Newbie Salt Water FISH!

Thank you for your very detailed help. Now I know what i should do for this first week. I will get started on the water first. Thanks again
Oh and by the way, what is a HOB filter?

 

Yes $250 may be my limit. But its the limit for this month for now. I will be adding more on to it my agust. I am in no rush to get this tank started, I am willing to make this work by going slow pace, rather then going fast pace and ruining and wasting money. Thank you for your help. But I will spend around $250 for 3-4 month? with fish and coral inside?
I am willing to go out more once as time passes.

 

Thanks once I get the salt water all started up, I will add sand and rocks in it, and buy test kit to test the water. Is that correct?

 

there's a thread around here about how much we've spent setting up our tanks. It's not gonna be cheap, but it can be done cheapER than what others spend... it's all up to you really. It sounds like you're planning to spend more than $250, just not all at once, which should work out in the long run.

FWIW, the advice I got when I started was i would spend between $20 and $50 per gallon of tank volume to set up and stock the tank. Now of course you can spend WAY more than that if you buy rare corals and fish, some costing $10,000 or more per specimen in extreme cases, but in general for a first tank I think the $30/gal is a pretty good ball park figure. That also assumes you're buying everything new of course. So even a 12g tank once all is said and done will probably run you in the neighborhood of $300-400 to establish. Again, assuming you buy everything new. If you go for top shelf quality that number would be closer to $500-600.

Also, avoid the store "kits" as they will undoubtedly come with things you don't need, and not have things you'll need anyways. The goal is for the store to move their highest profit margin items in bulk. The Aquapods and Biocubes being the exception, they're really well planned nano tank systems. They're not 100% ready to go usually, but you'll be able to start out with it and be happy for a while.

-Doug

 

Yes correct. Just be sure to place the rocks before you add the sand. This makes them more stable and you or your clean up crew cant clean sand if its under the rocks.

 

Hm so if i put the rock first, wouldnt there no sand under the rocks? Is that okay? And whats a clean up crew?

 

Yep you want the rocks to sit right on the glass bottom. Some animals will burrow and move sand. If they move sand thats under your rock it could cause a callapse which would break your glass. A clean up crew is just a group of animals that will keep your tank clean and pick up after your fish. Visit reefcleaners.org and click on the custom clean up crew tab. fill out that form and john will email you his recomendation for your tank. Awesome site to order from also. Cheapest place Iv seen and he always seems to send more than you paid for. Get your snails through him and get some hermits local. This way he can do priority shipping and it wont cost an arm and leg for shipping.

 

Mkizla,

You might also want to check to see if you have any local reef clubs - alot of times, people have upgraded their own systems and have stuff just laying around. My local, Richmond Reef Club, has been fantastic helping me get set up.

And I agree with others that bigger is better....we are already upgrading to a 150.

Also, check to see if you have a local fish store (LFS), not the big box stores, they will also have used items for sale.

For comparison, we got a 75 gal complete set up, tank, lights, stand, sump, rock, sand....pretty much everything but the fish...LOL for around 600.

Good luck

 

HOB=Hang On Back

Just your standard small aquarium filter..get one rated for 30 gallons..as mike stated preferably one with a biowheel..just a little paddle wheel that the water turns as it exits the filter back into your tank..you'll know what it is when you start looking at the different ones..just ask an employee at your LFS (local fish store)..they should at LEAST know what that is lol

something like this
http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/pro...hceq6xC3P02/XQFq5Qi0K9rOvh09N0/U7jURJsmYltJgO

 

Tank, HOB Filter, Salt, and heater, power head.
And is heater really needed right now? It is summer and I live in california so it gets pretty hot in summer.

And I heard people talking about bio-wheel I think? Should I get that HOB filter? or is anything okay long as it supports 20 gallons?

Also how many pounds of salt do I need for my 20 gallon tank?