55 gal salt setup

Question
I have a 55 gallon tank that i want to use as  Saltwater fish & live rock tank i have an undergravel filter & a twin bio wheel filter please let me know what i need too setup and type of fish i like eels & puffers & tangs i have a test kit a buffer & a Hydrometer

Answer
Hi darnell,

There are many things to know about keeping a saltwater tank.  Not sure what you would like to hear, so will just focus/address your questions for now.  (and letting you know what you need is a long long list, with knowledge/know-how being on the top of the list)

Saltwater keepers dont use 'under-gravel' filters.  We dont use gravel.  the idea of sucking poop down into the subtrate is not a good thing for us.  We want to expot as much of the poop as possible.  (we call poop nutrients)

Teh bio-wheel filter is also not 'top' on our list of equipment.  Some people do use a 'cannister' filter. And some use a 'sump' (a seperate tank, located near the main 'display' tank, that the water is circulated through then back to the tank.

If search for cannister filter or saltwater sump, you will see some good examples of these types of filtrations.

The actual 'filtration' is done by micro biological life forms that digest the 'nutrient's and convert them to Nitrates, which we would then 'export'/dilute, by taking some water out and replacing it with new salt water.


TheAs for the type of fish, there aer all types, the ones you mentioned would be considered 'aggressive' fish, as they eat other fish..  (not the tangs)  But if something could fit into the mouths they would suck it up...

Aggressive tanks are beautiful but present other challenges, specificaly, the fish will eat 'the clean up crew', snails, crabs, and things that would help you clean the 'nutrients'...

I hope this helps get you started.

Please let us know if you have more questions, and let us know how you do...



Mr. bill