My First SW Tank!

Cichlidgirl91

Cichlidgirl91

AC Members
Feb 8, 2008
288
0
16
Tobaccoville, NC
I just joined about an hour ago, so I'm still learning how this website works...
In about a month I'll be setting up my first SW tank. I'm using a 30 gallon freshwater tank and converting it, so I need to know what supplies I absolutely need for it to be succesful. I'm pretty sure the lights are flourescents. The filter came with the kit which probably means it is rated for 30 gallons. I'll most likely need to be getting a bigger one. Maybe one rated for 40 or 50 gallons?
Also, what is the best protein skimmer out there? Can I use flourescents for soft corals? Any suggestions for thick-bodied fish (like Clownfish, not Tangs) that would do well in a 30 gallon tank?
 
If your doing Fish only then the current light you have is fine. If you want to add living things on your rocks then you will probably want to upgrade to at least a Power Compact/CFL light. You can get away with a 2x24w T5HO light for around $80 if your just planning on softies like mushrooms.

Filter, again, depends on if your doing fish only or more. Fish only it a lot easier and cheaper. When you start getting into corals and such then you have to really test a lot of things in your water. Just the tests are pretty expensive, then the additives to fix your water ups the price more. If your planning on fish only then a good canister filter will probably do good, but if your going to do corals then thats a lot more filtration.

Clownfish will do ok in a 30g, tangs will not. Chromis and cardinals are good as well.

Best and only protien skimmer I will recommend for a small tank (less than 100g) is an AquaC Remora skimmer. For the smaller one that I just bought it cost around $170 but is so worth it. It will outperform any skimmer in its price range or lower by a factor of 10.
 
I think I'll probably go with a pair of ocellaris clownfish:headbang2:
I would really like to have some sort of host for them (even though they don't need one, I still like the look of clownfish guarding their anemone/coral)
Any suggestions for an easy-to-take-care-of host for Ocellaris clownfish?
Also, any tankmates for them? Or will the clownfish be too aggresive if they pair up?
 
I'd probably look at a peaceful goby that will stay towards the bottom half of the tank. Possibly a blenny instead. I'd stay away from an anemone in a 30g and there is no telling with clowns what they'll adopt as a host. I have all sorts of corals and even an anemone and they still prefer one of my powerheads.
 
I was just looking in the brackish section, and one person said you could keep violet gobies in full-blown SW! I think I'll start off with a Violet Goby and as soon as I get him to SW levels, I'll get a pair of clowns.
 
hey cichlidgirl changing fresh to salt can be scary but it isnt what you really think. just take your time and read alot. my first sw fish was green spotted puffer :)
 
Thanks everyone!
Someone on another forum was telling me that you can't go from FW to SW!
Melosu58 said:
Not a good idea. You can not turn a FW into a SW tank. Everything is different including the bacteria. If you were going to go from FW to SW you would have to start all over when you went to SW.
Click to expand...
I told him that I've heard of other people doing it and not having any problems
 
They are a completely different set of bacteria, they are correct. However it is possible to go from FW to SW in such a method that you can compensate for the loss of the FW bacteria while the SW bacteria populate those die off areas.

In fact while we both have a disease called ICK and they have the same types of cycles they are technically different.
 
Just my opinion, but aside from that one instance of someone acclimating a violet goby to full marine, I haven't read anything that indicates they will do well long-term in marine conditions. Unless I could find something from a reliable source, I don't think I would do it.
 
From fishbase:

Prefer muddy bays and estuaries; encountered in fresh water (Ref. 13628). Also found offshore on muddy bottoms, off mouths of large rivers. Largest goby in the Caribbean, and the only one with this distinctive eel-like shape (Ref. 26938).

This says to me that they generally inhabit estuaries, and will venture upriver into freshwater, or out into the open ocean periodically - perhaps for food or breeding purposes, but it doesn't seem to me like a marine environment is preferred as a long-term situation.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom