View Full Version : 1st Marine tank
I'm starting my first marine tank soon. no idea what i'm doing :o any suggestions or advice oh-also: how do you treat water for a marine tank?
colesy
09-24-2005, 1:16 PM
I am fairly new as well, but if you read some of the sticky threads they have a lot of good info.
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11232
That is a good one to start with.
LordsSoilder
09-24-2005, 1:22 PM
I'm new as well, and I've found a tremendous amount of info from this website alone. I STRONGLY suggest looking it over, and make sure to ask questions and post your progress. I have found this site more useful than any other source arround...
Best of luck...
I'm new as well, and I've found a tremendous amount of info from this website alone. I STRONGLY suggest looking it over, and make sure to ask questions and post your progress. I have found this site more useful than any other source arround...
Best of luck...
Ok, thanks.
Is plain old gravel ok for salt water, or do I need sand? Also, I'm starting with a 20 gallon tank, here's what I have:
Tetra Tec 20 gallon heater
Penguin 150B filter
Tetra Air Pump with tubing, air stone...
salt
ph neutralizer
anything else?
Is a protein skimmer necesarry?
colesy
09-24-2005, 2:43 PM
Most people use sand. If not sand then crushed coral. A protein skimmer is recommended, but it depends on what you want to have in your tank.
lebloom
09-24-2005, 7:16 PM
if all you have is a 20 gal tank I'd start out with sand, live sand instead of crushed coral. Buy some white aragonite and start from there. You need enough for about a 5 inch substate. Buy a skimmer, too, one that hangs off the back.
Most people use sand. If not sand then crushed coral. A protein skimmer is recommended, but it depends on what you want to have in your tank.
No coral, no live rock... only fish. Isn't a skimmer only necesarry for reef tanks?
kcmo lawman
09-25-2005, 11:19 AM
Your best bet would be to add live rock as it helps with the filtration of the tank. I know live rock is expensive, but in my opinion it is one of the best investments you can have for a tank. As for a skimmer, no, they are not required, but I would strongly advise getting one. They to can help you out more than what you realize.
Bradd
Your best bet would be to add live rock as it helps with the filtration of the tank. I know live rock is expensive, but in my opinion it is one of the best investments you can have for a tank. As for a skimmer, no, they are not required, but I would strongly advise getting one. They to can help you out more than what you realize.
Bradd
ok, thanks
A 5 inch substrate is probably a little much for a 20 gallon tank.
My first marine tank was 20 gallons and it was a pain in my a**. Smaller tanks are a lot harder to take care of then larger tanks. Amazingly enough, when I upgraded to a 33 gallon it made a HUGE difference in my routine.
Anyway, get some sand. If you can, get a couple of cups of established sand from a friend or buy some from the local fish store (LFS) to help seed your new substrate. At the LFS stores around me (and just across the border) I can buy a bag of marine substrate for just under $30 and one bag is more than enough for a 20 gallon tank.
Buy the live rock, it'll make a huge difference. IMO, not having live rock is a disaster waiting to happen. The filtration benefits alone will significantly increase the life of your tank. And if you plan to have critters and inverts then you will need the live rock to house them, feed them etc. Even fish need the live rock to hide and scavenge.
I haven't ever used a skimmer on a tank that is less than 40 gallons. So, no, I don't think it is neccessary, but I do believe it will make a huge difference - it will help clean out your system - rid it of things that you didn't know were there! Even if you start out with something small and basic and work your way up, I think it would be a beneficial piece of equipment to eventually add to your system.