Wanting to start a saltwater aquarium
 

Hey I'm really wanting to get a SW tank goin have no experience I have a 29 gallon regular glass tank can I do it with that??

Hey I just got started myself.. as a matter of fact I just filled my tank yesterday and waiting on it to cycle. The information is a lot to take in but these guys know what they are talking about. One thing I have grasped so far is the theory there is more than one way to do things in this hobby. So far I have really enjoyed this community and they members here are always very forthcoming with great information,

Yes a 29 is not a bad size to start! I would plan to keep coral as well as fish, so get equipment for both!

Ok so wat will I need to get started how big of a filter and all that??

What all equipment do I need don't know nothing about this lol I read SW about skimmers and all that and cycling the tank I don't know wat that is??

I know I'm defiantly gonna get an RO water filtration system!!

Wanting to start a saltwater aquarium
 

+1. Everyone wants coral eventually so plan for it from the start. The 2 things that go into every successful reef is patience and research. You'll need ro/di water, flow, and some sort of filtration (hob skimmer or hob filters work fine for nano tanks) and of course lighting ( eBay taotronics dimmable are about the best value out there)

Edit : the larger aqua clears (70-110) are great hob filters and you can even find heaters that will fit in the 110

Wat is nano tank is that just under a certain gallon or somthing

Nano is anything smaller than 30g I believe and pico is 4g or smaller I think

Ya anything under 40g can be considered a nano

Also is a hob filter the brand or a type of filter?? Thx so much for it help everyone really appreciate it :)

Hob is hang on back filter

Hob = hang on back

Ok awesome thanks so after I get my filter lighting water and somthing to
Make flow in the water I put my sand and water in do u wait to put live rock in till u make sure everything is running good ??

No put the rock in at the same time. I highly recommend rock before sand, it makes for a more stable scape. I usually fill up the tank, put in my rock and set my basic scape ( can be tweaked later), then add my sand ( funnel and PVC pipe = no mess). For flow I think 2 korillia nano 425 power heads should be perfect

Ok thanks appreciate ur help!!

No problem. Also get a reef salt, it will have better trace element levels

Invest in a refractometer instead of a hydrometer as well and plan for 1 lb to 1 and a Half lbs per gallon of live rock.

I started my first sw tank with a 29g regular ole tank and it did really really well. I think that is the perfect size to start with.
The most important things have been mentioned already, but here's a small recap.
Hang on back filter- I used an aquaclear 50, but a 70 will be fine too
2 powerheads, the koralia 425's are a good choice
a good light. As mentioned, the ebay led panels are a great light, they will grow anything and are about $110
Refractometer to test the salt level, or sailinity (much more accurate and about $25)
I'd guess about 25020lbs of sand. Doesnt have to be the expensive "live" sand either
About 1 to 1.5 or even 2.0 lbs of rock per gallon. Doesnt have to be live rock, dead "base" rock is fine. So if you get 35 lbs of base rock, you can get say 5lbs of the expensive live rock and it will move the cycle a little faster
Thermometer- lol small, but important
and either get your ro/di water from your fish store or invest in a unit. They start at about $100 or so or pay the 50 cents average at your fish store for each gallon
You can start with regular instant ocean salt or with the reef crystals, whichever you prefer until you have corals, then the reef crystals are the way to go as it has extra elements that corals will need to do well

I think I summarized what the others said, lol, but this is a basic list.

And for that size tank, you really dont "need" a protein skimmer, as long as you do your water changes. :-)

Thx Carey that is a good summary but I'm kinda goin back and forth with thinking mane I should just start with biocube 14 because it comes with all the lighting and filter and is only about 200$ wat is ur opinion on this??

Every biocube I see has been so upgraded that there is barely any stock parts on the tank expect the tank and the false wall.

I too am starting out . Do u guys recommend live sand!!? I just just ran into a place that sold it. I never knew about it.???

Personally, I love the biocubes. I had a 29g for a couple years, just sold it recently. But yeah they are a good starter tank. The only thing I would do is get the 29g version, you can keep alot more fish in it than the 14g, trust me on this one lol. The only thing I changed out was I added a media basket to the back compartment to make filtration easier and maintenance easier. It has lighting that will allow you to keep soft corals and lps corals which is pretty nice. (lps are the wavy corals and softies are like zooanthids).

So yes, I would highly reccomend one. :-)

What's the EBay led panels ? Are they sold on eBay? What's the name brand? Does anyone have input on Aquallliumunation Hydra Fixtures?

New Dimmable 120W Aquarium Coral Reef Fish Tank White Blue LED Light Black Shell | eBay

This is an example of the led panel

AI Hydras are very very nice too though. Just a lot more money

Do u own these lights? I feel like its too good to be true?! Lol. I'm starting a 75 gal , so I would need 2 correct??

Wats a good number of fish for a 29 gal I am wanting some clowns and mabe a tang

Clowns are okay but tangs need a 6 ft tank

Ok wat else can go with clowns

I'm not sure, I haven't ventured to setting up a sw tank yet. I just know tangs need a 6' tank. You will get replys soon about it!!!

Blennies, gobies, dottybacks, lots of fish really but as a general rule of thumb you should add from least to most aggressive ( clowns fall into the latter category and IMO should be added last)

Wats good invertibrates to go with clowns

Any you want

Ok awesome can't wait to get started just gotta save up and buy a couple things each week till I get everything:)!!!

Good plan, that's what I'm doing!

Yep it's just so expensive I hope it all turns out ok I really want to have an awesome tank I think I will just start out with a bio cube or a smaller tank and see how it is but I really would like to do like a 50 gal tank with a sump but I don't really understand all that stuff yet!!

But when I get everything set up and my cycle goin wat is good corals to start with

Softies and polyps

Zoanthids are fantastic and come in every color ever

Ok sweet thanks

Hey, thinking about starting my first reef tank. Looking at 120 G 48 x 24 x 24. Is that a good size or too big

There is no such thing as to big lol. That is a nice sized tank IMO.

Thanks! I want to do reef and fish, but want a tank big enough to have at least one large fish (yellow/blue tang). Also, has anyone had experience with Current LED lighting. The orbit marine looks pretty cool, but can't find out if they are good or not.

Hey start a new thread about it in the sw-getting started section so you're not hijacking this persons thread :). You will get more responses there

Oops. Sorry