NEW TO sw PLS DO HELP

[emjhay]

hi im really new to SW and i was just wondering the fallowing
(8-10lbs of LR and 5lbs of LS w/ CC)
(7gal tank.... )i think or 5 gal sry... i forgot.
15W flourecent

*how to mix saltwater..... can i just buy it from LFS so that i dont have to..

*what kind of test kit will i use... im just goin to have LR/LS fish only tank.... or maybe a mushroom dats it b/c my lighting is 2.5w / gal.

*i've read the "drip off" thing... is where you have distilled water dripping to the tank for the evaporation purposes. is that right can any1 help me find the thread for it... ty http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif

*my tank is not here yet but is gonna be already cycled b/c im buying as a setup, the question is what kind of fish can i keep in there and pls dont say goby.... i dont like them... no offense ok http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif

*what kind of clean up crew and how many..

*does theDIY live rock...(i saw it on ebay) really works or is it just like sand bed..

*anything i need to know...? pls dont b shy to tell me....
im not stupid ,,,, im willing to learn
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[diemaker]

first welcome to ap

i highly recomend you read these stickys first and then see what questions you have!!!


i also think a 5/7 gal tank is way to small for someone starting out i think a 40-50G would much eaiser


http://www.aquariumpros.ca/forums/showthread.php?t=17126

http://www.aquariumpros.ca/forums/showthread.php?t=3956

http://www.aquariumpros.ca/forums/showthread.php?t=17248

[Mugster]

I agree. You really should put your plans on hold and do some reading and research first. As already stated a nano is not really a good beginner tank due to the experience required to maintain it. You're better off starting with a 30-50 gallon tank as the extra water volume will be a little more forgiving in the event something starts to go wrong.






Kev :twitch:

[diemaker]

check in the forsale forums http://www.aquariumpros.ca/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=19

i'am sure you could find a bigger tank and you can still use the rock and live sand your getting(as well as adding some) I'am sure after having a bigger tank set up for a while you will want to go bigger again not smaller??

HTH

[psiico]

I'm going to go against the grain here and not recommend a larger tank. Not that I don't think you should have a larger tank, I do, but odds are your mind is already made up on this tank so I figure it's better to help you do this right then try to convince you to do something else and have you ignore us then mess up what you have. What everyone says is true though, a larger tank is easier.

First question, yes, some LFS's will sell premixed saltwater. It's really not that hard to do it yourself though. At the least you need a swing arm hydrometer but a salinity meter is much more accurate.

For test kits you NEED nitrates and pH. Ammonia and nitrites not so important as you should never see them after your cycle is finished. Testing for nitrates will help you determine your water change schedule. I'd also recommend a calcium and an alkalinity test kit. For a FO tank they aren't as critical but they are tied to pH chemically in the tank so if you have pH problems knowing your calcium and alkalinity levels can help figure out what's wrong. Also, coralline algae uses calcium and alkalinity so your tank will be getting depleted of those.

Don't know where to find a thread on the drip method. Do you mean auto top-off? If you mean maual top-off basically it's just you dripping water in (use a siphon and choke the flow by tying a knot in the hose) to keep the salinity from swinging too fast.

For a 5-7 gallon tank there's not much you can keep besides gobies I'm sorry to say. Lucky for you there are many types of gobies, there must be one you like. You could maybe keep a single clownfish or damsel (just 1!!!) but I wouldn't and I'm sure some here will be mad at me for suggesting it. 5-7g is just too small for most SW fish. Have a look at clown gobies, that's about the only fish I'd say could be kept in such a small tank, with those you could even keep two, any other fish including other gobies you should only keep one.

Clean up crew, a few assorted snails such as astrea, nerite, nassarius and cerith, a shrimp or two and a small brittle/serpent star. Hermits are up to you, they WILL kill and eat your snails wether they have spare shells handy or not. I like having a couple around just because they are entertaining.

As for anything else you need to know, I can't type that long, I have to get back to work, lol. I highly recommend you take your time with this, read as much as you can. Most people here spent a month or more researching like crazy before they bought anything. Decide if this is really the hobby for you. For one, it's expensive and two, it's darned addicting. You WILL buy a bigger tank, I guarentee it. But read, read, read now, you can't know too much.

Good luck and have fun!

[Gwai Low]

i love my Nano
i would suggest for live stock in it
a pistol shrimp/goby pairing for a nano that small
5 astrea snails, 2 Nassarius snails, and maybe 2 blue legged hermits
corals
just zoos and mushrooms
they look great :)
maybe get a stronger light tho like something in the 20 to 30 watts

[Reeftopia]

Okay, water for a small tank it's quite easy. Here's how I've done it for 1 yr.
- Blue water jug from Walmart.

-Water from a R/O supplier. Check the Stores listed on the board or use a water depot type place. Alot of Fish stores sell R/O
-Take 1 Gallon of water out, keep it in a separate, well rinsed or boiled bottle
- Mix salt, measure how much you put in. Shake Jug vigorously. Using a hydrometer or Refractometer, check to see if your'e at 1.025 yet. once there use an air pump or let sit for a day. If you overshoot - add water from your 1 Gallon.
- when your tank gets too salty, top it off with your 1 gallon as well.
- use blue jug for water changes till you run out. ... repeat process
Shane

[emjhay]

ive been searching for along time now.... i just want to re assure my self... ty....

[Gwai Low]

for more info check www.nano-reef.com :)

[emjhay]

iknow about that site. i've read so many treads there.. for a long time now... one question i dont wanna mix water.... i just wanna buy them,,, is big als or pj.. sell ready mix water???

[Gwai Low]

Big Al's might
if you mean PJs Pets don't bother

its not hard to might
the directions are on the bag/box/bucket

[Poontang]

Big Al's might
if you mean PJs Pets don't bother


I am sure one of Aquarium Pro's sponsors sell RO water.

[Gwai Low]

almost all of them do
i don't know of one that doesn't