What Am I Going To Need?

[Betta5]

I have decided to convert my 26ish gallon tank marine. I have been marine before and it was a fish only 60 litre I had for 6 months but it was a little small for me then. Annnyway I need to know what I need to get to get me started up. Im going for a fish only tank, no LR as I only have access to tap water at the moment but it may change at some point and I can upgrade later on.

So I have

- Glass aquarium
- Solid Stand
- Hood with a T8 light tube
- Heater
- Dechlorinator and heavy metal binder

What I need to buy

- Salt
- Hydrometer
- test kits
- External filter
- 25KG ocean rock for decor
- Black background
- Tubs and spares
- Sand

What am I missing to get me up and running?


Also Can I use childrens play sand? Are their any negatives to using this?

thanks, any links to helpful sites would be great

 

[-Nemo-]

I think you've listed everything you will need...

Play sand - controversial. If you think you will ever have any sand dweller or sifters (like sifting inverts or fish like gobies) then I would definitely not get play sand.
Play sand is made from quartz which is very sharp, so any sand dwellers or movers will have a very rough time with it. Because of the quartz, it also has silica which is where there is controversy as to whether the silica has any long term effects against livestock.

You also have to think about it from a buffering stand point. Aragonite sand is calcium carbonate based and therefore will naturally buffer your pH and kH. Without this, you may have a harder time keeping the pH and kH up.

 

[Betta5]

Ahh right, I will just pick up some aragonite sand then, not really planning on any bottom dwellers but you never know.

Im off to the pet shop tomorrow to see if there is anything I can pick up, other than frozen mice.

thanks for the help at watch this space, Ima have alot of questions lol

 

[AK77]

Ahh right, I will just pick up some aragonite sand then, not really planning on any bottom dwellers but you never know.

Im off to the pet shop tomorrow to see if there is anything I can pick up, other than frozen mice.

thanks for the help at watch this space, Ima have alot of questions lol

Personally, if you are planning on going for a FOWLR or reef setup in the future, then I wouldn't bother splashing out huge sums on aragonite sand at the moment. I would just stick with something like childs play sand. The reason being is that since you're using tap water, the aragonite would end up being contaminated with copper and other heavy metals and crap that they put in the water, which will most likely have to be dumped if you want to keep invertebrates and corals in the future. Aragonite isn't cheap compared to play sand. Also, you won't be able to keep any bottom dwellers (apart from fish) due to the copper and nitrates in the water.

The same with your ocean rock. That will have to be dumped or soaked repeatedly in RO water in the future to avoid potentially killing corals and inverts. The ocean rock will act as a ph buffer and you can always dose with a PH buffer solution.

I would also add carbon to your list and run that in your filter to keep the water nice and clear.

 

[Betta5]

Cool, I have just decided to go for this set up for now, and move to a larger fish only set up later.

I have brought an external filter and v2 400 skimmer

Is this salt OK? If it is I will grab that next.

http/www.reefstore.co.uk/cart/Optimum-Sea-Salt-20KG-pr-17860.html


thanks for the help