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From: earthling1984
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  • great information.

  • Well said! I'm starting a saltwater tank also, glad I found you, I'm trying to get clown triggers,tangs, clowns, maybe a lion fish, barracuda live rock is this a good idea?

  • Your video is the best one I've ran across on! Very informative!! I've had my 75g going for the last few weeks. Everyone looks healthy. I have damsel, starfish, shrimp, and y. Tang. Thanks to you! And one more question. Is it ideal to use purified water to use on my fish only tank? Later plan to add coral. When starting out I've been using aquarium water from my local water company. And, I found a little building that's closer to me now but is it safe for me to use Purified Water?

  • really great video!!! thank you---I am thinking about getting into saltwater and your video was really helpful!

  • @crumpybumpystick Glad my video helped you and I wish you luck with your sailtwater aquarium!

  • can i add more live rocks while i have couple of fish in my tank? im thinking of adding at least 20lbs of live rock. i have 2 fish in my 75gal. they have been there for almost a week now.

    if you can give reply back id appreciate it.

  • @saflip969 yes you can. 

  • this was the most helpful video i found :)

  • @mrsgray3768 Thanks :0

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  • i have a 20 gallon tank with 50 gallons of filtration is that ok ?

  • is a canister filter comparable to a sump filtration system?

  • @123ecs not really. Sumps provide a lot more bio filtration. Canister filters are good, and provide some, and would be fine for a fish only tank.

  • how big is your tank

  • should i take the filter pads out of the HOB filter or not?

  • @MountPooji yes you can , saltwater tanks get most their biological filtration from live rocks, so the filter itself can provide the mechanical filtration and you can change the pads.

  • This is so damn complicated idk if i want saltwater fish anymore :(

  • @smokeyjp it does take time to learn how to setup a saltwater tank... but really, once you do it, and learn it, it becomes easy. Fish only is the way to start, don't move into corals or inverts(other then crabs/snails) until you can keep a fish only tank running for like 6 months or more.

  • Hey there! I watched your video and I was impressed! You touched on each topic just enuff and you spoke clearly! Of course I watch stuff like Nysteelo and Mrsaltwatertanktv, but they are good too! Thank you for taking your time to help someone out! GBY later

  • @Sisco296 Thanks for the kind comment! Glad you enjoyed the video and glad it was helpful for you!

  • so you can do live rock and sand without a sump? what about a protien skimmer?

  • @HardHatDIver412 yes, you can, you don't *need* a sump, but they are very helpful. same with skimmers, for a fish only tank, u can do without, but the more invested you get into the hobby, the more you will want a sump & skimmer. Especially if you want more then just fish.

  • @earthling1984 Thanks for the reply, and for the record Chizzo "mr.saltwater tank" didnt have shit for a beginner...

  • @HardHatDIver412 for a fish only tank, you can do without a sump or skimmer, but they are helpful in any tank.

  • This guy is an idiot. If you want to start a saltwater tank watch mr. Saltwater tank he knows his stuff. Ever since I started watching his videos and listening my corals and fish are happier. To many people are setting up tanks wrong and killing fish. It's a beautiful hobby if you do it right do don't f$&k it up.

  • @Chizzo0025 umm, wow, you're an asshole. for a fish only tank, I explained well for beginners.

  • what your set up in the tank in the video?

  • i have a question that might sound dumb to everyone so don't laugh too hard..what do people mean by live rocks?

  • @Firelord360 they call it live rock because bacteria grows on it, this bacteria helps with filtering your tank. The rock itself is not living in any way, it is just a place for bacteria to grow.

  • im thinking about setting up a 55 gal all fish tank with nothing but sand on the bottom for starting out. Can you just put a on the back filter on it or do i need a sump or protein skimmer?

  • great video. one question tho. you didnt really talk about lighting. does a fish only tank

    need lighting?

  • @FineBowl no special lighting.

  • Last month I saw your videos on bearded dragons so I could know a bit more at work (I work at a pet store now). So I was surprised again when I clicked this video and saw you again xD I was like 'Hey! It's the bearded dragon guy!! Awesome!'

    Great video. Thanks for the great information :D

  • @inuome92 :) no problem, and glad a pet shop employee is researching so you will know what to tell customers! too many pet shop workers know nothing! Keep up the great work!

  • @earthling1984 hey i have a question do u know how to set up a eshops sump filter?

  • great video. Thanks for puting this up.I have wanted to try a small salt water tank(30 gal).This video has made me want to try it even more. i always thought you needed alot of exspencive equipment. all my aquariums have atleast double the filtration as recomended so i guess i can use these for salt.kool thanks again

  • I'm getting a 40 gallon tank soon any good looking fish you can recommend? I'm only going to have live rock and sand in it

  • Ribucan yes you could use ocean water but its not the best i would say you need to set one up

  • Great video for first time salt water setup,going to try it with a 25 gal.

  • @DennfoxJames awesome! let me know how it goes!

  • Great video, thanks for posting. I'm just about to set up my first marine tank and picked up quite a bit from that, cheers! Getting a 60g sump aquarium tomorrow, I have a 110g African Cichlid tank running already, so looking forward to stepping it up a bit and keeping marines.

  • @Rogan74 awesome, good luck!

  • Im going to get a ten gallon tank does the water need a heater and how many fish can I put in

  • @XXAZTEZXx101 depends on the type of fish for both ur questions.

  • i live in hawaii. do you think i cold use straight ocean water? with filter...

  • This video is helpful for a very basic fish only setup, but you clearly don't know much about corals. Corals do not require CHEMICALS to survive. this is misleading. You CAN feed corals with supplements in a bottle, but for most coral species, you do not need to feed them. They feed off of light and nutrients in the water.

    A good salt mix provides corals with what they need, but monitoring those levels and adjusting accordingly is important.

  • What size tank do you recommend for a single clown fish?

    I live in the UK and the town I live in don't sell marine fish.Do you know any websites that sell marine fish?

  • @xxtasha10xx 20 to 30gal for a single clown would be ok

  • @earthling1984 ok thank you.

  • @xxtasha10xx no problem, and remember you can add in other things, like crabs, shrimp, or even one or two other small size fish.

  • @earthling1984 I was thinking of buying some bottom feeders when I get everything set up and the clown fish is settled down.Do you recommend any beginner marine bottom feeders?

  • very helpful info! thank you very much for making this vid.

  • @cratos1024 thanks, glad you were able to gain some info :)

  • christ im 13 and i really want a sea horse but i dont noe how to do any of this

  • @infrcowgirl112 Seahorses are really hard to keep alive and healthy.Not many home saltwater tanks have seahorses,it's mainly in zoo aquariums.Have you ever had freshwater fish? If not,try get experience managing a freshwater tank first.

  • dam you have hella animals i seen your other videos before you do a good job with all the info thanks

  • Ive been keeping my daughters 36g freshwater tropical tank up for about a year now with no problems, all we have kept though are basic tropical fish, like molly's, platys, and tetras. so im thinking about buying another tank to setup a saltwater tank. can you recommend some good "starter" saltwater fish. something that is pretty hardy. i eventually want to get a tank with some blue tangs, but gotta crawl before you can walk huh. thaks

  • @reed1285 liveaquaria . com has a great list of beginner saltwater fish that I'm using. I'm gonna start with clownfish myself :)

  • @reed1285 everyone loves clownfish. and they go well with many other fish. I'd say setup your tank, let it cycle, put in a single clown. Make sure everything is good and your clown lives for a week, then visit your local shop and see what else you want to add. Add in a new fish once or twice a week until you have a full tank. Some great fish are firefish, tangs, angelfish(flames are very beautiful), gobys, dartfish, etc.

  • @reed1285 You are not ready for saltwater if you have only kept simple freshwater fish like the ones you listed.

  • ist enough 2 hang on filter,canister and a skimmer with liverock and crushed coral for 250 l

  • Hi there i have a big external cannister filter what media can i use in this for my salt tank?

  • @walsallcrew well you will want some type of sponge filter to filter out debree,then you can pretty much just use bio media. pieces of live rock or other store bought bio media.

  • im a bigginer first tank and its a 60 gallon tall tank and i want it to be a saltwater fish only tank what tipe of filter would u recomend cuz the pet store said i have to get a sump or everything i put in there will die can u please give me some advice thank you

  • i have a 55 gallon tank that once was saltwater fish only. i also have live rock but it been converted to freshwater for about 2-3 years now. can i use that same rock in a saltwater system or did it get ruined in freshwater? i want a fish only tank again but like you said live rock is expensive and if i can save money there i can buy a second 55 gal fluval to go with the one i got!

  • @pinamichael82 do not use the rock, the rock migh be calcium and that raises the ph on your tank. freshwater is usually 7.0 but there are some fish that do take higher alkalinity. just make sure to see what the fish requires

    but do clean the tank well. usually is not recomended. but i have done it. i do make sure that the tank is clean

  • What kind of a filter would you recommend for a 10 gallon salt tank?

  • @mrJBKfilms I really like the fluval brand filters, if you want an underwater filter, try the fluval U2. Replace only one filter side at a time(it has two filter sides) so you keep the beneficial bacteria in there. change one filter side every 2 weeks or so. so once a month each filter side gets changed.

  • @earthling1984 So that is an in tank filter? will it give it enough flow?

  • @mrJBKfilms yes, u won't even need a waterpump, it will be sufficient

  • @earthling1984 Thanks a lot, you saved a lot of possible problems and expenses with my tank!

  • is it safe to get live rock from the ocean? & if so how can you get the harmful bacteria off it because im thinking of getting the fish i catch all the time at the beach for an aquarium. im gonna try to catch a chainlink eel again.

  • @InvaderxArka I don't agree with catching fish from the ocean for fish tanks, although many pets stores do sell wild caught fish, especially saltwater. but you can find captive bred fish as well. as for the live rock, that should be fine. best bet would be to boil it first.

  • @earthling1984 mk thanks :D

  • @InvaderxArka if you get liverock, actual live rook and not just rock, then you shoul leave it in water (salt water) for a while. beacause you will have some bacteria that is no good for the tank. you can search more to see how to cure it. but if it is regular rock then you can bleach it, or boil it. that will kill whatever is there.

  • @saltwaterandmore thanks, ill think about just buying the rock...seems easier

  • you can go with less live rock. actual live rock! what you got there is just rock. the live rock already comes with bacteria. and it is cheaper to buy just the rock. then u can buy a few pieces of live rock and use purple up to make it culture all over the other rocks. its call seeding. the live rock is the kind that has pink or red spots. fiji live rock is the best. and the more the better

  • hey im gonna convert my 20 gal fw tank to fish only sw tank and i was wondering if i could just buy live sand and just use a filter for my tank with no live rock

  • @fishoexplotion1 you should get some live rock

  • hello, i was wondering whats the smallest salt water aquarium i should get if i'm a begginer. the man at the pet store told me to start out with damsels sicne they're only about $3 and are hardy

  • @ZarosS3 good choice to start with damsels, they are hardy and should be a good start for you. a 20gallon tank with a few damsels would be good for learning how to run saltwater.

  • @earthling1984 that would be great except i don't have the room for a 20 gallon, what's your opinion on nano lvie rock tanks with 1 or 2 damsels, and how big the nano should be because i see they sell all differant kinds @ the petco.

  • Hide your children when this guy comes around

  • Hello, would a 20 gallon tank be ok for 2 clownfish?

  • @Lpinkham1 should be ok, but that is about all you can put in the tank, don't overcrowd it.

  • I would like to get a little 10gallon saltwater tank. I would like to add some coral as well. Would I still want a SUMP? Great video by the way.

  • @xKryptonnn sumps are always very beneficial to tanks. you don't necessarily need it, but they are recommended.

  • Hey when u said that I need to leave the salt inside the tank for weeks can I just put boiling water in the tank and put the salt in an leave it for like 2 days? So the water molecules will move faster and dissolve the salt easier?

  • @Wett707 warmer water would dissolve it faster, however, you still need to wait a day or two to make sure it is all uniform and setup right. then you still need to wait a couple weeks for the tank to cycle, so you really won't be savnig any time. and how do you plan to fill up a 50+ gallon tank with boiling water?

  • Do I need a skimmer for a 15 gal

  • @missbright27 tank size doesn't matter. skimmers are always helpful, but they are not required. They are a great thing to add to keep your tank healthy, but you can do without them.

  • hi

    thank u for the info

    i have 52g tank and i want to set it up,,,

    so about the fillteration i have hang on fillter(jebo 508) and hang on askimmer for 64g.

    does that enough or must i have sumb.

    thank u

  • thanx for all the info, I have one question ... Do Clown fish need a protein skimmer?

  • @Thorthedragon3192 you can do without a skimmer.

  • @earthling1984.....Thank u for this great informative video...i've done exactly the same as per ur video....and its been 4 weeks but the amonea and nitrite is still present in the water....what should i do....and what could b the reason.....pls advice....many thanks.

  • @chefhenry wow 4 weeks is a long time to still have ammonia and nitrite. what size tank and what filter are you using? also, what did you put in the tank? You didn't put any wood or rocks from outside did you(or any 'once living' material that could be decomposing in there)? Ammonia / nitrite come from decomposing food/waste/once living matter. Live rock from pet shops(if purchased wet and already 'live') will also do this. best to get dry.

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  • @earthling1984 some people are telling me you don't need a sump even if you have coral if the tank is under 40 gal is this true? PLEASE HELP

  • @evilgrunt123 a sump is never *required* but it is always a very good idea.

  • great video

  • Very well made video, found you to be very informative. Thank you!

  • thank u sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo­oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo­oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo­oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo­oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo­oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo­oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo­oooooooo much

  • what would i need if i am just a beginner , and i want to test how the saltwater thing works out, . like for example i have a 20 gallon and i just want to buy one saltwater fish . what will i need ? and can i do this . please rite back thanks

  • @MegaSmash24 watch the vid... all you really need is a proper setup and salt. and don't overstock because many new fish keepers do overstock. you can have 1inch of fish per 5gallons of water. and this is measured by the fish adult size, *not* the size at time of purchase.

  • @earthling1984 thanks for writing back and btw which filtration will i need ? i have a penguin bio wheel 150 filter in my freshwater . can this filter be used for saltwater too ?

  • @MegaSmash24 I would suggest something a bit larger. for a 20gallon tank get something that is rated for around 40gallons to 60gallons.

  • @earthling1984 oh ok , thanks that helps alot and i am just planning to buy a clownfish to see how it goes . and maybe later on ill buy another clownfish . what kind of sand will i use also ?

  • how would like 2 clown fish do in a 20 gallon tank every site says something different like you need 40 gallons minimum just to maintain a stable environment

  • im diggin your hair nickleback

  • Nice vid. I've got a lot of new info to take in before I start my first saltwater tank, and I think you've shed some light on most of my concerns. Did you start your tank with a "clean-up crew"? I'm thinking like snails, shrimp and so on.

  • @Bygde no, i started with fish after the nitrogen cycle was complete. Clean up crew wont' have anything to feed on in a brand new tank, of course you can put in food for them.

  • thanks earthling, really helpfull video, you da man !

  • @robblac thanks for the kind comment! :)

  • iv heard live rock can have worms in it and the worms arre hard to clean up. is this true? im trying to set up a salt water tank, and i would like to know.

  • @randomgroup1 it can have bristle worms in it if you purchase live rock that has already been cured and currently is 'living' in a stores tank. If you buy dry live rock, and let it culture in your tank, then no worms will come with it.

  • I'm setting up my first saltwater tank. What order do I add things? I'm thinking about filling up my tank with tap water, then putting in live sand, then salt mix, then live rock. I'll let that run for weeks, then throw some fish in there. Does that sound right?

  • @ZacReynoldsHasEmail sounds about right, you can use RO water if you want instead.

  • what if i get a 6 gallon tank will i need all 6 pounds?

  • @ivan12541 yes, i'd go with 3 to 7 pounds for a 6 gallon tank; however, 6 gallons is WAY TO SMALL for a saltwater setup. Unless you plan on putting in a single fish(and a small fish at that, one that gets 1inch or smaller) and maybe one snail, that is all a 6gallon tank could support.

  • @BAEnErGYzZ wow... yes a trigger is a saltwater fish... what were you thinking???

  • What kind of water do you need to start with? can you use tap water then treat it, or do you need to get distilled water? Or can you get away with tap water?

  • @RunsWithBull many people swear by R/O water or distilled water... my tank has been up and running over 3 years with no problems, and all I use is tapwater.

  • do u need to have live rock

  • @prowrestlingcarny I would say yes

  • But how many damsels can I put in a 20 gallon tank

  • @MannyFresh1x like 3 or 4 tops.

  • @earthling1984 how many firefish can i put in. i wanted 1 purplefish and 1 regular firefish and like maybe 1 or 2 clowns and 1 yellow tail a domino damsel is that over stocked for a 20 gallonor no

  • I want to set up a 20 gallon salt water tank what is the best beginner fish to get

  • @MannyFresh1x a couple types of damsel would work great, they are hardy fish, and come in a few color varietys, well many color varieties.

  • Do you need live rock for a fresh water tank?

  • Right now, I have setup 2 fresh water tanks, you can watch the video of my tanks.

  • Ok my next question is I just bought a 29 gallon tank will I need a sump if it's just fish only I know you explained in the video I just don't want a salesmen try to rip me out of money being a female and all but Im just trying to have like 2 clown fish and thus pretty blue fish I saw

  • @Nu2makeUpGrl you do NOT *need* a sump. my tank currently has no sump, and it hasn't had one for over a year, fish are doing great. That being said, yes, sumps are very very beneficial, but you can do without it as long as you *don't overcrowd* your tank, and have a very good on tank filtration system.

  • Hi there, really interested in going the saltwater way, FOWLR is not my preference but from no background in saltwater and allot of research would you say a reef tank is doable straight off the mark? I have a fairly large 80g tank which i plan on adding a 40g-60g sump to, probably doing a sump/ refugeum combo. Your thoughts on this and also approximate stock levels (of fish). Cheers. Great video Btw +1

  • @nickoswoos it is definetly doable, but I would still suggest adding in fish first, and making sure you keep everything stable for a month or two, then start adding your corals. From the start, plan what fish and corals you want, then start your tank. for corals the sump/refugium will be great, you should get that setup, and then you just really need very very good lighting, and soem chemicals. I'd say go for it if you are dedicated and ready to take on the challenge.

  • what is the best size saltwater tank to start with for a beginner?

  • @Nu2makeUpGrl there really isn't a good answer to that question. in saltwater, the larger the tank, the better usually, however, that also means more expensive. you could do a 10gallon setup but you could only add about 1 small fish, and maybe a couple inverts like snails or small hermit crabs. One of the biggest problems is overstocking fish tanks, especially saltwater, then the fish die over the first weeks or months of owning them. if you want to practice, start with a 10gal and one fish.

  • How do you remove hard water stains and salt stains off of your tank? I have an older used tank that has all that and I want to clean it up first.

  • can i make a 10 gallon salt tank or is it to small for fish

  • @HEAVYMETALGODS86feb9 10 is very small in the saltwater world... but if you wanted just a single small fish(like a 1inch fish) then it would be a good learning experience.... usually people overstock their tanks, which causes a downfall of water quality and death of some or all fish. this happens much easier in saltwater than freshwater.

  • @earthling1984...If you aren't going to have coral do you just need to use salt mix? Or do you need the other chemicals you mentioned in your video? Also when you do water changes once monthly, do you need to add more salt with each change? How do you make sure you don't add too much or too little? I know you said you wanted to keep your level around 1.020 to 1.025 but what if the level is too high or low? How much would you add?

  • @earthling1984......If you aren't going to have coral do you just need to use salt mix? Or do you need the other chemicals you mentioned in your video? Also when you do water changes once monthly, do you need to add more salt with each change? How do you make sure you don't add too much or too little? I know you said you wanted to keep your level around 1.020 to 1.025 but what if the level is too high or low? How much would you add? I don't want to accidentally put too much or not enough

  • @mirandaJJ99 with only fish(depending on type of fish) you will be fine with just the salt. anywhere from 1.017 to 1.025 is usuaully just fine, but you don't want it changing quickly, you want to keep it level, fish don't like changing salt levels, it stresses them. so when you do a water change, get a large bucket, like 5gallons, and mix your saltwater to equal your tanks(at least close), then dump it in.

  • i like rocks in my fish tanks it dont fuck up the filter

  • This was super helpful, thank you :)

  • hi, my local aquarium store guy told me i can have two clown fish at a time. so should i get two or one?

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  • Hi I have just brought a 40 gallon tank with an external filter, Im taking your advice when it comes to doubling the filtration so im going to get a hang on back filter aswell, buy my question is because of my external filter I imagine I wont have as much flow in the tank as your Fluval U4 so what would be the best thing to buy to improve this? Awesome video by the way...

  • @MartinINC buy a cheap water pump - of around 335 to 500 gph flow rate, and ur set :)

  • I'm thinking of getting a clown fish what else goes with it plus brilliant! Talk there I loved it you explained it perfect I'm goin to like every video comment every video and subscribe plus favorite great vid dude

  • Thanks so much for this video! This was the most helpful thing we found on the internet after hours of searching for salt water tank set up. You also explained fish only vs. w/ coral better than any info we found. Thanks a ton!

  • @Mafunk1 No problem, and thanks for the kind comment!

  • Hi I have a question that I think you would be able to answer. I'm setting up a 30 gallon fish only tank and I want to know exactly what I need. What kind of filter do I need can I just use a hang on the back type ? I don't like the sump style filter even tho it Is better I just don't have room for that under thankks!

  • Hi I have a question that I think you would be able to answer. I'm setting up a 30 gallon fish only tank and I want to know exactly what I need. What kind of filter do I need can I just use a hang on the back type ? I don't like the sump style filter even tho it Is better I just don't have room for that under thankks!

  • Great video thanks mate

  • @Manicwensday1 no problem, and thanks :)

  • hi i have a 180l fish tank and was going to convert it from tropical to merine tank fish only and was ondering can i use the same equwipment like fish pump,heater, i am going to have clown fish can i have two that get on well from the shop? will they get along to start then fight?

    menny thanks

    neil

  • @DaughtersBoi you can put two together, I think they have to be male/female though. I think two males may fight over time, even if together in the shop before you got them(this also depends on size of tank, but I think for your tank size, 2 would be ok, if male/female).

  • Love ur vids

  • @techcookie22 thanks :)

  • Once I put the right amount of salt in, Will I need add salt when I do water changes?

    Thanks

  • @HawaiianBubble yes. I usually do 5gallon water changes(10% of my whole tank) - because I have a 7gallon bucket so I almost fill it, but not to top. I add salt to this, and usually put a small water pump into the bucket, and get the proper salt level(I let it mix for like 2 hours and test). Then I emptry 10% and fill 10%

  • Woah finally someone on youtube who actually understands how to explain to beginners thanks for the vid...im gna subscribe. Can you make a vid about fish that are easy to maintain for beginners

  • @Radicalxraiin Thanks for the kind comment! I try :) I will try to make a beginner fish video soon!

  • thanks man i want to start a 5 gallon aquarium i think is the info