Shopping list for a SW newbie ?

[handimn1]

Thank you!

[handimn1]

I'd start with 55lbs of Rock, half and half. I wouldn't use a wet/dry if you're intent on a reef. Lighting is fine for a soft coral reef. I prefer to answer most questions on board, tho, since it helps the most people that way.

KDodds, why do you say not to buy a wet/dry?

[KDodds]

Wet/dry filters process ammonia and nitrite very well, and they're highly oxygenated. This makes for a very poor environment for procesing nitrate. Add to that the bio-film and ability to trap detritus and you usually wind up with a nutrient sink. In FW, higher nitrate levels are fine, but in SW, in a reef tank, they can be a recipe for constant algae battles and death for corals. Higher nitrate levels have been shown to prohibit the formation of coral skeleton, resulting, ultimately, in death for the coral, usually through Rapid Tissue Recession. Another thing to worry about is all of the accumulated/trapped organics in the wet/dry and what the resulting phosphate levels will be. Again, same thing, not so bad for FW, but death to corals and fuel for constant algae blooms.

[handimn1]

So what are you suggesting that I get, the LFS said wet/dry with a skimmer? I am changing an old 55 gal from FW to SW. I would like to fish only with some live rock until I get my experience up for when I start with a reef setup! Right now I have 240 watt PC lighting, a heater and a Magnum 350 two wheels on the top for bacteria!

Anything that you guys can suggest for me to so I can start a simple SW that will in the future become a reef tank!
I would like to buy now so I can get use to it and not have to change in the future.

[handimn1]

What water testing kits do you guys have the best luck with?

[Callen]

I use to use Hagen...but was never truly happy with it so I have switched to Salifert. So far out of all the ones I have used it's my favorite.

[handimn1]

I have been using Aquarium Pharmaceuticals, INC and I am not getting readings that are true, I have this buffer solution 7.01 and AP reads it at 6.4 something is wrong. That wasn't the only test that I had problems with, the Phosphate test I tested my city water with it and it read 5 when the city came up and tested it they got a reading of 1.

[ralphie]

Salifert is considered one of the best ones. I use Salifert only for Calcium, Alkalinity and pH testing.

[Callen]

I use all the ones that Ralphie does and the Phosphate test.

[Steven-Michael Burns]

Book first and foremost, and a real quality skimmer with a high capacity cup! As for the filtration system, besides the skimmer, that's up to you! I do like a refugium in there somewhere though!

[Crazygar]

The Conscientious Marine Aquarist by Bob Fenner. First and foremost.

Gary