HOw to start a Marine Tank

**modyas** · 7th Jul 2003, 00:40

Hi
want to start a small 2 ft marine tank. Can someone tell me wat equipment i need to get and around how much would everything come up to? If its to much might not be able to afford it haha. Hope someone can help. Thanks

**bwilly** · 7th Jul 2003, 13:33

save save, u need abt $2-300.
I budget one for u at a lowest pricing.

breakdown like this.

salt (6kg - petmart) $18
tank 2ft - $18
overhead filter 2ft - $12
cheap protein skimmer sandwood - $12
coral sands (10kg) - $10
PH tester kit - $9
Food flakes - $100
* beneficial bacteria - $25
bio-rings - $5
sponges - $5
anti-cholrine - $5
hydrometer (measure salt level) - $6
ammonia test kit - $16

There's some other additional solutions n accesories I can't think of now.

Marine fishes range costs from $1 (damsels n common clowns)
Live rock $10 per kg
corals from $5 onwards

I just started on marine. I got 2 &quot;matured&quot; feet tank, and now setting
up a 3 feet tank.

If u need more information like where to get the cheapest stuffs, email me [email protected]

**kelstorm** · 7th Jul 2003, 17:57

while OHF is good, u can also use canister filter. me using 2213 for my 2ft seahorse tank and it is working just fine.. OHF is good coz it can work as a wet/dry filter but it takes up precious space and thus limit the lights system. filtration and lightings systems are the ones that i dun recommend saving on.. u should spend the bulk of your cost here.

**kelstorm** · 7th Jul 2003, 18:01

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On 7/7/2003 1:33:01 PM

save save, u need abt $2-300.
I budget one for u at a lowest pricing.

breakdown like this.

salt (6kg - petmart) $18
tank 2ft - $18
overhead filter 2ft - $12
cheap protein skimmer sandwood - $12
coral sands (10kg) - $10
PH tester kit - $9
Food flakes - $100
* beneficial bacteria - $25 Can save on this. Go for the natural cycle.. patience.. wait for abt 4-6 weeks for the tank to finish cycling.. dump a prawn or two inside to let the ammonia spike and slowly let nature do its job.
bio-rings - $5can do without it, if u are using OHF, consider using bio-balls instead
sponges - $5
anti-cholrine - $5 no need
hydrometer (measure salt level) - $6
ammonia test kit - $16

There's some other additional solutions n accesories I can't think of now.

Marine fishes range costs from $1 (damsels n common clowns)
Live rock $10 per kg
corals from $5 onwards
remember, u should not dump in any livestock the moment u set up. wait till NO2 and NH3 is zero

I just started on marine. I got 2 &amp;amp;quot;matured&amp;amp;quot; feet tank, and now setting
up a 3 feet tank.

If u need more information like where to get the cheapest stuffs, email me [email protected]
----------------

**modyas** · 7th Jul 2003, 23:40

WHao, tanks for all the useful info guys.
looks like a lot of things to consider , guess i might do the cycling instead of buying the bacteria, i got time to spare haha

But anyways, the guy at rainbow told me the $18 2 ft tanks are not strong enough( too think glass) i dunno why also , any ideas? is it safe to use?

Oh an also, no need chiller to decrease the temp of the water?

**modyas** · 7th Jul 2003, 23:42

Oh forgot to add, u guys where where cheaper to get the stuff?
if not so nice to put here PM me k? hehe thanks =)

**joe** · 8th Jul 2003, 08:25

To add on to this question, wat would be the minimal things needed for a 1ft cube tank with only 2 clown fish? Sorry but I'm totally new in marine but got exp in planted tanks.

**kelstorm** · 8th Jul 2003, 15:07

But anyways, the guy at rainbow told me the $18 2 ft tanks are not strong enough( too think glass) i dunno why also , any ideas? is it safe to use?
pls... those ppl know nuts.. me keeping a seahorse tank using a std 2ft tank... so, how to explain that.. it depends on what u want..

Oh an also, no need chiller to decrease the temp of the water?
for 2ft, u can make do with a AC fan
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[/quote]

**kelstorm** · 8th Jul 2003, 15:09

To add on to this question, wat would be the minimal things needed for a 1ft cube tank with only 2 clown fish? Sorry but I'm totally new in marine but got exp in planted tanks.
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u can try reading up the aquatic FAQ section, there is a setup guide on things to get. it also should provide u with basic info to start a tank. however, i do recommend that u start with nothing less than a 2ft (with only 2 small clownfishes) dun over crowd it..

**modyas** · 9th Jul 2003, 12:43

thanks for the advice, so now need to find out where to get the live rock and live sand cos have to 'cure them' right? any idea where to get them?

also using the AC fan, so how do i fill up the tank due to the evaporation of the fan blowing?

thanks again =)

**kelstorm** · 10th Jul 2003, 13:54

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On 7/9/2003 12:43:20 PM

thanks for the advice, so now need to find out where to get the live rock and live sand cos have to 'cure them' right? any idea where to get them?
good lfs will sell only cured liverocks. u can try pac marine or sealife or reefworld.
also using the AC fan, so how do i fill up the tank due to the evaporation of the fan blowing?
evaporation is only water.. not saltwater.. so, dun add saltwater, the salinity will increase. u can add DI water or leftover nite tap water.. i do that

thanks again =)

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**modyas** · 10th Jul 2003, 17:22

went to sealife the other day at balestier, is it still there?, it was closed in the afternoon dunno why also. any idea?

anyways thanks for the advice, realli appreciate it

oh and also, for the sand, where should i get it, heard there is live sand, where to get it? or can i just get some sand from the beach. should i use fine or coarse sand?

**liam** · 11th Jul 2003, 00:36

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On 7/8/2003 8:25:04 AM

To add on to this question, wat would be the minimal things needed for a 1ft cube tank with only 2 clown fish? Sorry but I'm totally new in marine but got exp in planted tanks.
----------------

That's exactly what i had in mind too. 1ft cube to kick off but unfortunately can keep only 2 clowns. maybe can go shop together and get further discounts or something...

**kelstorm** · 11th Jul 2003, 09:24

That's exactly what i had in mind too. 1ft cube to kick off but unfortunately can keep only 2 clowns. maybe can go shop together and get further discounts or something...

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actually, with 1 ft cube, u can have the most, 1 coral and 1 clownfish.

**kelstorm** · 11th Jul 2003, 09:26

oh and also, for the sand, where should i get it, heard there is live sand, where to get it? or can i just get some sand from the beach. should i use fine or coarse sand?
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live sand is when there are living organism on it.. like bacteria... u should consider getting no.1 sand.. to make the new sand &quot;live&quot;, all u need is to get a handful of sand from matured tanks and seed it.. and u are on your way.. it also shorten the cycle time coz u dun have to cultivate the bacteria from scratch.

**modyas** · 12th Jul 2003, 02:24

OIC haha
so any idea where to get cheap protein skimmer for a 2 ft tank like wat Bwilly said?
the ones i saw are around $30 and if they are put in the 2 ft tank it takes up way to much space already. any suggestions to wat to do?

**kelstorm** · 12th Jul 2003, 09:39

either u DIY or there is a smaller one that i seen in petmart

**souphamster** · 23rd Jul 2003, 10:55

saw a mini 1 feet square tank at sam yick safari simei, nice blueish light, beautiful.. so inspiring.. hee hee.. i want something like that.. still got about 7 pcs of live rocks in my tank at home so can use as live rocks to cycle tank hee hee...

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