new 450 gallon setup

[ken31cay]

I’m brand new to marine aquariums, though I’ve kept freshwater fish aquariums for 40 years.

I’m in the planning stage for a saltwater aquarium: 450 gallon (96” x 36” x 30”) + 100 gallon open-top wet/dry sump. I already I have this setup.

Other pertinent information:
RE: Only marine fish are available here: I live in the Cayman Islands and I have never seen any type of corals, marine invertebrates, etc. being sold in the shops here. Only fish. I assume this is due to the local dept. of agriculture laws here.
RE: Rock setup: I plan to get dry rocks that my lfs sells for marine aquariums and glue them together to make an arrangement inside my tank before filling the tank with water.

QUESTIONS:

1) RE: Do I need R/O water?: my tap water is from a desalination plant and so is basically already R/O water but with added Sodium Hydroxide (to increase pH) and Zinc Orthophosphate (an anti-corrosive for the underground pipes). And of course chlorine. Do I still need to use R/O water or can I use Seachem Safe for the chlorine as I do for my freshwater tanks?

2) RE: Marine-specific equipment?:

• Dosing device: what are these devices and where can I purchase them? Exactly what compounds do they dose to the aquarium?
• Protein skimmer: I’ve seen these on amazon.com and I understand the concept, so just asking for any recommendations for my ~550 gallon setup.
• Salinity Refractometer (this seems pretty straight forward)

Any other marine-specific equipment that I need to consider getting?

3) RE: Water Changes?: I’m used to doing 50% weekly water changes for my freshwater tanks. In the past I remember reading that for marine aquariums, if you have a ‘Dosing Device’ then you don’t need to do/or rarely need to do water changes. Any guidance in this area would be appreciated. Also, if you can link me to any online resource that speaks to this then I would also very much appreciate that.

Thank you for your advice/guidance!

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I’m brand new to marine aquariums, though I’ve kept freshwater fish aquariums for 40 years.

I’m in the planning stage for a saltwater aquarium: 450 gallon (96” x 36” x 30”) + 100 gallon open-top wet/dry sump. I already I have this setup.

Other pertinent information:
RE: Only marine fish are available here: I live in the Cayman Islands and I have never seen any type of corals, marine invertebrates, etc. being sold in the shops here. Only fish. I assume this is due to the local dept. of agriculture laws here.
RE: Rock setup: I plan to get dry rocks that my lfs sells for marine aquariums and glue them together to make an arrangement inside my tank before filling the tank with water.

QUESTIONS:

1) RE: Do I need R/O water?: my tap water is from a desalination plant and so is basically already R/O water but with added Sodium Hydroxide (to increase pH) and Zinc Orthophosphate (an anti-corrosive for the underground pipes). And of course chlorine. Do I still need to use R/O water or can I use Seachem Safe for the chlorine as I do for my freshwater tanks?

2) RE: Marine-specific equipment?:

• Dosing device: what are these devices and where can I purchase them? Exactly what compounds do they dose to the aquarium?
• Protein skimmer: I’ve seen these on amazon.com and I understand the concept, so just asking for any recommendations for my ~550 gallon setup.
• Salinity Refractometer (this seems pretty straight forward)

Any other marine-specific equipment that I need to consider getting?

3) RE: Water Changes?: I’m used to doing 50% weekly water changes for my freshwater tanks. In the past I remember reading that for marine aquariums, if you have a ‘Dosing Device’ then you don’t need to do/or rarely need to do water changes. Any guidance in this area would be appreciated. Also, if you can link me to any online resource that speaks to this then I would also very much appreciate that.

Thank you for your advice/guidance!

Personally? I always recommend R/O water just to fully get rid of potential elements that could be in the water, and to be on the safe side. Best of luck with diving deep into the saltwater side! Plenty of others on here will be able to help you out with your other questions

 

[Lowell Lemon]

Are you able to collect natural seawater? If so that might be a great alternative to RO and sea salt mixes.

 

[ken31cay]

Are you able to collect natural seawater? If so that might be a great alternative to RO and sea salt mixes.

No. And I've been advised by the marine specialist at the main lfs here not to even add any live rock from the ocean here, which I'd been making plans in that area. He said to 'keep your setup as sterile as possible'.

 

[Dbichler]

You definitely want rodi to save on headaches of algae. You definitely want a large protein skimmer. Dosing is only needed with corals not fish only. If collection of live rock is allowed in the caymans I would absolutely do that over dry rock just keep it in a holding tank until you find all bad hitchhikers and get them out. Way better than any dry or store bought live rock by far.

 

[armyvetheather]

I’m brand new to marine aquariums, though I’ve kept freshwater fish aquariums for 40 years.

I’m in the planning stage for a saltwater aquarium: 450 gallon (96” x 36” x 30”) + 100 gallon open-top wet/dry sump. I already I have this setup.

Other pertinent information:
RE: Only marine fish are available here: I live in the Cayman Islands and I have never seen any type of corals, marine invertebrates, etc. being sold in the shops here. Only fish. I assume this is due to the local dept. of agriculture laws here.
RE: Rock setup: I plan to get dry rocks that my lfs sells for marine aquariums and glue them together to make an arrangement inside my tank before filling the tank with water.

QUESTIONS:

1) RE: Do I need R/O water?: my tap water is from a desalination plant and so is basically already R/O water but with added Sodium Hydroxide (to increase pH) and Zinc Orthophosphate (an anti-corrosive for the underground pipes). And of course chlorine. Do I still need to use R/O water or can I use Seachem Safe for the chlorine as I do for my freshwater tanks?

2) RE: Marine-specific equipment?:

• Dosing device: what are these devices and where can I purchase them? Exactly what compounds do they dose to the aquarium?
• Protein skimmer: I’ve seen these on amazon.com and I understand the concept, so just asking for any recommendations for my ~550 gallon setup.
• Salinity Refractometer (this seems pretty straight forward)

Any other marine-specific equipment that I need to consider getting?

3) RE: Water Changes?: I’m used to doing 50% weekly water changes for my freshwater tanks. In the past I remember reading that for marine aquariums, if you have a ‘Dosing Device’ then you don’t need to do/or rarely need to do water changes. Any guidance in this area would be appreciated. Also, if you can link me to any online resource that speaks to this then I would also very much appreciate that.

Thank you for your advice/guidance!

Did you ever get your 450 up and running? Picking mine up this weekend and was curious as to what you ended up using in regards to equipment. Thanks!