Starting up

[SheilaF]

I have been thinking about doing saltwater for a little while now. A few months back I posted here to get some ideas as to what was all involved. I recently got back from a trip to Edmonton for my cousin's wedding. Her husband is into fish and we got talking. I think I'd like to give it a try, but I have some questions, I don't want to just jump into things. Any help at all will be greatly appreciated.
1. If I start out with live sand/rocks and fish can I convert to a reef later? As long as I choose reef safe fish?
2. If I do start out with just live rock and fish do I need a skimmer and special lighting right away? Or can I add it later?
3.Filtration wise what would be better? AC500 or a fluval 404? For my freshwater tanks I like the AC's but I would like to use what works best.
4. What type of lighting is best for corals and invertebrates?
5. Is 30gallons an adequate size to start of with?
6. What size powerhead should I get?

Thanks so much for any help and if anyone has any suggestions as to what types of things to buy, that would be great, also any good websites would be great as well. Thanks wave

 

[Glove]

Howdy Sheila and welcome!
#1 yes- as long as you dont get fish that are "questionably' reef safe
(best to decide what ya want and SLOWLY head that direction)

#2aSkimmer or no skimmer- lots of people have a tank w/out a skimmer, I think you will find most people use one. They arent cheap and just because it costs a fortune doesnt mean it works good.
2b-lights are nice. Standard lights (normal florescents) are fine for fish and rock- VHO's are the next step pup w/ florescent lighting and those can support SOME corals. T-5 is a newer form of florescent lighting that uses less energy than metal halides and can support corals. Metal halides are on the top of the lighting chain- in purchase cost and operation. There are double ended (HQI) and single ended (mogul base) type lamps.
Do you need both right away- NO.. but if you can decide the directon to want to go, making the purchase on those two items will be two of the greatist costs. Do it right the 1st time. If you do rock and fish, then a skimmer would be more important than lighting- but if your going to add corals later dont spend lots of loot on a light that wont be enough 'later'.

#3 Some people use those filters but you will find most use a sump of some form. A sump is just more area or more water in a place to do your heating, filtering, and other stuff you dont want in the main display.
most of your flitration will come from the actual living bacteria in the rock.

*RO/DI water with DTS readings of 0. You will need to think about how to get the most pure water you can for filling the tank and topping off the evaporated water. (water evaporates- the salt stays, only top off with freshwater)

#4 Big debate- depends on the corals. VHO, T-5, metal halide. You need to read, read, read, toss a coin, call the local witchdoctor..

#5 30 gallons is fine- I say larger is easier (not cheaper) but there are some rather talented people keeping corals and ONE SMALL fish in less than a gallon of water. (they call em nano tanks or pico tanks).
How much room ya have for a tank? How much is your budget?
Look here on RC at some tanks in your size range. Get some ideas.

#6 powerheads are used in many many different ways here in the saltwater hobby. If you see one in someones tank its for more flow. More flow = happy tanks. They re also used to feed other things like calcium reactors, top off systems, water change helpers...

Best bit of advice for ya is to keep doing you homework here on RC, ask questions and take it slow.

 

[SheilaF]

Thanks for the help. I already have to 30gallon tank and it just has standard flourescent lighting. I thought I could run with that for a while and then get better lighting as I get more comfortable with the tank and want to venture into corals.
For filtration I don't think I'll be able to do a sump given the space I have, I have also been told that some people don't even us a filter, just live rock/sand and a skimmer.
As for water, do you have to use ro?
Thanks.

 

[afelder]

You don't need to use RO water but it will help protect your investment most tap water is not reef safe even with conditioning. It has to many metals and additives in it. A lot of tap water has nitrate in it as well and reefers spend a lot of time trying to figure out how to eliminate that particular nuisance. If you go completely without outside filtration add flow to the tank with powerheads that will allow detritus to be suspended for the skimmer to (hopefully) :rolleye1: remove