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Old 02-06-2008, 02:06 PM
jumpman23 jumpman23 is offline
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Default To start saltwater fishkeeping

Quote:
"I have one 2 feet empty tank. Is that ok to start for marine fish tank?"
Yes. Clean & rinse the empty tank with RO water and clean cloth. Apply Dechlorinated water to wash it thoroughly ensure no chlorine content before using.

Quote:
"What equipments do I need to have?"
You need the water test kits, to ensure your water quality is suitable to keep the fish. PH, KH, NO2, Ammonia, Salinity checker (Salt content checker)

Ammonia test kit
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/k...3/DSC01922.jpg

PH, KH, NO2
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/k...3/DSC01909.jpg

Salinity checker (Salt content checker)
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/k...3/DSC01906.jpg

You can either purchase the sea water from local pet shop, normally come in bale. For 1.5 ft 2 bales are more than enough, for 2 ft should be 2 and a half bales.

http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/k...3/DSC01907.jpg

Or u can make them, buying some sea salt, mix wiv filtered water or RO water, make sure you put anti chlorine before mixing the salt. To test whether the water is fit to be inserted, make sure u test them with Salinity Checker (Salt content checker) always make sure they are within 1.020 - 1.023 (highlighted in red). You also need to check the water quality with your test kits, PH, KH, NO2, Ammonia (Normally RO water will not likely to have these).

http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/k...3/DSC01902.jpg

Well now you've to decide your water treatment equipment. You will need a Protein skimmer, economy one with pump cost around RM 120 from Nirox, then a filter either sump tank or canister. Canister you can opt for better quality either Hydor (RM 25x onwards) or Tetra (cost RM 3xx onwards) there are other cheaper canister cost RM 15x onwards which there might be cases of leaking and pump overheat etc. The sumptank is the cheapest and best way as you can house liverock in it.

Inside your tank, you will a liverock, it contains millionth of biological bacterium enough to breakdown harmful substances.

Before i learn how to manage my water condition, the fish hide inside the liverock in agony. I did not check the salinity (salt content), and the filtration has not been modified with JBL filtration product).



After try to observe the fish, with the right water condition, they will be swimming around happily. Also make sure your fish enjoy the fish food you buy for them.



I'm using the JBL fish product, i might change to other brand, some fish food will increase the Nitrite content.

http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/k...3/DSC01893.jpg

OK, you've learn the importance of water quality, you've also learn on water treatment. Now you need a powerheads, in a large tank some ppl. put two powerheads.

I'm using the SEIO powerhead, abit bulky in a 1.5 ft but the wave it create the fish seems to enjoy it.

http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/k...3/DSC01763.jpg

OK now, keep testing the water condition, and salinity (salt content) and try observe whether your fish is happy and whether they are eating, a healthy fish will eat, try switch to the product your fish love, and share with us here.

Well, enjoy your tank.

U can watch my tank here (I learn alot from past failures, now i'm seeking to improve).

Before adding new fish
YouTube - Beginner Nano tank by JN23

After adding new fish
YouTube - Beginner Nano tank by JN23 part 2

I've did some modification to my filter, i will teach u later how if u interested to learn.

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