New Tank - Looking For Ideas

Hi,
I have been looking good into setting up a saltwater tank recently (I have experience in FW). My dad had a saltwater tank a couple months ago that hasn't been running since then but still has sand, live rock, and algae in it. I am planning on turning it into a FOWLR tank. Today I took out all the sand and live rock (I will be getting new sand/live rock) and cleaned up about half the coraline algae off of the glass. I am looking for suggestions on stock ( I was thinking of having only a few fish because it is a small tank and I don't have a problem with only a few fish), brands of sand, and what the parameters of the tank should be. It is a 14g biocube. I will be getting a refractometer ( I have read they are better than hydrometers) and a Saltwater test kit (I have the Freshwater one but I didn't think it would work). I am also not quite sure what water I am going to use. Some people said not to use conditioned tap with salt and some say it is fine. Last time I checked my tap had some nitrates but it was awhile ago. Should I buy pre-mixed water or RO/DI water and add salt ( I think my LFS fills gallon jugs with RO/DI water for free)? Thanks for your advice

 

Hi,
I have been looking good into setting up a saltwater tank recently (I have experience in FW). My dad had a saltwater tank a couple months ago that hasn't been running since then but still has sand, live rock, and algae in it. I am planning on turning it into a FOWLR tank. Today I took out all the sand and live rock (I will be getting new sand/live rock) and cleaned up about half the coraline algae off of the glass. I am looking for suggestions on stock ( I was thinking of having only a few fish because it is a small tank and I don't have a problem with only a few fish), brands of sand, and what the parameters of the tank should be. It is a 14g biocube. I will be getting a refractometer ( I have read they are better than hydrometers) and a Saltwater test kit (I have the Freshwater one but I didn't think it would work). I am also not quite sure what water I am going to use. Some people said not to use conditioned tap with salt and some say it is fine. Last time I checked my tap had some nitrates but it was awhile ago. Should I buy pre-mixed water or RO/DI water and add salt ( I think my LFS fills gallon jugs with RO/DI water for free)? Thanks for your advice

I have Caribbean sand in mine you can get it at Petco or PetSmart but it's stupid high for a bag the big ones are 50$ round here..... I use my freshwater master kit for my salt they just have different color cards I believe.... I use tap water and prime condition of you can get rodI water for free go for it I wish I could as for stocking the six line waress are cute as are the fire fish I don't have any experience with them yet but there cute and small

 

I have Caribbean sand in mine you can get it at Petco or PetSmart but it's stupid high for a bag the big ones are 50$ round here..... I use my freshwater master kit for my salt they just have different color cards I believe.... I use tap water and prime condition of you can get rodI water for free go for it I wish I could as for stocking the six line waress are cute as are the fire fish I don't have any experience with them yet but there cute and small

I was looking into getting a firefish because I think they are cute too, but I am not sure my LFS has them and I don't really want to ship any fish... it is good to know that I can use the same kit. I was thinking of getting some Caribsea sand (that is what the petco near me has) but I am confused about the different types they have. Also I was wondering what my salinity should be ( I assume ammonia and nitrite should be 0 and nitrate not above 40 - this is what I do for freshwater but I don't know if the nitrate level is different for fish only saltwater tanks)

Also, the Fishlore fish profile for six line wrasse says they need 20 gallon minimum, whereas the one for the firefish says 10 gallon minimum (as long as they have hiding spots)

 

I was looking into getting a firefish because I think they are cute too, but I am not sure my LFS has them and I don't really want to ship any fish... it is good to know that I can use the same kit. I was thinking of getting some Caribsea sand (that is what the petco near me has) but I am confused about the different types they have. Also I was wondering what my salinity should be ( I assume ammonia and nitrite should be 0 and nitrate not above 40 - this is what I do for freshwater but I don't know if the nitrate level is different for fish only saltwater tanks)

Also, the Fishlore fish profile for six line wrasse says they need 20 gallon minimum, whereas the one for the firefish says 10 gallon minimum (as long as they have hiding spots)

You could always ask if they could get one for you...it never hurts to ask the worst thing they will say is no.....I'm a newbie so I don't want to point u in the wrong direction I've just been reading a lot ALOT about stuff ......yes the Caribbean Sea that u mentioned is what I bought I got it at bargain Hunt ...idk if you have one of those close by but mine had that a 200 watt heater and also dry rock very very cheap ......the salinity in my tank is between 1.26 and 1.28 more so on the 1.28 it stays like that idk why but it does ....like I said I'm new I want to learn with you I can share what I know and have done

 

Wow. if your LFS gives free RODI water go with RODI.

Here's a run down.
Typically reefers don't use tap water because of all the unknowns within it. You can buy a TDS meter to test your tap and educate yourself on TDS. You might be able to get away with using tap water with a FOWLR tank.

Since this is a FOWLR tank you can actually keep your salinity wayyy low, I believe 1.021. It'll be easier for them to breath. Do not exceed 1.026. So anything between that is fine. Obviously, the lower the salinity the less salt you'll need to make your batches of saltwater each time, so something to keep in mind.

Stocking: Get either 2 clowns or something like 1 Firefish and 1 pistol shrimp + pistol goby (Look up Randall shrimp and yasha goby).
There's not a whole lot of foot-print in that tank to work with, so you don't want too many different fishes in there fighting over territory.

I actually recommend you going with 1 Firefish and 1 pistol shrimp/goby combo over the 2 clowns. Clowns eat like little piggies, so you'll have a larger bio-load and dirty your water a lot quicker in that size tank.

If you go with a 6 line wrasse, that's all you'll be able to put in that tank. They are quite territorial and aggressive.