Completely New to Salt

[Mr.Jingles]

don't bombard me with flag about not researching enough. essentially, me asking you is researching.

here are some over all questions: what are the different types of filters for salt water tanks? what do they do and why do they work? what are the different types of substrates? what do they do?

some specifics: what do I need in order to keep a salt water aquarium with only fish? filters, lights, chemistry, substrate, fish, food, inverts, anything I missed.

so first scenario: I dont really think I'll be setting a salt tank up very soon, but when I do, I pry wont have much money. what is the most efficient and cheapest setup?

I read quickly people saying you dont need x type filter (dont know which) if you have live rock and whatnot. what equipment can I avoid if I use an alternative method to do the same stuff?

what types of chemicals do I need to add (or organic stuff) to keep the water at a balance?

what is all the stuff you are going to explain and what does it do and why does it work?

what fish will work in a fish only environment (as many as you can think of), what are their needs, what do they do for eachother, what kinds of inverts will cohabitate with those types of fish, what and how do you feed all of them efficiently and cheaply?

will algae be a problem? what can I do to ward it off?

what type of maintainance should I perform on a salt tank with only fish? ie water changes, etc.

anything else?

thanks

[mogurnda]

essentially, me asking you is researching No, it really isn't. There are people here who are knowledgable and write well, but it's not the same as getting a good book and reading it cover to cover. Those are very broad questions you are asking, and I feel quite strongly that you will be at a serious disadvantage if you get just the brief overview that is possible from reading a thread. Plus, I guarantee there will be differing opinions, and you will then have to sort it all out.

You have time, so I would suggest reading Bob Fenner's Conscientious Marine Aquarist and John Tullock's Natural Reef Aquariums (which covers FO systems quite well). They will give you the background to be able to determine which filtration system will make you happiest, whether you want live rock, and Fenner's book has a lot about fish selection.

Maybe I'm not being fair, or just being lazy, but the answer to each of your questions would be an essay on its own, and there will be a lot of debate about the answers. I think people are in general agreement that Fenner's book is accurate and quite readable.

[g. mcclean]

I agree wholeheartedly with Dave. Get some books and skim the threads on this and other forums. In fairness to the moderators on this forum, one or two SPECIFIC questions is all that you should expect them to answer. Many of your questions will depend on your set-up and specific problems at a given time. Believe me, problems crop up constantly. Another source of help is your fish supplier if they are knowledgeable and not just a "pet store". One thing I have learned in my short 6 months of saltwater is that there are no cheap shortcuts. Everything costs money! You need top quality equipment and even that will not guarantee success. You also must be willing to learn and spend much time maintaining your equipment and livestock. Good luck.

[Mr.Jingles]

well. thanks. I did some research and feel like I have a basic understanding of stuff. dont get me wrong, I wont substitute this for research, but as I said, dont give me flag cause I havn't researched enough. goodness. youd think someone could get a decent answer around here!!!! jk...

um...basically, I dont really think my questions are that broad.

for example. to answer the first question youd say: the different filters used in salt water are protien skimmers, ugf, power filters, canisters, wet/dry, fluidized bed filters, or whatever. then you say, "Id assume that you know what a UGF, power filter, and canister filter does...but this filter does this for a salt tank, this other one does that, and this last one does this..." then you might say "You would want to choose between crushed coral, sand, and live rock for salt tanks. crushed coral helps keep the alkalinity at a balance and at the desired range for salties. sand looks nice (or something) and live rock does whatever it does."

btw, I was reading somewhere that you need anerobic spots in your substrate? is that true?

then for the next question you might say "well, you really only need this and that type of filter for a FO tank. Live rock and sand does this to help keep a balance in a salt tank, but it may not be necissary for FO (or whatever), you dont need much lights for FO, salt and whatever other chemical is all you need to add to a FO tank, make sure the nitrites, trates, and ammonia are at 0, make sure you get this temperment of fish or make sure the fish isnt weak or whatever, feed this, inverts may not be a good Idea, and you missed this aspect of it: ..."

I dont think I really need to spell it out for you guys.

thanks.

[BrianH]

"The Conscentious Marine Aquarist" by Robert Fenner covers all pf these questions and many others you don't even know of yet.

Brian