Considering a small saltwater tank...

[BigDaddy]

I would think a biowheel (not a power filter with a biowheel, just the wheel itself) would be a desirable thing in the sense that it would provide surface agitation and good gas exchange, would it not?

[Julie]

Three necessities: water, light, flow
Most useful gadget: a plastic turkey baster
Second most useful gadget: log handled stainless steel tweezers or forceps or equivalent.
Most unneeded: test kits . - I have just started a flame war!!!!

That's where the margarita comes into play, in case you have a little too much salt in the tank.

[Julie]

I would think a biowheel (not a power filter with a biowheel, just the wheel itself) would be a desirable thing in the sense that it would provide surface agitation and good gas exchange, would it not?

The power heads provide surface agitation. 

[az]

i'd go with one ac and one powerhead atleast!

[gvv]

May I suggest ?
- Don't use bio-wheel - it is good for FW, and for SW it has wet-dry filter effect, which means that at the first stage it works fine and later on just increasing the nitrate level... Use just AC, even without filter media.
In SW I'm not removing any "dust", this is crean-up crew responsibility. Remember, if there is  place where the debri can be collected and clean-up crew cannot reach it - this is the source of the problem.
- Definetly pay visit to RockGarden. I love his low-budget tanks. I even follow his steps and when changing the water use old one for filling new tanks - no waste at all...
- Select the biggest AC you can afford (it will be your sump/refuge) and add powerhead. Remember that you need good waterflow evem for FOWLR.
- No anemone. If they are healthy they will overgrow the tank in no time, otherwise... Do you need dead anemone?
- Sand. You may use it or may not. I saw great tanks without sand bed at all (clownfish tank). Just love the sandbed myself, but it should be more than 1" thick.

Regards

[kennyman]

If you get a chance to visit Rockgarden's, go for it. He helped me out a great deal when I was getting started.

If you are interested in a low teck nano go see Ray and check out the one is his livingroom. It is a simple tank packed full of critters. It will give you some ideas to compare with the previous nano you saw. He will have some great advice for you and if you see some stuff you like you can get the best price in town on goodies 

[Julie]

What size of ac?  Also no media.

[Julie]

nice, the discus one?

Go for it, do you access to the hobbyiests in the area?

[aidensmomma2000]

Theres a club here in KW- though not as big.  I had the (unsuccessful) breeding pair of discus in a 30g corner, which I sold off during the move. Recently bought a 30g tall though for goldfish, but theyre just not very exciting for me.

so lets say I have...

a 30g tall
salt
a clown fish (Aiden really, really, wants one)
a salinity meter
a shrimp (this is cleanup crew?)
some live rock
Lighting (suggestions on lighting welcome)
an a/c 200

I do have a powerhead- 2 came with my 120g and I could use one of those. Keep in mind the tank is a 30g tall, so its surface area is 12 x 24...

[mseguin]

The shrimp isn't really that much of a cleanup crew, more of a cleaning station for the fish (assuming you get a cleaner shrimp). Go with snails and hermit crabs

[aidensmomma2000]

Oooo....thanks!

Im feeling this might get expensive...

[Julie]

Snails and crabs are inexpensive.  The shrimp is a luxury.

[Julie]

You want 1 to 1.5 lbs of live rock so 30x$5
Sand in a bag - $50
A light, but a clown doesn't need power compact.

[Julie]

Send me some special beefheart a la Robin and I'll send you a hydrometer and the thermometer I owe you.

[az]

i can hook u up with lighting(as long as u get new)...i'd suggest a 24" 50/50 65watts pc(coralife is good).

as for hermits/snails/shrimps......hold on, next shipment is going tobe just that and prices will again be 'the best' in town! i.e hermits 0.75$, scarlets 1.50$, cleaner shrimps 14$ and my fav blood shrimps 20$. all scheduled for 1st wk of sept, by then i should have the website/banner up and running too. cheers!

[Julie]

From last fall Robin, it was a surprise gift.

[Julie]

Will you be keeping corals or intend to in the future?

[Julie]

Then you need good lighting especially if it's a deep tank.
The light will be the greatest expense.

[Julie]

As far as I know fowlr is lower lighting.

[nelson]

Okaaay...lets say I start cheap and dont go for corals, can I use a regular fluorescent?

Absolutely Robin...if you don't plan on having any corals then fairly strong conventional CF lighting is all you need.  If you put live rock in the tank you may even see some growth, even with the low light.