I am New to Saltwater. New Tank.

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xclan

Aquarium Advice Apprentice
Joined
Sep 5, 2003
Messages
38
Location
Ridgecrest California
I have a 150 gallon saltwater tank I just setup last week I have a emporor 400 filter{i think}? I plan on just having fish...i doubt I will get any coral. Do I need a protein skimmer? I havent added fish yet because i ordered a saltwater master test kit and it hasnt arrived yet. dont know that the water is ready.

I have 2 Magnum 350 filters that arent being used{i hate hoses}
4 or 5 powerheads.
a few airpumps with bubble strips. and plenty of hose.
and i have 2 brand new Biowheel 330 filters on their way here for my freshwater tank.

wich of the above equipment should i setup to maintain my tank?
I found a cheap protein skimmer online....
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?siteid=6&pCatId=4425



any advice would be greatly appreciatted.
Also i just found this site today and i think it looks like an awesome place...
Thanx
Daryl
 
Do I need a protein skimmer?

While you dont "NEED" a skimmer they are highly recommended for helping to maintain water quality expecially for beginners who often overstock and overfeed.

a few airpumps with bubble strips. and plenty of hose.

You probably wont end up using these as the bubbles poping at the surface will cause a fair amount of salt residue buildup. The bubble strips do very little for oxygenating the tank and the use of a skimmer will benifit the oxygen levels much more than the bubble strips.

All the other equipment you mentioned you probably should use. Its alot of equipment but since you already have it no need to go out and purchase a wet/dry unit or anything like that.

The skimmer you list is IMO not going to do a very efficent job with the size tank you have. I like to take the tank size recomendations for skimmers and cut that in half. So for a skimmer rated for tanks up to 150 gal I would not use it on a tank larger than a 75 gal.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?siteid=6&pCatId=4429

The above skimmer probably will give you more efficent results. I know its a fair bit more expensive.
 
also did you put anything into your tank to start the cycle. If not you should throw in a few raw shrimp to start the nitrogen cycle.
 
rossv said:
also did you put anything into your tank to start the cycle. If not you should throw in a few raw shrimp to start the nitrogen cycle.

I plan on adding some Shrimp this week. I wasnt sure o add them until i read a few other places today that said it was a good Idea. I really appreciatte both of yer Help. If everyone around this forum is as friendly as both Of you.....and a few other I have had the pleasure to run across allready...i plan on hanging around quit A bit and learning....
Still any more advice from anyone else? Its greatly appreciatted. I really would hate to make a mistake and kill a few beautiful Living Creatures.
 
question about that skimmer. i have a 29 gallon fish only no live rock, would that be an ok skimmer for me. filter is an emperor 330 bio wheel and 1 powerhead.
 
xclan said:
If everyone around this forum is as friendly as both Of you.....and a few other I have had the pleasure to run across allready...i plan on hanging around quit A bit and learning....

They are. I am new here as well, and I have been so impressed with the knowledge and friendliness of the people here that I felt compelled to make a donation! I have only done that at about 2 or 3 other sites over all the years I have been on the "net". Much like you, I came to this forum with some freshwater experience but zero salt water. I still dont know a whole lot, but at least now I am aware of how much I dont know, which in marine aquariums seems to me to be half the battle. Good luck with your new aquarium and I hope you have as much fun with your aquarium as I have been having with mine! 3 weeks after buying and setting up my 55 gallon salt water tank I purchased a 120 gallon system to set up for a reef, so watch out, this can be and addictive as well as expensive, albeit satisfying, hobby.
Peace,
Zero
 
Zero, Yeah I know what ya mean about addictive and expensive. I allready want another tank and am allready interested in reefs....My first tank isnt fully cycled yet and I have yet to get a skimmer...But I have added 120 lbs of live rock and the ammonia ha dropped pretty quickly nitrites and nitrates are still high though :? . I have a lobster....9 crabs and a starfish in the tank . I wish everyone would leave the starfish alone....they keep tellin me he is dead...i keep saying he isnt...then they poke him with a fish net and he moves. They think since he hasnt moved in a few hours he must be dead :roll:


So far pretty happy with the tank...i especially like looking a the live rock!
 
Don't let your friends poke your starfish... they don't like to be poked.. they are very dosile and slow moving animals for the most part.

Glad you are enjoying your AA.com experience. I grew to love this place quickly myself!

here's some more info for you to absorb:

Check out our Articles Section for a number of items written by members here.
There are a number of good Recomended Books for anyone with a SW aquarium.
 
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