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Posted: 7/21/2017 10:46:26 PM EDT
[#1]
What kind of starfish?
The green brittle stars are known fish eaters.If you're goignt to do any invertebrate or live coral ,clams,etc stay away from chocolate chip stars and a few others,they'll eat every thing.go with a linka or formia as they're reef safe.you should drip acclimate for at least an hour,two would be better.they're very sensitive to changes in water chemistry And the clowns are going to be more hardy than the shrimp or star |
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Posted: 7/21/2017 10:48:12 PM EDT
[#2]
Those filters suck for saltwater,get a hang on the back reef octopus skimmer.
And maybe a hang on the back refugeium with a light and some cheato macro algae |
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Posted: 7/21/2017 10:52:23 PM EDT
[#3]
Look for someone with a reef tank to give you a little bit of live sand and maybe a live rock to help seed the tank, live rock is a great filtration aid and can help greatly with water quality.
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Posted: 7/21/2017 10:59:42 PM EDT
[#4]
Don't fucking do it
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Posted: 7/21/2017 11:04:35 PM EDT
[#5]
If you are a newb start with @ least a 50 and go with a small sump... small setups+newb=dead shit and frustration...
I have been around the block...been in the hobby for 26+. I have live rock older than most of the new gen libtards running around 
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Posted: 7/21/2017 11:08:03 PM EDT
[#6]
I have 2. A 10 year old 125 mixed reef and a 8 year old 35 gallon mixed reef. ReefCentral is the place to learn.
Stick with quality equipment, Tunze is pricey but is good stuff. The guy who imports and services it lives in Texas. Great guy. Called me on my cell to walk me through a power supply to buy at radio Shack. Pretty much all my equipment is Tunze. |
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Posted: 7/21/2017 11:08:33 PM EDT
[#7]
Saltwater is expensive yo!
 Cost of Setting Up a 45g Reef Aquarium (and load it up with corals) |
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Posted: 7/21/2017 11:08:36 PM EDT
[#8]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
What kind of starfish? The green brittle stars are known fish eaters.If you're goignt to do any invertebrate or live coral ,clams,etc stay away from chocolate chip stars and a few others,they'll eat every thing.go with a linka or formia as they're reef safe.you should drip acclimate for at least an hour,two would be better.they're very sensitive to changes in water chemistry And the clowns are going to be more hardy than the shrimp or star or Tile Sea Star, Orange/Red Unless you have other suggestions of something under 6" |
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Posted: 7/21/2017 11:09:42 PM EDT
[#9]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
If you are a newb start with @ least a 50 and go with a small sump... small setups+newb=dead shit and frustration... I have been around the block...been in the hobby for 26+. I have live rock older than most of the new gen libtards running around |
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Posted: 7/21/2017 11:13:51 PM EDT
[#10]
Quote Historylol
fuck that shit. I'm looking at $200 for everything including salt for a year. I guess I'll use my 150 biowheel instead of my spare canister. |
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Posted: 7/21/2017 11:16:22 PM EDT
[#11]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Blue & Pink Sea Star or Tile Sea Star, Orange/Red Unless you have other suggestions of something under 6" |
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Posted: 7/21/2017 11:17:34 PM EDT
[#12]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
lol fuck that shit. I'm looking at $200 for everything including salt for a year. I guess I'll use my 150 biowheel instead of my spare canister. Read up a few weeks before you start. |
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Posted: 7/21/2017 11:18:23 PM EDT
[#13]
 Attached FileLots of live rock Go as big as you can (50 or above), 75-90 a good place to start. Good circulation No inverts for at least 6 months, especially stars. |
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Posted: 7/21/2017 11:20:48 PM EDT
[#14]
I had a 750 gal living reef and a 750 gal fish.
Don't do it. |
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Posted: 7/21/2017 11:23:32 PM EDT
[#15]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/307202/IMG-1609-259975.JPG Lots of live rock Go as big as you can (50 or above), 75-90 a good place to start. Good circulation No inverts for at least 6 months, especially stars. |
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Posted: 7/21/2017 11:24:04 PM EDT
[#16]
If you are going minimalist, water changes will be your friend. Do you have a ro/di filter for water? The biowheel things are kinda worthless. You could try buying a phosban reactor and mix carbon/granular feric oxide. That will be much more effective than a hang on filter. I agree with getting a hang on protein skimmer. The reef octupus models are generally good (i had a bh-90 which is awesome) but a lot of folks recommend the aquamaxx hang on as well.
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Posted: 7/21/2017 11:30:27 PM EDT
[#17]
Only thing I will say is larger is easier. The larger the volume of water. The more stable it is.
However most of my experience Was with an open system. |
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Posted: 7/21/2017 11:30:54 PM EDT
[#18]
I had a nice little saltwater tank for about 3 years till I went on vacation for a week. Something happened and my parents called me about 5 days in letting me know my fish were dying. It's a big commitment. Both time and money. Sometimes I miss it. But I don't have the time or cash to throw away anymore.
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Posted: 7/21/2017 11:31:11 PM EDT
[#19]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/307202/IMG-1609-259975.JPG Lots of live rock Go as big as you can (50 or above), 75-90 a good place to start. Good circulation No inverts for at least 6 months, especially stars. |
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Posted: 7/21/2017 11:35:23 PM EDT
[#20]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
If you are going minimalist, water changes will be your friend. Do you have a ro/di filter for water? The biowheel things are kinda worthless. You could try buying a phosban reactor and mix carbon/granular feric oxide. That will be much more effective than a hang on filter. I agree with getting a hang on protein skimmer. The reef octupus models are generally good (i had a bh-90 which is awesome) but a lot of folks recommend the aquamaxx hang on as well. 
Can I just use seachem prime and tap, let it sit for a few days, then mix the salt? |
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Posted: 7/21/2017 11:36:08 PM EDT
[#21]
Quote HistoryCoral tank?
Fuck that shit. I've been looking at doing a saltwater tank for a while now but don't really know the ins and outs yet. All I know is a guy I work with lost about 4k in coral and 2k in fish in one weekend when the power went out while he was doing a side job. |
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Posted: 7/21/2017 11:41:10 PM EDT
[#22]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Coral tank? Fuck that shit. I've been looking at doing a saltwater tank for a while now but don't really know the ins and outs yet. All I know is a guy I work with lost about 4k in coral and 2k in fish in one weekend when the power went out while he was doing a side job. |
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Posted: 7/21/2017 11:50:37 PM EDT
[#23]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
ant that's why I'm going small and trying to keep it as cheap/easy as possible. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Coral tank? Fuck that shit. I've been looking at doing a saltwater tank for a while now but don't really know the ins and outs yet. All I know is a guy I work with lost about 4k in coral and 2k in fish in one weekend when the power went out while he was doing a side job. If you're going lower though watch it like a hawk. You're not going to know what action will give what reaction and in a small aquarium stuff happens FAST. Try and find a knowledgeable LFS to frequent that you can call on with any issues. Go as cheap as you can on fish for the first year because you're going to kill them. Maybe not all of them, but plenty of them. You can always take them and resell them when you want something nicer down the road. |
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Posted: 7/21/2017 11:52:06 PM EDT
[#24]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
ant that's why I'm going small and trying to keep it as cheap/easy as possible. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Coral tank? Fuck that shit. I've been looking at doing a saltwater tank for a while now but don't really know the ins and outs yet. All I know is a guy I work with lost about 4k in coral and 2k in fish in one weekend when the power went out while he was doing a side job.
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Posted: 7/21/2017 11:56:07 PM EDT
[#25]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Don't go too small. Honestly 75 is as low as I would go for a starter. If you're going lower though watch it like a hawk. You're not going to know what action will give what reaction and in a small aquarium stuff happens FAST. Try and find a knowledgeable LFS to frequent that you can call on with any issues. Go as cheap as you can on fish for the first year because you're going to kill them. Maybe not all of them, but plenty of them. You can always take them and resell them when you want something nicer down the road. |
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Posted: 7/22/2017 12:05:51 AM EDT
[#26]
I didn't read the whole thread but you really only need just a protein skimmer for a filter. It cleans and it saturates the water with oxygen.
You sound like you are informed with the cycling the tank. Remember nothing good happens fast in saltwater. Take your time look on Craigslist for a decent protein skimmer. Get an auto top off to keep your salinity constant. Do a little research on whats a good heater brand/ wattage for your gallons. Good luck |
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Posted: 7/22/2017 9:37:36 AM EDT
[#27]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
The only starfish that seems to do well in reefs are the little hitchhiker astrea stars. I wouldn't waste the money. I'd recommend a skimmer and UV light. The UV makes a helluva difference in controlling nuisance algae. I found that mine ran very well once it was established and wasn't near the maintenance headache I'd anticipated. I really enjoyed having it and sometimes wish I still did but I've moved on to tarantulas and chameleons now. 
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Posted: 7/22/2017 9:42:03 AM EDT
[#28]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Don't fucking do it |
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Posted: 7/22/2017 1:25:47 PM EDT
[#29]
I've got a 60 gallon FOWLR... with a low bioload right now....Not ready to jump into corals!
Also have a 5 gallon QT tank... What ever you do... take it nice and slow... don't rush things! Bad things happen in this hobby when you rush.... |
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Posted: 7/22/2017 1:31:34 PM EDT
[#30]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
My understanding is that salt tanks can never be cheap and easy. That's why I've only ever had freshwater tanks. I've got a 5 gallon QT/hospital tank that my fished lived in for a few weeks before being introduced into the main tank, for observation purposes, to make sure they're not sick, have any diseases etc... Tank has a bare bottom, couple PVC pieces for the fish to hide, heater and a powerfilter! I do a gallon and a half water change weekly.... Piece of cake! |
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Posted: 7/22/2017 1:34:57 PM EDT
[#31]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Good question, and the answer is no.
Can I just use seachem prime and tap, let it sit for a few days, then mix the salt? You can buy RO/DI water from your local fish store. 29 Gallon... Plus your rocks and sand... You probably shouldn't have to haul much home to fill your tank. I'd add a refactormeter and test kit to your shopping list as well....And not the API test kit... And the skimmer ilikeporkchops mentioned above. |
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Posted: 7/22/2017 1:35:23 PM EDT
[#32]
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Posted: 7/22/2017 1:42:57 PM EDT
[#33]
Do you want to be successful for 6 months? If so use tap water cheap equipment and follow a strict maintenance routine that you will give up on in 5 months.
Or so you want to be successful for years and years. Get quality equipment the first time. Get an ATO, GFO/Carbon reactor. Get a RO/DI unit for your water. If you are going to get corals down the line get a good light in the beginning. Get a good protein skimmer. Remember the quality equipment will hold it's value better of you decide the saltwater game isn't for you. But the most important thing is knowledge. Read read read. Ask questions. There is a 1000 ways to keep a reef tank and no one way is perfect. Also test kits you will need them and I'm. It talking about the dip strips. Use a refractometer to measure SG not a hydrometer. Yes they can be expensive but weigh the cost of each part to the value it brings to make your life easier and the tank more stable. |
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Posted: 7/22/2017 1:43:50 PM EDT
[#34]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Not true.... I've got a 5 gallon QT/hospital tank that my fished lived in for a few weeks before being introduced into the main tank, for observation purposes, to make sure they're not sick, have any diseases etc... Tank has a bare bottom, couple PVC pieces for the fish to hide, heater and a powerfilter! I do a gallon and a half water change weekly.... Piece of cake! Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
My understanding is that salt tanks can never be cheap and easy. That's why I've only ever had freshwater tanks. I've got a 5 gallon QT/hospital tank that my fished lived in for a few weeks before being introduced into the main tank, for observation purposes, to make sure they're not sick, have any diseases etc... Tank has a bare bottom, couple PVC pieces for the fish to hide, heater and a powerfilter! I do a gallon and a half water change weekly.... Piece of cake! I used to use my sump to fragment corals to grow for the display.
https://www.thespruce.com/cheap-easy-diy-aquarium-sumps-2924656 |
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Posted: 7/22/2017 1:48:16 PM EDT
[#35]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Do you want to be successful for 6 months? If so use tap water cheap equipment and follow a strict maintenance routine that you will give up on in 5 months. Or so you want to be successful for years and years. Get quality equipment the first time. Get an ATO, GFO/Carbon reactor. Get a RO/DI unit for your water. If you are going to get corals down the line get a good light in the beginning. Get a good protein skimmer. Remember the quality equipment will hold it's value better of you decide the saltwater game isn't for you. But the most important thing is knowledge. Read read read. Ask questions. There is a 1000 ways to keep a reef tank and no one way is perfect. Also test kits you will need them and I'm. It talking about the dip strips. Use a refractometer to measure SG not a hydrometer. Yes they can be expensive but weigh the cost of each part to the value it brings to make your life easier and the tank more stable. Sound advice right here op... I'd still suggest doing a FOWLR... Get your params & chemistry straight and stable, get into the habit of water changes, let the tank mature... and then dive into corals after 6 months to a year! |
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Posted: 7/22/2017 1:51:00 PM EDT
[#36]
Look for cheap used stuff of quality on bulletin boards or a flyer at your local fish store.
Usually several nice setups for sale at 10 cents on the dollar from other people who went all out with good intentions, then after 8 months and the fourth time everything died, he said "FUCK THIS SHIT" and put it for sale. Stocking the fish/anemone/coral will reach 4 digits quick enough. |
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Posted: 7/22/2017 4:38:35 PM EDT
[#37]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Do you want to be successful for 6 months? If so use tap water cheap equipment and follow a strict maintenance routine that you will give up on in 5 months. Or so you want to be successful for years and years. Get quality equipment the first time. Get an ATO, GFO/Carbon reactor. Get a RO/DI unit for your water. If you are going to get corals down the line get a good light in the beginning. Get a good protein skimmer. Remember the quality equipment will hold it's value better of you decide the saltwater game isn't for you. But the most important thing is knowledge. Read read read. Ask questions. There is a 1000 ways to keep a reef tank and no one way is perfect. Also test kits you will need them and I'm. It talking about the dip strips. Use a refractometer to measure SG not a hydrometer. Yes they can be expensive but weigh the cost of each part to the value it brings to make your life easier and the tank more stable. |
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Posted: 7/23/2017 12:46:39 PM EDT
[#38]
3 stage Ro is much better than just using tap water, but will still have some impurities. Adding a di stage is easy and cheap less than $70.
Remember with salt water aquariums your job is to maintain water quality that's all you need for success. So you have to weigh out the value of adding a di stage to the cost. I started my first tank with tap water. Never again. Everything looks fine for a few months. Check out bulkreefsupply for good RO/di units and di add-on kits. |
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Posted: 7/23/2017 12:48:28 PM EDT
[#39]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Don't fucking do it Worst waste of time and money on the planet. |
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Posted: 7/23/2017 12:50:17 PM EDT
[#40]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
This. Worst waste of time and money on the planet. |
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Posted: 7/23/2017 4:55:13 PM EDT
[#41]
"Quoted:
This. Worst waste of time and money on the planet." Explain yourself.. Or are you too busy with your crab meat and trains?
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Posted: 7/23/2017 7:26:05 PM EDT
[#42]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
"Quoted: This. Worst waste of time and money on the planet." Explain yourself.. Or are you too busy with your crab meat and trains? |
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Posted: 7/23/2017 7:39:36 PM EDT
[#43]
You can cycle your tank with just live rock. I always put some hermit crabs in too and fed them a little bit of pellets. The cheapest part of a tank is the set up. Upkeep is more expensive.
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Posted: 7/23/2017 7:57:20 PM EDT
[#44]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
You can cycle your tank with just live rock. I always put some hermit crabs in too and fed them a little bit of pellets. The cheapest part of a tank is the set up. Upkeep is more expensive. Upkeep is just a hour or two for me every other weekend or so.... 5 gallon pail of Instant Ocean salt is lasting me forever... with water changes twice a month. |
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Posted: 7/23/2017 8:12:34 PM EDT
[#45]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I found it to be the total opposite.... Initial start up and set up was most expensive! Having to acquire all the equipment ie; test kits, RO/DI unit, skimmer, power heads, ets....I have everything I need NOW! Upkeep is just a hour or two for me every other weekend or so.... 5 gallon pail of Instant Ocean salt is lasting me forever... with water changes twice a month. The coolest fish I ever had in that time was a porcupine puffer. He would come up to the top of the tank and let me pet him roll him over and scratch his belly and would only eat fresh shrimp out of my hand. He was smart too my wife accidentally sucked him up with the hose doing a water change and after that she couldn't put her hand in the tank without getting bit.
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Posted: 7/23/2017 8:18:03 PM EDT
[#46]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
That's probably true for a fowlr. I had tons of coral and anemones. I ended up giving away everything to a buddy last year. I had one of my tanks setup for close to ten years and I don't even want to think about the amount of money that went into that thing. The coolest fish I ever had in that time was a porcupine puffer. He would come up to the top of the tank and let me pet him roll him over and scratch his belly and would only eat fresh shrimp out of my hand. He was smart too my wife accidentally sucked him up with the hose doing a water change and after that she couldn't put her hand in the tank without getting bit. 
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Posted: 7/23/2017 9:21:58 PM EDT
[#47]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
lol fuck that shit. I'm looking at $200 for everything including salt for a year. I guess I'll use my 150 biowheel instead of my spare canister. My advice to you is DONT BUY ANYTHING! Join a saltwater forum and do a ton of research before doin anythin! I have a 7.5 gal tank and have spent well over 500. Shit just alone my kessil 160 was 250. I have over 30 years with fuckin with fish and tanks. |
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Posted: 7/23/2017 9:27:57 PM EDT
[#48]
My 45 I don't know how much I have in it. A few thousand... Hell the light alone with bracket was almost 800 . One power head was 250ish. It can be expensive but it's a hobby.
Hobbies can be expensive. OP don't forget what you will do in the case of an extended power outage some corals will start to die off in as little as a few hours without any water flow around them. |
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Posted: 7/23/2017 9:30:05 PM EDT
[#49]
My Dad had a 55 gallon tank that he cycled and got going and stabilized it.
I decided I was going to go big for his birthday (for me working part time making $3.50 an hour) and buy him a nice saltwater fish. He had clowns and a really cool puffer fish and other great fish. I bought this BEAUTIFUL trigger fish that was a beautiful green with orange stripes. Gorgeous fish that also was an ahole and happened to have an appetite for destruction. That freaking trigger ate every other fish in that tank before we found out they are pretty well aggressive jerk fish. Man my dad was pissed off at that fish. He actually went all full throttle and went to the store trying to find something that would eat the trigger fish for revenge but there wasn't much they sold that would kill it. So he converted the tank to aggressive fish that the trigger would not eat. |
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Posted: 7/23/2017 9:39:04 PM EDT
[#50]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
lol fuck that shit. I'm looking at $200 for everything including salt for a year. I guess I'll use my 150 biowheel instead of my spare canister. Quote HistoryQuoted:
fuck that shit. I'm looking at $200 for everything including salt for a year. I guess I'll use my 150 biowheel instead of my spare canister. Protein skimmer and a refugium. Freshwater filtration does not translate well to saltwater setups. Ditch the biowheel and canister unless you love throwing good money after bad. |
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