Beginner Saltwater Nano reef help.

Hi i was looking to get into saltwater, i have done freshwater previous to this.
I am looking to stat a nano reef tank and found a listing on marketplace that is selling an aqua one mini reef, sump, skimmer, pump, light ( mariglo 60) and filter for 405 aud (270 usd).
Is this good for beginners and is this a good deal? i will be wanting to get a few beginner corals and 2 clownfish. Also i live on the coast in australia, would i be able to use water from my beach to set this up?
Forgot to add its the mini reed 150

 

Hey, I'm pretty new to salt too, only 12-18 months or so.
All I can suggest is you need a skimmer, an auto freshwater top up has been really handy, then stick with soft corals, I think I have 2x tree leather and 2x toadstool leather corals, plus a bunch of mushroom corals, which are a pain as they can move when disturbed.
I tried hard corals like Trachy's etc. but it was an expensive failure. I would advise plenty of live rock. Try and get already paired clownfish pair, I have a pair and a 3rd smaller one that I feel sorry for as he's on his own. I also use bio-enhance periodically for the corals.

Hopefully more experienced marine keepers can jump in with some good advice.

Goodluck

 

Hey, I'm pretty new to salt too, only 12-18 months or so.
All I can suggest is you need a skimmer, an auto freshwater top up has been really handy, then stick with soft corals, I think I have 2x tree leather and 2x toadstool leather corals, plus a bunch of mushroom corals, which are a pain as they can move when disturbed.
I tried hard corals like Trachy's etc. but it was an expensive failure. I would advise plenty of live rock. Try and get already paired clownfish pair, I have a pair and a 3rd smaller one that I feel sorry for as he's on his own. I also use bio-enhance periodically for the corals.

Hopefully more experienced marine keepers can jump in with some good advice.

Goodluck

thanks this is quite helpful

 

I’ve had salt water in the past and as far as nano being good for beginners the real answer is with any type aquarium the bigger it is the more forgiving it it’s with water perimeters. Reef aquariums are the pickiest since corals don’t want any nitrates.

 

I’ve had salt water in the past and as far as nano being good for beginners the real answer is with any type aquarium the bigger it is the more forgiving it it’s with water perimeters. Reef aquariums are the pickiest since corals don’t want any nitrates.

Would the setup I have listed be good for corals and just a pair of clowns? Also could I use sand and water from the beach near me, I have heard that I can and I can’t because of viruses. Just trying to confirm

 

For low light corals yes that system would be fine for your reef setup. You sure can use the water from the ocean and sand, it’ll make water changes cheap and in a nano tank they are important because of the small size.

 

For low light corals yes that system would be fine for your reef setup. You sure can use the water from the ocean and sand, it’ll make water changes cheap and in a nano tank they are important because of the small size.

I suppose it would also sort of help with beneficial bacteria and it would cycle faster?

 

I’ve had salt water in the past and as far as nano being good for beginners the real answer is with any type aquarium the bigger it is the more forgiving it it’s with water perimeters. Reef aquariums are the pickiest since corals don’t want any nitrates.

Actually, corals do use NO3 and PO4 but it is minimal until you have alot of LPS and softies (xenia is a good example of a nutrient exporter).

Would the setup I have listed be good for corals and just a pair of clowns? Also could I use sand and water from the beach near me, I have heard that I can and I can’t because of viruses. Just trying to confirm

Technically, you COULD use the sand and water on your beach. The problem is you don't really know if it is saturated with runoff and like you said, pathogens but I wouldn't say that this is your biggest problem. You might get something unwanted (predatory isopods for example) also it is common to find microscopic pieces of trash on beaches too but you could - just keep this in mind.

 

Actually, corals do use NO3 and PO4 but it is minimal until you have alot of LPS and softies (xenia is a good example of a nutrient exporter).

Technically, you COULD use the sand and water on your beach. The problem is you don't really know if it is saturated with runoff and like you said, pathogens but I wouldn't say that this is your biggest problem. You might get something unwanted (predatory isopods for example) also it is common to find microscopic pieces of trash on beaches too but you could - just keep this in mind.

I think i might use the water but not the sand from the beach

 

For low light corals yes that system would be fine for your reef setup. You sure can use the water from the ocean and sand, it’ll make water changes cheap and in a nano tank they are important because of the small size.

How often should i change the water? would a 20% every 8 days be fine?

Hey, I'm pretty new to salt too, only 12-18 months or so.
All I can suggest is you need a skimmer, an auto freshwater top up has been really handy, then stick with soft corals, I think I have 2x tree leather and 2x toadstool leather corals, plus a bunch of mushroom corals, which are a pain as they can move when disturbed.
I tried hard corals like Trachy's etc. but it was an expensive failure. I would advise plenty of live rock. Try and get already paired clownfish pair, I have a pair and a 3rd smaller one that I feel sorry for as he's on his own. I also use bio-enhance periodically for the corals.

Hopefully more experienced marine keepers can jump in with some good advice.

Goodluck.

How Hard is it to keep a reef tank? I have heard a lot of things such. Will sea water have the right minerals and nutrients for my coral or is it better to just stick with specially reef made salt mixture. Also how hard is it to fine tune the Levels of alkalinity, magnesium and calcium? Also How expensive is it? a tank i was looking at second hand comes with 2 ekoral dosers, I will probably sell one and keep one if i were to buy this, What would i fill the one up with.

 

Test real water.
At the coast there is often all the things we don't want in the tank.
The coast is the protien skimmer of the ocean.
I don't think using the water is a good thought, but test before using.

 

Test real water.
At the coast there is often all the things we don't want in the tank.
The coast is the protien skimmer of the ocean.
I don't think using the water is a good thought, but test before using.

Ok thanks I i will probably just stay with reef tank mix.

How often should i change the water? would a 20% every 8 days be fine?

How Hard is it to keep a reef tank? I have heard a lot of things such. Will sea water have the right minerals and nutrients for my coral or is it better to just stick with specially reef made salt mixture. Also how hard is it to fine tune the Levels of alkalinity, magnesium and calcium? Also How expensive is it? a tank i was looking at second hand comes with 2 ekoral dosers, I will probably sell one and keep one if i were to buy this, What would i fill the one up with.

coralbandit do you have any answers for this

 

How often should i change the water? would a 20% every 8 days be fine?

How Hard is it to keep a reef tank? I have heard a lot of things such. Will sea water have the right minerals and nutrients for my coral or is it better to just stick with specially reef made salt mixture. Also how hard is it to fine tune the Levels of alkalinity, magnesium and calcium? Also How expensive is it? a tank i was looking at second hand comes with 2 ekoral dosers, I will probably sell one and keep one if i were to buy this, What would i fill the one up with.

You won't know what to add until you test the water. Until then no one can say but most likely you would be fine considering Australia has on of the greatest reefs in the world. You don't need to have dosers if you don't want to. It isn't a necessity and since you don't have a tank yet, you won't need to dose anything until you know how much your corals consume then you can tune in.

 

You won't know what to add until you test the water. Until then no one can say but most likely you would be fine considering Australia has on of the greatest reefs in the world. You don't need to have dosers if you don't want to. It isn't a necessity and since you don't have a tank yet, you won't need to dose anything until you know how much your corals consume then you can tune in.

Thanks. This has cleared things up a bit