Heya, Newby Alert.

[myistic714]

Well I've joined this forum to try and learn about keeping a marine tank x.X
I've been reading up on the net and have bought a book but I'm totaly baffled by everything lol.
I have a few questions..well more than a few but I'l just ask some to start with ^.^
Sooo..
1. What tank do you advise me to get? theres so many out on the market I could probably spend up to £150 on one not including filters/lights/etc. I'm hoping on keeping some salt water tropical fish and a reef set up.
2. What filters do I need? Will I need a skimmer or a protien skimmer or both? lol
3. What would be the best kind of lights? I've heard that a Uv light, white light and a blue one is the best?
4.What kind of heating system would be best?
5.Is a sump necesary?
6. Whats the best way to get sutible salt water?
Thanks in advance for any information ^.^

 

[Colin_T]

Hi and welcome.

try to get as big a tank as possible. A standard sizedd and shaped aquarium will cost less than a fancy unit or curved glass tank. You should get a tank that can hold at least 100litres. If you set up a coral tank you lose a lot of water to the live rock. You can also get a double tier stand and have two tanks. The top tank gets used to house the fish and corals. The bottom tank gets used as a filter for the top tank. Then you get more water volume in the same space.

If you set up two tanks on a double tier stand the bottom tank can be used as a filter/ refugium and can also be used to house a protien skimmer if you want one.
You can also use external canister filters to run the tank.

If you just want fish then a single fluorescent light will do. If you want corals then T5 fluoros or metal halides are reccommended. If the tank is more than 18 inches high go for halides. 18inches or less in height and T5 fluoros will be fine.
Get globes with a temperature or Kelvin (K) rating around 10,000K. Don't get globes with more than 14,000K or less than 6,500K.

Standard aquarium heaters are fine

Sumps help by giving you more water volume and you can turn them into the filter as well.

Most people use artificial marine salt but if you live near a clean beach then collect your own.

 

[myistic714]

Thanks for that ^^
Going to do some research into some tanks and have a look on some classifields sites as well to see what I can find.