Please Help a Newbie!

[Jack Napier]

I've been keeping planted freshwater aquariums for about 5 years now (FO freshwater for about 10) and i can no longer resist this urge to dive into the saltwater side of things. I would like to keep a mini reef but because im only a newbie to the saltwater side of things i figured i'd stick with maybe some feather dusters and beginner corals. I've been doing my homework and have a few questions i hope u guys/gals could help me out with.

1) My setup will be a 29g and all the filtration options have overwhlemed me and I'm a little lost. For a system of this size, what kind of filtration system would be recommended? I figure a Protein Skimmer is necessary but according to Tullock in "Natural Reef Aquariums" a sump could be deemed unneccesary, is that true?

2) I plan on buying an RO unit, whats the best brand out there?

3)Since I don't really want to put any additional money into the lighting system I'll be using the 4 SO Flourescnet lights i currenty have. What kind of corals will thrive under this type of lighting?

4) Are Anemones such as Condylactus, Bartholomea and Phymanthus a possibility to keep in this set up?

Thanx in advance for any help!!!

[ September 02, 2001: Message edited by: Jack Napier ]

[ September 02, 2001: Message edited by: Jack Napier ]

 

[Jack Napier]

thanx for the help! yeah i was planning to start with some of the hardier soft corals. I'll definately avoid the Anemone, but i remember Tullock mentioniong that the Condylactus anemones were some of the easier to keep, although i had forgotten about their mobility.

 

[Anonymous]

Welcome to the board.
Filtration is more personal preference. with a small bio load live rock and a deep sand bed may be all you need an increased bio load and additional help may be in order.

Sumps really come in handy for additonal filtration options and dosing flexibility.

Your lighting is very lacking for Anemones and you should invest qute a bit of time in researching a specific species and allow the tank to mature. Also the anemone would have to have the freedom to go any where and powerheads would need to be fitted with pre filters. This is the last animal you want to take by the horns.

Try uing the search function on this board for R.O units there has been a lot said.

Good luck.

[ September 03, 2001: Message edited by: Fishaholic ]

 

[chinese101]

i have a 20 gal also and have no filtration except for the 50 lb of live rock. Of course it filled up 3/4 of the tank and doesn't look too good. But my pair of horses, a sea urchin and a serpent star looks happy at home.

PS. 5 gal water change every week with natural sea water.

lee

 

[naesco]

I agree with Fishaholic especially on the issue of keeping anenome.
Everyone want to keep them but they should only be considered by experienced reefers.
I have been in this hobby for 8 years. One of these years I will try again to keep them.
The most important thing with salt is to move very slowly to be sucessful. Welcome

 

[davelin315]

Why not start with fish? If you do want to start with some inverts, try simple ones. A cool shrimp or two, like a couple of harlequin shrimp (which eat only starfish, by the way), or maybe a condylactus anemone (non-photosynthetic I believe) would be cool. If you want to get more complex, a feather duster is a worm, so it's not really difficult to keep, although you may need to feed it once in a while as it is a filter feeder (non-photosynthetic again). Up from there are individual polyps or mushrooms, like yellow or grape polyps. These require minimal lighting for photosynthetic animals (grape polyps are non-photosynthetic I believe) and will do well in a new tank. They're also easy to keep up. Don't try anything with a calcerous base until you've gotten the hang of soft corals.

 

[howie099]

Filteration depends on the load of the tank if you have messy eaterslike trioggers for instance you will need a good mechanical filter to get the left over food. If you do not have a sump I would get a small power filter that you do your chemical(charcoal) and mechanical for you. They are all cheap and keep the water looking good.

You will need something for the biological filteration either some version of a wet/dry system or LR & LS.

Skimmer you can after a few months of the tank running and you can use one of those smaller hang on version liek a prizim skimmer that is good and priced good.

You should be able to house most all of the soft corals with your light and could be a few less demanding LPS corals for your lighting

RO units are just a choice on what manufacture you like. They all work and are mostly all the same. Just look for which one has parts available for you, built the best, and makes the right amout of water for your needs.

Other than that read books and ask questions. Just a way cheaper item now because later down the road you will always be reaplacing it with the oen your should of bought the first time.

Have fun

 

[Jenemone]

I have tried two condy anemones, and both have died. Water params are good, so not quite sure what happened.

I've had great luck with various mushrooms and polpys. Just recently I added a leather and some pom pom xenia, both of which are thriving.

My tank is a 29, also, and has been set up since March. The best advice that I have read said to save money, buy good equipment from the get-go. This is very true. I think you will find that this hobby is VERY addictive. "Upgrade" will become a permanent part of your everyday voacabulary.

I use a Prizm skimmer, which is working great so far. And I am using two LOA 9266 for lighting ($60 for 130 watts) and will be adding an actinic when the new hood is built. I wish that I had bought an RO first, because it would have saved my tank from this massive nuisance algae outbreak.

This board is a great asset to a newbie. Though there is an occassional smart***, the majority of the folks on here are wonderful beyond words.

That's my $.02....Good luck and welcome aboard!

Jen

 

[Jack Napier]

Hey jen, i'm kinda curious about your lighting setup, care to explain a little bit more about it? also where'd u get it?