Just started a saltwater aquarium

[zeldoro]

Ive been slowly adding to it since I bought the aquarium and stand a few weeks ago. Ive got sand, rocks (one dry, two live), dead mans fingers algae, and a recently added scarlet reef hermit crab.

I know decorations are considered tacky but i like having one or two in a tank.

(You'll have to excuse the poor camera quality)

My next step is to get plants and eventually put some fish in there.

Although it's been fun, I'm starting to think maybe I should have started with a freshwater tank. I haven't had fish since I was a kid, and of course that didn't last long since it was just a fish bowl from petco.

I'm not too savvy on aquarium tech atm, so I can't really give a lot of details since I simply don't know. I got my aquarium, stand, and heater used. Got a new over-the-side filter. The heater is preset to 78F. The filter is a Cascade 100.

Tank is 20 gallons. (Is this considered nano?)

I'm thinking of getting neon gobies and pajama cardinals.

If you have any tips or recs, or want more info, lmk!

 

[zeldoro]

The plastic thing on the right side was meant for floating plants, but I ended up with a saltwater aquarium, so it will be removed before fish are added. I'll reuse it for a future freshwater aquarium.

 

[zeldoro]

The plastic thing on the right side was meant for floating plants, but I ended up with a saltwater aquarium, so it will be removed before fish are added. I'll reuse it for a future freshwater aquarium.

I keep forgetting things :') Before fish, I'll also add snails and maybe a coral (still researching).

 

[Fish Fan]

Cool looking tank!

I'd like to ask to maybe help prevent some disappointment if you're new to fishkeeping

You got this tank running? And it's running as a saltwater tank? That appears to be a saltwater hermit, I don't know how long they can live in freshwater.

Some of those decorations and gravel may be dangerous in saltwater, they may leach chemicals into the water that they may not in freshwater (saltwater tanks and animals can be much more sensitive to such things).

I would have some questions, such as how are you measuring your salinity, and is this tank cycled for fish?

If you're very much brand new to fish keeping, starting off with freshwater is a great way to go. You'll learn a lot, you can still keep interesting and colorful fish and inverts, and you can save for a more appropriate saltwater setup.

Please know that I'm not trying to be critical of your setup, I just don't want you disappointed or frustrated, and then you leave the hobby altogether

If you have questions, please post here or on the open forum - you'll get a lot of help from really great reefers.

You may also want to check out this guide:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/the-supreme-guide-to-setting-up-a-saltwater-reef-aquarium.138750/

And this video series:
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/cont...wabUoMI8zq3C3sZnAXE1lO6yd0vR7xW2yRnRhCrecwd9X

I hope this helps and good luck with your build!!

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Welcome to the club! For the welfare of any livestock you add to the tank, I have to admit this tank will a challenge for saltwater fish. With that small hob filter and no rocks, and freshwater pebbles for substrate, I don't see working out long term for the fish. Again I say this only with the fishes well being in mind, I would suggest to have a look at the links provided above which can help you easily build a successful tank, also google "the berlin filtration method", this is the basis of how a saltwater tank works. Good luck

 

[zeldoro]

Cool looking tank!

I'd like to ask to maybe help prevent some disappointment if you're new to fishkeeping

You got this tank running? And it's running as a saltwater tank? That appears to be a saltwater hermit, I don't know how long they can live in freshwater.

Some of those decorations and gravel may be dangerous in saltwater, they may leach chemicals into the water that they may not in freshwater (saltwater tanks and animals can be much more sensitive to such things).

I would have some questions, such as how are you measuring your salinity, and is this tank cycled for fish?

If you're very much brand new to fish keeping, starting off with freshwater is a great way to go. You'll learn a lot, you can still keep interesting and colorful fish and inverts, and you can save for a more appropriate saltwater setup.

Please know that I'm not trying to be critical of your setup, I just don't want you disappointed or frustrated, and then you leave the hobby altogether

If you have questions, please post here or on the open forum - you'll get a lot of help from really great reefers.

You may also want to check out this guide:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/the-supreme-guide-to-setting-up-a-saltwater-reef-aquarium.138750/

And this video series:
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/cont...wabUoMI8zq3C3sZnAXE1lO6yd0vR7xW2yRnRhCrecwd9X

I hope this helps and good luck with your build!!

I understand! I dont want to kill any animals!

Yes its saltwater. There are no fish yet, i was preparing to add invertibrates and replacing the decor with coral. Ill go ahead and remove them and the rocks now! Thanks!

Ive been testing the salt with testing strips. I have refractometer in my amazon cart but I dont make a ton of money so I cant buy it all at once unfortunately D:

 

[zeldoro]

Welcome to the club! For the welfare of any livestock you add to the tank, I have to admit this tank will a challenge for saltwater fish. With that small hob filter and no rocks, and freshwater pebbles for substrate, I don't see working out long term for the fish. Again I say this only with the fishes well being in mind, I would suggest to have a look at the links provided above which can help you easily build a successful tank, also google "the berlin filtration method", this is the basis of how a saltwater tank works. Good luck

Thanks! Ill change my tank before adding any fish. (Id I do, rheyll be tiny. I may just keep this an invertibrate tank)

I have two live rocks in there, but theyre smol. Thanks for the info!

 

[Subsea]

Thanks! Ill change my tank before adding any fish. (Id I do, rheyll be tiny. I may just keep this an invertibrate tank)

I have two live rocks in there, but theyre smol. Thanks for the info!

Before adding anything else that is alive to this tank get a $20 hydrometer. Next, establish your nitrification cycle by throwing a dead shrimp into the tank, this will establish nitrification bacteria and cycle your tank.
Next, get some test kits and decide what goes into your ecosystem.

 

[zeldoro]

Thanks! Ill change my tank before adding any fish. (Id I do, rheyll be tiny. I may just keep this an invertibrate tank)

I have two live rocks in there, but theyre smol. Thanks for the info!

Before adding anything else that is alive to this tank get a $20 hydrometer. Next, establish your nitrification cycle by throwing a dead shrimp into the tank, this will establish nitrification bacteria and cycle your tank.
Next, get some test kits and decide what goes into your ecosystem.

Thanks!!

 

[Uncle99]

If your starting a reef tank with fish, I’d buy a refractometer to ensure salinity is 35ppt and an Auto top off (ATO) to ensure its stability. Critical step.

I’d add 2 juvenile clowns now to further the maturing process.

I would not add any snails, or other CUC, right now as they have little to eat, will die, and add unnecessary ammonia to your water.

Let that run for a month.

Invert only tanks are not easy.