Just got a free tank! What do you guys think?

Ok, so I went home for the weekend at my parents house. I got to looking around and I found a fish tank! lol I took the dimensions with a tape measure and got 30'' long, 12 wide, and almost 18'' tall. I think that makes it a 29 gallon tank. I'll need to get it all cleaned out, but it will clean up really nice.

Anyways I couldnt track down the filter or the class top. But it did have the light.

Basically I'm wanting to know what it would take to make this my first salt water tank? Could I at least get all the equipment needed, that would also work if I decided to switch to a bigger tank in a couple of years?

FYI: I would probably be looking to do a fish with live rock, partly because it seems like everyone says those are the easiest to start out with. Thanks for your opinions

Shopping List:------------------------------------------

**30 Inch 2x24 Watt AquaticLife T5 HO Light Link Fixture - Marine (these should fit my tank dimensions right? Is this enough lighting?)
http://www.marinedepot.com/AquaticL...xtures-AquaticLife-AK01138-FILTFIT54U-vi.html

**Hydor Koralia Evolution Circulation Pump/Powerhead
(one or two? should i get the 750/1050/1400 gph?)
http://www.marinedepot.com/Hydor_Ko...m_Powerheads-Hydor_USA-HD00717-FIPHFF-vi.html

**Protein Skimmer whats a good one?





Here is a picture.

 

the pic didn't show up
a 29 FOWLR (fish only with live rock) should be a good start up spot
welcome to 3reef btw

 

does the picture show up now?

What kind of equipment would I need to get to have a very successful first salt water tank?

 

well first thing take it slow,
start reading up and learning what you can.
as far as equipment and set up make a list of everything and than ask to see if you are missing anything.

you are gonna need live rock, or base rock
sand if you want it, some people go bare bottom
for filtration your gonna need a power filter, HOB (hang on back filter), or a protein skimmer
you will need a heater to keep the tank temp from somewhere between 76-80 (those are usually the most common)
you are going to need some power heads (look at koralias or something)
you said you already had the lights so your good to go there.
you will need salt
and a lot of people will recommend getting an RO/DI unit for clean water, its not necessary but highly recommended.
some test kits (nitrites, nitrates, ammonia, Ph, alkalinity)
and you'll need a hydrometer to check the salinity level.

And if you want to go with a sump well, thats more complicated lol

start looking into things and make sure its good equipment, nothing worse than buying cheap equipment that breaks/doesn't work
anyways that should get you started.

 

Yeah that is a 29g, which is what I have. I would give you some advice, but I think what Jake said pretty much sums it up for the most part. Good luck and welcome to 3reef!

"Take it slow; let it grow."

 

any recommended sites for shopping for equipment? something to base prices of the Local Fish Store (LFS?)

 

Bigalsonline.com

We get 10 percent off from there

Create a shopping list the show it to us that way u don't buy anything that u don't need and if I were u I would buy a nice sized book about saltwater fish tanks so you can get down the baseics of the hobby.

 

you can also check out the sponsors here on 3 reef as well.

 

For equipment:
-Aquarium Pet Fish Supplies, Tank Accessories, Products & Equipment
-Fish & Pond Supplies | Aquarium & Garden Pond Specialists
-Bulk Reef Supply

For Livestock:
-Aquarium Fish: Tropical Freshwater Fish and Saltwater Fish for Home Aquariums
-I think Pet supplies Plus has pretty good prices
-I would also go with some of the sponsors

 

Your mail server won't allow outside linking.

You can upload pictures here or use a free photo hosting site like photobucket.