CichlidFish.com - Fish That Think.

Well, I know some of you know that I been thinking about setting up a salt tank. What are some good things to keep for a beginner? Tank size will probably be around a 55 gal. I would like to know also about filteration setups also.

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Aquatics Unlimited

Hey chris,
Have you completely decided on slat or still floating?


It depends on what kind of a tank you are going to want...if you are wanting community or aggressive.

I personally prefer the aggressive type if you are going fish only.

I'f you'd eventually want to get into a reef then you'll want to start off with a small community.

Such as,
A clown, a tang, some blenny's or gobies(after you get the tank established and get some LR and LS going.) With tangs and clowns you won't want more than one of either, unless you'd like to keep three small clowns and have them grow together then it may work. Posibly some small fish such as cardinals(also should be kept in groups of 1 or 3)or other small non-aggressive fish.

You will first of all want to start off with lots of LR in the tank to get through the cycle and what not and get the little "critters" started.


For filtration you'll eventually want a sump-wet/dry so might as well start off with it. In a community tank you want at least 7 times rotation per hour.

If I missed something let me know

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Clint
CDevoe1111@aol.com

I agree with Clint, except that if you set the tank up with lots of live rock and a deep sand bed you dont need the wet/dry as a filter, but I would use a sump to house skimmer and heaters etc, and do do mechanical filtration with like a foam block etc.

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Adam

Come see my website!
Adam@cichlidfish.com
Got ?'s about HITH? Read this to learn more!

Naw, Clint I'm still floating around in space...LOL. When I get another tank it's either gonna be a salt tank or africans..haven't made my mind up yet. I know they are alot about Salt that I don't know and I'm doing alot of research trying to find out everything I can. I'm not gonna start a salt tank or anything till I'm confident that I know somewhat what I'm doing. Thanks for your replys Adam, and Clint.

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Aquatics Unlimited

Everyone tells me a sump is the way to go for filteration, but how big of a sump do you use for a 55 gal tank?

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Aquatics Unlimited

sumps are recommended to be 1/2 the size of the original tank.

Yeah adam....me and you don't agree there...but thats cool. This way he is getting two opinions.



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Clint
CDevoe1111@aol.com

What was you talking about Clint, about Adam not agreeing with? A friend of mine has offered me a 30 gal tank with stand and everything I need to set it up except rocks and fish...said he'd give it to me if I would set it up just so I could try salt. He said the Only thing I would need is a protein skimmer. It has an overflow box for the sump...it's not drilled. Is this a good deal or would I be better off to buy me a new tank? This tank has to be resealed too. He said he would give me R/O water also.

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Aquatics Unlimited

Well Clint believes in adding extra bio filtration with the wet/dry, and I am of the opinion that the live rock and sand should be your sole source of bio filtration so that is really the only area that we differ in opinions.

If you are mearly interested in trying it out I suppose you could set the 30 up with the over flow to a 15-20 gallon sump and give it a shot since not having to buy the tank will mean you wont have to spend as much getting it going. I have a feeling that once it is set up for a few months and you start to get the hang up it and understand alot of the principles you will be saying "I wish my tank had this or that, or did this or that"... and at that point you could go buy a more expensive tank that has all the features that you want... or you could find that you dont like saltwater or that its too complicated, and then you wont have spent that much money on it as you would have if you had gone for bore into it with brand new tank and equipment etc... I guess what I am trying to say is the decision would more lay on whether or not your heart is set into having a salttank for absolute positive.

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Adam

Come see my website!
Adam@cichlidfish.com
Got ?'s about HITH? Read this to learn more!

Anywhere from a 30 gal up is a good size to start with correct?

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Aquatics Unlimited

I hope so since that is what i am going to start off and learn with

Do you put anything in the sump? My friend uses bio balls.

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Aquatics Unlimited

yeah I use bio balls.. Live rock I've read also works better.

I usually reccomend a 55 at least for begginners if you have the $$$...but it is less expensive and usually works with a 30 and up. Bigger the tank better the margin for error

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Clint
CDevoe1111@aol.com

Bigger the tank better the margin for error?? Sounds like this tank will have to be hugggggggge for me.

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Aquatics Unlimited

lol chris......just with a 30 gal you'll want to be a little extra careful with water changes and such. A 55-75 has pretty good room for screw ups as long as you catch your mistake pretty quick......But my first saltwater tank was a 30 gal....worked fine....also make sure you keep it away from and heater/AC or windows or anything to fluxuate temp.

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Clint
CDevoe1111@aol.com