Who Gives A Fish Forums

I totally agree with you lot, eating habits can be a bit of a challenge, but it's the initial setup that's gonna hit your wallet the hardest. For me, live rock is the real game-changer. If you've got an external filter, be prepared for some serious cleaning sessions - they can be a nitrite breeding ground. Live rock might be pricey, but trust me, it's worth every penny. Once it's fully cycled, it'll take care of your filtration needs.

You might also want to consider some good quality Aragonite Sand for the bottom - not necessarily live sand, though. You could always ask your local fish store for a handful of theirs, and they might just hook you up.

People might say you need an external filter, but if you've got enough live rock and your tank is set up right, you won't need one. I've got a 40-gallon reef and I don't use an external filter - just a skimmer and some live rock.

Speaking of skimmers, they're a crucial part of the filtration process. They take out all the proteins and other stuff that messy eaters like lionfish leave behind. It's like the froth you see at the seaside, but in your tank.

You'll need a full set of Salifert test kits - they're the best, but also the priciest. A refractometer is a must, too - hydrometers just don't cut it. You'll also need some pH buffers and other treatments, but you can worry about those later.

Get the best quality salt you can afford, and don't skimp on the water containers. And please, for the love of all things aquatic, DO NOT USE TAP WATER. You'll regret it, trust me. I've been there, done that, and got the algae-covered t-shirt.

Get yourself an RO unit - it's worth every penny. It'll filter out all the heavy metals, silicates, and other stuff that'll ruin your tank. You can pick one up for around £60, and it'll give you the best possible start.

Sorry for the massive post, but I figured you might need some explanations for all the abbreviations. Oh, and just to clarify, FOWLR means fish only with live rock.

If you've got any questions, feel free to PM me - I might not post much, but I've had my reef for ages, and my family's been in the fish business for over 20 years.

Thanks heaps for the info, really appreciate it. I'm still thinking about whether to go marine or stick with freshwater, but all this is helping me heaps to make a decision.

it's not as complicated as people make it out to be. i managed to get my marine tank up and running in just two weeks. first off, i filled the tank halfway with water from my hose, added some dechlorinator and conditioner, and mixed in my salt. my tap water is already purified and dechlorinated, so that made things easier. after that, i let the tank run for three days with no media and the heat on, and had the lights on a timer. then i added some base gravel and 15 pounds of live rock, along with a damsel. everything in my tank is doing great except for the specific gravity, which i'm still trying to get right. i've been doing regular water changes, but it's not making a huge difference. my tank's been up for a month now, and i've got a nice little community going with a black peacock lionfish, four damsels, a blenny, a sailfin tang, two anemones, and some mushrooms. it's definitely been an expensive venture, but it's a nice change of pace from freshwater.