Newb Questions.

[TekFish]

I have a 200L freshwater aquarium. And I was thinking later about getting a saltwater tank. So these are my questions.

- Do you still cycle a saltwater aquarium?
- What is the purpose of 'Live Rock'?
- How is marine salt different to any other salt?
- How much would it cost to set up a SW tank the same size as my FW tank?
- Coral recommendations?
EDIT:
- What is a protein skimmer?
- Would it be worth buying a sump for a 400L tank and if so, how big?

Thanks so much for this. I just need to persuade the parents.

TekFish

 

[Donya]

- Do you still cycle a saltwater aquarium?

Yes, although if you get good live rock (LR) you might not have much of a cycle.

What is the purpose of 'Live Rock'?

It is the biological filtration. Good quality rock also bring in lots of other beneficial fauna.

How is marine salt different to any other salt?

It's instant sea water in a bag/bucket - much more compositionally diverse than many other kinds of dry salt you might find.

What is a protein skimmer?

Best Google this to get detailed info on how each type works. It's a method of removing fine particulates and organics.

Would it be worth buying a sump for a 400L tank and if so, how big?

Sumps are always good if you can do one. Usually people just try to fill the under-cabinet area with whatever thy can fit for a sump. I've never done a sump though (in part because the added weight is an issue in some buildings if you are not on concrete) so I will have to leave the details to someone else who has worked with sumps on tanks that size.

 

[TekFish]

Thanks for answering all my questions, that's really helpful. Now to just just convince the parents....

TekFish