For all the pros on here

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12027284#post12027284 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Paul B
I have been at this longer than all the names mentioned and I would not give advice on how to start a tank. My methods are 40 or 50 years old and considered outdated technology and very old school. I still use a reverse Under Gravel filter with dolomite. Do you want to take advice from me?

Paul

I always take advice from you Paul--you are one of my original mentors that got me on the right track here at RC.
have to admit though--the last time I used an underground filter was in 1978 with a fresh water 60 gal:lol:

I still remember that classic post: Misconceptions in Reef keeping
would you happen to have the link to it still?

 

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12027610#post12027610 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Ricky1066
AMEN TO YOU PAUL

yes Ricky he appears to possess reef god-like qualities like Randy and Bertoni :rollface:

and you are doing a good job sucking up to the right guy:lol: :rollface: :lol:

but if you keep using those capital letters you will soon experinece the rath of the Waterkeeper:eek2:

 

[Ricky1066]

what wrathe that was me yelling ? LOL

 

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12029733#post12029733 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Ricky1066
what wrathe that was me yelling ? LOL

use capital letters in red and the Waterkeeper will find you:eek2:

 

[SCIFI_3D_zoo]

Probably part of the problem here with your to start off with was how you ask questions. You probably are new, have a simple setup, don't know what want yet, etc. So offering advice on canister filters was probably reasonable. PLUS that's an easy setup for 1st timers too. Going into sumps, refugiums, etc. is a little more advanced.

What it all boils down to is figuring out what you want... SPECIFICALLY. But how do you know what that is. You probably don't. Do you want a TOTM tank? Do you just want some clownfish, etc. You gotta figure out exactly what type of tank you want b/c that really decides whether or not you get a canister or a sump. Bioballs or a refugium. It will affect the type of lights you should get, size of tank you have, what type of flow you'll need.

There's nothing wrong with starting off where you are. I think it's inevitable to buy all sorts of stuff you'll be selling later. Nobody can just jump right into a high-end tank. Not without expert one-on-one help maybe. And even then when you go alone you won't know what to do when your first problem comes. So you really should take it slow and see how it goes. THe more you learn the better of an idea you'll have of what type of tank you want, what you want in it. And you'll keep adjusting your equipment as you go.

 

[Paul B]

Thanks Capn, now go out and start up that UG filter and load your tank with bottles, cans and asphalt. Also feed your fish Plaster of Paris mixed with Bananas
I don't have a link to that thread.
Have a great day.
Paul

 

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12031727#post12031727 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Paul B
Thanks Capn, now go out and start up that UG filter and load your tank with bottles, cans and asphalt. Also feed your fish
Paul

---but I don't want my tank to look like a modern reef of today---I would rather it be retro with lots of live rock, deep sand bed, macro algae and happy fish

that's why its cool that some of you guys are still around

 

[Shooter7]

Maybe our profiles should have a longer section in them where you could list out all the various things you've had to deal with since starting? Still wouldn't mean you'd necessarily get "good" advice all the time from the person, but at least you could see what experiences they've had. I've been at this about 3 1/2 years and looking back, seems like I've been through a lot of crap in that span of time. Learned a lot from reading about other's rough roads they've gone down as well.

 

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12033288#post12033288 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Shooter7
Maybe our profiles should have a longer section in them where you could list out all the various things you've had to deal with since starting? Still wouldn't mean you'd necessarily get "good" advice all the time from the person, but at least you could see what experiences they've had. I've been at this about 3 1/2 years and looking back, seems like I've been through a lot of crap in that span of time. Learned a lot from reading about other's rough roads they've gone down as well.

either that or making blogs a requirement for membership.
Shooter as you are aware I post alot of pictures with my posts--that makes a difference in the kind of questions I am asked back and the ones in my private email box

 

[Shooter7]

I haven't responded to too many questions lately that a picture would help with. My phosban reactor hanging on the side of my sump doesn't look any different from yours, or most anyone else's. Truth be known, I'm at work and only take a few seconds now and then to pop over and see if I can offer a response to help someone somehow. I try to find related threads on topics and such to link to, but the search engine being down hasn't helped in that regard, and I don't have the liberty of being able to have my photobucket page sitting open here for me to rifle through on a moment's notice. I know about the PM box thing...most of the time mine only has a couple slots open before it's full again.

Here, here's a pic from early Jan:

 

[WaterKeeper]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12029780#post12029780 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by capn_hylinur
use capital letters in red and the Waterkeeper will find you:eek2:

Or Paul B; who, I think, is older than I am.

 

[Paul B]

WHAT DID YOU SAY WATERKEEPER?
you have to yell to Waterkeeper or he can't hear you.
By the way, I have socks older than he is.
Capn, you don't really want to put a section in with what we had to deal with do you?
Let me see, my tank with the slate bottom and the sides glued on with asphalt varnish leaked all over my encyclopedia's. (that was software then) My incandescent lights, which is all you could get in the fiftees heated up the water too much, We used to put twenty pennies to the gallon in to cure ich but there were no test kits so usually everyhting died.
There were no submersible powerheads and what they did have were metal, you had to sit them on the edge of the tank. When you put your hand into the tank you had to un plug them so you diden't get electrocuted. They diden't invent GFIs yet. Your choice of fish were blue devils with ich or dominoes with ich. Coral was dead and you bought it in Florida as paperweights.
The bags you bought fish in usually leaked but if you were lucky there was still some water left in the bag by the time you got home, if the fish was still damp, it lived long enough to die from ich, usually by the next tuesday.
I asked a question on Reef Central but had to wait until they invented computers to get an answer. Then Waterkeeper was born and it has been downhill ever since.

 

[inachu]

Put it this way.....


Now you have stuff so when an emergency arrives(you never know when you will!) you will be fully capable to handle if such an event should arise and you will be able to act on it instantly.

I would love to be in your shoes as my living conditions I can not use a sump as it would all be in the living room and having a sump next to the credenza which is near the TV and it gets really bad........

So be happy you can have a sump and you no longer need to spend money on such items.

I am sure you will wiggle your way in such a way that pleases you and this is the part where YOU customize based on the intelligence you get. But do what I do .... read the info here.
Then I talk to the local fish store guy who has been in it for over 30 years and you can not go wrong with that much experience under your belt.

Be happy you do have the money to do these things than not at all. If it is such a fuss then perhaps this is the wrong hobby?

Imagine not just the beauty of the tank and pretty fish but you will be learning the science behind the biology and letting the life in the tank support itself with just a lil human help now and then.

I think if anyone does this just for the beauty then it is the wrong hobby and they need to go back to fancy gold fish instead.

I am new as you and I plan to learn the most I can and everyone makes mistakes along the way.

Perhaps 10 years from now your tank might be
in a magazine article?



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<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11965633#post11965633 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Ricky1066
I have been in the salt water hobby only 3 months and like many of you guys did and many more will do I was anxious to get some fish in my tank and get things going.

I was at the lfs store and did alot of reading and research on things but found them very confusing even after that everyone and everyplace has a different idea and opinion.

Now after 3 months I have a decent stock some say to much some say it is ok. I ran into a little problem buying things I did not need and buying too many different things i did not need from advice on here and other sites.

I know all on here mean well but I think that it has become an issue where out of 10 responses 9 of them are different ? How is a newbie supposed to knwo who to believe when 10 people have all different opinions?

I went from a canister ($200) to a wet/dry)$175) to a diy sump with a sock Back to a canister all in 2 months from different advice on here . all beacause I listened to all different people I had the canister and was told it is no good dump I bought a wet.dry was told it is not good get a sump got that told it is doing nothing make a refugium .
I am going nuts AND BROKE trying to keep up all because I am new and have to try what I am told by the experts.
Now after going around the world I am back to my canister where I am being told it is ok if you clean it out at least every month?

So why all the other stuff It could have been simply said Yo have a canister you could use that but when you get some money and time you would be better off with a sum/refugium .
Instead it was made to sound like oh my don't use the canister or you will lose all fish

Then the other day I lost some snails again 10 diferent responses all different I moved my rocks and disturbed the sand ? Could that have been it maybe But right aways it was go buy all these tests test this change youre water don't use this only use that It could have been a simple let everything settle and see what happens Nothing else has happened since then and finally the water cleared up beatiiful.
But after I spent $100 on test kits I am told now I don't need

Again I am really thankful of all the advice n here But I am sure as all the newbies are and will be that it is got to be more of a helpful thing instead of 10 different ideas form 10 different people

Yes you guys mean well and we thank you But then as I have is oh you are too fast or oh why did you do that .We are taking advice from all you guys we are trying to do what we are told on here and sometimes we make mistakes after lkistening to all different opinions
I know have ahouse full of stuff I will probably never use.

 

[meco65]

This is from my personal experience. If you are using tap water you will more than likely have a algae problem. I used tap water for along time and though the tap water did not test to be bad I still had a battle with algae for the whole time I used it, and I cant get a RO/DI at the moment as I am budget challenged for now. So I switched to distilled water from Wal-Mart and I have a sump with cheto, no skimmer. My perimeters now are 0-ammonia, 0-nitrite, 0-nitrate, 8.2 PH, and very little algae.

 

[inachu]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12237067#post12237067 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by meco65
This is from my personal experience. If you are using tap water you will more than likely have a algae problem. I used tap water for along time and though the tap water did not test to be bad I still had a battle with algae for the whole time I used it, and I cant get a RO/DI at the moment as I am budget challenged for now. So I switched to distilled water from Wal-Mart and I have a sump with cheto, no skimmer. My perimeters now are 0-ammonia, 0-nitrite, 0-nitrate, 8.2 PH, and very little algae.

what is a cheto?

Cheetos? yummy!

 

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12236677#post12236677 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Paul B
WHAT DID YOU SAY WATERKEEPER?
you have to yell to Waterkeeper or he can't hear you.
By the way, I have socks older than he is.
Capn, you don't really want to put a section in with what we had to deal with do you?
Let me see, my tank with the slate bottom and the sides glued on with asphalt varnish leaked all over my encyclopedia's. (that was software then) My incandescent lights, which is all you could get in the fiftees heated up the water too much, We used to put twenty pennies to the gallon in to cure ich but there were no test kits so usually everyhting died.
There were no submersible powerheads and what they did have were metal, you had to sit them on the edge of the tank. When you put your hand into the tank you had to un plug them so you diden't get electrocuted. They diden't invent GFIs yet. Your choice of fish were blue devils with ich or dominoes with ich. Coral was dead and you bought it in Florida as paperweights.
The bags you bought fish in usually leaked but if you were lucky there was still some water left in the bag by the time you got home, if the fish was still damp, it lived long enough to die from ich, usually by the next tuesday.
I asked a question on Reef Central but had to wait until they invented computers to get an answer. Then Waterkeeper was born and it has been downhill ever since.

even more so Paul--you and Waterkeeper--the two grumpy old men routine is always great to read.

BTW, I know you are telling the truth Paul, I came from that time too and those are some of the reasons I was discouraged from salt water

 

[Playa-1]

I always recommend reading a couple of really good reef keeping books and then using the forums such as this to get different ideas and opinions. Then you can compare what you've read and make your own judgements.

 

[Tswifty]

Here's a thread I started looking for a recommended reading list... got a few responses.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1357718

 

[DEEC77]

Ricky-

The one piece of advice I think that often gets lost in the shuffle is you really need to understand your water chemistry. Reefkeeping is very simple if you follow one rule and that is get your water stable and keep your parameters in check. There are a hundred different ways to achieve that. How much time and or money you want to spend on your tank is up to you. How you get from point A to point B is a very personal thing. If you want all the fancy gadgets to help you get there then fine. If you want to keep it simple and do a lot of maintenance that's fine too. You have to pick a method that fits your life and works for you. Everyone will run into problems now and again and more often then not the problem can be fixed by getting your water quality back in check. It may all seem confusing when you start but after some time you will be able to see and understand cause and effect.

~Dee~

 

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12243760#post12243760 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DEEC77
Ricky-

The one piece of advice I think that often gets lost in the shuffle is you really need to understand your water chemistry. Reefkeeping is very simple if you follow one rule and that is get your water stable and keep your parameters in check. There are a hundred different ways to achieve that. How much time and or money you want to spend on your tank is up to you. How you get from point A to point B is a very personal thing. If you want all the fancy gadgets to help you get there then fine. If you want to keep it simple and do a lot of maintenance that's fine too. You have to pick a method that fits your life and works for you. Everyone will run into problems now and again and more often then not the problem can be fixed by getting your water quality back in check. It may all seem confusing when you start but after some time you will be able to see and understand cause and effect.

~Dee~

wise words---filtration and water chemistry--those are the basics:smokin: