Thinking Of Going Marine

[Neal]

Ok, well i've been keeping tropicals for about a year now, and thought it would be exciting to have a marine tank. It's just a 24"(l)x12"(w)x15"(h) 20 US Gallon, glass tank. I understand i'd need to replace everything in the tank, but I was wondering what equiptment I would need. I'm looking to go as cheap as I can, so please no expensive suggestions! Could someone also post a maintenance regime? I know I need to do water changes, but is there anything else I should do? Should I do gravel vacs or not? These are the following items i'm aware I would need.
Please can you give me prices and the names of things to get?

• Some kind of marine sand
• About 10KG of LR
• Hydrometer
• Marine Salt
• Saltwater testkit

These are all i'm aware of, I know people will say get a skimmer, but they aren't really neccesary are they?
I just want to house a single/pair of clownfish, a tailspot, and a cleanup crew. All suggestions, advice and criticism appreciated!
Thanks a bunch,

Neal

PS - This is a thought, it doesn't mean i'm going to do it. And if I do decide to do it, it won't be anytime soon, maybe about 4 months?

 

[Siamese Fighter05]

Hey Neal

I've got that exact same tank size, so i think i can be of some help

Equipment i've got to run a simple & easy tank are.

Lights - I used the Arcadia 2ft 4 X 24w overtank luminaire and can say nothing but good things about it. They do a 2 bulb version that could save you a bit of money as well. It depends what your plans for the tank are really, do you want a reef or just a FOWLR? If you want a reef i think you'd need the same luminaire as me to keep softies, LPS and maybe even some easy SPS. Use the 40cm 150w MH if you want to be able to keep SPS.

If you want FOWLR you'll only need a single T8 tube

Heater - I use a 100w Ebo Jager, don't skimp on a el cheapo heater whatever you do. In such a small tank, stable conditions are vital and a cheapo heater will be more prone to fluctuate or jam. Ebo Jager or Stealth are highly reccomended in the world of nanos.

Powerheads - I use a maxijet 1200 and a interpet 400. I still feel this is a lack of flow as there are deadspots and a slight build up of scum on the surface which i have to use a airstone at night to clear. I'd use 2 maxi 1200 if i could but it might look a little unsightly. Use a closed loop if you want to remove those nasty looking powerheads, i wish i had.

Thermometer - Get a digi one for the accuracy and a cheap 99p stick on 1 for back up.

Refractometer - I know you said Hydrometer but i'd get a refractometer because they're alot more accurate and they'll on set you back about £25 on ebay.

I dont use a skimmer either as in this small tank, weekly water changes will suffice. If i had a sump i would use a skimmer as well though.

My maintenance is basically daily: FW top-up, remove salt creep, feed fish & sit back and enjoy.

weekly is a 2 gallon water change where i check all equipment, wipe the light cover give glass a good scrub, all over. Do a light gravel vac to pick up any debris missed by clean up crew. put new water in and im done

Here's a rough down on prices on the things you asked.

Marine sand - £21.99 for a bag of Carrib-sea araglive. Get it off www.aquatics-online.co.uk and you can choose which colour you want

10KG of LR - About £12 a KG in LFS but you can get good deals online. Try STM for some nice rock.

Hydrometer - I thinkl they-re about £15 for a good one but spend £10 more for a refractometer, you wont regret it.

Marine salt - I pay £20 for a 8KG bag that lasts about 6months including filling the tank so perhaps 8months afterwards?

Testikit - I used Nutrafin master kit (I think) but there's meant to be a better brand out there. Mine cost £45...
Just make sure you get tests for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, Phosphates & PH and you should be okay.

If you want a diary on the same sized tank, check out mine. It's been a little dead lately as i've been way too busy.

Here

HTH
Dan

 

[Neal]

I just want to have fish and live rock, but the odd coral would be great. I'm looking for the cheapest way around this! If I bought the Maxi 1200's, how would I hide them? Also, would I be ok wearing rubber gloves to place the LR? (I'm scared ). How do I transport the live rock? Also, what normal sand could I get that will seed and then become living? (or was someone winding me up?). What's the difference between a hydrometer and a refractometer? What light should I get? "A single T8 tube", isn't much use, I need specs and names, lol. Expect many more questions!
All's appreciated!

Neal

 

[Mr Miagi]

I just want to have fish and live rock, but the odd coral would be great.

With a T8 tube you should be able to have some shrooms. Thats about all though. If you want corals, get a light fixture that can hold more than one T8 30W tube.

I'm looking for the cheapest way around this!

Possibly not the best plan. If you want to cut corners, chances are it will bite you in the ass later. Not saying you cant do it cheap, just dont go so low your stock will suffer, otherwise there isnt much point.

If I bought the Maxi 1200's, how would I hide them?

Behind LR or they will just sit there. Its hard to hide stuff in marine aquariums. Take a look at some journals to get some good ideas!

Also, would I be ok wearing rubber gloves to place the LR? (I'm scared ).

You can wear gloves. Its recomended, there are a few creatures taht can cause harm ,and its best to wearr gloves when in the tank.

How do I transport the live rock?

If you buy small peaces at an LFS, they chuck it in a bag wet no dought, or wrapped with wet newspaper.

Also, what normal sand could I get that will seed and then become living? (or was someone winding me up?).

Aragonite sand, crushed coral, pool sand, whatever takes your fancy will eventually seed itself from the LR.

What's the difference between a hydrometer and a refractometer?

Refractometer gives you a much more accurate reading when dealing with such an important parameter in marine tanks. A hydrometer in a tank will move, bob up and down etc and generally be a PITA when your trying to read it unless your water is stagnent.

What light should I get? "A single T8 tube", isn't much use, I need specs and names, lol.

A single T8 tube refers to the bulbs most commonly associated with tropical freshwater tanks. Just buy any fitting that can hold one if your going FOWLR, or a fitting that can hold 2 or more if you want flexibility with corals. We cant give you names or brands really cause theres just too many of them! You prpbably have one on your current tank.

 

[Neal]

I do, but it's only 15W. Arcadia original freshwater, extra plant growth one.

Neal

 

[SkiFletch]

Here's my tank, see if you can find the powerheads

Just make sure that when you ide them you leave places to get in with a brush or something to clean the intake manifolds. Also, IMO, 2 MJ-1200s is a little much flor flowrate for a mere 20g unless you're trying to keep SPS. MOST tanks do just fine with a 20x turnover per hour. So if your tank is 20 gallons you'd want 400gph worth of flowrate. Best achieved by 2 MJ-900's or 1 Seio 620

 

[Riley]

What type of lights are you using Ski? im sure you've posted it a million times but I don't want to search through posts.

-Riley

 

[Neal]

So, how much would I be looking to pay for 2 MJ 900's? Also, i'd like to grow a few corals, but I don't want to spend lots on lighting or corals for that matter, is there any cheap, hardy corals that will grow under a 15W Original arcadia T8 tube? Or is this too weak? Also, how would I get a stable hardscape with the rocks? I'm no good at designing, and they would most deffinately fall over if I tried to put them together. Thanks for all the info guys, it's really appreciated, anything about keeping marine is appreciated, as I said, I only know what equiptment to get (well some of it).

Neal

 

[Mr Miagi]

You'll be surprised at what you can do when youve got your rock. If you buy it in one piece, you wont have to fiddle around with it, but if you buy in bulk (more than one piece) youll need to just take pieces in and out until you get what you like. No trick to it.

Go to your LFS to get prices for equipment, and visit online stores. Nobody can really do that for you.

One 18W tube isnt going to grow corals IMO. Even shrooms arnt going to grow fast under that IMO. Buy another lighting unit to hold atleast 2x30W T8's if you want to keep coral, if not go FOWLR, its just as interesting. A new unit is actualy very dirt cheap, they arnt expensive at all now.

I can tell you one thing about marine: Those that go cheap regret it somehow in the end. You HAVE to spend money in the set-up of a SW tank (and even after its up and running, but not as much), and nothing can be done "cheap" without the effects coming back on your livestock. If you go cheap, you get what you pay for. If your not keen to spend a bit more money than FW, id say you really shouldnt be doing it. I know it sounds harsh, but alot of people on here say "how can I do it cheap" and they dont end up going marine because once they search around for prices, its too much.

If your keen, dont dismantle your freshwater tank, keep it. Wait and save money. Join a local marine club, or online society around your area or UK, and wait for a complete tank to come for sale. Often their previous owners sell off their gear or the whole system DIRT cheap because nobody is willing to buy used gear, so it goes for a fraction of the price it would new.

Look at Miss Wiggle's thread, she bought a whole tank for 150 pounds (I think) cause she was at the right place at the right time!

Ben.

 

[Neal]

I'm not allowed anymore tanks, hence the reason i'm dismantling my freshwater one. I'm not looking for a very cheap tank, I have quite a bit of money to spend on it, I just don't want to do lots of expensive things. I don't know where to get 30W T8 tubes, are they marine ones or something? My LFS is rather expensive, but i'd like to make a good bond with them, so I might get most of the stuff from there.

Neal

 

[Siamese Fighter05]

Here are the Marine T8 tubes. Go to the bottom of the page where the marine white bulbs are. The 24" one is 18W but i wonder if it will be too long including the length of the ballast. You might have to use the 15w 18" one

Also look at getting a blue actinic one the same size, they are on the same page just above the white lamps. 1 of each should be enough for some mushies IMO.

Here for the twin ballast. It's the the first one at 69.99. All you'll need then is reflectors which will probably be about £15 for two.


Marine white 15w - 9.99
Marine blue 15w - 10.69
Twin ballast - 69.99
Reflectors - £15
Grand total of - £105.67

Personally i'd just spend £170 and get the 4 x 24w luminaire which is easy to setup and is all inclusive plus you can keep many different corals.

 

[Siamese Fighter05]

Sorry to double pst but i can't hyperlink again on an edit

You can do it alot cheaper if you don't mind about having any mushies or softies.

1 15wMarine white bulb - 9.99
1 ballast (here) It's the 2nd Arcadia one down - £15.99
reflector - £7.50
Total - £33.48

Which is more reasonable but you won't be able to do any corals with that setup im afrad

 

[Neal]

%£)(!("*£*¬!!!!
FOWLR it is!!! I'm 14, I don't have a job, and I don't get pocket money, if I was older, it would be different!

Neal

 

[Siamese Fighter05]

Just keep an eye on Aquarist-classifieds for bargain on lighting and other marine equipment/livestock. There are some real gems on there sometimes. If your lucky you might find a MH or luminaire for cheap.

I've seen a 40cm 150w MH go for £70 which is a real bargain and you could try SPS or anything with that so keep your eyes open

 

[Neal]

I'll keep my eye open, i'm registered on there anyway, so it's a bonus!
Thanks for reminding me!

Neal