new to saltwater

K

kdrifter440

New member
Hello all,

I am new to the saltwater fish hobby. I want to start off with a
50 gallon tank. I have read every arctile I could possibly find. Each one says something different. Can some give me a list of what I would need for a 50 gallon tank


Ive come up with this do I need anything else?

50 gallon tank
sand
70 pounds live rock
ULTRA VIOLET STERILIZER
BIO FILTER
AIRPUMP
HEATER
 
yes, get rid of the bio filter... RO/DI, refractometer, powerheads and good lighting if you want corals
 
Really listen to them I had a bio-filter.. Just wasted money even for my FO.

And IMO, don't buy the python or whatever its called to suck up the water and substrate.. Not that great

(lots of $ and time too)
 
IMO, the UV isn't really necessary to start. What do you plan to do with an air pump? You need water pumps to create flow, not an air pump to create bubbles. Now that you've read lots of articles, I'd also suggest a very good book for starting a sw tank. IMO Michael Paletta's "The New Marine Aquarium, Step-By-Step Setup & Stocking Guide" is a very good reference. Good luck and enjoy.
 
advice number one: Forget everything youve read in dated books, and LFS.

RC has everything you need, and its from an unbiased source(unlike books/magazines and LFS usually).

To get started, look for some of the "newbie" threads by waterkeeper . Good reads, and will save you a lot of time and money in the long run. Personally, Ive probably spent well over 100 hours reading threads over to get a good idea of what actually works vs. what the lfs and some sources tell you... And I dont even have any creatures/sand/rock or fish yet!

GL
 
The live rock acts as your bio filter. The bio filter you are talking about will lead to high nitrates. 70 pounds of live rock may be a bit too much for a 50. Depending on the density of the rock it may take up a lot of valuable swimming space.

I think it would be very wise to get an RO/DI water purification system if you really want a trouble free tank and a good protien skimmer. (These are real needs that a lot of folks skimp on.)

But the things that are most important to get you going is the rock, a method to move the water (Powerheads) and the appropriate test kits for monitoring the cycle.

I hope that helps.

What type of tank do you ultimately want to end up with? Fish only with live rock? Soft coral tank and fish? or??

Once you decide what type of tank you want figuring out the equipment is relatively easy.

I hope that helps.

Regards,

Pat
 
I remember looking for the "list" of stuff I'd need when I first started. The problem is that there are so many different ways to be successful in this hobby that there is no "one" list. That is why every article you have read says something different.

What you'll want to do is a TON of research and try to avoid thinking that "I'll get what I need to get started and worry about the rest of the stuff later", because that type of thinking adds up to more money in the long run. Try to think about the fish and type of tank you'd like to setup and get the appropriate equipment for the job. This is the only line of thinking that will bring you success and satisfaction in the end. Getting a tank that is inappropriate for the livestock you really want to keep is gigantically frustrating.

Since you've done a lot of reading and have an interest in the saltwater hobby, tell us what fish and possible other live stock you want to keep. You'll get a ton of answers that point you in the right direction. Gather all the information together and then get the equipment based off of those recommendations. You'll be much happier with the end result :)

Hope that helps.
 
Get that Paletta book! As for filters, go with 50-60 lbs. good live rock (go w/ cured rock if you are not the patient type who can't deal with some hassle and mess) and get a GOOD protein skimmer. Have fun
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6502554#post6502554 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jezzeaepi
advice number one: Forget everything youve read in dated books, and LFS.

RC has everything you need, and its from an unbiased source(unlike books/magazines and LFS usually).

To get started, look for some of the "newbie" threads by waterkeeper . Good reads, and will save you a lot of time and money in the long run. Personally, Ive probably spent well over 100 hours reading threads over to get a good idea of what actually works vs. what the lfs and some sources tell you... And I dont even have any creatures/sand/rock or fish yet!

GL
Click to expand...

I do not agree at all. Even old books can provide a lot of good information. The Paletta book is good, and I also like the John Tullock books. I would read the waterkeeper threads. They are good also.

But also talk to LFS. See if there is anyone that tells you the same as what you read here and in those books. A good LFS can be invaluable. Also, see if there are any local reef or fish clubs. They can also be invaluable.
 
No doubt there is tons of good information in those books. There are a lot of things they are going to be right about, however, if hes looking for a good intro book, there is going to be a lot of things he may read(in a lot of dated intro to salt water'esque books) that have since changed.
If your looking to keep a modern aquarium, are you going to ask someone from 25 years ago, or listen to peoples actual experiences on this board(who have knowledge of the current technology and long proven reef keeping tehniques)? From reading these experiences you will no doubt find lots of good recomendations on books that will enlighten you on certain aspets of reef keeping, but first things first, the introduction.
 
People may quibble, but I'd recommend Goldstein's The Marine Reef Aquarium without hesitation. It's cheap, widely available, and packs a surprisingly decent amount of info into its relatively small size.
 
I think the 70 lbs of live rock is about right... you could always do less and you could always do more. I like the look of live rock so I'm a bit on the high side, but at the same time this is where your biological filtration is taking place so I look at it as the more the better.
 
what kind of light do I need I have a 4 foot flourecent that came with that tank. Which kind of bulb do I need? What kind of refractometer should I buy????
 
Buy a fine grade sand... many people even just use white play sand from Lowes and don't have any problems.

I personally would get the RO/DI. You might do okay without it, but you could also have major algea problems without it, are you willing to risk that?
 
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