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

[fraxinius]

live rock is cool!

live rock is cool!

hello to all,,new salty here..got a new 10g starter setup from kids as b-day gift with some cured live rock and sand...basic penguin biofilter, led lighting and heater...set up 10/31/11 with about 10lbs live rock and live sand (1 bag 10lbs?)
week of 11/6 added extra bag sand and 8+ lbs live rock from established tank...2 inches sand in tank + 2 hermits.. no fish yet but so many hitchikers on live rock for amusement while waiting....so far::copepods, amphipods, baby snails, clear flatworms, hair worms, hydras, apitasia, sea squirts, grey tunicate, peanut worms, large anenome, brown polyp colony, brittle and asternia stars, bristleworms,.(pretty good for $25) goin blind id'ing this stuff on line..something new daily just discoverd bivalve embeded in rock and encrusted with coraline..use 3X reading glasses to look close, i know evry square inch of my mini reef...i have been feeding these guys for now. 11/13 added 1 trochus + 3 astrea snails + 1 peppermint shrimp....shrimp died in 2 days snails ok, i will learn acclimation better and have astrea eggs on glass..i will post some pics..

 

[fraxinius]

pics

pics

just a few,more to follow

 

[fraxinius]

pics

pics

a few ?s...ok to keep feeding? hoping the right critters will eat most of these hitchhikers... trying to keep costs down for now, can i do ok with lights that came with tank?? 22 small white leds + 2 blue..

 

[fraxinius]

tank today

tank today

11-29-11

 

[Zswift]

Hey I'm Zach, I am an absolute noob at Saltwater tanks. Just doing research right now, trying to plan everything out before I jump into the deep end of this adventure. My friend is selling me his 55 gallon tank, and I think it is already set up as a saltwater tank. Any helpful tips would be greatly appreciated!

 

[jUz129]

hi...my name is chris and i am new to they hobby...i am tryin to set up a 240g tank!

 

[SCWilliams28092]

New here. Currently turning my 60 gal African Cichlid tank into a samll fowlr at the time. Hope to gain valuable information from some experience folks on here

 

[pinkskunk14]

Hey
Im Annie im new to the forum i have 2 tanks i have a 55 gal with a 30 gal sump, i have power compact but soon i might be getting T5's not sure im here to get opinons and gain some knowledge..... Lastly my 12 gal nano cube that is now becoming a frag tank cant wait. A year ago i started off with a 30 gal, filled it with rocks, sand, and fish had a sexy predator tank

 

[DrBegalke]

[Welcome]

 

[poorguy]

Hi, my name is Tony and live in Victorville, CA. I had 15 years experience with freshwater tank but none with saltwater. Decided to switch tank to a reef tank 2 month ago, and learning everyday. My tank is 72" x 24" X 30" (225gl.) with a 50gl refugium sum that I converted from my wet/dry bioballs system, 4 AI Led light, SWC protein skimmer rated 400gl, with 200lb live rock, 16 bags (30lbs) of live sand, 4 powerheads and 2 return pumps. Tank is cycled and already added a few Tangs and soft corals, snails and hermit crabs. Tank and fishes are looking good so far. My next step is getting a complete set of calcium reactor either used or new.

Brand new to saltwater aquarium, if you have any suggestions or if I am missing something, please advice. Thanks.

 

[Chimone]

Hey everyone
Finally made the decision to start my first Marine tank. I know freshwater well, and have always had multiple tanks setup. But it's time for a change into something new. I just came home with a 75 gallon dedicated to my first reef.
Im looking forward to the countless hours of reading before I finally get it up and running.
Cheers

 

[OcellaRuss]

Hello, my name is Russ, and I'm from Tucson, AZ. My only hands-on experience with aquariums is with a 30 gal fish only tank using an under-gravel filter (which I know amounts to diddly) while I was a teen. However, I have been passionate about marine biology and aquariums for a long time, and I love scuba diving (Belize has been my favorite so far). I've probably read John Tullock's "Natural Reef Aquariums" and Martin A. Moe's "Marine Aquarium Reference" a hundred times.

I had bought an 80 gal pre-drilled tank in high school but never used it. My brother commandeered the tank for a freshwater system while I was away at college. Now that I have my own home I'm looking to finally set up a marine aquarium, and the tank I had is coming back into my possession. Right now I'm looking for information on collecting components I need: lighting, sump and pump.

 

[ReeferBean]

Hi everyone! I'm finally getting around to joining RC after lurking in the background for a few years. I've been keeping fishtanks for about 15 years and graduated to saltwater in 2006. Once I made the transition to a salt FOWLR tank it didn't take long before I had a reef tank going and was totally hooked. I've only done small tanks so far; I dont know if you can call 29gal display "nano" but it sure seems "nano" compared to some of the tanks people on here have. I feel the experience I've gained keeping a small system balanced and happy has helped me absorb a great deal of knowledge.

I've been tank-less for the last 18 months due to work keeping me on the move, but I have recently settled down and am ready to start a new tank. I still have all my equipment from my last setup which I intend on using at first just to keep costs down. Although I have seen some larger used tanks for sale at one of the local LFSs that are very tempting to start with!

I look forward to participating in this great forum I've followed for quite a while and will be starting a thread on the development and evolution of my new reeftank.

P.S. I am not, and do not have any relation to BeanAnimal...

 

[GubbleBuppy]

Just wanted to say hi to everyone. I have owned fresh water tanks for a while but I feel like its time to make the jump to a bigger challenge. I know reef keeping is a whole different ball of wax but I really am looking forward to the new experience.

 

[Amylou73]

Hi I'm new to RC

Hi I'm new to RC

My name is Amy I am working on two reef tanks a 20 and 75 gal acrylic hex! Need some ideas for lighting and sumps. I have never set up a sump so I get super confused on building one... ???? :twitch::twitch:

 

[iplumber]

Hello from London. I am plumber.

 

[Lowside]

Hey ya'll,

Just wanted to say hello, been lurking for awhile collecting info and putting it to good use.

I've been in the aquarium hobby almost a year now, started with a 10 gallon freshwater tank. Began research after getting it (i know, i know...) and my attention was quickly turned to saltwater. So in May of this year I found a 55 gallon tank on CL for cheap. Brought it home filled it up with live sand and about 10 pounds of LR, and it has been looong uphill journey since. :fun2:

But after 7 or 8 months up and running adding rock and livestock, battling ich, aiptasia, water quality problems, poor filtration, hair algae, and just about anything you can imagine. Everything is finally coming together and I have a tank that I can finally be proud of!!

I just finished building an overflow and sump setup with a skimmer and some good filter pads, carbon, and live sand. It has made a lot of difference in water quality and management. I will post up some of the build pics soon.

Anyway, just wanted to say hi and look forward to sharing some of my experiences with you all and learning from what others have done on here.

Justin

 

[oblongshrimp]

Hi everyone, I just have one 40gal tank which I have had for a couple years now. I still really don't know what I am doing yet but I am looking forward to learning more.

 

[ktaylor2002]

New and struggling but excited!

New and struggling but excited!

Hi, my name is Karen and I live in Grapevine Texas.

Day 1. I received a 40 gal oceanic system with a wet/dry sump from a friend who was moving and could not take her system. I know very little but am willing to give it a shot.
Day 2. Quiet One 300 pump quit working. Of course every place online is out of replacement shaft.
Day 3. Trying to decide if I should just get new pump.
Day 4. Realized I have no clue how to connect the overflow.
Day 5. All the live rock has been dry for at least 4 months and I have no idea if it is reuseable at all. (told you I know VERY little right?)


Despite all my current struggles I am very anxious to learn as I go.
I hope to learn so much from this site!
Thanks,
Karen

 

[JEC11718]

Just brought home a 20gtall FOWLR....

Just brought home a 20gtall FOWLR....

Hi! My name is Josh and I had a friend of a friend sell me a 20 gallon tall with a snowflake eel -10", a mimic tang -3" and a humbug damsel that's 2" for 40 bucks! I have been a feshwater tank guy for many years-- when I was a teenager I had oscars and pacu...My kids have a really nice 10 gal with the usual petsupermarket fodder! I will be posting many questions as I hope to add to my small tank! Nice to meet all!!! I live one block from the Gulf of Mexico and love Diving and Bottom Fishing for big Red Snapper! JEC