Decided to get my feet wet...finally

[strictly]

Hello friends.

I have posted here a couple times about the prospect of starting a SW aquarium and I have been lurking the threads as well. After my wife and I just purchased a house, I have decided that after we settle in, I would start a SW aquarium.

I currently have a 75 gallon African Cichlid aquarium and a 29 gallon FW community aquarium that is at my parents house. I will be closing those down after my wife and I move so that I can focus on ONE aquarium.

I know so many questions have been asked by so many before me. But, I am so curious and would love to pick your brains:

1) I recognize that bigger is better for so many reasons. I have no problem doing water changes. I am used to doing massive weekly ones for my Cichlids. The new tank will be in my new basement so I am not worried about weight issues. What would be a good starting size for a beginner? I was thinking a 75 gallon, or 125 would be interesting. Thoughts?

2) I want to do a sump. I will no doubt want to try corals eventually and as someone who loves their fish and takes pride in their water clarity, I want the utmost best for my inhabitants.

What are your views on the best way to build a sump (or even buy one)?

3) What are your views on the plug and play systems, such as Red Sea? I looked at the prices; They look gorgeous and maybe I even go that route. But, I find that it may be better to build my own sump and accumulate my own equipment. Thoughts on those?

4) I know the typical beginner fish. But, what are the best types of coral to start off with? I respect everyone's commitment to the hobby and all of the research you have all done. It's a bit overwhelming for me because there is such a broad amount of corals to choose from!

I'll appreciate any feedback even if not all of my questions are answered. Please feel free to send me any advice or thoughts.

FORTUNATELY, our house won't be ready until June. Which will give me so much time to research, buy any bargains from the LFS during Boxing Day and other holidays. I have time.

Thanks so much reefers.

H


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[mcgyvr]

1) I'm not sure if there is a "good size for a beginner".. As stated the bigger the better as far as avoiding massive swings in parameters,etc..
The larger the tank the more $$$ in everything from equipment to monthly supplies to inhabitants and the big one is more/larger maintenance chores.. $$$ being the biggest thing as with money/equipment you can keep maintenance fairly small too..

2) First.. bean animal overflow drain system with coast to coast overflow (either internal or external) is the BEST way to get water to the sump.. hands down.. Do it..

Many of the "off the shelf" sumps are just fine and usable for sure.. Its really about planning your equipment and buying accordingly... Personally I love to build everything so off the shelf much of anything is out of the question for me..

3)red sea makes great products.. If you don't want to get the learning experience from building your own and can afford them then that is a good direction too..

4)In general anything in the softies/leathers/zoas/mushroom groups are great starter corals that don't require much light or super stable water parameters,etc.. Things to watch out for because they can rapidly spread and take over are Green Star Polyps, Waving anthelia and general "clove" type polyps. .But many like them and can manage their growth..
Then you can move on to stuff like hammer/torch/frogspawns.. and many LPS corals.. Then SPS corals can be the hardest but there are many "fairly" easy ones of them too like pocillopora, birdsnests,etc...
In general a great place to learn about the common ones and their care/needs,etc.. is by browsing through liveaquaria.com in their coral section.. They have great little paragraphs/specs on all the corals you will find for the most part..


and research..research..learn..read..learn some more..
and once you get started GO SLOW.... "Nothing good happens fast in reefing"
Great tanks just didn't get that way overnight and can take YEARS to be really special.

 

[strictly]

Thanks for your detailed response. It is highly appreciated. I won't be starting my SW journey for maybe another year, but there is certainly plenty to plan for!


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[Reincarnate]

Just keep it simple... At first it can be a bit overwhelming, but after awhile you'll realize that all you really need is a bag of salt, some decent source water and perhaps a little elbow grease. The rest of it is just oil in the pan so to say.

 

[Butch01]

Thanks for those thoughts mcgyvr. I'm in the same boat. I have the perfect location for as big a tank as I want, in a north facing room that's 20 feet deep (away from the north facing windows). Just now I was playing around with a floor plan and putting tanks of various sizes. I could easily fit a 96" wide 300 gallon tank in the room and no overwhelm it. I had been considering a 165 Cadlights (72" wide), but the more I look, the more I like the idea of a bigger tank. Money will not be as much of an issue as it's been in times past for me, but I also don't want to overburden myself. I don't think there would be all that much difference in upkeep cost or manpower between a 165 and a 300, or am I (so to speak) all wet there? I have a utility room with a sink and a section of empty wall next to it where I plan to install an RO/DI unit, with room to plumb in an ATO tank with a minimal run of PVC tubing to the aquarium (he said, confidently). Not sure how I'd handle big water changes, but where there's a will...

 

[Walla2GSP]

I've only been doing SW for a couple years, so I can't speak from years of experience. That said if I was going to do it again, I would start slower and bigger. My first SW was a 55 gallon FOWLR which was replaced by an 80 gallon because of structural failure. Then I tried a 35 gallon Reef tank with HOB equipment which lasted for about a year and slowly melted down. I can't say I made the best choices of first fish, first corals, or first reef tank, but I learned A LOT. If I could start over from square one, I would buy an 85 gallon (36x24x24) for wider footprint with a 30x24x21 sump, and get a quality Protein skimmer from day one. I would plan for element replacement, and personally I would have gotten dosing pumps set up before stocking the tanks. I would have planned flow better to get good wave motion and reduce settling in the tank. I would have plumbed a separate 50 gallon Planted Refugium tank into the system to deal with Nitrates and phosphates (and because I think macro looks cool). I would have invested in ATI T-5s and HO LEDS right out the gate, and would have taken PAR readings before stocking the tank. I would have spent a lot more time planning the sump to maximize it's effectiveness and ease of cleaning. I also would have used a taller stand to make it easier to clean the sump and protein skimmer. And finally I would have planned my aquascape a lot more thoroughly to maximize filtration, reduce contact with the sand, and maximize real estate for the corals I wanted to keep. I also would have never sold the 75 gallon FW tank I had in the garage, two weeks before setting the smaller tanks in an effort to "save $$$"

 

[Walla2GSP]

...
1) I recognize that bigger is better... I was thinking a 75 gallon, or 125 would be interesting. Thoughts?

2)...What are your views on the best way to build a sump (or even buy one)?

3) What are your views on the plug and play systems, such as Red Sea? .... Thoughts on those?

4) I know the typical beginner fish. But, what are the best types of coral to start off with? ..

I realized I didn't really address your questions

1) I think those are both good sizes, wider is better for starting out IMO

2) I think both are good options, I feel like buying one is easier but research research research and plan your sump from water coming into the filter sock(s) to the return pump(s), and where you want each piece of equipment (ideally the skimmer sits next to your filter socks in the first chamber)

3) I am not a big fan of the plug and play systems, but Red Sea and others make a great system. Reef systems are very much personal preference over time and the pre-made systems can limit your options down the road. You do get a lot of bang for your buck out the gate however, and it takes a little less planning to get started.

4) As already stated softs and polyps are a good place to start. One note is to pay close attention to lighting and flowrate needs of each coral and plan your tank accordingly. It can be difficult to keep Low Light and High Light corals or low flow and high flow corals in the same tank unless you have pre-planned zones for each in the tank.

 

[scooter31707]

I think a 90 is a good size to start out with or the biggest your house and floor can support.

 

[2smokes]

Research a lot before you buy something.My system of choice would be a simple aquarium with the filtration made by an algae scrubber.I wouldnt buy a skimmer or any reactor(maybe just a small one with activated carbon) because the scruber would do all the filtration.First i would buy the lamp with T5 HO , then i would build the aquarium to fit the lamp.When buying the lamp ,i would choose the most cost effective tubes (bigger tubes are a litle more expensive than small tubes but could give double light output for same price).Also if il use sand in the display then i would instal a RUGF to push the dertritus out of sand but not as otther use it,continously,i would put it with a powerfull pump and a timer.Then i would use low alk salt(not coral pro) and i would make a dosing system with a kalkstirrer .

 

[TangorRay]

As a beginner myself, my words might not hold the weight of others on these boards, but my advice would be to read up on everything you can get your hands on. When you think you got it down enough to start, read some more.

If I could start over I would go minimum 120g, but more realistically 180 to 240. I have a 75g currently, and it would probably make a better sump than display for the fish I plan on keeping.

Plan on starting with a quarantine tank unless you want to run the risk of losing fish you worked so hard to get. Get a good test kit and use it religiously. It's not a bad idea to keep a log either. Invest in a good refractometer and hydrometer.

Above all else though, be patient.