SW Setup & Scratches?

[Mettle]

Good advice on the MH lighting. I've been looking at those as well. I've read a lot on how they give the tank a completely different look as well. Really magnify the shimmering effect and truly make it a slice of the ocean.

All this is quite interesting... I'm going to be starting a notebook of different info I pick up here and there - like the stuff in this thread - so when I am ready to go salt I'll be more prepared. Though I don't see that happening any time soon as much as I would like to believe otherwise.  :roll:  

I've done a lot of reading on the nanos. But I think I might actually go bigger for my first salt tank. I was actually looking at the Oceanic 50 gallon tanks that are fairly square shaped. That is a definite possibility I think. And if I buy it new there shouldnt be any issues in terms of scratches - but I'll have to make sure to carefully inspect that first!

Another option I was looking at, actually, was those new semi-circle tanks they have out. Those are very cool. Though I don't know how that would work out for stacking of rocks and corals and lighting and such. Plus they're bloody expensive! So it's just a pipe dream until I actually have a real income. (If ever! :lol: )

[Mettle]

That's why I got a piranha. Anything I get bored of - instant solution!

I REALLY hope that was meant to be sarcastic.

And yes, I was being sarcastic. :lol:

[FishPassion]

A fifty is a good start , I discussed this with Mark and keithh when I started out and Mark said a fifty is min. because you will want to have a bigger one. This is so true and I weas thrilled with my new 50 until................ I wanted more so as Dark also mentioned in this thread I think go as big as you can "AFFORD" but dont go overboard and keep in mind equipment costs. You must have seen those awesome saltwater clams lol.......metal halide.
Have fun
tc Mettle

[gkilla]

lol, when I first got started I was reading thread after thread of how people were saying that they kept upgrading everything. I had a 46 gallon sitting in the garage so I thought yes, let's go saltwater and just set i up. upgraded my lights from NO to PC the first week. Changed rock formation like 3 times in the first month till I got corals. 3 months in, I said everything looked great and I was done. 4 months in and I now have a 90 gallon, drilled with overflow, sump, metal halides and I am still not done. Please listen to these guys when they say spend what  you can now!

[redbelly]

I started with NO over a 33g. Now I have mh's over a 60g and wont be upgrading for quite some time. Although i am getting the tank drill on tuesday when i have to tear it down to move. Get your tank drilled before you set it up!!even if you just cover the holes up for now. i would not want to be taking the tank apart if i wasnt moving!!

i think the biggest upgrade mistake is pc's. if your spending that much you might as well buy mh's because your going to want then in the end anyway.
I started with NO untill i knew this was something i wanted to do. They worked really well for me and i was able to keep anything bu high light corals plus if my old set up doesnt sell i will use the them for a heavily planted tank.

[redbelly]

Oh, yeah and scratches are definately more promenent in sw.

[rockgarden]

Scratches - yes the coralline is the problem. It's calcium content and tenacity makes it tougher to remove especially from within the scratches.  Since the coralline is often a red or purple colour, the scratch becomes visible.  Might also involve differences in light refraction between the glass and SW interface as compared to the glass and FW interfacce, but much simpler to blame the coralline.

Julie: In addition to magnets and razor blades, plastic credit cards work well and less risk of scratching the glass IMO compared to some other more aggressive methods that I have tried.


Ron

[redbelly]

Julie: In addition to magnets and razor blades, plastic credit cards work well and less risk of scratching the glass IMO compared to some other more aggressive methods that I have tried.


Ron

credit cards work eh? thats a good idea. i will have to try that. and i thought they werent good for anything when they were maxed out :wink:

[rockgarden]

Julie: In addition to magnets and razor blades, plastic credit cards work well and less risk of scratching the glass IMO compared to some other more aggressive methods that I have tried.


Ron

credit cards work eh? thats a good idea. i will have to try that. and i thought they werent good for anything when they were maxed out :wink:

It's guaranteed that SW will make  them max out faster than FW.