Total NEWBIE, help

Sara7814 · 09-17-2006, 08:48 PM

Ok so I recently (as in yesterday) bought a setup for saltwater. My mother in law has one and she just has fish.
She came with me and told me that i should only get fish.. but i was really interested in the coral and fish. The owner of the pet store told me i could have both.. just not as many fish. She has a 46 gallon bow front.... which was to big for my living room..

This is what I got - I know that I would have to change the lighting and go to a clear lid.. at least that is what i was told.

36 gallon bow front w/stand
fluval (filter)
acura heater
bio active live sand
oceanic salt
hydrometer deep six ??? no clue what that is
thermometer

i had the owner put it together for me and i will pick it up friday.
now my question is... could i do both and if so.. what kind of lighting to i need and could i buy it online for cheaper? Any tips/adice would be apprecitated. I hope it wasnt a bad choice going with a 36 gallon.. total cost was 629.47

Sara

Sara7814 · 09-17-2006, 08:50 PM

oh yeah.. in the future i do plan on going larger.. i just didnt want to go to big as its my first indoor tank and especially saltwater.

theplatypus · 09-17-2006, 08:54 PM

Welcome to TRT!

Ditch the hydrometer and buy a refractometer. They measure specific gravity/salinity. Hydrometers aren't very accurate. I would pick up a protein skimmer instead of the fluval. Lighting requirements are determined by the corals that you want to keep. As a rule soft corals and large polyped stoney corals are fine under power compacts. Small polyped stoney corals require much stronger lightind such as metal halides. Clams and Anemones generally don't do well with power compacts.

Geoff · 09-17-2006, 08:55 PM

Welcome to TRT!!

ok, you still have some more stuff to get. what you have is an ok setup for a FOWLR (fish only with live rock), but not for a reef. cannister filters are not really usefull in a reef system. they can be used for holding other things, but not for thier intended purpose.

the hydrometer is nothing usefull either.

it is used to measure the salinity of the system. if you want a reef it is better to get a refractometer. this is a much more accurate way to test the salinity of the water. those hydrometer quickly become innaccurate. with a reef system the water salinity needs to be kept within certain ranges.

i also see that a protein skimmer is not on the list. this is the most important piece of mechanical filtration for a reef tank. the only other type of filtration needed is the Live Rock itself. this is your biological filtration.

G~

thekid55 · 09-17-2006, 08:55 PM

welcome to trt

abong · 09-17-2006, 08:56 PM

He might not have told you but you are going to need live rock as well.

Sara7814 · 09-17-2006, 08:59 PM

thanks for being helpful

Sara7814 · 09-17-2006, 09:00 PM

thank everyone for welcoming me

Sara7814 · 09-17-2006, 09:03 PM

ok so i should get these and/or switch them out
-protein skimmer instead of a fluval
-refractometer instead of a hydrometer deep six
-biological filtration

-lighting - metal halides - any certain wats??
-do i have to switch to a clear lid as well??
-could i have fish in it? if so how many for the 36 gallon?
just being curious..what about a sea horse?

yes he told me about live rock.. i figuered i would pick that up when i got my setup ready for coral.

thanks everyone

Loverotties · 09-17-2006, 09:04 PM

Welcome to TRT! !st forget the fuval your live rock will be your filter.you need about 53 lbs to 72 lbs of live rock with the water a good heater (Titanium), you'll need a good protein skimmer(coralife),Depending what type of coral will deside on your lights ,a RO/DI water fiter to make the water you need to mix the salt to make the salt water.A couple powerheads to have water movment in your tank and some test kits(Salifert).Some of this you should check here(some people sell stuff to go bigger or getting out of the hobbie)Or E-bay is great place to,even our sponcer mite have a good price or a sale.Any questions were here to help and hope to save you from mistakes.Good luck Sara!

Sara7814 · 09-17-2006, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loverotties

Welcome to TRT! !st forget the fuval your live rock will be your filter.you need about 53 lbs to 72 lbs of live rock with the water a good heater (Titanium), you'll need a good protein skimmer(coralife),Depending what type of coral will deside on your lights ,a RO/DI water fiter to make the water you need to mix the salt to make the salt water.A couple powerheads to have water movment in your tank and some test kits(Salifert).Some of this you should check here(some people sell stuff to go bigger or getting out of the hobbie)Or E-bay is great place to,even our sponcer mite have a good price or a sale.Any questions were here to help and hope to save you from mistakes.Good luck Sara!

so i need a different water heater to?? is the name the Titanium??
what are names of powerheads?
a ro/di water filter...how do i know which one i have?

im sorry.. im a total newbie.. and im still learning names and such...so please bare with me

ChrisPrusha · 09-17-2006, 09:21 PM

Some names to look into:

Protein skimmer...AquaC Remora, Coralife, CPR BakPak.

Titanium heater...Won Pro

RO/DI...I don't think brand name is all that important.

Welcome aboard!! w00000000000000000000t!!!

Sara7814 · 09-17-2006, 09:26 PM

ok so i should get these and/or switch them out

-protein skimmer instead of a fluval
-refractometer instead of a hydrometer deep six
-biological filtration
-Titanium heater...Won Pro instead of the acura heater
-ro/di - thats the water filter??
-metal halides..any certain wats??
-do i have to have a clear lid?

whats the refractometer??

btang · 09-17-2006, 09:27 PM

Welcome to the hobby. This is great place to hang and learn.

I would get a good book and read up on all the stuff people are telling you. I like Reef Secrets by Nilsen and Fossa. Others will recommend other books (can get them off amazon).

Getting live rock is the best (only way you should really go) bio filter. But you will have to wait after you put the rock in the tank for everything to stabilize (cured vs uncured - will take longer). I would say at least 6 weeks or more. Get some good test kits so you can monitor your water. I like seachem test kits but other are good also. I would also get a PH meter (well worth the money) I have Pinpoint brand, works very well.

Remember this hobby you must go slow and be patient. Read, Read and read some more.

Let use know how you are coming. good luck

volitansman · 09-17-2006, 09:28 PM

You don't nessaserlily need a titanium heater, if you use a glass heater just make sure you don't drop it, drop something on it, or submerg it when it's hot. All of the above will break it and cause your tank to become electrified which can kill everythin in the tank includeing someone that may reach into the tank unsuspectingly. Titanium heaters are very hard to break so you don't have to be as carefull with them, that being said I use both types and have had very few probles with heaters.