Hey everyone, as it says in the title im brand new to saltwater fish tanks. However Im very interested in starting a Reef tank with fish. I want to start small and see if its something I would like to pursue further. What I was thinking was maybe a 30 gallon tank. I want live rock and live sand. I want 2 clownfish as well as a Skunk cleaner shrimp maybe 2? also should I get snails and crabs? Also I really want a blenny. I read online they are great starter algae cleaners and are alot of fun to watch too. I do want corals and an anemone. I was wondering if I could get help on what I need, how to do this, advice. Maybe how much getting started could cost. I also read you need to wait like 6 months to get your tank going before adding fish. Is this right? Any information would be great. And im open to any changes that you may have for me. Thank you.
Brand new to reefing please help.
- Thread starter devi343
- Start date
Johnnybgood74
New member
I've been doing this for a couple of years and my starter tank was a 55 gallon tank...I found as newbie it was hard to keep the tank parameters with such a small tank..so I went to a 130 the a 220 now I have a 92.
With plans on a 350 for large angels.
I would suggest going bigger at least a 75 preferably a 125 until you get the hang of things...my only advice would be to not skimp and buy it because it's cheaper as far as equipment...start slow in this hobby the only thing that comes fast is destruction...
There are plenty of threads on starting g a new tank here I'd read a bunch of those then read them again....and go to town...
Welcome to the hobby enjoy your journey may it be a rewarding one.
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ROB2005
Reefing Is My Passion!
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1031074
You can start here. Lots of valuable information!
You can start here. Lots of valuable information!
shrimpinator123
Member
Welcome to the hobby! I am 6 months in to the saltwater side, been keeping freshwater for about 6 years. Have you kept freshwater? My advice would be research as much as you can. Another thing, check the stickies at the top of this part of the forum, they explain most of the basics better then I can. There will be an initial cycle before adding fish and corals, but it will not take 6 months. It will probably at most take 2-3 months, and if you are using live rock it could be 1-2 weeks, it all just depends. Familiarize yourself with the nitrogen cycle, you will need it. Your stocking plan sounds good. Check Live Aquaria for min tank sizes that a fish needs, and for prices on the fish. They generally have a good min tank size. I think you could do four fish, maybe look at goby and pistol shrimp pairs, you could add one of those to your stock list I think. As far as invertebrates go, I think you should be fine with 1 or 2 skunk cleaners. Snails should also be fine, get a mix. Crabs on the other hand, are an ongoing debate. I myself like them, and have a number of hermit crabs in my tanks and have not had a problem. Other people hate them, or have outlawed them from their tanks. You will have to decide whether you want to do crabs. If you do get them, make sure that they are listed as "reef safe" Generally, those will be ok.
My advice would be to figure out a basic list of the main things you would like to keep and then find out the requirements that are needed to keep said livestock. I also agree with the bigger is more stable advice when it comes to saltwater. Smaller tanks can be done but larger tanks are a lot more forgiving if you mess up and make a learning mistake...whereas a small tank can crash fairly quickly.
Also, TAKE YOUR TIME...build your aquarium up slowly...the people who fail are the people who jump right in, don't know what they are doing...try to set up the perfect tank in a month or less only to watch it crash and burn on them. Setting up a well balanced sw aquarium takes TIME and plenty of patience. But in the end, it is well worth the effort. Welcome to the hobby!
Also, TAKE YOUR TIME...build your aquarium up slowly...the people who fail are the people who jump right in, don't know what they are doing...try to set up the perfect tank in a month or less only to watch it crash and burn on them. Setting up a well balanced sw aquarium takes TIME and plenty of patience. But in the end, it is well worth the effort. Welcome to the hobby!
Valentini89
New member
As it says in my signature, only BAD things happen FAST in reefkeeping. Take your time. I have kept a 26g tank for over a year now and set up a 150g less than a week ago.
I’m going to do you a solid, I’m 2 years in and my son is many years into sw tanks. Please listen to what I am going to say. It’s expensive. It’s frustrating, and it’s time consuming. But it’s a great window into a world we never get to see if done right. My advise: buy as big of tank as you can afford, buy the best lights you can afford, buy a good gyro pump and for God’s sake make sure you buy a rufugium that goes under it. You will need a protien skimmer, an r/o water filtration system, a heater, test equipment, etc. plan on spending at least $100.00 per gallon just to get started. ( not joking) then plan on scratching your head trying to figure out what’s going on during the first 6 months while the tank cycles through several eco changes. When you finally do get it semi figured out and add a coral or a fish and start producing waste, it starts all over again. Every time you add some5hing you throw off the water chemistry and it cycles again. You have no idea what your about to get into and I only say this because it will either be the coolest thing you have ever done or it will be a huge waste of time and money. You will pay with cash, blood sweat and tears for the first yr. my advise. Stay simple until,you,get it figured out. Lots of Live rock, sand bed, good pumps etc and let it set for at least 4 months. Let it cycle, keep it clean and maybe if anything after a few months just add some snails, emerald crabs to help with algae. Be patient or don’t start. After it cycles for at least 6 months add a simple fish or crab like a clown or trigger. Don’t 5hink you can just throw anything in it because I promise you it will die or struggle. Start with some lps coral like zooanthids. They will grow in a mud puddle. Learn and buy test equipment to test alkalinity, phosphates, nitrates, nitrites, ammonia, calcium, and magnesium. And learn what and how they effect each other. If you don’t learn this stuff, you tank will die. Promise. Read, read, read, learn learn, learn. Good luck.
mrsixstrings12
New member
Welcome! When I first got into saltwater, my grandparents' bout me a book titled "Saltwater Aquariums for Dummies" and it had a lot of good information in it. I read that front to back as well as surfing online forums/websites for information. I started out with a 38g with hang-on-back filters, skimmers, etc and then eventually made the jump to a sump and a hang-on-back overflow. Ended up with a new job and with that, a 120g with ALL the goodies. My current setup is the 120g with a 40g breeder tank as my sump and my original 38g as a refugium located in my basement. With that being said and having a few years under my belt I can give you these tips:
READ, READ, READ. I still read the forums and learn something new about the hobby everyday. New gear, new practices, etc. Actually KNOWING what you are doing is half the battle. And if you don't know or haven't read it yet, ask on a forum and be weary of your local stores' advice (as well as what you are told online). Some people just don't know but think they do, some people are just trying to make a sale.
Keep up with your maintenance. When I got my new job and my 120g, I just didn't have the time, nor drive, to do water changes. And because of that, I had a saltwater forest instead of a beautiful reef tank. Now that I've got some balance back in my life, and am interested in the hobby again, my tank is looking better everyday. Do your water changes, test your parameters, pay attention to the tank.
Those are my 2 MAIN points. My 38g looked really good before we moved and I had to tear it down and I was pretty much bare bones. I had a heater, the "chinese black box" light, an aqueon powerhead, and my HOB reef octopus skimmer. No $1000 lights, apex controller, automatic water changes. Realize, you don't need all the gadgets to be successful.
To answer your specific questions/points: I'm not familiar with the size of a 30g, but my 38 was very annoying because of how skinny it was. I was very envious of my friend's 40g breeder and if I were to ever downsize, that is what I would go with. I, personally, would start with "dry rock" to avoid any unwanted pests. The 3 times I have set up tanks, I went with "live" sand. This last time, I looked for the play sand that people said works nicely, and saves a lot of money, but could not find it. Clownfish are a great choice for saltwater aquariums. I believe my friend still has my original clownfish, which makes her around 4 years old now. Once I was really into it (almost a year) I had a cleaner shrimp in my 38g and he did fine. I plan on getting one for my 120g once I stock it with more fish. I'm not sure how well 2 would do in a smaller tank. Snails and crabs seems to be one of those topics that are debatable. I had 2 hermits and 4 snails in my 38g. I have 1 hermit and 1 snail in my 120g (due to low fish stock so far). I think it would be wise to add them as you see fit. Just be weary that hermits may attack snails for their shells. I had a a lawnmower blenny in my 38g and he did great at keeping hair algae at bay. When there wasn't algae for him to eat, he readily ate algae pellets. As for corals, do your research and make sure you have the equipment capacity to take care of them. My 38g had a mix of softies and LPS for a decent time and I added SPS months before I had to tear it down. The single black box did perfectly fine over a 38 gallon but I upgraded my lights when I went to the 120g and knew I was REALLY going to get into coral. I had a carpet anemone in my 38g but ended up returning him after he ate my firefish! I, personally, don't want to have to deal with them moving around and being able to capture some of the timid fish I'd like to keep. Anemones are another "do your research" before you buy.
Buying used equipment will save you ALOT. Fish tanks and related equipment don't seem to hold their value. You can get fish tanks, brand new, for $1 per gallon during certain sales. Don't skimp on your heater(s). I bought used ecotech mp10's for about half the cost of them new for my 38g and now am using the cheaper Jebao pumps on my 120g.
READ, READ, READ. I still read the forums and learn something new about the hobby everyday. New gear, new practices, etc. Actually KNOWING what you are doing is half the battle. And if you don't know or haven't read it yet, ask on a forum and be weary of your local stores' advice (as well as what you are told online). Some people just don't know but think they do, some people are just trying to make a sale.
Keep up with your maintenance. When I got my new job and my 120g, I just didn't have the time, nor drive, to do water changes. And because of that, I had a saltwater forest instead of a beautiful reef tank. Now that I've got some balance back in my life, and am interested in the hobby again, my tank is looking better everyday. Do your water changes, test your parameters, pay attention to the tank.
Those are my 2 MAIN points. My 38g looked really good before we moved and I had to tear it down and I was pretty much bare bones. I had a heater, the "chinese black box" light, an aqueon powerhead, and my HOB reef octopus skimmer. No $1000 lights, apex controller, automatic water changes. Realize, you don't need all the gadgets to be successful.
To answer your specific questions/points: I'm not familiar with the size of a 30g, but my 38 was very annoying because of how skinny it was. I was very envious of my friend's 40g breeder and if I were to ever downsize, that is what I would go with. I, personally, would start with "dry rock" to avoid any unwanted pests. The 3 times I have set up tanks, I went with "live" sand. This last time, I looked for the play sand that people said works nicely, and saves a lot of money, but could not find it. Clownfish are a great choice for saltwater aquariums. I believe my friend still has my original clownfish, which makes her around 4 years old now. Once I was really into it (almost a year) I had a cleaner shrimp in my 38g and he did fine. I plan on getting one for my 120g once I stock it with more fish. I'm not sure how well 2 would do in a smaller tank. Snails and crabs seems to be one of those topics that are debatable. I had 2 hermits and 4 snails in my 38g. I have 1 hermit and 1 snail in my 120g (due to low fish stock so far). I think it would be wise to add them as you see fit. Just be weary that hermits may attack snails for their shells. I had a a lawnmower blenny in my 38g and he did great at keeping hair algae at bay. When there wasn't algae for him to eat, he readily ate algae pellets. As for corals, do your research and make sure you have the equipment capacity to take care of them. My 38g had a mix of softies and LPS for a decent time and I added SPS months before I had to tear it down. The single black box did perfectly fine over a 38 gallon but I upgraded my lights when I went to the 120g and knew I was REALLY going to get into coral. I had a carpet anemone in my 38g but ended up returning him after he ate my firefish! I, personally, don't want to have to deal with them moving around and being able to capture some of the timid fish I'd like to keep. Anemones are another "do your research" before you buy.
Buying used equipment will save you ALOT. Fish tanks and related equipment don't seem to hold their value. You can get fish tanks, brand new, for $1 per gallon during certain sales. Don't skimp on your heater(s). I bought used ecotech mp10's for about half the cost of them new for my 38g and now am using the cheaper Jebao pumps on my 120g.
