teach me marine basics

[Woofy]

i was considering getting into saltwater tanks, can anyone give me a crash course or the do's and dont , and a materials list, along with process, and maintenance. thanx

[skippy2]

You can always start by reading the stickies at the top. Oh, and save your money before you even get a tank. The bigger the tank the better.:)

[dorkfish]

woofgrrmeow, if somebody tries to tell you there is one single way to keep a marine tank, and no other way, then there wrong. Now it's that same reason, that the basics of all ways of keeping marine aquariums is a monumental task for even an article, let alone a single post.

Actually, I'm wrong, the real, basics to any marine aquarium is research - lots and lots of research. Personally, I spent 6 months researching marine aqauriums and reefkeeping, before diving in, and I think I should have done more, although it took me a while to find some good sites.

As said above, check out the stickys, espescially "helpfull links" - it lives up to it's name. Also, you might want to try dropping by my member page, I have it loaded with links.

[capecodder]

don't believe everything you read, but read as much as you can.
pick up a good marine book to start.

good luck!

[bukitimah]

woofgrrmeow, It is more than 2 weeks. Have you started your tank? I have started mine 1 week ago. I could have done better but learning.

Funny thing about all these forum is those who have gone through it just somehow not able to give step by step guide on how to set up a simple tank. Basically, newbies want to hear things like

Step 1 - place under garvel filter.
step 2 - Add approx 2 -3 inches of crushed coral (2ft need 5 lbs)
Step 3 - To speed up the 'cycle' add life rock, for 2ft tank you need 5 kg.
step 4 - mix marine salt to water and check sg to approx 1.024
step 5 - if using typical overhead filter, add elbow to make sure the return water from the filter is thrown just above the surface water instead of straight down to create turbulance effect on the surface.
Step 6 - add Nutrafin, a product that will assist in nitrate or something like that, check with your pet shop.
Step 6 - let the system circulate for 2 to 3 weeks before you add ONE Damsel.

I don't have any special skimmer or filteration system. Read how these protien skimmer and wet/dry filteration works. I think ordinary system also can work if you make necessary adjustments. If a Nano cube works, I don't see how a 20 g tank can't right?

So far my damsels survive and eating fine. I believe if they are eating and swiming searching for food, it shows they are healthy! Will not rush to add fishes but maybe more life rock. I only put in 2 kg, will increase to at least 4 kg or more.

Any comments?

[dorkfish]

Funny thing about all these forum is those who have gone through it just somehow not able to give step by step guide on how to set up a simple tank.

I submitted "the marine aquarium for newbies" wich covers the basics of a marine aquarium and gives a step by step guide wich directs your from week one as a fish only tank to the end of year one as a large polyped stony coral reef to the article corner almost two weeks ago(I think), but a moderator is suposed to be loooking over it and then making it view-able, but this hasn't happened yet. If you want, I'll post it in general marine or another fish forum (and post a link to it), so it can actually be put to use.



Any comments?

1. An undergravel filter, as well as a crushed coral bed that deep, will become nutrient/detrius traps and you will probably have to redo the tank after 6 months to a year (while the usual marine set up can go for atleast 10years without the need to be redone, probably longer) in order to keep the water liveable.

2. Nutrafin and similar products should not be bought in the first place, becuase it's a snake oil product.

EDIT: my article was made viewable, I just couldn'y find it... :duh:

The marine aquarium for newbies (http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=79292)

[bukitimah]

Oh dear, I have been adding this Nutrafin. You mean it is no good or ban because it is snake oil?

My pump is sucking from the undergravel filter, why would the nutrient/detrius be trapped? I thought if you don't have the undergravel filter, nutrient will be trapped under the gravels? :help:

I will visit your 'the marine aquarium for newbies'. Thank you

[fsa]

buk, undergravel filters are popular for freshwater aquariums. You do not see them used much in salt water tanks. Live rock and live sand along with the protein skimmer do the same function as underground filters, only better (supposedly) in salt water.

I'm not familiar with nutrafin to help you there. dorkfish made a good point when he advised that there is more than one way to keep a marine tank. Over the last few years, the majority of tanks (at least on these internet sites) do not use crushed coral for substrate or undergravel filters for their filtering. (It seems like most local fish stores do try to sell/use crushed coral and maybe even undergravel filters). That does not necessarily mean that they can not be used though.

Crushed coral is usually larger grains of substrate which will let small pieces of uneaten food and other detritus get wedged in between the pieces of crushed coral. This can cause them to rot or decompose which will raise the nitrates in the system. I am not real sure how/if an undergravel filter will help with this. Remember, you want to keep the nitrates low. Add a few snails and hermits and worms, if you can, to help with keeping uneaten food and detritus in check.

Don't do anything rash. Go slow and keep reading and researching.

good luck, Frank

[bukitimah]

Hey thank you for the advice. I have kept fresh water tank for many years and just gone into SW recently. (2 wks). I kept from 2 ft to 6 ft tanks for fresh water but frankly, none is as exciting as this new 2 ft SW tank. To put it simply, even with just LR and shrimp, I am happy not to mention the Damsel!

My experience with undergravel filter is the dirt/residual are trapped under the fliter forming a think coat like carpet. What I am doing, but not sure it can work is to pump the water out through under the undergravel. This way, the residual will come out together with the water to be filter overhead.

:Angel: I read somewhere that the protien is still trapped in the water forming a layer near the surface. Therefore you need a surface skimmer to remove them or you change the water more frequently.

I am hoping to us LR as a bio-filter to balance the water. Of course feeding will be very morderate to ensure minimum leftover where the shrimp will help to pick up.

There is this write out on 'CPR Cyclone Bak-Pak Series' where they claimed to be perfect. The theory sound right but what i saw in the local store, they don't use them. One store is kind enough to share a simple 'trick'. He told me not to 'drop' the filtered water directly back to the surface of the water. You need to divert the water to spray side way just above the water surface. This way it create turbulance and bubble on the surface. I observe many shops and true enough, typically, this is how they design their tanks!

However, I think a skimmer would help. I just trying to understand what is best. Should the skimmer intake be just at the surface of the water or bottom of the tank? Most effective filter have overflow system where the top surface water get filtered. Any particular brand/model good for 2 ft tank? I have the lights and overhead filter. Therefore, not much space for HOT skimmer, need a compact one.