Anyone have a salt water fish tank?

[Gary DiPietroSr]

My son is setting up a new SW tank and needs a recomendation on what's the best for the bottom, ie, live sand, gravel or both. It will be fish and live rock only. Thanks.



Gary D.

 

[FlipTrac_511]

Sorry, been freshwater all my fishkeeping years. Goodluck.



Dang, this reply was useles...

 

[Gary DiPietroSr]

FlipTrac, everyone is laughing out loud!!:lol::lol:

 

[FlipTrac_511]

It's all about Cichlids and Tetras man! Not in the same tank, of course!

 

[Devin Underberg]

Live sand is best in my opinion, about two inches is good....the more live sand will help keeping your tank healthier

 

[Jeff C]

Live rock is better. There's stuff called "Instant Ocean", and it's pretty expensive, but it will add all the micro organisms you want to the tank, but it's kinda pricey (as is everything in saltwater tanks)

 

[Jason Chatham]

crushed coral

 

[Gary DiPietroSr]

Thanks, we are still doing research. I thought we would go with live rock and live sand, unless that is redundant. I did see that instant ocean stuff, I thought that was just to make saltwater only. A lot to learn. Thanks again everyone.



Gary D.



See you in Louisville!!

 

[FlipTrac_511]

Gary, where do you plan on getting your equipment and supplies?



If you wanna bypass your local fish store and save mucho bucks, I've been ordering from petsolutions and thatfishplace for a long time. Great service, inventory, and much lower prices than you'll see at your pet shops.

 

[Gary DiPietroSr]

Thanks John, I friend of mine mentioned those sites to me also.

 

[Fudged Undies]

Live Sand for the bottom. Live rock will also be greatly beneficial, though it won't be necessary. You will want/need about a pound of sand for every gallon of tank, maybe a little less. The instant ocean is for making your own salt water. If you getting sw from the shop then you won't need it. Do not, DO NOT go with an undergravel filter, your best bet will be a wet/dry filter. Depending on the size of the tank this may not be worthwhile and a good hang-on or canister filter(preferable) will work. If you go the canister route, I strongly suggest an Eheim, do not go with a Magnum it really can't support the biological filtration, no matter what anyone at the locat pet store says. As for hang-on I would consider a Millenium (made by marineland).



If you guys aren't very experienced you/your son may want to start reading at <a href="http://www.thekrib.com/">the Krib.com</a> under the marine section. Lots of info.



As for everyone LOL about the freshwater fishies...



My 27-28 inch arrowana and roughly the same size Pseudodoras Niger. The tank is a 72"x24'x24' 180gallons to get a better idea of how big the fish are.



<img src="http://www.zjstech.net/~library/7804/Fish/arrow1.jpg">

<img src="http://www.zjstech.net/~library/7804/Fish/180-1.jpg">

 

[Gary DiPietroSr]

Spaceman, thanks for the info. Great pictures.



Gary D.

 

[Fudged Undies]

Glad I could help Gary. I've got a buddy who specializes in SW tanks, setup, maintenance the whole song and dance. He's been doing it for about 20 years (his profession). If you've got any questions you can't get a straight answer to drop me a line. I'm a freshwater guy myself.