Hello - Nano Reef

[ReefDreams]

Hi guys, im totally new to the saltwater hobby, it has always been a fascination for me, and I kept away hearing it was difficult. Today I have a 75 g that will go in desintox (it had turtles in it lol).

I started almost 2 years ago with cichlids, Tropheus Duboisis to be more specific, I still keep them in a 150 gallons tank (although they said it was tough to begin with tropheus I had no losses, im kind of perfectionnist when it comes to setting up things ...). I wanted to change my 75g into a cichlid tank, but saltwater is really tempting. I tought about doing the change into a cichlid tank and get some kind of Nano reef setup just to start to learn things about saltwater life.

I does look complicated, is it a good idea to start with something like a nano reef ? Im creating this thread so I can place what I find here, if you can give me pointers on where to start looking for, would it be filtration, fish, coral, invertebrates... It'll be greatly appreciated.

The point of not going in the 75g is really to know how to "reef build" first and to spend less $$. It would be interesting to know how much a "Good nano reef" would cost ? I have no idea for the price but when starting a project it is something important for me since im still studying (I know its expensive so im really starting to believe that the 75g reef wouldnt be good for my wallet )

Oh well, there you go I threw in alot of what is going through in my head, I hope that you will understand what I meant, my english isnt very good (im a frenchy )

Thank you for your time

 

[mmd]

go to the nano forum.........
my suggestion: I would recommend a 20, 29 or 30 gallon, anything smaller & the risks increase (the more water volume the more it is tolerant of changes) for example a snail dies in a 120 who cares, a snail dies in a 5 gallon and you better get it out quick before your amonia spikes....also i learned from experience to surf the forum of local reef clubs as you can get almost anything from equiptment to lr to corals etc, from a fellow reefer changing tanks, moving, etc, for a fraction of the cost.

 

[Mrs.kbmdale]

ReefDreams,
[welcome]
To be honest with you, the bigger the water volume, the bigger the margin of error, like mmd said. He suggested a few size tanks, I would go with a 30gallon Long, it's a GREAT size starter tank and with 3 95watt VHO's for lighting over it, you would be able to keep just about anything, with the exception of entense light greedy SPS corals. (Though we kept a nice pink birdsnest-my avatar- under that lighting before we upgraded to bigger tank and more lights)

Here are some VERY informative and useful links/threads to get you started. Hope ya find some of them helpful. Also, check out the DIY forum for great ideas, and see if there is a local reef club near you. Good Luck, Have FUN , and keep us posted.

PATIENCE, PATIENCE, PATIENCE.... READ, READ, READ... is the KEY to this WONDERFUL hobby!


Links:
Helpful Dictionary
Lighting the Reef Tank: A Primer for Beginners
Alright Newbie; Let's shed some light on this subject.
Thoughts on Reef Aquarium Lighting...by Anthony Calfo
So you got a new fish tank Newbie
An Introduction to Substrate Choices
Reef Aquarium Water Parameters w/ Randy Holmes-Farley
Filter this Through that Thick Skull of Your's-Newbie!!
Bunch 'O Stickies



Brianna:rollface:

 

[mmd]

good point Brianna, although i would choose t5's, either way a good 3 foot light fixture coud be used if u upgrade to other larger 3 foot tanks later on such as 40, 50, 65, which is what i did, my lights were on a 50 then 30 now a 65, so i did not have to spend $$$$ everytime i changed tanks

 

[fossil]

Here's what I wish someone mentioned to me when I started saltwater...

You say you don't want to spend a lot of money. Yeah I said the same thing. I was just like you, I did the whole cichlid thing for a few years. There is not much you can do with a cichlid tank except buy fish. Don't get me wrong I loved them but going into saltwater opens up so many more options compared to cichlids. Every day the saltwater hobby has new and improved technology or something new you will want to try out. There is always room for improvment in saltwater. With that said, that five bucks you would have bought a burger with now goes toward that new coral(IME).

Go as big as you can now. That 75 gallon will probly be a sump in a years time for that new 125.

Don't be in a hurry, if you think you like a product search around about. Don't go with the first guy who says "get it man."

Get the best product you can, if it means saving up for 2 more weeks...do it.

Look at other people's tank profiles, make a list of what you like about their tank and put it into yours.

Hope this helps a little.