Several Questions From A Potential Marine Keeper

[TylerFerretLord]

I read nearly all of the stickies, but this has left me more confused than was before. They're all excellent but they use terms a newbie to marine fish would have no idea about.

I would like to know a few things:

What is a refugium, a sump, and a skimmer? Are there any other terms I should know?
What size tank should I get for my first tank?
Should I start out with a FO tank or a FWLR tank?
What essential supplies will I need? (I know salt. And a hydrometer.)
What would be a good beginner fish?

If you have any other tips or info they would be very appreciated.

 

[Matthew5664]

To answer a few questions

A refugium or ‘fuge’ is a location be it in the tank, sectioned off with egg create/baffles or in a separate tank with a low flow through. This area is usually lit to grow micro algae to export nutrients from the aquarium water also to harbour life that would namely be eaten in the tank therefore supplying the tank with a live food source.

A sump is a connected tank usually below but sometimes above the main tank that houses all the equipment.

A skimmer is a piece of equipment that injects air into a flow of water to create foam that organic molecules attach to. The foam collects in the top of the body of the skimmer and is then collected in a cup. It’s a mean of filtration.

For a first time Reefer the bigger the better. Large volumes of water are easier to control

As for FO or FOWLR it’s up to you. FO with external/internal filters will create a bigger build up or Nitrate witch can be removed with water changes. In a FOWLR tank the LR will go some way to changing the Nitrate into Nitrogen and Oxygen.

A list to get you started would be:

Tank
Supply of RO water
Salt
Hydrometer Refroactomerter
Power heads
Heater
Lights
Test kits
Thermometer

Form there it’s up to you depending on what kind of system you want to run.

Good beginner fish are

Clown fish
Damsels
Chromis

 

[TylerFerretLord]

Thank you very much, you answered most of my questions there.

Now to save money.