New to Saltwater Help!

[TerriBryant]

So I went to a small local shop recently, intending on starting a 50 gallon + saltwater tank. The staff there talked me and my husband into starting really small with a 5 gallon tank. Got it all set up and let it cycle, and went back and got one clownfish. Things have been going great, and we went back today to get another fish. We ended up going to another place, and the staff there said we were given bad advice and should have gone with a big tank. I have a couple of questions:

Should we have gone with a bigger tank? If so, what do I need to start one? I realize we will have to set it up and let it cycle.

 

[wherenext]

Bigger tanks are easier to keep parameters stable. In a small tank like a 5 gallon, a little evaporation can cause bigger salinity swings, and if you are looking at doing corals, swings in other important parameters too. In a 5 gallon I would think k you just need to stay up on testing your parameters, top off evaporation a few times a day, and probably more frequent water changes.

If you are wanting to do a larger tank...what type of tank are you wanting to do, fish only fowlr or reef?

 

[TerriBryant]

Bigger tanks are easier to keep parameters stable. In a small tank like a 5 gallon, a little evaporation can cause bigger salinity swings, and if you are looking at doing corals, swings in other important parameters too. In a 5 gallon I would think k you just need to stay up on testing your parameters, top off evaporation a few times a day, and probably more frequent water changes.

If you are wanting to do a larger tank...what type of tank are you wanting to do, fish only fowlr or reef?

Just looking to do fish only - I don't want to get myself in too deep just starting with saltwater. I've had freshwater tanks for years, but I know saltwater is a whole different animal.

 

[wherenext]

OK, so if you are wanting to do fish only, you would need the tank, your sand bed (pool filter sand or live sand) a skimmer, circulation fans/pumps, and some sort of filter to host your biological filter since you aren't doing live rock, a canister filter would probably be the way I would go, a hob filter could possibly work as well(assuming you don't want to go the sump route) heater of strength of 5w per gallon of tank volume...better yet to split that between 2 heaters. If you put dry rock in, it would eventually become live rock as well and would host a biological filter. I think that would more or less cover it unless I forgot something. A larger tank is cared for much In the same way as a smaller one, just things don't necessarily have to be done as frequently and the system tends to be more stable.

 

[wherenext]

There are always other things you can add as well like automatic top off systems, but you don't HAVE to have those, I see those as more of a luxury item that just eliminate some daily maintenance.

 

[wherenext]

Oh, and large or small tank...a good test kit is your best friend :)

 

[TerriBryant]

Thanks so much! Do you have a test kit you recommend? I feel like we got some bad advice :)

 

[wherenext]

There are some more precise than others (smaller scale for readings)..I just use the API saltwater master test kit, it should have all the tests you really need for a fish only. Just stay away from the test strips, they are pretty inaccurate. Stick with the liquid test kits. I know there are some people prefer over the API kits, but the API kits have worked well for me and aren't as pricey as some of the others.

 

[wherenext]

Glad to help. It's always best to do research on your own. Fish stores are usually out for a sale over helping you do things accurately (not all, but most in my experience).

 

[TerriBryant]

The girl at the new store recommended the API kits, so I may start there until I have more research under my belt. I have the opportunity to get a 75 gallon bowfront with a hydor canister filter - should I go for it or buy everything new.

 

[wherenext]

Used can be fine as long as it is in good working condition and you know what if any medications have been used in the tank. Medications that have been used In the past shouldnt really affect a fish only tank, but, if say for instance, a copper based medication was ever used in that tank....then it takes away the possibility of ever adding corals to the tank in the future.

 

[TerriBryant]

Ok, right now he only has live rock in it, no fish, so I wasn't sure if I should risk it. I know this is a big investment and don't want to screw it up!

 

[wherenext]

Well at least you know it doesn't have leaks since it is filled. The fish themselves are probably among the hardiest things you can put in a saltwater tank. If the live rock is still healthy the tank should probably be fine. And if they have live rock In it, they probably didn't use much if anything In the way of potentially harmful medications. If the tank had only ever been used for saltwater and you will save a somewhat substantial amount of money by buying it used, I would probably go for it. But you need to ask yourself whether you trust the guy selling it and the history of the tank he tells you, or if your piece of mind is worth spending the extra money to buy everything brand new.

 

[TerriBryant]

Yeah I am not 100% sure of the seller, so there is always a risk. It's only $100 so maybe it's too good to be true :)

 

[wherenext]

Wow, $100 is super cheap. Just the filter it has would cost about that or more. Well on the upside, it isn't that big of a cash risk if it doesn't work out. For $100, I say if it is holding water to go for it since you are only wanting to do fish only anyway.

 

[Surfandturf]

So I am always a little skeptical when one store tells me I was given bad advice from a competitor. The fact that you walked in looking for a 50+ gallon tank and walked out with a 5 gal is odd as well. A FOWLR tank is probably easier to maintain than most freshwater planted tanks. With that said, you should thank them for letting you jump into this hobby on the cheap. In this hobby, the tank and stand are the cheapest things. The 5 gal is most likely an all in one. Right? One thing that you may want to think about is water changes and top off. Are you proficient in making a .20 or so salinity salt mix on a consistent basis or do you currently buy your wc water? Do you have an RODI system for top off? There will be a huge difference in cost if you plan to purchase wc water for a 50gal. I am positive that the lighting will also be more expensive. You will probably have a sump as well? Skimmer? These will run you more on a larger system. You should thank the first store and be skeptical of those that told you you got a bad shake. Especially if its a competitor. Now if you were trying to start a reef tank, my advice would be the opposite. Once you mentioned fish only, it became a no brainer for me.

 

[Hyde2406]

I get used tanks never had any issues and I have coals and anemone etc. I've been lucky but most people really just don't want to throw something away someone else may want. I'm not a fan of canister filters, I was sold one for my first tank and it was a huge pain to clean every month. A bigger hob works just as well and super easy to clean, I've had big penguin hang on back (hob) filters with no problem. ..if you clean it. I always have a protein skimmer but I wouldn't waste time on a hob one of those, unless you go with a reef octopus but that = $200, good luck and go slow so you don't get anything good fast in saltwater.

 

[Hyde2406]

Keep in mind they type of fish you want if you have a clown sounds like you'll go the peaceful way, they are cleaner eaters and much easier to maintain the tank with, preditor tanks get very dirty very quickly

 

[wherenext]

You aren't keeping much In the way of fish In a 5 gallon though, and not many options to choose from unless you want to keep buying juvenile fish and trading them in after they grow. If she only wants to do fish only the lights won't be that expensive. And again, if she is wanting to do fish only, depending on the quality of her tap water, she might be able to get away with treated tap water as long as she doesn't want to do any real sensitive fish. Best way to find that out is to look up a water report for your municipality and home testing. Making salt water at a consistent salinity isn't that hard. 2 cups of salt to 4 gallons of water makes 1.025 using instant ocean. I test mine everytime with a refractometer, and every time it is on the money. If you want 1.020 and stretch your salt longer I believe that would be 2 cups of salt to 5 gallons of water. And you can find a refractometer for fairly cheap on amazon...some are better than others. You can also get an Rodi unit without spending too much...my unit cost me $125, rated 75 gpd but due to my water pressure does 50 gpd. Done about 200 gallons through it so far, and after 200 gallons has went from producing 0 tds to 2 tds water, with source water about 350 tds. If she is doing fish only it will be considerably cheaper and easier than a reef tank.

 

[Hyde2406]

Definitely on the larger system I wouldn't keep a clown in a 5 gallon, but a more experienced reef could Def keep it happy and healthy, and I've been in saltwater since 2009 and still learning new things all the time. Just keep redding these threads, Mel's reef, and anything you can get from the library to understand all the options you have. I bought a Santa Monica up flow scrubber because I love the idea of a scrubber but didn't have room, and now I love it won't start another tank without one, but it's taken my 5 years to figure out it exists, decide to buy one and not make one, figure where it would go without too much of an issue, etc etc etc


But again nothing good happens fast