New Member - markluvskathy

Welcome to the club and to saltwater - I made the switch to saltwater about 5 months ago....it's very cool. I still have some cichlid tanks, although it's hard to keep up with both. I think you'll find saltwater to be much more challenging and rewarding than freshwater....but, both have significant merits. I would recommend that you do a lot of reading and research before adding livestock. I think Bob Fenner's book Conscientious Marine Aquarist and Mike Paletta's book The New Marine Aquarium are very good resources. If you're looking for "free" info, wetwebmedia.com and reefcentral are excellent sites. Plus, you'll get good info on this site as well...there are many knowledgeable members. Bob

 

Hey welcome,

Once you go salt it will be very hard to go back.

 

Welcome Kathleen & Mark
JB and I was at the IAA swap sunday, and glad that our trip down there has starked some interest with the fresh water world.
Your right, there is much research to be done on salt water tanks. Sometimes you might feel over whelmed with all the new info, but after time it really isn't that bad. So don't hesitate to post any questions that you might have. We are here to help!
Where are you located?
And good luck with the new adventure.
Troy

 

Welcome! Ask lots of questions. Also, I highly recommend taking part in your local tank tours. Most of the regional areas have one in the fall and one in the spring. You can see what others have in their tanks and make notes for what you want to put into yours. Good luck!

--AJ

 

Well, first decide what size you want to set up. Then your budget. Those two things will then drive what you can do. What size tank did you have in mind? This will then help you determine what size sump you will want and what your total water volume will be...which will help you determine what size skimmer you will need. Will also help you determine return pump size, heater size, amount of live rock, lights, powerheads, etc.

--AJ

 

Assuming that you have a 20 to 30 gallon sump, your skimmer should probably be rated for something like 150 to 200 gallons. Depending on the kind of overflow you have for your tank, you probably want something around 1200 GPH effective return flow. Most 120s have dual overflows and each overflow is usually rated for 600 GPH. A Mag12 would be a good size. For lighting, you really need to decide what kind of corals you want to put in there. If you want maximum flexibility, go for either Metal Halides or T5's. If you plan on soft corals and some LPS, you can probably get away with using some Power Compact lights. Also, if you use metal halide, heat could be an issue during the hot months of summer.

I hope these tips help. Good luck with your build!

--AJ