Help me out please!

[Priyanka]

Hi everyone! I'm Priyanka from Toronto, Canada and a total newbie in the saltwater tank area.

I have a 20g tall lying around and I'm thinking of building a FOWLR tank. I know which equipments I need, but I know nothing about the brands and the difference in qualities of these products. I need some help with picking the right sump, lighting, protein skimmer, refractometer etc. Which brands, which models. Why a certain brand/model and not the other etc will be helpful too!

I will most probably go the "used" route, given the brand new stuff are so expensive (). So I also need to know what do I need to look for when browsing used equipment (online/in-person)? Also, if buying used live rock and sand, do I need to cycle the tank? If so, how do I cycle a saltwater tank, how long does it take? What should I stock my tank with? I want to keep it simple as I'm very new to this. Please feel free to give me any useful advice you think I need. I could use ALL the help I can get. Thanks!

 

[blazer11]

By your questions, you need a good book to get started with your tank. It would take to long to answer here. A good book that I like is “Marine Aquarium Handbook: Beginner to Breeder” 2010 by Martin A. Moe Jr. This is his latest revised edition.

Concerning good verses low grade used equipment. Browse online and compare brands as far as cost and reviews. Usually the higher cost equipment is better (but not always). Good Luck

 

[Shewillbemine]

So many stickies on this forum and everywhere else, so please read them. Yes, you always want to expect a cycle and testing your water is the best way to determine what is going on with the tank when you are just starting.