Hi guys

I live in the carribean where i'm surrounded by saltwater. I want to do saltwater tank with everything out the ocean. I have a 55 gallon with two emperor filters on the back. My question is what equipment would i need to do this project. I would do a fish only tank maybe some rocks but thats it.

Can i just take water from out the ocean, i would go far out to avoid contamination.

Any help is appreciated.

I've never had a salt water aquarium but I'm assuming the same rule applies as does to a fresh water tank: taking stuff directly from the wild can be dicey. You never know if you are going to end up with something that will contaminate the tank. (Also, if you catch your own fish, it could be illegal).

They do sell substrate that has been taken from the ocean, but it's been assured that there is nothing in it that will contaminate the tank. You can buy live rock and corals, fish, what ever you need. I just wouldn't recommend taking right out of the ocean yourself. (I would hate for you to unknowingly take something that was endangered or illegal to take - a certain fish or coral - and then get in trouble with the law. I'd also hate to see you set up a beautiful ecosystem, only to have it all come crashing down because of a parasite or something).

Hope this helps.

__________________
20g Heavily Planted http://www.aquariumforum.com/gallery...00&ppuser=8981
36g Bow Front Heavily Planted http://www.aquariumforum.com/gallery...00&ppuser=8981

double that with Holly... a lot of places require permits to gather rock that you'd need as well as coral and fish. Some species are illegal and some places are illegal to collect from. if you decide to do that.. be aware of legal problems and also bad things that could come along with the rocks, sand, and fish..

I totally understand where you guys are coming from when I use to live in floridai I had a saltwater tank and I went the pet store way but now I'm in the cayman islands and its totally different. There pet stores don't do a lot of saltwater. What I really want to do is a lion fish tank you see the government has pass a law on killing the lion if you see one so instead of me killing them I want to build a tank so I don't care if I catch anything that wipe out my tank cause the government are killing them anyway.
Please remember in the islands fishing is a way of living so there's nothing illegal with taking fish.

So with the two filters and a heater do you think I need a protein skimmer for rocks, fish an sand and then I would use the sea water. Would that be ok or you guys feel I need do more

I will let this one pass as I've never done the salt water tank thing before and I really don't want to give you any advice that's wrong.

Good luck though and let us know what you decide to do.

__________________
20g Heavily Planted http://www.aquariumforum.com/gallery...00&ppuser=8981
36g Bow Front Heavily Planted http://www.aquariumforum.com/gallery...00&ppuser=8981

protien skimmer would be a good choice to have... be sure to watch out for hitchhikers on the rock that you get from the oceans.. rock crabs, mantis shrimp, etc.... You should convert at least on of those filters to a filter that contains just macro algae.. it will help control nitrates and phosphates. running the other filter to capture floating debris would be a good idea if you get the sea water.

Thank phys but I have couple more questions. How do i turn the filter into a macro algae. I don't mind getting hitch hikers onces there not bad. I caught a huge brittle star yesterday while i was looking conchs. I know we have pistol shrimps but i never seen a mantis shrimp.

Anyway after i put the saltwater and the sand in the tank would you make the tank run for a little before you add any fish.

You'd know if you found a Mantis shrimp, lol. Everything else in your tank would be dead. They are gorgeous and really cool, but definitely NOT community dwellers!

__________________
20g Heavily Planted http://www.aquariumforum.com/gallery...00&ppuser=8981
36g Bow Front Heavily Planted http://www.aquariumforum.com/gallery...00&ppuser=8981

actually if I got a mantis I would be happy. I had one already. I like them, it really doesn't matter what i get. I think it will be cool to have my fish from my back yard. I live next to the beach

You can use everything you find in your area in your tank, water, rocks and animals. You will have to figure out if it is legal but here in NY I use everything from the sea and the only animals that are not legal to collect would be game fish and shellfish. The Caribbean also has laws to protect hobbiests type fish.
You do not have to do anything to the water and you can collect it directly from the beach but not near a river.
The equipment would be the same as any salt water tank.

Well we don't have rivers here but the laws are really flexible like we do have seasons for lobsters, conchs when u can take them and there's a limit but to say there's a fish that they protect it would be the grouper but I'm not after them so its cool.

I would go the pet store way but they are not allowed to bring in almost anything. Like no invertebrates at all and no to a lot of fish. The lion problem here came from one owner bringing in I think 4 and some how they got away in the wild now I see lion fish every time I go diving. Like its gotten so bad that the government said to kill them if you see them.

Anyway how long do you run the tank for after I add the rocks n water n sand. Also do I still test the water for everything. Also do I need to add anything to the filters yea I have a protien skimmer now and the two emperor filter and a heater and the proper lighten. But do I add anything to the cartridges that come with the filters.

Although I can easily replace the fish if they die I don't want that to happen.

Thank you all for your help in advance

I'm doing the tank this weekend so I want to have everything ready

If you are taking the rocks and water from the sea, you can put animals in as soon as you like. I would use a skimmer like on any salt tank.
What Island are you on?

I live in the cayman Islands. It's funny cause about 5 years ago we neva had any lion fish. I went diving yesterday and there all over and any size you want from juveniles to adults.

I'm going run the tank for couple days before i add fish.

Wow. Sounds wonderful!
I miss the beach.

No saltwater experience here. I will say this: Start researching meds. You need to know about saltwater parasites and how to KILL them. Your fish will more than likely have parasites of some sort.

I kept a wild-caught snake for several years but when I got him he had flukes and would not eat and I had no idea how to treat them so $80 and a veterinarian visit later he was healthy and started eating.

__________________
"Have a betta day!" -Bob Vang, VangsPlakat

IslandBoy the last time I dove in the Caymans there were no lionfish there. I think that was about 8 years ago.

Lionfish populations have exploded in the last few years.. 8 years ago, i dont think there was a problem with them..

I did purchase live sand and rock however. It's illegal to take in Florida. I get my water a good ways offshore and my tank has been doing great. I appreciate many of the hitchhikers in the water. I have seen tube worms grow on my rocks and it's likely due to my water source. So far I have not gotten anything harmful or toxic. I have 2 little invasive lionfish and they make great pets. They love to beg for food. It's so fun collecting.