What kind of setup---beginner

[Gottx]

Hi, I want to start a FO tank with clownfish or another "easy fish"(still don't know), I have a 33 gallons or maybe a 40. For now, I only have a Glomat 2 ballast, and the tank. Witch setup I can do ? I can't buy now a good skimmer (maybe in a few months). So, what kind of setup you suggest me without a skimmer and not too much $$ ?

Thanks for your help. :dance:
:sorry: (sorry about the bad english)

[bertcmg]

I would go with about 50 lbs of liverock for filtration and just do a lot of water changes until you get a skimmer

Your glowmats are fine for the fish as long as you are not planning to have a anemone for those clownfish

Good luck to ya

Bert

[Gottx]

About water changes, is it about 10% a week or more ? Tanks fo your help :)

What about the sand bed ? What kind, quantity ? Thanks again! :)

[bertcmg]

10% a week would be suffecient I would say but keep testing

( you do not have Ammonia, Nitrite, nitrate, Ca, PH and ALK kits
you are better off buying a master test kit , Its cheeper and has some additional tests like Phosphate etc

[Gottx]

For the test, I already have it :) Sorry, forgot to say it !

[kentracey]

About the sandbed, I'd suggest a 4 or 5 inch deep sand bed of fine aragonite. For a tank that size it shouldn't be too much to get the Carribsea. Without a skimmer I'd say get lots of live rock, say approx. 60 lbs. You could always get some base rock for the majority and get say 20lbs of good quality live rock and it will seed the base rock and the sand bed as well. The most important thing you can do is be patient. If you take your time you will have greater early success and reap the benefits in the long run. Stock the tank lightly and slowly and you should have very little livestock loss and a greater margin for error. Try to make your livestock selections very carefully. Research what you think you might want and when you've decided that figure out the order that they should be added to the tank. I would think you'd only want two or three smaller fish in a tank that size. Good luck, have fun and ask lots of questions..

[Chrismo]

Ya, what kentracy said, but being cheap I would get bomix, or southdown if you can find it. Arragonite based stuff.

Get 20 pounds of live rock (used if you can), and it will seed your sandbed. Add more rock to give fishes places to hide.

Do everything slowly. :)

Chris