just water that's been run through a deionizing resin. Normally, folks talk about RO/DI - that's water that's run through Reverse Osmosis, THEN run through a deionizing resin. The "Tap Water Filter" that's sold by API (I think?) is just a deionizing cannister.

 

[mkmt]

I want to start up with FOWLR. Until I get a hang of it with maintenance, I want some anemone.
ok, so I'll go with only sand. Should I put few layers of sands or only one layer? In some forum,they suggest that i should go from rough,medium to fine sands.
thx

 

[mkmt]

hi hi, my 5th day of tank cycling. I just put in live rock yesterday. Even just rocks,it's so enjoyable. I found 3 sea hairy lala, 1 snail & accidentally pulled a flower worm or smth. so regret I get that I pull that out without knowing Now it seem still alive but no flower. I put back a stone looking snail & lala just to see it open or alive. This morning 2 of the big lala missing. I don't know it's harmful. Should I find & dig out again?

anyway, here is my tank pic

 

[Lance M.]

What is a "lala"? and by "flower worm" I'm guessing a feather duster.

 

[mkmt]

ya ya..feather duster worm. Opps, i wrote in Malaysia local language, sorry. It's small clam. I didn't think it can move & i put it back in the tank just for a day or two. aii..

Is there any harm that if i leave the snail? it's about a thumb nail size with stripe tiny antennae.