New to saltwater

[ringo495]

Hello! I was looking around for some good reef forums, and holy crap i found one with people in tiny little columbia falls!!! But anyways ive got a 55g freshwater tank that im looking to convert to a saltwater reef tank. I have no saltwater experience, and since i haven't started converting to saltwater yet i want to wait so i can do it right the first time. So i guess my question is what should i do first?

[charlie]

Hey ringo,


My first thought would be to try and get around to some of the tanks and see how they have done things. Since you haven't started yet, this would be a good time to start gathering ideas. Just a thought. All of the folks in our club would be glad to have you take a look at their systems and ask a few questions.

[Sarmo]

Hi Ringo and welcome.

i agree with Charle, the biggest mistake i made was to ask advice from a fish store. they want to sell stuff. other hobbiests just want to show you what they have and will tell you what they would do different. that is the best place to get advice. someone who has a reef tank that you like and want to try and duplicate can show you all the ins and outs of their system.
most important things, 1- light, 2- flow, 3- liverock, 4- stable water conditions and last but maybe most important is patience, patience and a little more patience.....

where do you live in Montana?

good luck!

[returnofsid]

Both Charlie and Sarmo have great advice!! On thing I would strongly recommend is not starting out with a 55. In a short time, you'll grow to hate it. With only 12" front-back, there's not enough room for aqua-scaping. The tank and stand are a small portion of the cost of a reef tank. If possible, I'd suggest upgrading to a 75. The 18" will give you a lot more space to work with.

Next suggestion. Read Read Read. There's tons of great information on here. Then decide what type of reef tank you want. What types of corals, what types of fish. Do you want anemone or clams? All of these decisions will dictate what type of lighting you need.

If you do stick with the 55, make sure, that as a freshwater tank, no copper based medications were ever used. If they were, while it's possible to remove the copper, it's difficult. Any copper based medications that are still leaching out of the silicon, will kill any chances you have of a reef tank. As I said, there are methods for removing the copper, but they aren't always 100% effective.

[tehfeer]

All of these guys have really good advice! I just recently got my tank setup and going. Make sure you do your researh before starting out. Its quite different from fresh water. For example you cannot just add fish right away you have to let your tank cycle first.

If I was going to do it over again I would have gotten my tank drilled and had got a better stand. Also don't forget to check craigslist sometimes people sell their complete setup for really cheap. For example I bought my tank complete with a skimmer, stand, live rock and fish for 300$. The skimmer alone would have been 250 and the LR would have been 250-1000$ depending cost per pound. If you do decide to pickup a full setup be prepared with trash cans and tubs!

If you decide a salt water tank is what you really want to have make sure you pickup a refractormeter dont mess with those hydrometers they are error prone. You can get one from marine depot for 50$
http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~action~view~idProduct~MD2101~idCategor y~FITEOPRF~category~Refractometers-Hydrometers___Refractometers-Testing_Equipment-Saltwater_Aquarium_Supplies~vendor~.html

[ringo495]

Ok well the first thing that i have to say is that i will have to be sticking with the 55 for now as my budget is pretty low, so i don't think that i can afford to get a new tank and all the stuff i need for saltwater. I have some experience raising cichlids, but i just love the way all the coral and fish look so i decided to go saltwater. Do any of you have a specific website you go to or anything to look for new fish or corals? I know to not really trust any advice from a fish store, as they usually are just trying to sell you something, or just don't know what the hell they're talking about. lol ive had fish store employees tell me a 40g tank is ok for a full grown oscar and plecostomus. But anyways i live in columbia falls, have any of you taken a look at the new little fish store that opened up here? they've got some pretty cool corals and fish in there.

[charlie]

Yep, I have been to the new little store here, even donated some corals for them. If I were you, I would decide a direction to go in first before I started looking at corals and fish. With a 55, you are really going to be limited on fish anyways. You can stock it full of corals, as long as the skimmer you pick can handle the bioload. If you would like some good info, just stop by the house someday, I am always prepared to talk reefs.

[Sage]

As bad of a reputation as the store I work at has nationwide if anyone at the store here there told you that I would thump them they all know better. I have tried to at least make them less ignorant on the marine end as well. Usually with marine stock I am trying to not sell someone something most people are trying to run the 14 and 29 gallon kits they buy and expect to put tangs in them because "we have them in the tanks here". Of course I learned most of what I know from Charlie and the gang here.

I know the kid who runs the place in Columbia Falls the 150 he has he got from me. (did you recognize that one Charlie) He only gets in a little at a time so doesn't have a lot but is willing to look and order whatever anyone wants. I got my eel from him and have him looking for a few other things that we cant get in. He has an octopus coming in and a shark as well so not the run of the mill stuff. Hopefully he will get more room and be able to expand.

I know to not really trust any advice from a fish store, as they usually are just trying to sell you something, or just don't know what the hell they're talking about. lol ive had fish store employees tell me a 40g tank is ok for a full grown oscar and plecostomus. But anyways i live in columbia falls, have any of you taken a look at the new little fish store that opened up here? they've got some pretty cool corals and fish in there.