Back in the saddle again!

[reef_dude76]

Hello all!

I've been out of reef keeping for almost 7 years now and it's been a long long time since I have been on the forum. I have revived my interest again and setup a small 20 gallon nano reef after my wife and I took a trip to the Bahamas. Seeing all the undersea awesomeness while snorkling got me bitten again. I've noticed since I have been back that alot has changed. So i'm here to get reaquainted and caught up on my information.

I had a couple questions, does anyone use Hanna instruments for measuring their alk, calcium, mag, pH, etc? How accurate are they, how easy to use, and do you like them?

Second, who are the tank makers now? When I was keeping reefs previously, drilled tanks from AGA or Aqueon were popular. Who makes a good larger reef ready or drilled tank now? I am thinking of working back up into a tank some where in the 75-120 gallon range and was wondering who made good tanks now?

Third, live rock. When I was buying rock previously, it was Fiji, Marshall Island, etc but most of what I can find now is all man made stuff. I had to set up my 20 with man made rock cause it was all I could find. Can you no longer get rock from the Ocean?

I have many more questions, but will just start with these for now.

Cheers!

 

[mcgyvr]

1-yes quite a few use hannas checkers,etc... mostly great reviews.. a few seem to have issues with certain ones ..could just be bad luck
2-sca, waterbox, red sea, deepblueprofessional to name a few
3-For the most part live rock from those locations has been banned.. Tampabaysaltwater is still a great source for "fresh from the florida ocean" rock with some amazing hitchhiker possibilities (sponges/urchins/crabs/corals,etc...)

welcome back..

 

[Green Chromis]

Hello all!

I've been out of reef keeping for almost 7 years now and it's been a long long time since I have been on the forum. I have revived my interest again and setup a small 20 gallon nano reef after my wife and I took a trip to the Bahamas. Seeing all the undersea awesomeness while snorkling got me bitten again. I've noticed since I have been back that alot has changed. So i'm here to get reaquainted and caught up on my information.

I had a couple questions, does anyone use Hanna instruments for measuring their alk, calcium, mag, pH, etc? How accurate are they, how easy to use, and do you like them?

Second, who are the tank makers now? When I was keeping reefs previously, drilled tanks from AGA or Aqueon were popular. Who makes a good larger reef ready or drilled tank now? I am thinking of working back up into a tank some where in the 75-120 gallon range and was wondering who made good tanks now?

Third, live rock. When I was buying rock previously, it was Fiji, Marshall Island, etc but most of what I can find now is all man made stuff. I had to set up my 20 with man made rock cause it was all I could find. Can you no longer get rock from the Ocean?

I have many more questions, but will just start with these for now.

Cheers!

:fish1: Hi, I still believe you can get good live rock from the Pacific, try and locate what Walt Smith is selling these days in regards to the Pacific live rock. :fish1:

 

[Constantine]

Third, live rock. When I was buying rock previously, it was Fiji, Marshall Island, etc but most of what I can find now is all man made stuff. I had to set up my 20 with man made rock cause it was all I could find. Can you no longer get rock from the Ocean?

Cheers!

People never seem to suggest this, but craigslist is still a source for natural live rock. People are always getting out of the hobby, and you can buy up their live rock. Of course, you get the good with the bad... but the same for rock newly out of the ocean. Seems to me that most like to start fresh with dry rock so they can easily build their design without any hassles. To me, this defeats the entire purpose of recreating a small piece of the ocean in your house.

 

[marzvt]

I use Hanna and love them, even if the cost per test is high on some.
For best of the best with tanks it’s Reef savvy.
Using actual live rock is dead for the most part, dry rock is the way to go now. I have had good luck with reef saver,
Don’t forget controllers. Neptune apex is my life blood for safety and consistency