Getting started, need salt and rocks

[cannon_eer15]

Hi, just started setting up my tank, a really tiny one at 15x15 cm.

Are there any shops that sell small marine salt boxes? Everywhere I've been to sells those huge sacks and I don't need so much. I also need to get small live rocks to start off with, and the shops seem to sell by the kilogram. I think I only need 1 kg of rubble.

[k0na_scab]

try reborn. i believe they have the 4kg RedSea salt. (or smaller)dunt get the bio-sometink salt by rainbow. (horrible)

they also have live rocks(uncured) depending on supply. not always have.

[Qxnviolet]

Hrmz, i've not really seen any small salt packages for the more recognised brands. Why not just get a sack and stre them in a container. They have indefinate shelf life if you kee them dry.... Keep a lookout on the pasar malam section, maybe you can get a piece of rock from fellow reefers who are selling them.

[chercm]

if u want rocks, u can try bio-ocean . they have very nice rocks

[cannon_eer15]

Do they sell rock rubble about 2-3 cm in size?

[bluezing]

or u can just buy natural seawater?

for ur tank size 15x15cm...1 packet at around 10++ litre is more than enuff.hehe...

gd luck..have fun~

[Elune]

i dun mean to sound discouraging, but for ur tank THIS small (1/2 feet only), stay to 1 fish only ya? and ONLY damsel fish.

Rock-wise: Try the pasam malam section n see if anyone closing their tanks n selling liverocks. which area u stay? if u stay east, u can try Iwarna or Ah-Bengs's at Lor Halus. they sell liverocks of various sizes. but it all depends on availability. My advice is for u to get "Cured" liverocks from fellow reefers. Uncured ones in ur small tank.... when things inside the liverock starts to die off, ur ammonia will rocket high up, water quality will change, the tank will smell bad, and ur fish might up the lorry. Tell us which area (town ) u stay, and maybe one of us reefer who happens to stay near can give u a piece of small rock.

Salt-wise: there ARE LFS (local fish shops) selling small packets of marine salt. $8 per pack only. Highly dissolvable. Try ah bengs' also.

DO get a hydrometer to test ur Salinity/Specific Gravity. Given ur small tank-size, water parameters fluctuations can have significantly obvious effects on ur sensitive tank. I do NOT advise u to buy NSW (Natural Sea Water), (unless u drive, and can afford to go down to the LFS to buy NSW every week. These water bags are HEAVY!). Becuz for ur tank size, u might need to be changing ur tank water every 2 days. U will find urself running short of salt water very soon. So, having a medium packet of salt WILL come in handy.

Last but not least, before u start to introduce fish. Do read up more on how to start marine tanks and how to cycle water. most importantly, understand what we meant by ANN (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate) cycle. this IS critical in whether ur tank survives thru the 3rd week. just curious, who gave u the idea of small such a small tank? (Pico tank)...

[cannon_eer15]

It's alright, this will be my 4th reef tank. I belonged to the wet/dry and skimmer schools more than 8 years ago... this time I'm going small and rock only, with just an external filter. Got the idea from nanoreefs.com.

Last time I kept lots of tubeworms, mandarins, and stuff like that. This time I plan to keep only polyps and mushrooms and maybe 1 shrimp.

[d88p]

bro where do u live? i can pass u some LR n salt if u want

[Cardinal Tetra]

try reborn. i believe they have the 4kg RedSea salt. (or smaller)dunt get the bio-sometink salt by rainbow. (horrible)

they also have live rocks(uncured) depending on supply. not always have.

I used to use RedSea salt but I switched to BioMarine salt in the later stages.

Other than solubility issues, I have no problems using BioMarine salt. Can you are to share why its horrible?

[cannon_eer15]

I'm going to town area later to hunt for shops selling small packs of marine salt, ie. less than 3 kg packs. Anywhere to recommend?

[Qxnviolet]

You can try Reborn at Lavander Street. PR and SL is pretty nearby too....

[cannon_eer15]

Hi D88p,

I stay around toa payoh but can meet anywhere its convenient. Do you have cured rock? I don't need much, just enough to seed the tank with organic matter.

[d88p]

cured rock???? its been in the tank for about 5 months already

[cannon_eer15]

Do you have small pieces?

[d88p]

mostly avg about 4 to 5 inches size lengths

[nakazoru]

Bro;

I have Dead rock but not exactly small and some used salt water if you want. PM me and collect by Sunday, as I outstation on Monday morning...

I stay TP by the way.