setting up a fish-only aquarium: a beginner's guide

[Vitaly1]

So I'm looking to set up a fish only saltwater tank, and I've heard it's a lot more straightforward than keeping a fish-liverock or reef tank. Apparently, I won't have to worry about things like phosphate and calcium levels.

I'm basically starting from scratch here, so I'd really appreciate it if someone could walk me through the setup process and tell me what equipment I'll need. I've got nothing done yet, just gathering info before I make a decision.

Thanks in advance for any help.

[Kodama]

So I'm looking to set up a fish only saltwater tank, and I've heard it's a lot more straightforward than keeping a fish-liverock or reef tank. Apparently, I won't have to worry about things like phosphate and calcium levels.

I'm basically starting from scratch here, so I'd really appreciate it if someone could walk me through the setup process and tell me what equipment I'll need. I've got nothing done yet, just gathering info before I make a decision.

Thanks in advance for any help.

For a fish-only saltwater tank, you'll want to start with some cured live rock - about 1 kg per US gallon is a good rule of thumb for filtration. As for substrate, argonite sand is a solid choice - it's not necessary to get live sand, and to be honest, it's debatable how "live" it really is after sitting on a shelf for a while. The live rock will seed the sand anyway.

You'll also need a powerhead, like a koralia or tunze nano, to create water flow between the live rock. Depending on the tank size, you might need more than one. A hydrometer or refractometer is a must for testing salt levels - I'd recommend a refractometer, it's more accurate and not much pricier.

A protein skimmer is also a good idea, it separates and removes dissolved solid waste from the water. Do some research and pick one with good reviews. If you're willing to do larger water changes each week, you could skip the skimmer, but it's worth having.

Lighting-wise, there aren't any specific requirements unless you're planning on keeping clowns.

For maintenance, you'll need to do regular water changes with salted water and top off evaporated water with unsalted water - the salt doesn't evaporate, so levels can creep up over time. Using RO water is a good idea, as it's free of nitrates, phosphates, and other stuff that can harm a marine tank. You can either buy RO water from your LFS or get an RO machine to make your own. Your LFS might also sell pre-salted water to make things easier.

[Vitaly1]

hey...

I'm not sure how to determine if my filter is suitable for fluxiouate filtration - is it something specific I should look for when choosing a filter? Also, you mentioned I could forgo the protein skimmer if I'm willing to do larger water changes, but how big are we talking? Would it be 10%, 20% or more?

And what about distilled water? Can I use that instead of RO water?

Thanks for the info, by the way. Just wanted to add that my tank is 17 gallons, and I'm not sure if that's too small for a FOWLR setup. If I do decide to set one up, it'll be a while from now, but I just wanted to get some info beforehand.

[Kodama]

So I'm looking to set up a fish only saltwater tank, and I've heard it's a lot more straightforward than keeping a fish-liverock or reef tank. Apparently, I won't have to worry about things like phosphate and calcium levels.

I'm basically starting from scratch here, so I'd really appreciate it if someone could walk me through the setup process and tell me what equipment I'll need. I've got nothing done yet, just gathering info before I make a decision.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Hey,

17g is fine, I think. A lot of experienced people here will say if you're starting out, you'd be better off going for a 24g+ though, due to the larger volume of water being more stable and forgiving. I've had FW before and a couple of small fish only marine tanks without live rock, so I think you could make a 17g work.

Fluxiouate filtration - it's the live rock itself that becomes the filter in a typical FOWLR set-up. The live rock harbors the nitrifying bacteria that converts ammonia to nitrite and then nitrate, so you don't need a traditional filter doing that job. A powerhead helps keep a good flow of water to the live rock, which is important. If you use a cannister or HOB filter, it'll eventually become a nitrate factory and need cleaning in chlorinated water every week to kill the bacteria.

You can run a fish only tank without live rock, but it's not recommended. The filter would handle the nitrification process, so you'd need to preserve the bacteria by washing the filter media in old tank water. But I'm not sure what happens with nitrates in that case - maybe they just build up.

As for distilled water, I think it removes chlorine, but I'm not sure about other stuff like heavy metals, phosphates, and nitrates. It's not ideal, but if you're not keeping coflakes, you can use dechlorinated tap water mixed with salt. You might have increased problems with algae though.

Other people can advise on the best amount of water to change if not running a skimmer. It depends on stocking levels and live rock.

And, by the way, 1kg per gallon of water seems excessive - it's more like 1-1.5 lbs per gallon.

[dune9x]

So I'm looking to set up a fish only saltwater tank, and I've heard it's a lot more straightforward than keeping a fish-liverock or reef tank. Apparently, I won't have to worry about things like phosphate and calcium levels.

I'm basically starting from scratch here, so I'd really appreciate it if someone could walk me through the setup process and tell me what equipment I'll need. I've got nothing done yet, just gathering info before I make a decision.

Thanks in advance for any help.

FOWLR is definitely the easiest way to keep marines, in my opinion. I mean, you don't have to worry about all the extra stuff like corals and anemones, and it's just generally more straightforward. A 17-gallon tank is perfectly fine, as long as you choose fish that are the right size for it. You don't want to overcrowd the tank, because that can cause all sorts of problems. Just make sure you do your research and pick fish that are compatible with each other, and you'll be golden.

[Vitaly1]

Hey...

Thanks a lot, I really appreciate the help. So, I'm getting it right, a normal tropical fish filter is gonna produce a lot of nitrates in a saltwater tank? I have this weird filter system, it's glued to the inside of the tank with some kind of silicone, I'm guessing it's similar to other filters, right?

I'm not sure what to do with it now, would it be better to just buy a skimmer or not use the filter at all? I'm kinda lost here.

Also, I have two more questions. What's chlorine and how does it affect my tank? And if I do end up using a skimmer, is it necessary to use a sump? If so, how does it work? I've heard of it before but I don't really understand the concept.

Thanks a lot, I'm really grateful for your help.

[Kodama]

Hey...

Thanks a lot..... I'm starting to get it, but there's still so much I don't know. I think I understand what you're saying about the filter - it's going to produce a lot of nitrates, right? I've got this weird filter system, it's glued to the inside of the tank with silicone, I guess it's the same as all the others.

I'm thinking of just buying a skimmer, or maybe not using the filter at all. What do you think? And a couple more things, what's chlorine? I know it's bad for the tank, but I don't really understand what it is. And if I do get a skimmer, do I need to use a sump? How does that even work?

Thanks a lot....

[Vitaly1]

Hey...


Thanks, yeah I see what you mean now, marine aquariums aren't as complicated as I thought, it's just a bit more challenging than I expected. I was really confused at first, but now it's starting to make sense.

I feel a bit silly now, I remember what chlorine is, my mom always told me not to drink tap water without boiling it first, I guess I just forgot.

Oh, and I just wanted to let you know, my tank is an Aquarium aquatlantis biobox 1, not a juwel, I don't know if that makes a difference. I found a picture of the filter online, it's the same as mine, http/www.aquatlantis.com/uk-frame-produt...p?id_produto=71, it says biobox 2 but I think it's just the same as mine.

Thanks again for all your help, I really appreciate it.

[stellalux]

I'm still not sure what fish I'll be keeping, I'm still researching and learning about the different types, but I'll probably start with something easy to care for, maybe some small species that are suitable for a 17g tank.

[Vitaly1]

Don't have any idea yet... I think the best thing is to see which are the right size for my tank... if you know any types of fish for a 17 gallon FOWLR tank I would like to know some...