Serious newb here, need advice!

Hey guys,


I've recently fell in love with SW tanks, and am very interested in starting a 55 gallon tank. I know it is very time consuming and expensive but I feel it would be well worth it. So just some basic questions, I'm probably going to buy a used tank off CL from someone, what do I actually need? Besides the skimmer and filter? What is all the stuff that is underneath the actual tank that I see in most SW setups? Sorry for the rookie questions, I am totally clueless. Also, I have read that some species do not need live coral or rock. I am interested in getting a puffer first and foremost, does he require this? Thanks in advance.

 

filter
skimmer
2 power heads
heater
ro/di unit
lighting
puffers do not need live rock but they are aggressive so keep that inmind

 

Thanks man, I appreciate it. I am aware they are aggressive, and I do most definitely want a clownfish. Can the two co-habitate? Also, I would probably want to throw a lionfish in there....is this just asking for trouble?

 

Also, I might roll with a smaller tank, could i support the possible three fish above in a smaller tank? Say a 30 gallon?

 

You could do a small lion.and if your set on clownfish look into the bigger species.maroon and tomato.the "nemos" could be lunch .as for the smaller tank I do not recomend it.puffers make a good bit of poo.lions do aswell.a smaller tank will be much harder to keep the peace between fish and also hard to keep the water parameters decent.

 

puffers and lions are reef predators, clowns without the protection of an aneomone are easy prey

 

lions and puffers are incompatible because puffers are one of the biggest fin nippers and lions have those pretty long fins that would be irristable for the puffer
also tomatos clowns are cool i have one and if u get a young one u can see them change color and darken up
also i would stick with the 55 becuase a larger clown in a 30 would be a menance.

 

not a toby or valintine puffer they a are just agressive. but a smaller puffer would pick on a smaller clown like percula or occilirous

 

Watch these videos in sequential order. They will answer a lot of your very basic questions, plus concepts are easier to understand with a visual demo.

How to set up a saltwater aquarium - BRS TV - English

3reefers will happily fill in the blanks.

Since BRS is a Supporter of 3reef I hope it's ok to link this.

 

Thanks for all the insight everyone, I very much appreciate it. As far as the heater goes, it is always around 76 in my apartment, and it has already been 85 everyday here for the last month. Would the heater get too hot for them?

As far as the puffer and lion not being co-habitable, I would be focused on getting a puffer and clownfish. I am aware that reefs or live rock is not good for puffers since they eat it...is this correct? How would the clownfish survive without the protection they provide though?