#tank suggestions

[letsgetsalty]

hey, what would you recommend as a tank for someone just starting to get into saltwater? ive kept freshwater tanks for years now, but i fell in love with coral scapes and am not sure where to start

Hi!! You can see other posts where I’ve answered this in my “tank suggestions” tag!

I usually recommend around 30 gallons as a beginner salt tank! 40 breeders are popular as well. The same is true that parameter wise bigger is easier, but with salt tanks a middle sized tank can be more manageable with making RO and salt water.

You’ll need an RO system and marine salt - I use instant ocean. Some pet stores also sell RO or saltwater, but it can be expensive. Since you’re looking at corals you’ll also need a good light! There are plenty out there, and if you start with soft corals it won’t matter too much which light, as long as it’s made specifically for reefs. Probably order one online instead of what chain pet stores carry. That being said, it’s best to start off with soft corals! They’re much less demanding than stony corals, and you won’t need to worry about dosing calcium or trace elements. Mushroom corals are great, as well as zoanthids. Snake polyps are cool, but not as common. Xenia, Kenya tree, and green star polyps are frequently recommended as beginner corals, but personally I’d steer clear of them as they can grow very very fast and choke out a tank.

Reef2reef is an AMAZING saltwater forum!! I’m not on there much, but it’s full of great people and you can find an answer to pretty much any question you have!Hope this helps, and feel free to send a message or ask if you have any more questions! :D

[fbwzoo]

Any ideas of animals can thrive in a fifteen gallon tank? It seems too small for the reptiles I’ve looked at and too Big for an arachnid or other insects. I don’t know much about fish and just gained an interest in them so I don’t know what could go where. (Sorry for using you as a resource but I feel like most other places on the internet suggest the bare minimum or just completely undersell the space an animal needs)

I would look to @elemental-kiss or @hella-free-space for ideas on fish! I’m not big on them, so my main suggestion is spoil a rescue betta with it. XD

You could also do a male mouse in it. I think a couple female mice would be okay too, but personally I’d want more room for multiple mice. With a wire add-on, you could possibly also put a couple gerbils in it, but kind of the same thing as with the mice - I’d want more space for them.

You could probably also go with any of the ideas from this post - http://askscalestails.tumblr.com/post/105318690490/what-could-i-put-in-a-10-gallon-tank-besides other than possibly the tarantulas…I know there are risks for them re: falling from heights & injuring themselves, and if I remember correctly, 15g are just taller than 10g.

And no worries, you’re fine! :) I hope this helps at least a little bit!

[dangernoodle-mia]

Okay Mia is all settled in! Here’s a rundown of how her tank is set up WITH LINKS 😁 also read this if you need habitat suggestions!

I started with loose coconut hide and mixed in some cypress mulch. This will help control the mold problem I had with the aspen bedding also while keeping the humidity juuuust perfect.

I didn’t really want to get her a light but I decided to go with it and at least give one a try so, I invested in a deep dome and a 60 watt inferred bulb. Also on her hot side, I have a 16 watt heat pad under her tank. This will give the mulch a little push with releasing that humidity she loves so much! However, the temperature was just barely at 80 and while its ideal, it’s not what I wanted for her. So I pulled a small 4 watt mat from her small tank and smacked it on the side of her new tank right next to her hot pool. Brought the temp up a whole 5 degrees! I was a little concerned with the humidity but it finally got up to 45 naturally and that’s before spraying the tank so I guess that’s fine! I placed her favorite hide on the heating pad and she is just eating that up! Went right to it and she’s currently napping there ☺️

I thought that I would be able to keep the towels off of her tank but I think I really like using them. Anyway, I really suggest the substrate mix I’m using because not only does it promote humidity, it also helps your little noodle shed with minimal issues 💕

I do have an extra heat pad but I don’t think I really need it. I was planning on letting her 10 gal be a feeding tank and I think I can still do that but it won’t be like a full habitat. I’ll use the aspen bedding in that. I’d say maybe after she’s caught her food and gotten it down, I can put her back in her large tank.

I really have to say, going from 10 to almost 30 gallons is a huge change and I think she’s really happy! She cozied up real quick and I’m just so happy with this set up and I’m happy for her 🐍

[letsgetsalty]

If you were to recommend a beginner saltwater setup with relatively easy/hardy species to someone who has only ever had freshwater tanks... what would you recommend?

I usually say a thirty gallon cube with a back filter chamber, with clownfish, damsels, or a watchman goby. You can usually have three fish in there, as long as they aren’t active swimmers and they’re all compatible. If you’re looking at coral, just make sure you have a decent reef light and stable parameters. For a tank that size you’ll want to get an auto top off. Really, the larger tank you have the easier it’ll be. You’ll want to start with soft corals like zoanthids or mushrooms, maybe green star polyps or xenia if you don’t mind pruning it out.

If you’d like you can look through my “tank suggestions” tag and see what I’ve recommended to other people

[letsgetsalty]

Hey! I'm starting my first saltwater tank sometime in the summer under the direction of an aquarist mentor. I was wondering about what some good beginner fish would be for a tank that's anywhere between 75-120 gallons-- I'm doing this tank for a client who has kids, so colorful options would be nice, but I'm honestly not picky as long as they would do well together

Ooh exciting!!! I’m not too knowledgeable on fish for larger tanks - I have small tanks so I refrain from looking at them ahahA - but I can try to throw some names at you!The first one that came to mind is fairy wrasses! They’re super colorful. Also dottybacks, flame angels, and coral beauties! My mom has kept those three, they seem like good fish. I don’t know much about these, so you should look at their care requirements, but hopefully that’ll give you some place to start!

[letsgetsalty]

Anyone have experience with Brazilian Pennywort or Ludwigia repens?? I’m thinking about getting them for the shrimp tank. I think our yard is p much just Pennywort (I need to confirm that ID) so I’m going to check if it’s safe for the tank. No pesticides, etc. I want a small amount of it, floating?

The ludwigia repens looks like it’ll be good, but I have no idea where to get it.

[letsgetsalty]

So I got a nice three gallon tank for Christmas! I’m looking to get some bee shrimp for it. Anyone have experience with them? Any advice on where to get them, what substrate, plants, etc.? :o

[letsgetsalty]

Any suggestions for tds products for shrimp??? I’ve been looking at the Lowkey’s brand but can’t seem to find it anywhere.