Canreef Aquatics Bulletin Board - for those new to saltwater aquariums i offer my help:):)

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- - for those new to saltwater aquariums i offer my help:):) (http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=70485)

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmsplitfyre (Post 601508)

Greeting Reefwars and Canreef!

Been lurking around the forums for quite a while now, viewing build threads and other stuffs and stumbled upon this one. Good to know someone who offers free help for a newbie.

I used to have a FW Fluval edge tank but got bored with it 'coz fw didn't have that option for corals and other weird looking livestock so I got rid of the livestock and turned it into a SW tank. It was nothing fancy, just a couple of LR and one clown from my dads small 10g tank.

Now my dad upgraded to a 29g and I'm pretty annoyed by how wrong he's doing up his tank and want to make my own nano (term I've learned here referring to a small tank, I assume?) and show him how to do a SW tank the right way based on what I've read and will learn from experienced people here.

As for now, I'm still debating on using his old 10g tank or maybe something less than 20g. I don't want it too big because I'm going to put it in my room. As for livestock, I'm undecided yet but definitely only smaller fish, corals, and a small CUC.

But my questions now is for the hardware set-up. Let's say I get a 15g tank, how big should the filter be and should it be hang-on type or submersible? A powerhead and heater is a must, right? As for lighting, does it need to have multiple lights and/or a timer? And do I need a skimmer?

Oh and budget will be a bit on the average side, as my pockets are a bit tight due to bills and other projects.

Thanks in advance!
J:biggrin:

welcome j to canreef:)

so in regards to your question typically yor liverock will be your filtration but a skimmer is def ideal to have it will keep your tank oxygenated and remove large and small debris.

you can use a hob filter like an aquaclear but i would remove any foam media and fill with carbon and liverock rubble and then your hob will double as a refugium for pod reproduction.......pods are good:)

as for lights it will depend on what you plan to keep or where do you see this tank going in the future??

a heater is a must and imo you should have 2 small ones in case one breaks and the second one will also help take some of the work off the first.

powerheads arent a "must" if you have a sump with return lines but it is imo good to have in case your pump was to crap out and its also good to have for extra flow.koralias are affordable and a vortech is the way to go if you can afford.

any more question pls fee free to ask, and keep reading and asking its your best weapon
:):)

cheers buddy and again welcome to canreef, start up a tank journal its a great way to meet and chat with other reefers and its hella fun:):) cheers!!!

LOL I only placed J as my name, forgot the other initial. It's JM. :D

I do agree this hobby is fun, and one reason I wanna do it is because it relaxes me whenever I sit back and stare at my dads tank (Even though I'm annoyed at how it's set up).

But now I think this tank will be going to my girl since she wants me to set up a nano for her as we believe that fish brings goodluck to our homes.

So this tank is a 10g, should I buy a filter that's bigger? Like maybe for a 20g-30g? And then a heater and a small powerhead as she's not going to run a sump.

And by pods, do you mean those li'l critters? What benefits do they give?
As for livestock, maybe small fish, small cuc, and lotsa colorful corals! :)

Thank you for the advice Reefwars!

JM:biggrin:

when I get my tank almost done I will probe your mind immensely about the proper plumbing and drilling of the main tank. If that is alright with you?

hi guys, im new to this sw stuff. been a fw guy for years. i have always wanted to get into the sw hobby..... so i drained my fresh water, built me a sump.... and now im on my way. i find my biggest obstacle to be finding supplies. i live in the shuswap/okanagan and it took me a month to find a simple return pump. LR is around 10$/lbs (and that means driving an hour to the lps). and nobody really even knows what their talking about. any ways, i have a 33gal main and a 15ish gal sump. everything just sitting here with salt water circulating. can the system just run like that with nothing in it but dead rock/coral? i figure another good month before i can afford LR at 10$lb. also does anyone know the best place for supplies and advice between kamloops and kelowna. anything else anyone would like to add that might be helpful to a newbie would b greatly appreciated thanx.