New to Salt

[fraustdemon]

Hi everyone,

I've been lurking about a bit, reading articles and such. I'm new to the saltwater environment, having kept some freshwater tanks (nothing over 75 gallons yet). I have a little experience under my belt in aquarium basics, just not the specifics of salt yet.

I'm looking at turning my 46 gallon bowfront into a salt tank. I know i'll have to get some new stuff for it (like powerheads for water flow and a skimmer).

Currently its got a Magnum 350 filter, heater, single light bar (T5 maybe), and a glass top. I dont have a sump, but will eventually look at building one.

I'm looking at doing some live rock, fish, and inverts. Maybe delve into making it a full on reef tank. I just dont know where to begin really; i'm still in the planning stages.

Since i got the tank second hand, i'll be dosing it with cuprasorb just in case it ever had copper based fish treatments used in it.

I'm not trying to break the bank on this, just some idea on basic equipment would be fantastic.

What are some decent and affordable starter protein skimmers and powerheads that i should look at?

What should I look for in stocking it? Should i go ahead and stock it with corals as well as fish once cycled? What are some good fish to start out with?

Thanks in advance for any information and help!

 

[rdnelson]

Before you do anything, I would drill it so you can run a sump. You will be glad you did. Make sure it isn't tempered glass though. Some are all tempered and some only the bottom. I would loll into running a bean animal overflow (google Bean Anal Bar and Grill).

Skimmer can wait for a bit. You will want one before long but other stuff should be addressed first. Such as lighting. If you want corals lights are a big part of it.


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[greendougan]

I was just thinking the same thing. lol

 

[raz0945]

Welcome to saltwater and the ARC! If you are ever in the Lawrenceville area I have 10 tanks set up all different ways. Holley

 

[sn4k33y3z]

Raz0945;850462 wrote: Welcome to saltwater and the ARC! If you are ever in the Lawrenceville area I have 10 tanks set up all different ways. Holley

This I would like to see...

 

[brandonmason]

yeah Im with Rich check to see if your tank can be drilled for an overflow... as for lighting it will probably be the largest expense... if you think you might do coral go ahead and get lighting for such rather than buying a light fixture that will not work for you... and patience is the key to a healthy tank

 

[jdavid]

lol.. im gonna go out on a limb and say the autocorrect is doing you more harm than good lately

 

[ralph atl]

JDavid;850558 wrote: lol.. im gonna go out on a limb and say the autocorrect is doing you more harm than good lately

:lol2:

 

[darth reefer]

rdnelson99;850455 wrote: (google Bean Anal Bar and Grill).

Bahahahahahahaha! I bet the menu is amazing!

 

[rdnelson]

brchapm;850457 wrote: Don't think I want to eat there....

Ooooppppps LOL Yes that should say "Bean ANIMAL Bar and Grill". :wow2:

Edit:

Darth Reefer;850624 wrote: Bahahahahahahaha! I bet the menu is amazing!

I hear it is Dylan's favorite "Watering Hole".

 

[picoreefguy]

thanks for the new signature line rich :lol2:

 

[porpoiseaquatics]

Not to move away from the original post but I ask you....where else can you get this kind of entertainment for free??? :lol2::lol2::lol2:

 

[fraustdemon]

Thanks for the info. And don't worry about the off topic stuff. Its thoroughly amusing.

 

[fraustdemon]

So for my 46 gallon bowfront, I am planning on drilling it and putting in the Bean Animal overflow. Need to build a new stand for it to house a sump. I have a spare 20 gallon tall laying around that i was thinking of making into a sump. Would that be sufficient or should I procure a tank with different dimensions?

Also, for lighting, would a 36" 156W T5 HO with moon led's be suitable for corals in this tank? Still trying to get a feel for how all this fits together and planning.

Thanks again!

 

[darth reefer]

I turned a 20tall into a sump for my father in laws 46 bowfront and it worked fine but was a pretty tight fit for equipment. The more water volume you have the better off you'll be so if you have room for a bigger sump it wouldn't hurt. Lighting all depends on what type of corals you want to keep. Do you have a stocking list in mind?

 

[fraustdemon]

Darth Reefer;852421 wrote: I turned a 20tall into a sump for my father in laws 46 bowfront and it worked fine but was a pretty tight fit for equipment. The more water volume you have the better off you'll be so if you have room for a bigger sump it wouldn't hurt. Lighting all depends on what type of corals you want to keep. Do you have a stocking list in mind?

Well, the current stand wont accomodate a sump of any reasonable size, so i'll be building a new one specifically for this. I'll keep an eye out for a 20 long or a 29 in the meantime.

Since this is my first foray into salt, i'd like to start with some easier to keep stuff. Still researching, but soft corals and lps are looking reasonable. Also would like to stock some fish and inverts.

 

[saltbubbles]

Welcome to the ARC! Lots of knowledgeable people here even though some of the things they know you wish they kept to themselves lol. Rich the funny thing is that someone is using that as a signature line and you actually read it and didn't notice?

 

[rdnelson]

saltbubbles;852428 wrote: Welcome to the ARC! Lots of knowledgeable people here even though some of the things they know you wish they kept to themselves lol. Rich the funny thing is that someone is using that as a signature line and you actually read it and didn't notice?

That happens when you get old. LOL