Nano Marine Tank Equipment and Stocking

Hello 3Reef. I'm looking to jump into the saltwater realm of the hobby. I've been in the freshwater half for almost a year now.

I'm a junior physics major in college so I'm very limited on size. I know that bigger is better in both the saltwater and freshwater worlds for stability in parameters and for water cleanliness but there's no way around it. So far in my experience I've been keeping nano planted freshwater community tanks.

Anyway, I've been looking at setups and so far like the Biocube14. What other high quality options are there? I haven't set a finances limit yet but plan on working some hours this winter break.

As for the setup I'm still deciding between a FOWLR setup or Full Reef. I'd love to have corals but also am not sure how easy that will be to jump into.

Anyway, what options are out there and is there any literature I can distract myself with during finals week?

Thanks!

 

JBJ makes a nice nano set up that comes with LED's that would be decent for corals. I think it is 28 gallons and around $600.

 

This could get you started...http://www.3reef.com/forums/new-hobby/ultimate-newbie-guide-86462.html

Just look under the newbie forum and you will find tons of info.

Don't know about the biocube because I've never had one. Bigger isn't better per se, but often times easier. You can get a 10 or 20 gallon tank, hood, and hang on the tank filter on the cheap and keep anything you want. For corals you would just need to upgrade lights a little. Fish don't require anything in the way of special lighting.

Just make sure to read, read, read before you start. Rushing into things is the biggest newbie mistake most people make, and it often times ends up costing you twice as much in the end.

Hope this helps a little, and welcome to 3Reef!

 

@Coastie Reefer: thanks. I'll definitely check out the newbie guide. I wasn't sure if HOB filters would work with salt setups. Would I need to be concerned about surface agitation and too much evaporation?

Anyway, I'll also look into the standard tank sizes. I was considering doing a DIY Led project for lighting. That would be fun. It's something to research.

@sticksmith23 I'll check out JBJ but a 28 is well over my size limit. I'll need to be able to transport this tank (and my 10g and 5g freshwaters) to and from school in my gorgeous '93 Ford Explorer Thanks for the suggestion

 

I believe oceanic makes a biocube 8 as well. You have to be careful transporting saltwater livestock more so then with freshwater. You will at least need a battery powered air pump with air stone to maintain the dissolved oxygen for your fish.

 

Check this tank out. Pretty much has everything you need.

http://www.3reef.com/forums/show-off-your-fish-tanks/my-dymax-iq5-3g-pico-reef-113581.html

 

The way I've been transporting my freshwater fish and shrimp is I bag them up individually or by species (larger fish go alone but a school of neons or my family of Red Cherry Shrimp fit nicely in a large fishbag) and then I order them in an insulated cooler to prevent temp fluctuations. It's a 6 hour drive and then I add a couple hours on either end for setup and teardown. I've done it five times (six will be this upcoming week) with my freshwater setups.

How will this change for saltwater specimens? How are saltwater fish transported to the LFS?

EDIT: Coastie that's a very cool tank! It reminds me so much of the rimless EBI (I think that's the brand) shrimp tanks I see uncommonly on a freshwater forum I belong to. That is definitely the look I'm going for but I would want a slightly larger setup so I can also experience some tropical fish. That is absolutely gorgeous though. The saltwater realm is very cool and very alien to me at the moment.

 

I'd look at a Cadlights 50 cube. It comes with everything you need.

 

That would work, but all I am saying is that you would want to add an air stone to each bag because salt water can't retain the same amount of oxygen that fresh water can. Therefore, your fish will go through the oxygen faster and the water quality will degrade faster as well.

 

As for the biocube 8, great lights/filtration... But oceanic doesn't make them anymore just 14&29. I have the 29 and love it. Why will you be moving tanks so often?

Hope this helps.