Setting Up My FIRST EVER Saltwater Aquarium! Part 1: Equipment & Startup
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- Äas pĆidĂĄn 28. 03. 2023
- This is really happening! After many many years of keeping freshwater tanks only, we are now going to explore the saltwater side of things! I'm so excited đ
Everything I've used so far
Tank
US: bit.ly/3PSPho5
EU: bit.ly/3CDEQBJ
Light
US: bit.ly/40HoNeR
EU: bit.ly/3JxJQJs
Background foil
US: amzn.to/40E0iza
EU: amzn.to/3lO9WR8
Sand
US: amzn.to/3ZtDlOe (similar)
EU: amzn.to/3TTFphf
Filter
US: amzn.to/3LUglF8
EU: bit.ly/3eoYxUn
Lily pipes
US: amzn.to/40nchBv
EU: amzn.to/42RkiQQ
Refractometer
US: amzn.to/3JPFKgB
EU: amzn.to/42Pa7fF
Equipment I like to use (affiliate links)
Tank
US: bit.ly/3EbkdxH
EU: bit.ly/3S3y9ht
Light
US: bit.ly/3S2WxjC
EU: bit.ly/3z6R16F
Filter
US: bit.ly/3yxFttR
EU: bit.ly/3eoYxUn
Clear Filter Pipes
US: bit.ly/3RsFJkT
EU: bit.ly/3AL5oyv
Substrate
US: bit.ly/3bux8yR
EU: bit.ly/3qhHDt4
Wood (similar)
US: bit.ly/3VmDUJ0
EU: bit.ly/3MwgKfm
Rocks (similar)
US: bit.ly/3yAO7Yk
EU: bit.ly/3Tn0tLX
Dwarf Hairgrass (Eleocharis parvula)
US: bit.ly/3VsJIR5
Umbrella Hair Grass (Eleocharis Vivipara)
US: bit.ly/3MpO9br
Riccardia moss
US: bit.ly/3SR3Zy9
Juncus repens
US: bit.ly/3yyJjmo
Crypt parva
US: bit.ly/3Cs0APn
Crypt lutea
US: bit.ly/3yBGDo7
Crypt walkeri
US: bit.ly/3rSxBzu
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Inspiration playlist! âą Build Videos
CO2 buying guide! âą BEST CO2 SYSTEM FOR BE...
How to SETUP your CO2! âą EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO...
Simple fertilizer dosing! âą SIMPLE AQUARIUM PLANT ...
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This is really happening! After many many years of keeping freshwater tanks only, we are now going to explore the saltwater side of things! I'm so excited đ
Everything I've used so far
Tank
US: bit.ly/3PSPho5
EU: bit.ly/3CDEQBJ
Light
US: bit.ly/40HoNeR
EU: bit.ly/3JxJQJs
Background foil
US: amzn.to/40E0iza
EU: amzn.to/3lO9WR8
Sand
US: amzn.to/3ZtDlOe (similar)
EU: amzn.to/3TTFphf
Filter
US: amzn.to/3LUglF8
EU: bit.ly/3eoYxUn
Lily pipes
US: amzn.to/40nchBv
EU: amzn.to/42RkiQQ
Refractometer
US: amzn.to/3JPFKgB
EU: amzn.to/42Pa7fF
This going to be fun,I started a month ago saltwater after great freshwater succes and tones of your videos and much appreciated help,good luck mate
I recommend brightwell aquatics for the required nutrients you will need to dose! Its perfect that you have RO water system that lets you support this new aquarium keeping adventure. I do recommend getting more water test kits, its so invaluable even if its a macroalgae tank. Testing for Nitrate, phosphates, and Alk I think will be the most important for macroalgae tank.
I'm gonna watch your experiment closely. I'm also interested to switch to saltwater and never had the idea to start with an algae tank. Great!
Maybe AquaOwner can be some support for you, because he also started with an algae cube before his reef tank đ
A German youtuber did. the same âaquaownerâ . I think it would make sence to place a extra pump in the tank for a better waterflow because of the dead zone at the cave.
Poorđ đđ
As a saltwater reef keeper, several things to consider - with your tank in it's current location, watch for salt creep on your stand. A good practice will be to wipe your stand daily, or at a minimum, when you start seeing salt forming on the surface. This is due to the evaporation taking place. Also, consider getting an auto top off reservoir w/pump to help keep your salinity levels balanced. They make smaller ones (5 gallon size) that you can sit on the floor next to your stand. Also, with using a canister filter, if you find yourself needing to add supplemental filtration, you can add a filter reactor inline where you can insert your media without having to give up your existing filter. Two Little Fishies makes a very well known one that works just as well as it's more expensive counterparts. If you plan to add fish in the future, maybe consider adding a single firefish with either a banded coral shrimp or a fire shrimp for a tank of this size. Good luck and i'm excited to see where your journey takes you.
lol, one thing i cant stand about reef is the salt creep or spray , annoying
Lmao what saltwater so easy my guy i have a 20 gallon only casualty cuss he jump out for me is easier than fresh
@@andricksonrodriguez1905 I mean, more power to you if you find it easy but the fact is that saltwater is far more complicated than fresh on a fundamental level.
Macro algae is a great idea, Iâll be really interested to see how this project progresses. I came from marine hobby and coralline algae is the sign of a healthy saltwater setup but really takes time to establish so will be interesting to see how you get on stocking macro algae. Good luck!
@@REALOsmiumm no itâs literally not. People like you are damaging to the saltwater hobby. When I was 15 in Florida I literally had a garage sale 20gal tank with a hang on back filter and no heater, w a cheap fluorescent light hood. Tank was fine for years, just topped it up once in a while, barely did water changes and the fish did great. Every 3-4 months I would do a 50% or so water change and vacuum the sand. No different than my freshwater tanks. You make it as complicated as you want but donât go spouting off disinformation as if it is some fact.
Keep an eye on the lava rock. Lava rock reacts differently in salt water and can leech unwanted heavy metals. Good luck and enjoy the new experience!
Is it really lavarock though? I was wondering what he was using :)
This is literally the video I was hoping to find on your channel the other day :D
That hardscape rock choice was perfect!
For the future when you eventually do a waterchange: always mix the water and salt in a seperate container and not directly in the tank.
That's the plan! Even bought a new and bigger bucket đ
@@MJAquascaping I was recomended to use in that bucket small power head to do mixing for you.
Also important: water first, then add the salt. If you do it the opposite way, the exothermic dissolving reaction produces a lot of heat in microscale, which can damage some salt components or form new compounds.
Super excited for this. So glad you switched out the reef rock for lava rock, it looks so much better than that artificial stuff. I love the composition with the contrasting sand and central island design including cave spaces.
I really want to see some plants in there though. You could try:
- Red Ogo
- Scinaia complanata
- Halymenia dilatata
- Halymenia maculata
- Pink lace macroalgae
- Nemastoma spp
- Scinaia complanata
- Rose Petal Macroalgae
- Blue Hypnea
- Blue Scroll
- Grape Caulerpa
- Neomeris annulata
- Thalassia testudinum
- Green Finger
- Caulerpa prolifera
- Halimeda
- Cymopolia barbata
Not sure if they're all macroalgae plants but there is clearly scope for an amazing saltwater, white light planted aquarium.
Can't wait to see what you come up with. đ
The hardscape really has a Marine feel to it...a bit different than the planted tank arrangement. Looks great. Excited to learn about macroalgae through your videos and understanding...
Waiting for thr next part soon.
Yes! Amazing idea.
I've often wondered about scaping a saltwater aquarium in the style of a fresh water. No blue light or coral, just salty plants and colour popping fish. I love that you've decided to get salty but not in the traditional way. I've not seem anyone else really take the planted tank hobby in this direction yet but it feels like a natural progression. So exciting, just stay away from those blue lights. Good luck đ
I have a daylight spectrum in my reef tank. 10,000K looks like im snorkeling in person.
Check my channel or most recent video
czcams.com/video/hlCHli_DzH0/video.html
speaking from experience, you're going to want an automatic top off system for a nano tank that small. I tried to manage it by hand on a 10gal during the pandemic and it was very difficult and annoying and my corals ultimately suffered and failed to establish because of it. I kept it up for about 8 months before deciding that it wasn't worth saving the $100-200 USD for a basic ATO
As someone who is in the planning stage of a reef tank this is awesome to see
Excited to see this tank's journey! Especially since you are applying some freshwater techniques.
VERY EXCITING! I LOVE the idea of starting slow and using micro algae. Looking forward to the rest of this series. đ
Corals really aren't difficult depending on what kind you keep. Macro can be a challenge specially in a nano. Salinity and temp are your biggest things to keep an eye on. Either one of these items, if they sway, can cause your macro to go sexual which will require water changes to avoid losses. IMO the harder the challenge the greater the reward so I'm excited to see this build.
SO excited you were doing this!! Iâve always wanted to do saltwater but always been too scared so Iâll just live vicariously thru you lol! Canât wait to see the rest of the journey!
Super excited for this!!!
awesome little tank
This is great!!! I'm glad you are trying to take on something new which alot of us wouldn't dare to.
Really really exciting.
Will be joining you shortly! So excited
Can't wait to follow your journey.
Huge fan here from the USA!! Iâm going to really enjoy watching the updates on this project. Always wanted to go salt but like you never wanted to mess with all the extra thing needed to have one. Keep up the great work!!
Ik ben echt heel benieuwd hoe dit uitpakt! đ Leuk om te zien hoe je dit allemaal aanpak. đ
Looking foreward to follow your journey!
Can't wait for part 2.
I'm with you in this new journey đ
looking forward to see your vlog for each stage of this tank!
Wow! You keep hitting us with exciting updates đ
This is awesome! Good luck on your journey!
This is great! I went the other way (reef to planted tank). I think itâs helpful to think about the unique needs and similarities of both.
Can't wait to see part 2
I also discovered and sparked an interest in macro algae tanks specifically about a year or two ago as well! Super stoked to see what you come up with for the algae itself! So far you are doing exactly what I want to try. Cheers!
Canât wait to see how this progresses! đđ»
Bravo!!!
Thank's for sharing going to be a interesting project.
TMC barrel pump is a game changer.
Can't wait to see how this turns out
Very nice! Looking forward to seeing how it progresses.
Ayeee Iâm excited for you too! I just started my tank and itâs still cycling because exactly like you said I want to take my time. Also Iâve been in the freshwater hobby for a year and just now starting my first saltwater super excited.
Love your planted series, and like you, I have always been hesitant to make the leap to saltwater. I am excited to watch your progress! Good Luck!
Awesome! Succes!
Just echo everyone else really. Thanks for sharing your journey so those of us with no salt water experience can follow along and learn with you. Agreed that macro algae looks like a really cool thing and appealing to the planted tank enthusiast. Going to enjoy this!
Donât really know anything about micro algae but excited!! Canât wait for coral reef tank as well
Great minds think alike! I've been keeping planted aquariums for over 20 years but prior to that I had a 55g reef. I didn't really enjoy it very much because of the complexity. But recent techniques that are much more simple have been intriguing me. Especially an algae scrubber and macroalgae. Looking forward to following your journey.
Good for you. im impressed as a fellow saltwater hobbiest.
Awesome! Iâm also cycling my first saltwater tank. Itâs a lot of fun to create any shape you want with dry Marco rock and using the crushed rock as the cement with just superglue. Looking forward to what you do with the tank! Iâm sure it will be awesome!
Love it! Looking forward to seeing it progress!
I've kept saltwater aquaria for over 25 years, including a successful (and several failed) macroalgae setups. I wish you the best of luck!
Two things if I may suggest: Purchase a bit of small live rock rubble or limestone. This will act as a buffer for your water and allow for better coraline algae growth.
For best macroalgae growth you'll probably need to supplement with trace elements. The only real long term success I've had with a macroalgae tank was when I used a mud-like substrate instead of sand. You'll know something is lacking when your algae starts to lighten in color and eventually turn white and dissolve into a sort of slimy mush.
I'm subscribing and look forward to seeing how you progress and tackle any issues that come up.
wow! happy to see you set up a salty tank! hope someday I can get myself one.
Really helpful video
I have a 20 gallon set up like this. I love it
Thanks for this video. I'm glad you decided to start a saltwater aquarium. I hope that I'll also dare to take this step.
Thank you for sharing! I've been only doing fresh water tanks for 5 years now. I am still a little afraid to venture into salt water tank. You are giving me positive vibes to think about trying to have at least 1 tank for salt water. I can't wait for the part 2 of this video! KUDOS! Your big fan and much love đfrom the Philippines đ
Ngl I'm super excited for this. I'd never considered a saltwater aquarium till I saw this. Now I legit am.
Very eager to see how your new saltwater venture comes out. I will admit that you have inspired me to get into freshwater and have now gotten 5 freshwater tanks along with the 3 saltwater tanks I already have running
I'm excited for a non-blue light salt water setup!
Brilliant, will watch every video on this subject, thanks!
I used to have a glass lid over my first aquarium, but I found that for stony coral grow that air movement over the aquarium is key. So much so I also pull air in from outside and use that in the protein skimmer. It helps keep CO2 levels down and alkalinity up which is key.
Also another thought, why not have a remotsump like I do? I have a hugely busy sump room and then just a few pipes going to a nice standalone reef tank. It looks awesome and allows for easier maintenance and better water quality so I can keep advanced corals.
Great video! those mudskippers are very cool!
Use this time to experiment with one or two corals along with your macro algae! Mushrooms and gorgonians are very forgiving, you can grow them easily under white light!
THANKS MATE. I looked into all this a while back and just found it a bit overwhelming. RO water etc. Good to see and hear it in a clear fashion. Looking forward to the next step.
tnx for opening this new world this is really something i need to think now that i know this way of starting saltwater tank waiting for the update love your vidsđ
Definitely interested in following your journey on this!
Great video, following your method it's something ide be happy to step into from fresh water. you make it far less daunting! Thanks
I think it's pretty cool
Heel interessant om dit te volgen
Definitely get yourself an auto top off (ATO). Adding fresh RO everyday will get so old. Can't wait to see it planted!
Best of luck on your macro journey! Iâm successfully running a macro tank with pretty much the exact same equipment and hardscape. I think youâll really enjoy it and find it very similar to your planted setups. The oase canister filter really makes it nice to keep the heater out of my setup and hopefully that glass lid will help with evap. The only thing I did different is add my biomedia in a mesh bag to the canister filter so I could remove it from time to time and clean out the gunk that settles on the bottom. Excited to follow along. đđ»đđ»
Been waiting for this
Already love it đâ€
Nice equipment for the set up đđ»
Way to go man! It's an exciting journey :)
I'm always fan of different types of aquariums, but I like to see more of your sweet water scapes. They are beautiful, go for itâ€
I had corall aquarium 25 years ago , and back then it was only live rocks and skimmers who were the "kidney" of the aquarium. I always wondered if a normal filter with bacteria would work but every "expert" say it would crash. Looking forward to the continue of saltwater aquarium, its a fantastic idea and so many ways to design
Seeing as you love freshwater and planted tanks, I think this is a great starting place and I also think a cool idea would be a paludarium style tank with mangroves growing out the top. another thing you can do as you progress is use a macro algae display tank as a refugium for a reef tank, refugiums are a great way to keep nitrates and phosphates down as well as provide a safe breeding ground for copepods and other macro-fauna and the type of tank youâre building right now is like the perfect refugium. Just a little food for thought, Iâm excited to see where this goes
I'm super excited about your new project! I myself am in a freshwater planted tanks for over 15yrs now, still have a desire to try the saltwater side of the hobby... Maybe your adventure will push me over the edge đ€Ł
Anyhow, following the updates! Good luck!
Strong work, MJ. Very curious to see how this comes together. Love the rock stacking/hardscape config on this one đ
This is exciting! I canât wait to see what happens next! Although Iâm really impatient so it seems like itâs going to be a long waitđ
Tof, heel interessant, veel succes!
Macro algae aquascape woohh!!! Excited to see you taking on a new challenge.
Yesss about time! You'll kill it again without a doubt đ„
Great to start simple! Itâs as easy or as difficult as you want to make it
Hi! Iâm so happy with this project that I will follow with great interest. Good luck and thank you for initiating us at the same time as you. Bonjour from Quebec city! đđ»ââïžđšđŠâš
I never expected to see this video... What a pleasant surprise! I would love to see you create a giant coral reef scape. Keep up the great content.
Congratulations! I'm smiling over here. I will enjoy watching your saltwater interests expand. Your content will be valuable to others who would like to get started in saltwater as well. I began my saltwater hobby this way and in a few years my largest tank was 150 gallons. I had the sumps, skimmers, dosing pumps, top off system, premix containers, coral lighting, and more. Unfortunately, I had to give it all up when I retired and moved to Texas. =)
Was going to wait until the weekend to watch but cudnt wait yes this is brilliant idea bring the freshwater and saltwater together if this works Iâll be defo trying đđđđ
I have kept mostly saltwater tanks for a few years, I recently got out of the hobby but couldn't stay out so have set up my first freshwater planted tank đ I have kept macro algae in the past, here in Australia it isn't readily available to purchase either so I have had to collect my own. It's a very rewarding practice!
Because you are not running an automatic top off for evaporation, I would mix the water to 34ppt for the tank & water changes. That way you have a little bit of a buffer if the salinity increases, anywhere from 33-36ppt shouldn't cause any issues.
If I set up a salt water tank again one day this is what I would do also, small simple & macro algae đ looking forward to seeing this new adventure of yours.
I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the title lol
Hi Mj love what youre doing keep on going!!
Definitely a good idea! Very interesting to find out about saltwater aquariums I have zero knowledge of this topicđđ
Also, check biota for aquacultured and captive bred nano fish for that tank. There are several goby species that would do well in a tank that size
I am excited to see how this goes. I always had a hard time keeping macro algae happy because it grows in different environments than your typical reef inhabitants (much more fertile and sometimes cooler). It was always a battle of balance between macro algae and cyanobacteria. There is a lot more public knowledge out there now days and MUCH better lighting options( metal halide and HO florescent tubes back in the day).
Dankje MJ! Doel van de video gelukt, nooit gedacht dat ik ooit een zoutwater tank zo willen. Maar na deze video is dat toch wat aangewakkerd!
Yesss!! đ
Iâve just recently started to think about a saltwater project after 30 years of being fully happy with freshwater planted tanks. Your video is definitely a godsend brother đI will be watching for your results with excitement, thank you. PS. I like the look of Micro Algae also đ
Built a nano reef in the UNS 7Gal Cube. Great tank. Awesome to see you venturing into Saltwater, I have been a saltwater keeper for a while- Just setup my first planted tank last week tanks to inspiration a drew from you. Best of luck! Cant wait o see how it turns out.
Welcome to the club. It's nicer over here.
Auto top up system will make your life so much easier in saltwater for sure .you defo need stability with macro algae . Good luck you will enjoy the journey for sure .
thnx can wait to see it evolve :}
oh god! that make me feel so happy! maybe whit this series of video i'll find the happyness to do a salt acquarium too, keeping do this video because we love you and your channel, thanks you so much! love from Italy :)
i will be very interested to see your results