hi all, just after a bit of advice really, been keeping FW fish for 5 years and now i'm thinking of converting my 15G tank to a SW setup, done some reading up but just double checking a few things.
got a good heater and filter, but is a skimmer a must have? looking at keeping gobies and maybe some small reef fish.
help would be great, thanks.
know about the cycling process, just wondering if it's possible to use seawater from the sea, since i live close by, and then cycle that?
any advice is much appreciated.
cheers in advance, thanks.
need advice as a new sw user
Re: need advice as a new sw user
Hey bakerslab, welcome to the world of saltwater.
You should totally start a thread in the nano section, we'd love to follow your progress and help you out along the way.
That's an interesting idea about using sea water, but to be honest, it's probably not the best option - I mean, think about all the contaminants that could be in there. Making your own is the way to go, and it's actually the live rock and sand that do the cycling, not the water itself. So, if you get some good quality live rock from an established tank, you'll be off to a great start.
As for the skimmer, don't worry about it, it's not essential for a small tank like yours - just make sure to do regular water changes, about 20% a week.
What's the plan for your tank, then? A goby and shrimp combo sounds like a good idea to me.
Cheers, Seffie
You should totally start a thread in the nano section, we'd love to follow your progress and help you out along the way.
That's an interesting idea about using sea water, but to be honest, it's probably not the best option - I mean, think about all the contaminants that could be in there. Making your own is the way to go, and it's actually the live rock and sand that do the cycling, not the water itself. So, if you get some good quality live rock from an established tank, you'll be off to a great start.
As for the skimmer, don't worry about it, it's not essential for a small tank like yours - just make sure to do regular water changes, about 20% a week.
What's the plan for your tank, then? A goby and shrimp combo sounds like a good idea to me.
Cheers, Seffie
Re: need advice as a new sw user
Thanks for the advice, cheers. Yeah I knew what I meant to say, just got a bit muddled, haha. So no skimmer, that's a big plus, saves me some cash. What's the smallest tank you can get away with, without one, just out of curiosity?
The combo sounds good to me, goby and cleaner shrimp, can't go wrong. Wife's taken a shine to a scooter blenny, but I'm guessing that's a no-go for a tank this size, yeah? Don't wanna overstock.
If I don't go for live rock, can I just use live sand? Where's the best place to get some, my local LFS doesn't really do marine stuff, they're more into tropical fresh water.
Apart from the heater and filter, what else do I need to get? Tank's 20 inches long and high, so I've got some space to play with. I'm like a kid at Christmas, can't wait to get started.
The combo sounds good to me, goby and cleaner shrimp, can't go wrong. Wife's taken a shine to a scooter blenny, but I'm guessing that's a no-go for a tank this size, yeah? Don't wanna overstock.
If I don't go for live rock, can I just use live sand? Where's the best place to get some, my local LFS doesn't really do marine stuff, they're more into tropical fresh water.
Apart from the heater and filter, what else do I need to get? Tank's 20 inches long and high, so I've got some space to play with. I'm like a kid at Christmas, can't wait to get started.
Re: need advice as a new sw user
A goby and pistol shrimp combo would be perfect for your tank.
As for the scooter blenny, it's not entirely out of the question for a tank of your size, but there's a catch. In the wild, they mainly feed on copepods and other small crustaceans, so it's tough to replicate that in a small tank. Unless you can find one that'll eat frozen or flake food, I'd advise against it.
In terms of other essentials, I'd recommend adding a powerhead to create some extra flow, as a natural reef environment is pretty turbulent. If you're thinking of getting into corals, be prepared to upgrade your lighting significantly and add even more flow.
As for the scooter blenny, it's not entirely out of the question for a tank of your size, but there's a catch. In the wild, they mainly feed on copepods and other small crustaceans, so it's tough to replicate that in a small tank. Unless you can find one that'll eat frozen or flake food, I'd advise against it.
In terms of other essentials, I'd recommend adding a powerhead to create some extra flow, as a natural reef environment is pretty turbulent. If you're thinking of getting into corals, be prepared to upgrade your lighting significantly and add even more flow.
Re: need advice as a new sw user
I think we've all been there - the excitement of starting a new tank is just the best.
The goby and shrimp combo is a fantastic idea - I've seen some great videos on YouTube that you should definitely check out.
As for the skimmer, I've got a friend who runs a 26 gallon without one, but I've got a cheap Boyu skimmer on my 26 gallon. As long as you're on top of your water changes, you'll be fine.
I would advise against the scooter blenny though - they're just too specialized and need a lot of care. You don't want to struggle to keep them healthy and happy.
Don't forget to post some pics of your tank and keep asking questions - we're all here to help.
The live rock is basically your filter, so that's a must. You've already got a heater, which is great.
If you're looking for live rock in your area, check out this forum - http/www.ultimatereef.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=200 - and eBay is always a good option too.
As for what you'll need, I'd say an extra power head is a must - I've got a KORALIA and it's been great. You'll also need a refractometer, marine salt, sand (about 10 lb), and testing kits for nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, and PH.
Don't bother with live sand - it'll seed from the live rock. Salifert tests are generally considered the best, but be prepared for a shock at the price.
You'll also need a water container, a container to mix your water, a cheap power head for mixing, and a cheap heater to heat the water when mixing.
A good quality tank scrubber and algae magnet are also essential - don't go cheap on these. eBay is a great place to find them.
If you're planning on investing in a bigger tank in the future, a RO unit from RO man is a great investment - it's about £65.
My advice would be to take your time, plan carefully, and do your research. Ask us as many questions as you need to - we've all been in your shoes before. You could go out and buy all this stuff from your LFS, but it'll cost you. A bit of time and planning can save you a lot of money, and it's all part of the fun.
Oh, and one more thing - don't always believe what your LFS tells you.
The goby and shrimp combo is a fantastic idea - I've seen some great videos on YouTube that you should definitely check out.
As for the skimmer, I've got a friend who runs a 26 gallon without one, but I've got a cheap Boyu skimmer on my 26 gallon. As long as you're on top of your water changes, you'll be fine.
I would advise against the scooter blenny though - they're just too specialized and need a lot of care. You don't want to struggle to keep them healthy and happy.
Don't forget to post some pics of your tank and keep asking questions - we're all here to help.
The live rock is basically your filter, so that's a must. You've already got a heater, which is great.
If you're looking for live rock in your area, check out this forum - http/www.ultimatereef.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=200 - and eBay is always a good option too.
As for what you'll need, I'd say an extra power head is a must - I've got a KORALIA and it's been great. You'll also need a refractometer, marine salt, sand (about 10 lb), and testing kits for nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, and PH.
Don't bother with live sand - it'll seed from the live rock. Salifert tests are generally considered the best, but be prepared for a shock at the price.
You'll also need a water container, a container to mix your water, a cheap power head for mixing, and a cheap heater to heat the water when mixing.
A good quality tank scrubber and algae magnet are also essential - don't go cheap on these. eBay is a great place to find them.
If you're planning on investing in a bigger tank in the future, a RO unit from RO man is a great investment - it's about £65.
My advice would be to take your time, plan carefully, and do your research. Ask us as many questions as you need to - we've all been in your shoes before. You could go out and buy all this stuff from your LFS, but it'll cost you. A bit of time and planning can save you a lot of money, and it's all part of the fun.
Oh, and one more thing - don't always believe what your LFS tells you.
Re: need advice as a new sw user
Check out this link - lots of useful info for nano tanks: http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=135909
Also, this one's worth a read: http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=115937 - it's about setting up a nano tank.
And don't miss this: http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=115899 - it's got some good facts and myths about nano tanks.
I found these really helpful - thought I'd share.
Also, this one's worth a read: http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=115937 - it's about setting up a nano tank.
And don't miss this: http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=115899 - it's got some good facts and myths about nano tanks.
I found these really helpful - thought I'd share.
Re: need advice as a new sw user
Cheers guys, massive thanks for all the advice, it's been a big help. To be honest, I've learned not to take much of what my local fish store says as gospel, they specialise in tropicals, not marine, and in the past they've given me some right old rubbish. So I'll be taking your advice onboard, thanks for the trust.
Hopefully I'll get all the gear I need in the next few weeks and then I'll start making progress. I'm proper excited about this, cheers again for the help, Ross.
Hopefully I'll get all the gear I need in the next few weeks and then I'll start making progress. I'm proper excited about this, cheers again for the help, Ross.