the new guy

[Mcamp25]

Hello. I'm new here and soon to be new to this saltwater thing. I got a pretty good deal on a 12x12x12 7.5 gallon aquarium and I'm planning on trying a small saltwater tank. However the more I read the more I feel I would be unable to. I have kept many freshwater fish in my life time. From goldfish to discus. And I currently have 2 tanks going now. But I've never touched saltwater. I'm hoping to make this first experience a good one. Hence why I am here. If there is anything I should know before I get knee deep please let me know

[seabass]

to N-R.com.

 

However the more I read the more I feel I would be unable to.

Read, research, and ask questions. But don't worry, it'll be fine.

[Hammerstone]

Welcome ?

[Bcb577]

Welcome,do lots of research,and ask any questions you may have on this forum.no question is a dumb one,I'm newer too and have been helped a lot on here,one piece of advise I give is keep up on weekly water changes,and especially research anything before you buy it,impulse buying can l read to trouble,honestly I don't think keeping a nano tank is hard but you get out of it what you put into it!! Good luck and go for it!!!

[Hammerstone]

And you don't necessarily have to have a skimmer, I have a hang on back filter. You don't necessarily have to dose or have a reactor or a sump or a Refugium. So don't be scared about a lot of things you may not even need until you get more advanced?. Just take a deep breath and start asking questions. I always wanted a salt water tank but was too scared to jump in. It only took me 37 years and I'm still learning and everyone is so nice here. I'm going on 3 years lol.

 

If you were succeeding with discus you should have no problems succeeding with salt!!???

[msparklym13]

Hello. I'm new here and soon to be new to this saltwater thing. I got a pretty good deal on a 12x12x12 7.5 gallon aquarium and I'm planning on trying a small saltwater tank. However the more I read the more I feel I would be unable to. I have kept many freshwater fish in my life time. From goldfish to discus. And I currently have 2 tanks going now. But I've never touched saltwater. I'm hoping to make this first experience a good one. Hence why I am here. If there is anything I should know before I get knee deep please let me know

HI and Welcome!! :-)

You can definitely do so!! You got this :-)

1. Get some live rock and live sand- Both at your local fish store- For a 7 gallon tank I would imagine 5 pounds live rock and sand will be perfect!

2. Set it up with saltwater- I buy all my water from LFS (local fish store)! While you are there buy two jugs which will carry your ROI water and salt water (if you don't choose to mix you own- I don't)

3. If it didn't come with a pump- you will need one

4. The back has filteration- I have biocubes which aren't awesome. Others talk about refugium which still befuddles me. Regardless you will need something back there.

5. Cycle! Let the tank hang out for a few weeks. Pretty soon it will come to life with all kinds of critters

 

Yay!!!

 

P.S. Listen to SeaBass- he gives great info :-)

[Mcamp25]

I'm picking the tank up today. From the looks of things the heaters garbage. And I believe the filters junk too. However the light is like 50 buck new from what I can see it comes with live rock, and a mag float. All for 80 bucks. So I really only need to get a few more things. You guys seem nice. I'm sure I'll have a whole bunch of questions in the near future. Glad to see all your encouragement.

[Clown79]

Welcome- its not as complicated as some make it so don't get discouraged.

 

Research and learn. This is the first step that really never ends. The hobby is full of learning, challenges, and success. Its all fun

 

Ask a lot of questions, no question is stupid.

Start right and go slow.

 

Is the tank empty? Are you starting from scratch with new liverock?

 

Do you know what lighting it is? Corals have certain light requirements.

 

Definitely get a new heater.

 

Is the filteration used a hang on filter?

I've used pretty much every filter and so far really like the Api Superclean- it has a surface skimmer which is great. I also like aquaclears.

 

Sorry for the questions. We can help you better with more info.

[Mcamp25]

Questions are fine by me. The woman who has the tank currently had it set up before. She said she had a few small fish and a few corals. We never got into detail as to what exactly she kept in there. I'm going out on a limb that the "live" rock is no longer alive as she said she disassembled it a year ago. The filter is a tetra whisper pf10, I've never heard of it. It may be a good filter I don't knoe. The light she's selling with the tank is a wave point blade 6" 12watt if I can read the picture right. The live rock is like 10 pounds, all I know is its purple. But the picture shows it in tank and it's dry. So that can't be good. I would put the picture in here. I just don't know how to do that yet. Haha

[Mcamp25]

I think I figured out how to post pictures. If so this is what I'm picking up https://www.flickr.com/gp/143627354@N08/V2o8tJ

[holy carp]

Tinypic has a nice little widget for adding photos and you don't need an account. You just upload and it provides the code to paste into your post.

[Clown79]

That rock isn't live rock anymore. There are ways of re using rock. I would do a search on nano or start a thread dedicated to that. I know others who have experience with this. Or you could get new dry reef rock, 7lbs is enough.

 

 

I've not used the filter before, if its working then try it out and upgrade when you can to a better filter later.

 

Since the tank and filter are used, I'd give them both good cleaning with some vinegar and water. Rinse it really well. Do a leak test on the tank too.

 

There are a few things you will need.

 

1. Powerhead for water movement in the tank. A hydor pico or nano is affordable and decent product.

 

2. You can go barebottom or get live aragonite sand. Caribsea is good choice.

 

3. Ro/di, ro, or distilled water - i get two 10L bottles a week for 2 tanks.

 

4. Salt and refractometer(measures salt).

5. Bucket to mix waterchange salt water

6. Ammonia, nitrite and nitrate test kits

7. Filter floss and carbon

 

www.saltwateraquarium.com/cycling-a-saltwater-aquarium/

 

This is a good article to read ^

[msparklym13]

That rock isn't live rock anymore. There are ways of re using rock. I would do a search on nano or start a thread dedicated to that. I know others who have experience with this. Or you could get new dry reef rock, 7lbs is enough.

 

 

I've not used the filter before, if its working then try it out and upgrade when you can to a better filter later.

 

Since the tank and filter are used, I'd give them both good cleaning with some vinegar and water. Rinse it really well. Do a leak test on the tank too.

 

There are a few things you will need.

 

1. Powerhead for water movement in the tank. A hydor pico or nano is affordable and decent product.

 

2. You can go barebottom or get live aragonite sand. Caribsea is good choice.

 

3. Ro/di, ro, or distilled water - i get two 10L bottles a week for 2 tanks.

 

4. Salt and refractometer(measures salt).

5. Bucket to mix waterchange salt water

6. Ammonia, nitrite and nitrate test kits

7. Filter floss and carbon

 

www.saltwateraquarium.com/cycling-a-saltwater-aquarium/

 

This is a good article to read ^

Clown79 is awesome! Helped me so much! Listen to the advice- I have been so lucky when Clown79 writes me on my topics!!

[Bcb577]

Clown79 is awesome! Helped me so much! Listen to the advice- I have been so lucky when Clown79 writes me on my topics!!

clown79 has often given me sound advise,also seabass has also!

[msparklym13]

clown79 has often given me sound advise,also seabass has also!

Same! Those two rock our fish world :-)

[Bcb577]

Same! Those two rock our fish world :-)

it really helps when your newer to the hobby and there are folks like them who are willingly able to help.

[seabass]

Thanks, I'm happy to help out when I can. There are lots of members who contribute their time and knowledge to this community.

 

I'm picking the tank up today.

How's it looking?

 

The filter is a tetra whisper pf10, I've never heard of it. It may be a good filter I don't know.

https://www.amazon.com/Tetra-26316-Whisper-Filter-5-10-Gallon/dp/B001CHXJSK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1466906575&sr=8-1&keywords=tetra+whisper+pf10

Looks like a typical HOB filter for a little tank like yours.

[msparklym13]

it really helps when your newer to the hobby and there are folks like them who are willingly able to help.

Look out for Stellablue ,Hammerstone and Sancho- They give awesome advice!!

I feel so lucky to have found a place to ask questions and get candid advice from people who have experience. At the same time everyone is nice and doesn't make a person feel stupid when we just don't know!!

[Bcb577]

Yeah hammerstone has been great too!

[Mcamp25]

It isn't set up yet. Been far to busy with my girlfriends graduation events. Hopefully Tuesday I'll set it up. Should I put the rock it came with in when I set it up or get new rock?

[seabass]

Should I put the rock it came with in when I set it up or get new rock?

Good question. Some might suggest giving it an acid bath. That wouldn't be a bad idea, but it is fairly dangerous and safety precautions must be taken. This would leave you with clean dry rock, then you could proceed accordingly.

 

A safer option is just to take a vegetable brush and remove as much of the dead organic matter as you can. Then let the rock cure/cycle in either your tank or another container with a powerhead. I'd add a bacteria culture like Dr.Tim's One and Only to help get things started. You monitor ammonia levels until you notice an ammonia spike, then wait for ammonia to become undetectable again.

[Mcamp25]

Would all the coralline algae die?

[seabass]

It's already dead.

[msparklym13]

HI!

If it were me I would just get new live rock. With a 7.5G the cost commitment is minimal and then you can handpick your favorites! Plus it will be fun to watch the tank bloom with the rockscape you design! I personally feel like rock and sand (if you are doing sand) is the foundation of your tank. With only 8 gallons sand and rock will not be a big expense and you can pick what you want - after all fish and corals can be changed but the rock and sand are the basics.

Also depending on where you live a heater might not be a top priority. I pulled mine out a month ago and my tank stays between 74-76 without it. Heater isn't a huge expense but I know when I was setting up it just kept adding up!!

[seabass]

... my tank stays between 74-76 without it.

Coral will typically do better at closer to 80 degrees.