Considering A Saltwater Tank, Please Help!

[Molasses]

Pretty much whatever you learn, teach them. I'm going out of town for 2 weeks (super nervous!) and teaching my tank sitter every little detail. How to correct temp swings, test salinity, test other parameters, what should everything look like healthy? What are first signs of something wrong/stressed fish. What if the skimmer pump gets jammed? Do they know how to take it apart and clean it? How to do emergency water changes if needed and everything that goes along with that.

I think you get the point, pretty much the more you teach them...the better of you'll be.

Will do. If I end up doing it I'll let them know how to do everything... hopefully they won't have to actually perform a lot of it other than what's necessary. My family members are the equivalent of 9 year olds with goldfish in bowls. I did teach them how to properly portion feedings and how to dechlorinate water so it should be doable.

 

[Molasses]

Understandable. It's up to you how you decide to handle this, but keep in mind we are all here to help when you need it!

That's very reassuring. You guys have no clue the amount of uncertainty you've lifted from my chest. Will update any other concerns or changes I make.

 

[Tamberav]

Honestly I would set up a small pico/nano on your dorm and not set this up at your parents if you are there only every 2 weeks. A lot can go wrong in two weeks. My freshwater planted tank I could pretty much ignore for months as long as the fish were fed... saltwater is another game, especially a new set up and not an older aged one.

If this is FOWLR then it would not be too bad but if you start playing with any sort of stony LPS corals, get any decent amount growing and now you brought testing and daily dosing into the equation.

There are numerous posts asking for help how to fix this or that or tried this and that and don't know whats wrong. I would never want to subject my family to that sort of stuff for the next 2-4 years you are in college.

A small tank in your dorm you can maintain and enjoy and do whatever maintenance it may need would be a lot better IMO.

 

[seahorse_man]

Will do. If I end up doing it I'll let them know how to do everything... hopefully they won't have to actually perform a lot of it other than what's necessary. My family members are the equivalent of 9 year olds with goldfish in bowls. I did teach them how to properly portion feedings and how to dechlorinate water so it should be doable.

And generally speaking they won't have to do much, but they should know if the need arises.

Can tanks run easy and smooth without touching them for 2 weeks or more? 100% absolutely! Can things go to hell overnight and catastrophic in a day? 100% absolutely!

You can do it, just accept the risk...and get some super easy fish. Start with just ONE!

Can you not get a small nano with you at school?

 

[Jamo7]

I read through some of your responses and the one that caught my eye the most was the college student post. If your not going to be around to keep an eye on things no matter how long your gone or who you trust to be looking after it while your gone I wouldn’t dive in .. personally. It’s a tricky gig and unless you yourself or 1 other person who also knows your system setup and so on I would just bag it. Let someone else take the ride.

 

[Molasses]

Honestly I would set up a small pico/nano on your dorm and not set this up at your parents if you are there only every 2 weeks. A lot can go wrong in two weeks. My freshwater planted tank I could pretty much ignore for months as long as the fish were fed... saltwater is another game, especially a new set up and not an older aged one.

If this is FOWLR then it would not be too bad but if you start playing with any sort of stony LPS corals, get any decent amount growing and now you brought testing and daily dosing into the equation.

There are numerous posts asking for help how to fix this or that or tried this and that and don't know whats wrong. I would never want to subject my family to that sort of stuff for the next 2-4 years you are in college.

I am planning on doing FOWLR. There is 0 chance I am attempting corals with these restrictions. And I understand your point, but I'm unaware of all the things that can go wrong in a FOWLR setup other than your typical ammonia spikes or some sort of equipment jam.

 

[Molasses]

And generally speaking they won't have to do much, but they should know if the need arises.

Can tanks run easy and smooth without touching them for 2 weeks or more? 100% absolutely! Can things go to hell overnight and catastrophic in a day? 100% absolutely!

You can do it, just accept the risk...and get some super easy fish. Start with just ONE!

Can you not get a small nano with you at school?

My girlfriend and I are living in an apartment at school this year that accepts 10 gallon tanks (we are sneaking in a 20 gallon!) This is really gonna be her tank rather than mine, I'm just there to help. I tried suggesting trying saltwater there but she isn't having ANY of my saltwater shenanigans! So that'll be a separate freshwater project lol.

 

[seahorse_man]

My girlfriend and I are living in an apartment at school this year that accepts 10 gallon tanks (we are sneaking in a 20 gallon!) This is really gonna be her tank rather than mine, I'm just there to help. I tried suggesting trying saltwater there but she isn't having ANY of my saltwater shenanigans! So that'll be a separate freshwater project lol.

This right here would solve all your problems and allow you to actually be around and enjoy the tank. Why do you want a tank you only see every 2 weeks anyway?

Let her setup the FW she wants and you setup a nice little 10g SW nano. It's your apartment too, you should be able to do your SW shenanigans!

 

[Tamberav]

I am planning on doing FOWLR. There is 0 chance I am attempting corals with these restrictions. And I understand your point, but I'm unaware of all the things that can go wrong in a FOWLR setup other than your typical ammonia spikes or some sort of equipment jam.

ah... if its FOWLR then it should be fine... stick to hardy fish and pick lighting to limit pest algae or have enough grazers, urchins, snails, crabs etc. Fish are not really that sensitive to Nitrates or anything so you don't need crazy filtration.

Honestly I wouldn't bother though, FOWLR isn't even worth the trouble to see some fish every 2 weeks, you can just go to the LFS every 2 weeks to look at fish :p

Just set up something in the apt. Show your gf clownfish or w/e is cute or just set up two tanks. His and her's.

 

[Molasses]

Honestly I would set up a small pico/nano on your dorm and not set this up at your parents if you are there only every 2 weeks. A lot can go wrong in two weeks. My freshwater planted tank I could pretty much ignore for months as long as the fish were fed... saltwater is another game, especially a new set up and not an older aged one.

If this is FOWLR then it would not be too bad but if you start playing with any sort of stony LPS corals, get any decent amount growing and now you brought testing and daily dosing into the equation.

There are numerous posts asking for help how to fix this or that or tried this and that and don't know whats wrong. I would never want to subject my family to that sort of stuff for the next 2-4 years you are in college.

A small tank in your dorm you can maintain and enjoy and do whatever maintenance it may need would be a lot better IMO.

This right here would solve all your problems and allow you to actually be around and enjoy the tank. Why do you want a tank you only see every 2 weeks anyway?

Let her setup the FW she wants and you setup a nice little 10g SW nano. It's your apartment too, you should be able to do your SW shenanigans!

Like all my tanks I want it here so I can work on it and enjoy it when I come home, especially during long breaks.

And yeah, if I could keep 2 tanks I would, but since this is her first tank I wanna let her be the one to use the 1 tank we can. It is very frustrating that it could solve my problem but oh well.

 

[Molasses]

ah... if its FOWLR then it should be fine... stick to hardy fish and pick lighting to limit pest algae or have enough grazers, urchins, snails, crabs etc. Fish are not really that sensitive to Nitrates or anything so you don't need crazy filtration.

Honestly I wouldn't bother though, FOWLR isn't even worth the trouble to see some fish every 2 weeks, you can just go to the LFS every 2 weeks to look at fish :p

Just set up something in the apt. Show your gf clownfish or w/e is cute or just set up two tanks. His and her's.

What extra work is related to FOWLR? Do you just mean the cost of getting it going or....? Sorry, still a newbie. And she's set on doing a betta tank. Win some ya lose some.

 

[Tamberav]

What extra work is related to FOWLR? Do you just mean the cost of getting it going or....? Sorry, still a newbie. And she's set on doing a betta tank. Win some ya lose some.

I just mean it isn't worth it to change water and care for fish you see every 2 weeks when you can have an actual reef tank you see every day.

 

[Molasses]

I just mean it isn't worth it to change water and care for fish you see every 2 weeks when you can have an actual reef tank you see every day.

Point taken, I wish I could do my thing at school but it isn't an option. It'll either be the 55 or nothing it seems.

 

[Tamberav]

Point taken, I wish I could do my thing at school but it isn't an option. It'll either be the 55 or nothing it seems.

You can't have two tanks in your apt?

 

[Molasses]

You can't have two tanks in your apt?

Correct. :(

 

[Tamberav]

Correct. :(

But technically you can't have a 20g either... so if you can break one rule, you can break another. ;)

 

[seahorse_man]

But technically you can't have a 20g either... so if you can break one rule, you can break another. ;)

Exactly my thoughts! How about just do 2x 10 gallon tanks? ;)

 

[vetteguy53081]

Congratulations on winning tank! Is the tank reef ready with overflows?
Also if it came with light- what brand and type?

 

[Molasses]

But technically you can't have a 20g either... so if you can break one rule, you can break another. ;)

Exactly my thoughts! How about just do 2x 10 gallon tanks? ;)

Y'know how I mentioned barely being able to come home to take care of the 55? The opposite will happen but twice as bad with this theoretical 10g saltwater tank come next summer lol. The only reason we are doing the betta is cuz she's gonna transfer him back home during summer. I wouldn't wanna tear down a beautiful reef after the school year.

 

[Molasses]

Y'know how I mentioned barely being able to come home to take care of the 55? The opposite will happen but twice as bad with this theoretical 10g saltwater tank come next summer lol. The only reason we are doing the betta is cuz she's gonna transfer him back home during summer. I wouldn't wanna tear down a beautiful reef after the school year.

I just now remembered that's why I didn't fight her on doing saltwater.... dang.