Ive been raising freshwater fish for many years and I now think Im ready to enter into saltwater, except it seems VERY daunting, any info pertaining would be greatly appreciated. I want to use a spare 29g tank for my first saltwater setup. Ive read over many FAQs on saltwater and it is very confusing. Exactly what equipment do I need powerhead, protien skimmer, ect. and what kind of fish would be good for a 29g?
another annoying newbie question(s)
- Thread starter GolemGrizzle
- Start date
Yes, you are correct on the equipment part..........only that you will need live rock ;D
Good fish for 29 gal would be like clowns, damsels, an maybe some Pygmy angels would work here is a compatiblity chart i found at http://www.thepetstop.com/fish_shop/chart.html and a place to buy some of the things you will need such as protein skimmers, filter,heater,live rock,ect. ;D
HTH ;D
GOOD LUCK
Daniel ;D
Good fish for 29 gal would be like clowns, damsels, an maybe some Pygmy angels would work here is a compatiblity chart i found at http://www.thepetstop.com/fish_shop/chart.html and a place to buy some of the things you will need such as protein skimmers, filter,heater,live rock,ect. ;D
HTH ;D
GOOD LUCK
Daniel ;D
Get a good book too. You'll need to learn about things like specific gravity. I can suggest a good skimmer for a tank that size... the CPR BakPak. I had one, and it worked great.
You'll need some live rock/sand too. Pretty expensive, 4 - 5 bucks a pound for the rock! SW is expensive, and frustrating, but if you are patient (as I wasn't) you can have a BEAUTIFUL tank.
There's others here who could help you alot more than I can.
You'll need some live rock/sand too. Pretty expensive, 4 - 5 bucks a pound for the rock! SW is expensive, and frustrating, but if you are patient (as I wasn't) you can have a BEAUTIFUL tank.
There's others here who could help you alot more than I can.
For Reef setup
1. Aragonite sand: You can get this at home depot in certain states (mostly in the East) for $4 for a 50 lb bag. Otherwise they usually cost 1$/lb here in the west. You need to have a 6 inch layer of sand for it to be effective. Being effective means for bacteria to grow. If you have this much sand in your tank, you possibly won't need a filter at all unless you put a lot of fish. I don't have a filter and my nitrates are 0 with the sand. But you need to seed with live sand: they sell this in a bag at the LFS or you can get some live sand from someone who owns a saltwater tank because the sand becomes live after awhile. Live as in full of good beneficial bacteria.
2. Get a skimmer. The best one you can afford.
3. Get salt water.
4. Get some live rock: about 1lb per gallon.
You can cycle a tank without fish if you have enough rock.
For Fish only tank setup:
1. Get sand (should be aragonite). Crush coral and other sands may contain silica and can cause algae blooms.
2. Skimmer
3. Possibly a some live rock
4. Saltwater.
5. Filtration (canister or wet/dry).
You can cycle with some damsels or dead shrimp or do a fishless cycle if you have enough rocks.
The most hardy fish is by far the damsels. They only cost a couple of bucks and they are equivalent to the goldfish of freshwater. They are very common.
1. Aragonite sand: You can get this at home depot in certain states (mostly in the East) for $4 for a 50 lb bag. Otherwise they usually cost 1$/lb here in the west. You need to have a 6 inch layer of sand for it to be effective. Being effective means for bacteria to grow. If you have this much sand in your tank, you possibly won't need a filter at all unless you put a lot of fish. I don't have a filter and my nitrates are 0 with the sand. But you need to seed with live sand: they sell this in a bag at the LFS or you can get some live sand from someone who owns a saltwater tank because the sand becomes live after awhile. Live as in full of good beneficial bacteria.
2. Get a skimmer. The best one you can afford.
3. Get salt water.
4. Get some live rock: about 1lb per gallon.
You can cycle a tank without fish if you have enough rock.
For Fish only tank setup:
1. Get sand (should be aragonite). Crush coral and other sands may contain silica and can cause algae blooms.
2. Skimmer
3. Possibly a some live rock
4. Saltwater.
5. Filtration (canister or wet/dry).
You can cycle with some damsels or dead shrimp or do a fishless cycle if you have enough rocks.
The most hardy fish is by far the damsels. They only cost a couple of bucks and they are equivalent to the goldfish of freshwater. They are very common.