Hello... new here and want to start a salt water tank.

C

Chordate

Registered Member
Apr 5, 2009
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Hello AC!

I am glad to be your newest member!

I am looking to purchase a salt water tank, and would like some advice. I am looking on spending around 1200 dollars, and am looking for a bowfront tank. I was told I need a tank, base, skimmer, lights, and a wet/dry filter. Anything else? I am looking to house a regal tang, clown triggerfish, large clown fish, red lionfish, dog faced puffer, and maybe a few others. Also, my local fish place (house of fins in greenwich, ct), told me that after they set up my tank, as long as I have the proper filters and use their pre mixed salt water, I can start putting fish in after 24 hours (not all of the fishes, but one or two), is this true, or will I need to cycle the tank as you mention in the sticky above.

Thanks again guys... any advice would be greatly appreciated!
 
Chordate: Welcome to AC.

I have a couple of suggestions. First. Appears that you don't want to have a Reef System (fish, live rock, inverts, coral) and are looking to have a Fish Only Live Rock system. Hope I have that right. To house the fish that you mention, and the budget you are targeting...might be a bit tight in the tank. You are in a great spot in that you know how much you are budgeting for the intro to saltwater....it is so important to read as much as possible. Saltwater is great, but mistakes can be expensive. Also, you want to figure out if you eventually want to have a reef system down the road. If that is the case, it may change the choices you make regarding lighting and flow (number/strength of powerheads).

Bow Front tanks are beautiful and will limit the choices you have on stands (base) and canopy (top that houses lighting) becuause they are a trickier fit due to the bowfront. Most people end up purchasing the ones with the tank and that can be a chunk of your budget.

What size tank did you have in mind?

There are many ways to save on some of the purchases so that you can try to stay within your budget....or as near as possible.

And, yes you will need to cycle the tank when you start it. Hope this start of info is somewhat helpful. And again, Welcome to AC - it is a great forum with terrific, helpful people willing to share their knowledge and experiences.

BTW. Did a quick check on liveaquaria.com and the fish you want require 50/70 gallon min tank for the tang and lion fish...the puffer and trigger are approx 100-125 gallon tanks. Most of these fish as adults are roughly 1' or more. and I think that even a large clown would be food for the lionfish. Have you checked into the personalities? Clown triggers are typically a bit on the agressive side and the lion fish you know is venomous. The dogface is a great puffer but if you ever go reef.....the trigger and puffer won't be appropriate choices.
 
Last edited:
Almondsaz said:
Chordate: Welcome to AC.

I have a couple of suggestions. First. Appears that you don't want to have a Reef System (fish, live rock, inverts, coral) and are looking to have a Fish Only Live Rock system. Hope I have that right. To house the fish that you mention, and the budget you are targeting...might be a bit tight in the tank. You are in a great spot in that you know how much you are budgeting for the intro to saltwater....it is so important to read as much as possible. Saltwater is great, but mistakes can be expensive. Also, you want to figure out if you eventually want to have a reef system down the road. If that is the case, it may change the choices you make regarding lighting and flow (number/strength of powerheads).

Bow Front tanks are beautiful and will limit the choices you have on stands (base) and canopy (top that houses lighting) becuause they are a trickier fit due to the bowfront. Most people end up purchasing the ones with the tank and that can be a chunk of your budget.

What size tank did you have in mind?

There are many ways to save on some of the purchases so that you can try to stay within your budget....or as near as possible.

And, yes you will need to cycle the tank when you start it. Hope this start of info is somewhat helpful. And again, Welcome to AC - it is a great forum with terrific, helpful people willing to share their knowledge and experiences.

BTW. Did a quick check on liveaquaria.com and the fish you want require 50/70 gallon min tank for the tang and lion fish...the puffer and trigger are approx 100-125 gallon tanks. Most of these fish as adults are roughly 1' or more. and I think that even a large clown would be food for the lionfish. Have you checked into the personalities? Clown triggers are typically a bit on the agressive side and the lion fish you know is venomous. The dogface is a great puffer but if you ever go reef.....the trigger and puffer won't be appropriate choices.
Click to expand...

Thanks man... you are right, I wan a fish only tank with no live rock (I was told that the wet/dry filter can replace the need for live rock). I plan on getting a bowfront with a stand. I was looking at a 90 gallon tank I believe, so I hope that will work.

Thanks again
 
Chordate, I would suggest that you should talk to another lfs. anyone that suggests that there premixed salt water can house fish in the first 24 hours, after setting up a new tank is after a quick sale, and isnt interested in your fishes wellbeen. You will definently need a protine skimmer and a good canister filter if you Dont want to keep live rock, why wouldnt you want live rock, it will play a major benifit to your tanks eco system.
 
good luck staying at the 1200$ mark

i to just started a sw tank about 2 months ago and have a 29 gallon a cascade 1000 canister filter, 2 powerheads, 4 mushroom coral, 2 chunks of green star polyps, 2 false perculas, and 2 peppermint shrimp i have not upgraded my lights yet as i was told the coral will adjust and are hardy and i am well over 1000$
just be careful your local fish store is filling u with alot of bs as i had waited a month b4 adding any fish cycled with only live rock
i again say just read and ask questions internet and this website is great learning experience
 
I would say I have only spent about $320 on my tank :) and I definitely think you should consider doing live rock... Its so cool to wake up and find something new, little creatures are great surprises. Oh, and craigslist will become your new best friend. Utilize it and save money.
 
I agree,live rock provides more habitat and hiding places for the fish.Also, why not a sump?If you are new to this prepare yourself for the future with your tank.Start out fish only but set you tank up for reef,youll end up going there one day.Forget the budget,use craigs list,check out the DIY section and good luck with those guys at the LFS.Stick around,these guys here on AC are pretty cool and will help you out when you need it
 
Bow fronts are not so bad gang. The question is how handy are you and do you know someone who is a good handyman person to help you if not.

The lighting can be done reasonably priced if you go retrofit over the prebuilt hoods. Since bow fronts are oddly shaped your best bet is the customized canopy. This is where you need a handy person around to help you build the tank. I made my canopy from birch and it went very well. From there I added lights to the hood and I was done.

Home made birch canopy 80 bucks roughly ..what I saw on the web prebuilt 300+ dollars…yah no thanks Ill make my own.

You want some details on building one we can get into that later when you are ready to go out and buy materials just visit AC forums I am usually around here on weekdays . Since I built a hood already I can send you my basic designs so you friend or yourself can have a template to work with.

You should probably evaluate some of your ideas now that the gang here has given you some food for thought. Let us know what you come down to deciding on what to do and we can advise better.

The only advise I can add is … That LFS is already on a bad start with you. First off you cant even start a tank by simply using there water and setting up with there stuff in 24 hours. No way in heck … they are setting you up for a disaster and they know it. Then you will come back saying “ I must have done something wrong help me out please”…of course they would gladly help you spend more cash in there store to fix problems they know you will have.

Salt water tanks basically in general a month to cycle .. maybe even more…and they take even longer to actually become a mature tank. The fact is they are feeding you some BS. And that already has put me in a sour attitude after reading what they told you. I can’t believe the misinformation and seems purposeful disaster making they are trying to cause for you.

The other statement: You wont need live rock cause of the wet dry filter? What? Another set of misinformation there. Im sure if you confront them they will refer that you will have bio balls and those are all you need. Well that’s bull kaka. Nitrate factory in the making. There are two types of bacteria that are needed for your Bio Filtratoin. The ones on the outer surface of the rocks and substrate and those located deep within the rock void of oxygen type bacteria. Both are needed.


Sorry I wrote so much but you seriously should not go by there advise sir. I believe they have set you on a course of disaster and huge financial losses if you continue to listen to them.

I am sure several members here can suggest great books to get your hands on. Please inquire if nobody responds to my ranting here. Worst case I will try to remember to dust off my box and dig up my old “Salt Water Chemistry” book to advise you to purchase and read up on.

This site has a tremendous amount of info if you dig and the people here are great. Fun to talk to and never condescending ..just a great bunch.

Now you may wonder “ I don’t know these goofs on this forums why should I trust them”…

Well… Either trust those who love the hobby and have nothing to gain in helping you or trust the store that has everything to gain financially from you …hmmm

=) sorry if I seem so angry … I am not angry at you.. I welcome you actually and glad you stopped in. I am furious at your LFS actually.

Hope to see your future posts soon and glad you chose to dive into the hobby. Its rewarding and I believe you will be addicted like the rest of us.

Take care,
TJ
 
PS.

72 gallon bow + stand $100<---Craigs LIst purchase!
Oceanic sump $80
Canopy home made $80ish
Live rock 6.99lb to 9.99lb depends on type i have roughly 50-60lbs
14k hamilton mh bulbs 100.00 each got on sale for 69.99 each
2 ballasts at 150 each
Skimmer 175 bucks not the best but it works!
4 Korilia PH 60 each
Overflow cpr knock off 75.00
Mag pump 100.00
Phosban reactor 30 bucks
2 spider reflectors 30 each
bulb end caps 15 bucks each

I dont remember what I paid for the sand...

This will give you a general idea of how costly setting up can be... The lights are for a Reef tank...since you are going FOWLR ... you missed that bullet =) so ignore ballast and light costs
 
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