first-timer starting a saltwater tank

[brooklyn]

i thought so. i would love to get it all but i dont think i have the room in my little apartment. im thinking about getting a biocube...how r those?

[Mek0ng]

one issue with a biocube is top off, on a tank so small look forward to daily freshwater top off, this can be helped by a auto-top off but they can get expensive quickly.

Personally I would recommend at least a 36" tank, a 40g breeder+

I would avoid power compacts unless you get a great deal like PP's 36" for $50, if you are buying new and plan on corals go with T5 or MH

[Pufferpunk]

Yes, someone please buy my PC light!!!

[m-bertelson]

Well Brooklyn Iam in the same situation ,My gsp is a at an sg of 1.022 and Iam new to salt water as well. I just know that my puffer is super happy I plane on adding live rock slowly, And up grading my light. I have a question for any one replying to this post can I still use my hob filter or due I need to upgrade. I also have a bubble wall that my puffer loves to swim through he tries to swim against the bubbles. will I need to get ride of it or can I keep it. Oh he is the only fish in the tank.

[Mek0ng]

The bubble wall will preform like a skimmer, when the bubbles hit the surface they will pop spraying salt crud and organic waste all over. Not good, very highly advised to remove.

Do you have a skimmer? If not get one, and dont skimp. If so there is no need to worry about O2 in the water. The puffer should be just as happy playing in a strong power head flow.

HOB filter, yes and no. You can run a sponge filter for 24-48 hours to clean if the water has lots of particulate matter, (ie like dusting off the rocks during a water change) but really no more than 48hrs, other wise its a nitrate bomb. The other use for a smallish HOB would be to run carbon or phosphate remover.

If you haven't already read, up the SG to 1.025 before adding the live rock.

[m-bertelson]

I just raised the tank 1.022 about an hour before posting. so it will be at least another week or so before it gets high enough for live rock. I just like asking ? and doing my research.But in my local town I found a guy on craigslist looking to sell 2 large pink finger leathers available 15.00 large purple finger leathers 2 available 15.00 ,large rock with yellow polpys 10.00 what do you think? Oh i plane on getting a skimmer, and I have a power head but bradford (gsp) seams to like the bubbles more

[Pufferpunk]

IMO, LR is fine even at a SG of 1.018. Your SG is fine, unless you plan on keeping corals in there, which your puffer may or may not eat.

[Mek0ng]

IMO, LR is fine even at a SG of 1.018.

If you don't mind risking the loss of some micro-fauna...

If you spend the money to have rock chiseled out of the ocean and and flown up to half way around the world, shouldn't you try to keep the beneficial life on the rock as intact as possible?

[Mek0ng]

I just raised the tank 1.022 about an hour before posting. so it will be at least another week or so before it gets high enough for live rock. I just like asking ? and doing my research.But in my local town I found a guy on craigslist looking to sell 2 large pink finger leathers available 15.00 large purple finger leathers 2 available 15.00 ,large rock with yellow polpys 10.00 what do you think? Oh i plane on getting a skimmer, and I have a power head but bradford (gsp) seams to like the bubbles more

$15 is a good price for two large leathers.

(You have 4x65watt lighting right?) Yellow polyps would be fine under that light, but they tend to turn rather brown (not a problem, just not good looking IMO). Brighter lights are needed to make them really pop bright yellow. How ever if the rock is packed with them I would consider getting them, $10 with large rock is a nice price (depending on what "large" is the rock might be worth it). Be advised yellow polyps are know to spread everywhere.

[Pufferpunk]

I still think 1.022 is fine for LR. I never heard of purple or pink finger leathers. Dyed??? Do you have any pics?

[m-bertelson]

I dont have any pics but judging by what i was able to find online they sound dyed witch from what i read they will fade over time. But Iam in no hurry so just going to shop around and learn what Iam buying. I found a new pet store near by who sells every thing I could ever want. Plus its locally owned when I came in the owner was doing water changes. and was very nice we chated for a while he never ounce pressured me into buying any thing.and all of his fish looked amazing. He seamed to care.thing cost little more money but I know what I am getting. plus he said when Ever I buy something he would like me to bring a sample of water with before purchase.

[Pufferpunk]

Sounds like a reputable place.