1st newbie question

Hello everyone,
I have had freshwater tanks most of my life, My first newbie question for saltwater is a rather stupid one probably. But here it goes, I have a 30 gallon glass tank that I have used for fresh water tanks before. Is this an ok tank to start my reef tank with or should I go bigger with a 55? Is there different types of tanks specially made for saltwater that I should use instead? I will have many more questions in the future. I have been doing my research and trust me I will not be starting a tank very soon, but am going to start taking steps towards it and saving up and buying things that are neede to start. Any sites or tips anyone can offer will be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

 

You can use it, but since it was FW it probably doesn't have an overflow. If you're going to start a reef that size I would recommend a sump. This means you will want to go with a "reef ready" tank which means it is already drilled and has an overflow. You can drill the tank you have now if it isn't tempered and if that's something you're comfortable doing. All you need is some putty and a diamond bit.

 

or you can do a diy overflow. youtube that tons of great videos. no risk in breaking glass. but its not very eye appealing. you make it out of pvc. cheap and easy solution.

 

Either way, if you can afford a reef ready tank then go for it. Some extra money but then you don't have to waste any time modding a tank.

 

So if I'm going to do a sump tank, what size tank would I have to use for a 30 gallon tank. Can i use an extra 10 gallon that I have already or does it have to be the same size as my display tank?

I attached a pic of the tank that I have already, and the area where I will be keeping it, down in my basement with little or no natural direct sunlight. If I decide to do the sump I will more than likely add some cabinet doors to the bottom shelving areas to hide everything below, or the upper shelves, with that would it be easier to have the sump below or above the display tank as I have plenty of room for either? This is mainly used for extra junk and my boxing gear as you can tell now but I would like to dedicate it to the hobby Plus I can modify it if I decide to go bigger in the future.

 

Welcome to 3reef.The only stupid questions are the ones not asked so asking alot of questions here is a good place to start.Many people start with a small used tank that they have because they want to see if this hobby is really for them.This is not necessarily a bad idea but if you are sure that you want a reef tank it would be best to start with a larger one as the larger the volume the easier it is to keep the water parameters stable which is much better.Many people that start with a small tank also find that they want to upgrade to a larger one rather quickly so alot of the money spent on equipment for the smaller one can be a loss.If you do decide to go with a used tank the first thing you need to know is if any copper based meds have been used in it as copper,even in small traces can be deadly to marine inverts.

 

Sump goes underneath. It's gravity/siphon driven. You can do a Eshopps nano overflow or drill (make sure it's not tempered glass first; most 55 gallons are, btw). A 10 gallon sump is fine. If you have space to get a bigger one, consider doing so.

 

The extra space would be nice for an ATO. As I mentioned earlier though, plan your tank and decide what you would like to have in it. Do you want FOWLR, or would you like to also keep coral? If you are going to consider a reef then you will definitely need better lights than the one currently on the tank. You will also want the sump for many reasons. The main reason is what was mentioned by another member earlier; the more water volume the easier it is to keep the parameters stable. I would definitely decide what you would like to keep in your tank and then get your system setup accordingly.

 

With old tanks for sumps and such, it is important to know if the tank has ever been treated with copper. If so, it should not be used as it may cause long term problems. Also I recommend starting with something like a 40g breeder or another tank with a large surface area. Tall tanks don't have quite as much surface area for oxygen exchange. Not saying you can't make one work but it so much easier if you don't have a tall narrow tank.

Knowing what I know now, I would never purchase another tank that is taller than it is wide.

 

In terms of the original question...other than making sure it hasn't had copper, you can use just a regular fish tank for a salt tank.