If You Are New to Reef Central, Introduce Yourself Here!

[aquaman760]

I have had the same green hairy mess for a while now but am definitely winning the battle now thanks to some outside reading and the info on this site.
I added a phosphate reactor containing "Rowa Phos", been doing frequent water changes, decreased the amount of time my lights stay on and added more live sand. Phosphates are now reading around 0 and nitrates have decreased and should continue to drop due to the fresh live sand I added yesterday. The green hairy algae is turning light brown and looks like it is dying off.
Read all the articles in the "Newbie Corner Feedback - Reefkeeping 101" here on RC, they are excellent!

 

[vibrantfishluvr]

Hello, my name is Michael.

I am completely new to aquariums and fishkeeping in general. I became interested in having an aquarium because of one of my friends. He has a reef tank and constantly talks to me about it. I have seen a few tanks first hand, one of them being in my local hospital, and love watching them. That is why I have decided to gather information on caring for and maintaining aquariums.

I hope to learn a lot here.

Sincerely,

Michael

P.S.

Currently I am running a 40gal breeder with 4 goldfish, a placo, and an albino clawed frog. Which, I received from a family member, along with a 55gal hex tank that had a chip in it.

 

[cornraker]

Hello all! My name is Kyle and i'm from the D.C. area. I'm basically new to this hobby. I had a 10 gal freshwater tank a few years back, so I got it back out, set it up, put a few fish into it, but now i'm really intrigued by the saltwater aspect of aquariums and i'm hoping to buy a nice tank and make a neat reef setup. I'm looking to learn alot on this site, and get some insight before i take the plunge and start spending money. Any recommendations on any books to buy/read? Well, nice meeting yall!

Kyle

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

I have had the same green hairy mess for a while now but am definitely winning the battle now thanks to some outside reading and the info on this site.
I added a phosphate reactor containing "Rowa Phos", been doing frequent water changes, decreased the amount of time my lights stay on and added more live sand. Phosphates are now reading around 0 and nitrates have decreased and should continue to drop due to the fresh live sand I added yesterday. The green hairy algae is turning light brown and looks like it is dying off.
Read all the articles in the "Newbie Corner Feedback - Reefkeeping 101" here on RC, they are excellent!

sounds like you have a great plan to get rid of that algae, keep it up. Don't forget to start a thread documenting your progress.

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

Hello, my name is Michael.

I am completely new to aquariums and fishkeeping in general. I became interested in having an aquarium because of one of my friends. He has a reef tank and constantly talks to me about it. I have seen a few tanks first hand, one of them being in my local hospital, and love watching them. That is why I have decided to gather information on caring for and maintaining aquariums.

I hope to learn a lot here.

Sincerely,

Michael

P.S.

Currently I am running a 40gal breeder with 4 goldfish, a placo, and an albino clawed frog. Which, I received from a family member, along with a 55gal hex tank that had a chip in it.

[welcome]

Be sure to read the stickies for a wealth of good information on the hobby. Glad to have you with us.

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

Hello all! My name is Kyle and i'm from the D.C. area. I'm basically new to this hobby. I had a 10 gal freshwater tank a few years back, so I got it back out, set it up, put a few fish into it, but now i'm really intrigued by the saltwater aspect of aquariums and i'm hoping to buy a nice tank and make a neat reef setup. I'm looking to learn alot on this site, and get some insight before i take the plunge and start spending money. Any recommendations on any books to buy/read? Well, nice meeting yall!

Kyle

[welcome]
this should help get you started. Good to have you with us.

 

[Seahorse NJRC]

Hey, I'm new to reef cetral not salt water. I figured I'd just pop on here to get more insight and offer my advice. My tanks have been going for about a year now with no issues.

 

[Steven2010]

Hi Everyone

Hi Everyone

I am new to the Reef Central forums. Anyways, Hi everyone.

Steven

 

[aquagirl70]

Hi RC, what's up? I just got into the hobby about 2 months ago. I wanted a 90 gallon tank with a porcupine puffer, a dogface puffer, eels and a large niger trigger.

I ended up purchasing a used 37 gallon tank as the "quarantine" tank first. Unfortunately, it came with all kinds of critters that I've been struggling to care for ever since. Never made it to the 90 gallon dream tank. :-(

As I detailed in the "help - someone ate my starfish" post a little while ago, the tank came with:

1 Debelius' reef lobster (trouble!!!)
white sand star (recently deceased, possibly became the lobster's snack)
two 1.5 inch hippo tangs
2 green chromis
1 big fat very entertaining lawnmower blenny
1 giant pajama fish
1 damsel
15 tiny hermit crabs (blue leg and red leg)
several snails (turbo, nerite, nassarius)
1 colt coral (cauliflower)
caulerpa alagea
1 coral hawkfish
1 cleaner shrimp
1 unknown reddish smaller shrimp
1 unknown polyp type coral
1/2 inch live sand
Texas Holy rock
Tom Aquatics Rapids Pro filter/sump with overflow box
1 Koralia 1 pump

I was away for two days, and was very upset to find on my return that all parts of the starfish were gone except for two legs. Still trying to figure out who is the culprit and what to do with him. I got helpful tips from other RC members that the tank is overloaded and the hippo tangs, damsel and lobster might have to go.

I've struggled so much with this 37 gallon "quarantine" tank that I don't know if I should bother going for the tank I really want. Nitrates sky high, don't know if it would help to swap the bio balls in the sump for live rock.

I would love to add a puffer, which was the reason I got into the hobby in the first place. But I've been told it wouldn't work out in this tank? Thoughts?

Great to be part of the community, you guys are great!!

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

Hey, I'm new to reef cetral not salt water. I figured I'd just pop on here to get more insight and offer my advice. My tanks have been going for about a year now with no issues.

[welcome]

Glad to have you with us. Be sure to start a thread dshowing off your tank.

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

I am new to the Reef Central forums. Anyways, Hi everyone.

Steven

[welcome]

Well, Hi there Steve, glad to have you here.

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

Hi RC, what's up? I just got into the hobby about 2 months ago. I wanted a 90 gallon tank with a porcupine puffer, a dogface puffer, eels and a large niger trigger.

I ended up purchasing a used 37 gallon tank as the "quarantine" tank first. Unfortunately, it came with all kinds of critters that I've been struggling to care for ever since. Never made it to the 90 gallon dream tank. :-(

As I detailed in the "help - someone ate my starfish" post a little while ago, the tank came with:

1 Debelius' reef lobster (trouble!!!)
white sand star (recently deceased, possibly became the lobster's snack)
two 1.5 inch hippo tangs
2 green chromis
1 big fat very entertaining lawnmower blenny
1 giant pajama fish
1 damsel
15 tiny hermit crabs (blue leg and red leg)
several snails (turbo, nerite, nassarius)
1 colt coral (cauliflower)
caulerpa alagea
1 coral hawkfish
1 cleaner shrimp
1 unknown reddish smaller shrimp
1 unknown polyp type coral
1/2 inch live sand
Texas Holy rock
Tom Aquatics Rapids Pro filter/sump with overflow box
1 Koralia 1 pump

I was away for two days, and was very upset to find on my return that all parts of the starfish were gone except for two legs. Still trying to figure out who is the culprit and what to do with him. I got helpful tips from other RC members that the tank is overloaded and the hippo tangs, damsel and lobster might have to go.

I've struggled so much with this 37 gallon "quarantine" tank that I don't know if I should bother going for the tank I really want. Nitrates sky high, don't know if it would help to swap the bio balls in the sump for live rock.

I would love to add a puffer, which was the reason I got into the hobby in the first place. But I've been told it wouldn't work out in this tank? Thoughts?

Great to be part of the community, you guys are great!!

[welcome]
I think the primary culprit would be that lobster.

As for the bioballs, I always say that they are to be used on fresh water tanks, not reef tanks. I would give in a bit and also say you can use them for a fish only tank with live rock (FOWLR) Just because they are nitrate factories. Which aren't bad for fish, but if you wanted to venture out and try a reef tank It's better to have a sump with live rock or just a sump/refugium. If you have enough live rock in the display, there's no need for rock rubble in the sump.

It seems like you want to go in the direction of an aggressive tank, so no real need to get rid of the bioballs unless you want to reduce nitrates. If you choose to change things up, be sure to ask how to go about it, you just can't remove all the biological filtration and not expect an ammonia spike.

I would agree with others and say that your tank is overstocked, and first thing I would do is definitely get rid of that lobster.

Good luck.

 

[aquagirl70]

Hi Sisterlimonpot, and thanks for the warm welcome and helpful advice. Too bad all fingers point to the lobster, but I tend to agree. It was kind of cool to think of something other than melted butter and corn on the cob when I heard that word, but he's got to go! :mixed:

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

bon appetit, and don't forget the bib!!

 

[MelbaToasty]

MelbaToasty saying Hello

MelbaToasty saying Hello

Hello, my name is Johnny and I am new to reef central. I have been away from the hobby since I was a teenager (a lot has changed). I have a 72 gallon bow front with a 20 gallon sump.

I am working closely with my lfs which was been family owned since the 60's. I am getting great direction, knowledge, and extremely high quality livestock from them. I am anxious to add corals, but my system isn't quite ready yet.

 

[Pro X]

Hello All From Mid Michigan

Hello All From Mid Michigan

New to RC but not new to salt. I've had a 29G Hex up and going for a while.
Now with the kids heading back to school I'm hoping to get started on a 75G build using pieces I've been collecting over the past few months.
I've got:
ReefMaster Pro 75 refugium, Euroreef RS80, PM CR422 Calcium Reactor, Blueline 30HD return pump, 1 1/2" Overflow, 3/4 SCWD, Custom T5/150MH Canopy and Profilux Plus II EX Controller.
Currently looking for a Tunze Nano Wavebox

Any input/ideas/criticism would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

Hello, my name is Johnny and I am new to reef central. I have been away from the hobby since I was a teenager (a lot has changed). I have a 72 gallon bow front with a 20 gallon sump.

I am working closely with my lfs which was been family owned since the 60's. I am getting great direction, knowledge, and extremely high quality livestock from them. I am anxious to add corals, but my system isn't quite ready yet.

[welcome]

Glad that you found a good LFS. Just keep in mind that they are in the business to make a profit so no matter how nice they are, they may want to sell you something you won't need. but that's where this site comes in handy. We have no vested interest in you so we will shoot you straight.

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

New to RC but not new to salt. I've had a 29G Hex up and going for a while.
Now with the kids heading back to school I'm hoping to get started on a 75G build using pieces I've been collecting over the past few months.
I've got:
ReefMaster Pro 75 refugium, Euroreef RS80, PM CR422 Calcium Reactor, Blueline 30HD return pump, 1 1/2" Overflow, 3/4 SCWD, Custom T5/150MH Canopy and Profilux Plus II EX Controller.
Currently looking for a Tunze Nano Wavebox

Any input/ideas/criticism would be greatly appreciated.

[welcome]

don't see too many waveboxes anymore. Make sure you start a thread documenting your build.

 

[Slice]

Hi, I'm Slice and I'm a reefaholic. I do not need any stinkin' 12 step plan, I need more Chaeto!
47G FOWLR, but only for another month or 2. Then it becomes a reef tank!
Started 5 1/2 months ago, 50-ish # RL, 40# LS.
3 Green Chromis, 1 Royal Gramma.
10+ Nassy, 2 turbo, 2 huge cerith, 2 huge astreia snails
3 peppermint shrimp, 2 emerald crabs (1 female that gave birth recently, 1 MONSTER male)

usual params
Ph 8.0+
Ammo 0
Trites 0
Trates 20 or less
79* constant

Tank is column style 20" wide, 18" deep and 30" Tall...PITA to work on.
Current USA Nova Extreme Pro 108w T5 (6 x 18w 18")
Koralia 1400 + Koralia 1050
AquaClear 70 -to be soon replaced with CPR Aquafuge II PS (HOB skimmer/refugium)

I've been active at another site, been lurking here.

 

[Graemejens]

Hello,

I'm Graeme and new to RC.
I live in Holland and got a 14 gallon nano aquarium.

I hope to find some more info about nano's here since they are not so common in the Netherlands