I want to start up a marine tank, just a small one to start with.
Thinking of maybe a 2ftr for the kitchen bench.
What kind of stuff ya need to start one up, balance it, maintain it.
Any particular filters etc.
Any advice appreciated.
Surprisingly, bugger all!
Berlin or Natural method:
Get the tank, fill with water and salt to 1.020 specific gravity, throw in some live rock, wait for it to cycle. Add a piece of live rock every few days until you are happy with the amount (too much and it is like too many fish at once. Keep the spikes small!), then aquascape it and when nitrite is back to 0, add your fish.
The magic of the berlin system is the live rock is a porus rock that has both aerobic and anerobic bacteria. Which means it will convert from ammonia to nitrite to nitrate in the oxygen rich outer layers of the rock, then within the pores of the rock there are the anerobic bacteria that will break down nitrate into nitrogen and oxygen.
With a fish only tank, you will not need to do water changes. The boss at our shop hasn't done a water change in three years on their tank. corals etc will use trace elements out of the water and will need to be topped up, but with fish you are right!
If you just want fish, there will be bugger all need for maintenance and testing. Balancing is as easy as using a hydrometer to get the salt content right, and some sort of calcium substrate to get the pH and hardness right.
James
With a fish only tank, you will not need to do water changes.
well that's not what i have read but a specific gravity closer to 1.025-6 is better, sorry anakist but saltwater fish hate nitrate as much as freshwater fish, probably more.
also get a good protien skimer for such a small tank.
keep everything stable.
i have a 36x18x18 with a 40 litre fuge and remote DSB (deep sand bed) and about 30-40kg of liverock (LR) and i don't run a skimmer, but only because i think my LR and DSB balance out my bioload.
also depending on what corals you want to keep lighting will be a big factor too.
i started with PC's and then went to MH and i must say MH are definately the way to go, the glimmer effect is very nice. lighting will ultimately be decided by what corals you wish to keep really.
only top up with RO water not tap water as tap water contains nitrates and phosphates and even in small amounts these will help your algae flourish.
definately drill the tank and run a sump/fuge, helps in a big way to keep the surface of the display clean from scum and oil build ups.
or implement some surface skimming somehow.
all i can think of right now as i have had a few drinkys but any more questions just ask.
also a good site to visit would be:
http://www.masa.asn.au/phpBB2/index.php
or:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/index.php?s=
cheers mate
adam :wink: