zowie717

Hi, well i have been looking around for good articles on set ups and having trouble finding them..

i want to go into a saltwater tank. now i know they are completly different than freshwater so that said..........i need to know alot...; )

i am looking for stuff that explains what i need, what the equipment is. how to use it,,,, .i know this is expensive and a bigger tank is easier, but i want to look at a 30 gallon maybe. i just want to try this and see where it goes and if i like it. i am having trouble with whether i need a sump pump or those hot skimmer things.....i really dont know what they all mean.

i have already develop MTS with freshwater and assume i will with SW but i really need the advice of everyone and equipment explained to me. I have no idea what i would want but, is a reef tank, that with live rock or is that with coral or both?

any help would be appreciated as I want to start to look around at things and get them as time and money permit.... can I get a used tank from craiglist and go that route or do i have to get something specific

basically i need it broke down so i can understand the process and learn...

thank you guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

sgould

Here's an article to get you started. Check it out and then post back with questions!

http://www.fishlore.com/SaltwaterAquariumSetup.htm

aquarist48

Best of luck Zowie!
Ken

zowie717

thankn you!! i got the salt water for dummies book too..........; )

cerianthus

Try p/u Sept issue of Aq Fish Magazine. Has an article about water chemistry.
It does explian in very simple terms. If anyone p/u these mag please post how nitrite is virtually non-toxic in s/w. And even in f/w, can be dealt with simply by adding some salt along with water changes. I have to register with Seachem to obtain some fact on how Prime will detox NH3 and NO2, when I do have time and obtained answers, will try to post in simple terms. FOR ALL i KNOW , IT CONTAIN SALT OR SOME WHICH WILL RELEASE cATIONS TO BOND WITH nITRITE ANION.
I dont expect FLians to be chemists but by understanding or simply by accepting the proven facts obtained thru studies will make fish keeping lot easier and LESS hectic.

SInce in Mag, most of you will trust such factsand wont get nervous/terrified when slight nitrite register, especially in s/w. Thus NO need to worry too much (but be concerned as to why) and NO NEED FOR UNNECESSARY WATER CHAGNES as most of hobbyist would think.
When few simple chemical reactions are understood, it is very simple facts.

As far as Ammoniia, also will explain the toxicity of such is dependent of pH.
SO dont jump the gun by performing massive water changes. Simply check the pH then go from there.


I hope our member can read these articles and relax a bit and ease off on UNNECESSARY water chagnes.

NO argument with small percentqge regular routine water chagnes if tank needs it. But when one can achieve the right balance (easier said than done), can have very successful tank, be it f/w or s/w, without extra efforts.
Idea is to create best environment for fish that one keeps. I just want member to realize the importance of few simple facts.

I hope many can utilize the info in that articlle.

Have fun!

Lucy

I'm not a chemist and won't pretend I understand everything to do with water chemistry but thats a pretty insulting statment.
Our members understand more than you might want to admit.

cerianthus

W/ all due respect, If I have caused attention of some Florian to go read this article which can assist in their fish keeping and/or ease their tension, I would take it as well served purpose.

I'm not the one who knows all (nobody does) and I never claimed as such but you dont know how difficult it is on my end when I can not assist properly when others will contract something they have no idea how in depth I went. I read and listen to other hobbyists (learned the basics that way) and other so called professionals (authors, speakers, Ichtyologist, fish doctors, etc).

The difference b/n some and I seemed that when I encouneter something which I have no idea what it is, I would listen then do more research on such until either I am in full comprehension or in contradiction. Such way improved my know hows not just in fish keeping but what ever it may be I am pursueing.
Like I said, nobody is perfect but can and should try. Dont stay with what you already know, pursue more. Hopefully such can make fish keeping easier and less stress on some hobbyists. That is all. Now I have your attention, go get Af Fish Mag or just go to big book store and read for free which is what I did today. End up buying Frannny K Stein books for youngest instead. Cant afford the subscription to 5 or 6 mag anymore.

Sorry folks! didnt mean to unpset you in anyway but tried to inform of such available resources.
And by doing so, I get scolded (LOL!), so be it. If I have help one member, it served my purpose.

Good Night! Folks!

Lucy

You can accomplish the same thing without insulting the members of this forum.

Enjoy your evening.

cerianthus

I've trying for almost an year w/o success with SOME members but rather contradicting and incorrect or incomplete info.
I dont know why I am attracted to this forum but I am. Maybe due to contracting info.

Good Night Lucy and all FLorians! Go read the article. Very short but informative article.

matt6765

maybe you can ask mike if you can add some to the article so you can make it better?

sirdarksol

That is enough of the not-so-subtle digs. It simply will not happen anymore. They are rude, which is against Fishlore's rules. Further, they do not gather sympathy for you, nor do they make you look like you're more right. If your information is solid, and if you provide solid references, and if you act with good grace both when you are right in a matter and when you are proven wrong in a matter, you will win friends a lot faster in Fishlore.

zowie717

Thank you Lucy! i really had no idea on that one...i might be having a blonde moment..but i didnt see the correlation ...but i think people on here each have there own way, what works for them. i am a trial and error girl......and am excited to start learnign about salt water......; )... which i have my book and my article. i dont expect to have anything up for awhile.....as i want to plan,plan,plan for this...... so i do have a newbie salt water question......... i have read about pre mixing my salt water before putting in the tank and also pre mixing hte day before a water change....... does everyone do that? if i premix in a bucket or large bucket and do not use a powerhead and stir it up the nexxt day will it be okay or is this a standard

aquarist48

Good morning Zowie. Best of luck with your salt tank endeavors. It's nice to see you're doing all of the planning and research ahead of time.
Ken

sirdarksol

I don't know if everyone does it, but there are a large number of people who do, and they have some pretty compelling reasons (allowing the water's pH to balance itself as it sheds extra gas from the tap's aerator and that kind of thing).
You can't just let the salt sit, it won't get mixed in. It doesn't have to be a powerhead, but other options usually involve a lot of manual labor (stirring the bucket for an hour or two straight... you want to make sure every grain of salt dissolves).

zowie717

yes i am a planner, and dont expect to have anything set up for awhile...

oh okay i understand now......so will one of those powerheads they have at the store do? just stick it in the bucket edge? i was thinking i would keep it downstair to mix and store and then transport upstairs when water changing.. you leave it run all the time the day before up till you change water correct?

sirdarksol

Yep. For mixing the salt, you don't need anything fancy. Just make sure that it's saltwater safe (not sure if there are any brands that aren't, but you wouldn't want the thing's motor corroding away the first time you mixed salt in it)