Advice Needed With Setting Up Marine Tank

[Livewire88]

Hey everyone,

I would like to set up a Marine tank at home and need some advice on what equipment I will need?

Will be purchaseing a 180 litre tank which will include lighting, EHEIM 2215 external filter and a 200W heater. Apart from power heads, sand, liverock, and plants what else will I need to buy in order to have a healthy tank?

Mainly I would like to keep at least 4 Clown Fish, and 2 Tangs (if possible) and also plenty of invertebrates to keep the tank nice and healthy.

Please bear in mind I am a complete NOOB with saltwater, and am happy to wait however long it takes to get the tank right before adding any fish, and this is why I am asking for advice so I dont make to many mistakes (hopefully none)

Many thanks
Dan

 

[lljdma06]

Hey everyone,

I would like to set up a Marine tank at home and need some advice on what equipment I will need?

Will be purchaseing a 180 litre tank which will include lighting, EHEIM 2215 external filter and a 200W heater. Apart from power heads, sand, liverock, and plants what else will I need to buy in order to have a healthy tank?

What kind of lighting are you thinking about? Have you though about corals? I recommend reading the new Marine aquarium by Paletta or the simple guide to Mini-reef systems by Jeffrey Kurtz. Two very easy to understand books that explain the general concepts behind setting up a Marine aquarium.

Mainly I would like to keep at least 4 Clown Fish, and 2 Tangs (if possible) and also plenty of invertebrates to keep the tank nice and healthy.

You'll have to rethink that. 180l isn't much bigger than my 36g. No Tangs on my stocking list. Think smaller... A pair of clowns on the other hand is not a poor choice. Add to that some other smaller species & that makes a nice tank. I'm doing a small school of chalk bass for example. When I'm on my laptop (on my iPhone now) I'll go into detail on inverts.

Please bear in mind I am a complete NOOB with saltwater, and am happy to wait however long it takes to get the tank right before adding any fish, and this is why I am asking for advice so I dont make to many mistakes (hopefully none)

One thing I repeat as nauseum here... "beauty comes slowly, disaster comes quickly"

Many thanks
Dan

You're welcome & welcome!

 

[Livewire88]

Thank you so much for the advice, its a shame I wont be able to keep any Tangs but the fishes needs come first, and if the tank is not big enough bad luck for me.

Would I be able to keep more than 2 clown fish? or are they best kept in pairs? also im mainly looking for nice colourfull fish and am open to sugestions on what fish I could stock a 180 litre tank with, (must include 2 or more clown fish)

I will have to get my hands on a book to give me some general advice on setting up a marine tank, I knew it would not be simple but I just think marine tanks are so much nicer than normal tropical tanks.

Thanks again
Dan

 

[ALW]

You are going to want a protein skimmer and maybe a sump/refugium. Stocking could include a dwarf angelfish, small wrasse, a goby and a gramma to give you a few ideas. Will you be making your own salt water? If so then you will also need a RO unit and a good grade of marine salt eg Tropic Marine Reef Pro or Red Sea Coral Pro.