Be nice to the new guy!

[reeffreak]

The LFS store get so many fish in and out you can't really rely on them for 100% healthy stock.After everything else you will spending,a QT may save you in the long run.BTW,Walmart here sells complete 10gal(tank,lights,heater,filter)for 40 or 50 bucks.I would ditch the cheap heater that comes with it and buy a better one.

[kevinsimons]

So, if I need a quarantine tank, then essentially don't I need to establish TWO marine aquariums, two popuations of LR, two skimmers, etc? or is a quarantine tank a bit less involved?

[Bifferwine]

A quarantine tank is less involved. It's smaller, you probably just need a piece or two of live rock to make the fish comfortable, you can use a small filter because the fish probably won't be in there for too long and you can always easily do water changes on the quarantine tank, you will need a little heater, etc. Some people always keep their quarantine tanks running, others (like me) tear it down and only put it back up when new livestock is bought, using water from the main tank so that it won't cycle.

[reeffreak]

Like Sarah,I only set up QT when I need to quarantine livestock.Sort of like doing a water change from the DT to the QT.Yeah its much less involved,a simple heater,lights,and filter is all thats needed equipment wise.I know alot of people who don't use it but I don't recommend it,the choice is really up to you.

[kevinsimons]

You guys are awesome.... Thank you, again. So - probably the last two questions from me until I actually start things up... how long does one keep a fish in quarantine before adding to the tank? and finally - preferred starter fish? Blue Green Chromis (recommended by my LFS) don't do much for me.

[yote]

If your meaning a fish to cycle with,then most folks use a damsel,but I wouldnt recommend it,they become little helluns and there a pain in the butt to catch unless you use dynimite.
You can cycle using just the LR and LS.
If you mean after the cycle,them maybe a couple of clowns.

[reeffreak]

I usually keep my fish in QT for about 2 weeks,some do a little longer and some a little shorter.

Like yote said,you don't have to cycle with fish the die-off from the live rock should start the cycling process.If not,you can add a small dead shrimp or put a little fish food every few days or so.If your going the fish route,the chromis is your best bet,other damsels are too aggressive.You can use clowns but they are a little more expensive.Remember,live fish may not survive the cycling process.

[kevinsimons]

I promised I'd be done asking questions until I actually started things up - but a new topic has come up and I'd love your input on this: WATER!
I live in San Francisco, and my LFS sells purified sea water collected about 30 miles south and a 1/4 mile out (Half Moon Bay - a pretty, rural place, which should be pretty immune from urban pollution).

Alternatively, I can mix my own - I assume Instant Ocean is the preferred brand? But I live in a VERY old house with VERY VERY old plumbing - so even if the water supplied by the city was pure (whiich it's not - it's good, but not perfect; we DO have cryptosporidium in the supply), so no matter what, the water coming from my tap is of questionable quality.

So - what are all your thoughts on RO/DI? Do I need BOTH RO and DI? Do I need either? If so, is there a brand that's preferred? - and finally - how do they work? I see the pics with the canisters and stuff - do you hook this permanently up to your plumbing under your sink and it outputs into a bucket?

Thanks for all your help, guys.

[jhnrb]

welcome to the site. you are getting some pretty good information here so I have nothing to add at this point. on the RO/DI question or store bought filtered ocean water. I would not purchase ocean water since you do not know what you are getting, and the water is not from the local of the fish. Also saltwater specific gravity will change with the change of temperature, so what comes out of the ocean off our coast will not be sufficient to support the tropical animals needing 76 to 80 degree water without additives. I would recommend ro/di water. Spectrapure or kent is a good place to start looking. try Marine depot.com or premium aquatics.com for some comparison plricing. Best reguards from Eureka CA.

[yote]

I agree with jhnrb,either look into setting up a ro unit or you can get the ro/di water at any grocery store.
For a FOWLR Instant Ocean will work pretty good,but most perfer other brands like Oceanic,Red Sea,Kent.I personaly use the Oceanic salt and have the wife pick up my water from wal-mart.