My first saltwater tank.

[dustinkimpel]

I already checked. I have no chloromines.

I started trying to just use treated tap water back in the day was terrible trying to keep things. Then I started using the Walmart dispenser water, was a pain but my tank looked slightly better. Then I bought my RODI and I promise you it's the way you will end up going if you stick to this hobby. It's better to do this now than to wait and be throwing your $100 fish in the garbage. Just telling you from experience man. If I did everything the right way the first time instead of thinking people are full of it on here I'd have a badass setup with all the money I saved.

 

[Stephen Hiatt]

I started trying to just use treated tap water back in the day was terrible trying to keep things. Then I started using the Walmart dispenser water, was a pain but my tank looked slightly better. Then I bought my RODI and I promise you it's the way you will end up going if you stick to this hobby. It's better to do this now than to wait and be throwing your $100 fish in the garbage. Just telling you from experience man. If I did everything the right way the first time instead of thinking people are full of it on here I'd have a badass setup with all the money I saved.

I wasn't trying to say I wasn't going to get one, I'm just saying I won't need a chloramine cartridge.

 

[dustinkimpel]

I've already looked at a yellow tang, and I don't want to risk the aggressiveness. I also don't want to be scolded on this forum about having a tang in a 65 gallon. I really like those two Angels. Would I be able to keep them both?

You very possibly would be able to keep them both. Every fish is different mind you. It should be okay if there is plenty of rock work for them both to make their own and they MUST be added at the same time.

 

[Stephen Hiatt]

You very possibly would be able to keep them both. Every fish is different mind you. It should be okay if there is plenty of rock work for them both to make their own and they MUST be added at the same time.

I'm assuming I should add all of the same species at once (i.e., clowns, firefish, etc...)

 

[dustinkimpel]

Yes, with the angels probably last and chormis and cardinal fish first.

give this a watch:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwRvd5kS4wY

they have a lot of helpful videos for you too.

if your in the market for cheaper good quality powerheads look up jebao RWs

 

[Stephen Hiatt]

Yes, with the angels probably last and chormis and cardinal fish first.

give this a watch:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwRvd5kS4wY

they have a lot of helpful videos for you too.

What if I've told you I'm addicted to those videos and have already more than I'd like to admit?

 

[Stephen Hiatt]

double post. Wonder your eyes to the next one.

 

[dustinkimpel]

What if I've told you I'm addicted to those videos and have already more than I'd like to admit?

Then I'd tell you you are on the right track, keep it up! If you have any questions keep asking them on here. It's a great place for help.:beer:

 

[MuShu]

I was going to change about 10 gallons per week so I was planning on getting 3 5 gallon buckets.

Get one more bucket. You'll want the saltwater on hand mixed already for water changes, but for evaporation top-offs, you'll need freshwater (RODI) on hand as well.

Also, while we're talking water, go ahead and spring for a refractometer if you don't already have one. You can get them pretty cheap on Amazon or BRS.

 

[Stephen Hiatt]

Get one more bucket. You'll want the saltwater on hand mixed already for water changes, but for evaporation top-offs, you'll need freshwater (RODI) on hand as well.

Also, while we're talking water, go ahead and spring for a refractometer if you don't already have one. You can get them pretty cheap on Amazon or BRS.

I was planning on getting on.

I see that you're also from GA. Do you get your saltwater supplies from Premier Aquatics?

 

[vikinglord13]

If you don't want to deal with staying on top of alk/calcium/magnesium dosing you could gef a toadstool leather for the clownfish. I've seen them host those before. Though, it's never a guarantee if they'll host, even with anemones.

 

[Stephen Hiatt]

If you don't want to deal with staying on top of alk/calcium/magnesium dosing you could gef a toadstool leather for the clownfish. I've seen them host those before. Though, it's never a guarantee if they'll host, even with anemones.

I've heard that they'll host anywhere, so I'm not that worried about any specific coral. I've heard they have hosted on rock, corals (other than anemone) and even on circulators. I do plan on getting multiple corals to give them a lot of options.

 

[OrQidz]

Welcome to the marine side of things! I keep FW tanks as well. Much of the knowledge carries over, but some concepts are a bit different.

You already learned about the importance of RODI. Other things that are different (off the top of my head):

1) cost of equipment - tends to be much higher for reef tanks. $300 on lights is actually not bad! But you can definitely keep less light demanding corals without the crazy expensive lights. A good protein skimmer can be expensive too. Or a sump set up. You can't just pop over to petsmart and buy a $30 filter and call it good. So the start up costs can be a lot higher.

2) think of any marine tank the same way you would for a FW setup housing a delicate, wild caught species that is very, very particular about its water parameters and feeding. The vast majority of marine fish have not been captive bred for generations like many FW fish have. So they tend to be much less forgiving of wobbles in water quality or conditions that don't suit them.

3) all the bad stuff happens a lot faster. I could write a novel but I think that sums it up. Parameters change, tanks crash, algae overtakes everything...just a lot quicker than it does in FW.

4) much greater risk of disease, due to almost all wild caught livestock. QT is really, really important. You can't treat for a disease IN a reef tank (the copper will kill everything and can be absorbed into the live rock) so if you don't QT you may have to be catching fish in a reef tank full of live rock. Then you have to let the tank go fallow for quite some time. Best avoided by strict QT on all new arrivals! (Especially if you get chromis which are prone to uronema infections.)

5) the fish don't tend to get along as well. Unless you have a huge tank, forget schools of community fish. Marine fish tend to be territorial. Firefish, multiple clowns, and royal grammas can all fight amongst themselves. (as well as many other types)

6) for a reef, you just can't have the bioload you would in a FW planted tank. Instead of plants that eat nitrates, you have corals that don't like them. So think less fish overall than you would for a FW tank.

I'm sure there are many more...but there are also tons of great things about reefing that make it all worthwhile. So enjoy!

 

[2015GaTor]

As far RODI units go, I have been pretty happy with my unit. It is a 6 stage for $135 and it seems heavy duty. It really pumps out the water. I can get about 120 gallons Ina day.

https://www.amazon.com/Koolermax-AR...129&sr=8-2&keywords=koolermax+reverse+osmosis

 

[Stephen Hiatt]

As far RODI units go, I have been pretty happy with my unit. It is a 6 stage for $135 and it seems heavy duty. It really pumps out the water. I can get about 120 gallons Ina day.

https://www.amazon.com/Koolermax-AR...129&sr=8-2&keywords=koolermax+reverse+osmosis

I think I'll stick with the BRS one. After watching their videos I know that the RODI unit I want is quality and it's not that bad price wise.

 

[dustinkimpel]

I didn't see anyone mention water storage yet so for your rodi storage the easiest things I found to use are the 5 gallon jugs used for refillable water dispensers. Have 3 of those and 2 rubbermaide tubs. The jugs for storing and rubbermaide for mixing my saltwater. Then I used an empty salt bucket for an ato resivore.

 

[Stephen Hiatt]

Anyone else have light or protein skimmer suggestions?

 

[MuShu]

I was planning on getting on.

I see that you're also from GA. Do you get your saltwater supplies from Premier Aquatics?

I've been buying from Southern Aquatics with a few pop ins at The Fish Store for when I don't want to drive out to Roswell. I actually haven't been to Premier.

ETA: I drive out to Southern Aquatics because I have two freshwater planted tanks as well, and she carries a great variety of freshwater fish and equipment as well as the marine stuff.

 

[mets17127]

Check eBay for marsaqua 300w...you say softies now but in 2 months you will want Lps, then you will have a fellow reefer give you an sps frag

 

[Stephen Hiatt]

Check eBay for marsaqua 300w...you say softies now but in 2 months you will want Lps, then you will have a fellow reefer give you an sps frag

I was just looking at that. My tank is 34" so I think it would be a great light for the size of my tank, and the price is reasonable as far as reef lighting goes.