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

[jemckinney]

Hello From Georgia

Hello From Georgia

Hello forum! I have been wanting to get into this hobby for many years and finally I have. I recently acquired a 29 gal Biocube that was a used system and I am basically cleaning everything up at this point with the vinegar soak and scrub method... I always wanted to go with a monster size tank but I am much more attracted to learning with a nano reef... :wavehand:

 

[RainbowTurtle]

Salt Water Noob

Salt Water Noob

Been studying salt water aquarium and marine life for a long time (years), freshwater breeder and expert but a saltwater noob, greenhorn stunts included. :/ Not TOO bad at least. I haven't killed anything yet, or made anything sick. Probably shouldn't be bragging though. :/ You know how it is. :headwally:

 

[pufferish]

HIAH! I'm Pufferish! A puffer enthusiast. Right now I have a F8 puffer in a 1.006 salinity brackish tank and I am planning a 28 gallon biocube for a valentini puffer.

 

[SteveSenior]

Just getting started...

Just getting started...

I am brand new to the hobby, just setting up my tank in early March. I have a 120 gallon tank, wet/dry filter, external pump, protein skimmer, 6 lamp light fixture, and UV light. The tank has cycled and a couple of days ago I replaced my Damsels with three new fish... a Foxface and 2 Firefish Goby's. Also have 10 hermit crabs and about 35 pounds of live rock (and about 40 pounds of dry rock).

I am having a lot of fun learning from all of you and seeing all of your incredible tanks. I look forward to continuing to learn from all of you! Hopefully I will be able to share some successes in the future.

 

[GradientHurdle]

Hello

Hello

Good Day All,

I am 6 months into the hobby. Inherited a 110g tank with 30g sump, wet/dry with a skimmer. Currently, the tank is doing okay. I have the following:

Tangs: Yellow, Naso, Yellow Eye, Powder Blue and a Sailfin
Dwarf Angels: Coral Beauty, Flame, Pygmy, and a Bi-Color
Two Percula Clowns
A Sweet Lips
Red Hawkfish
and a dalmatian molly that was a test fish after the cycle.

I also have a Mint Pavona, Xenia, couple Zoa's, and a Galaxea.

Inverts: Red Fire Shrimp, Couple Peppermints and Hermit Crabs, Emerald Crab, and Cronchs and Turbo Snails.

Parameters: DKH 9.0, Mag 1400, Ca 500+, Nitrites/Nitrates/Ammonia 0, pH 8.0, Phos. <0.03

100 lbs of rock that has a lot of green corraline with spots of purple/pink algae and pink growing. A 4 inch sand bed

Running two P47 LED's from ReefLEDlights.com and a couple jebao WP25 wave makers.

My biggest challenge right now is keeping the DKH and Mag levels appropriate. I am using Reef Builder and reef advantage mag from seachem. I use reef crystals salt from instant ocean.

My biggest frustration currently is keeping the DKH and mag at the above levels. I am dosing way above the recommended dose to currently keep the above levels. I have attempted to drop back the amount but both levels immediately fall the following day. The fish are happy and colorful, and the corals seem to be growing slowly, with the exception of the pavona, but it still has bright color. Can anyone guide me on the DKH and Mag issue. I really don't like dosing that much above the recommended dose. I also keep a brick of the Sea Lab #28 which takes about 3 weeks to dissolve. I am religious with the weekly, 16g water changes.

Lastly, thank you for all you can give me any guidance and happy Memorial Day.

 

[ndemtp]

Calcium

Calcium

Hello, new to the hobby. I started a 90 g reef about 9 weeks ago. I put in a 30 gallon refugium with 150 onto, 5 inch sand bed, some macro algae and a 9.5 danner return pump to the DT. I have 2-3 inch sand bed with about 60 lbs of live rock and my water is RODI with parameters running pH 8.01, temp 77.5-78.5, Alkalinity 135 ppm, Ammonia is 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 0, Phosphorus 5-10 ppb, Magnesium 1380, Calcium 550-600 ppm, Salinity 1.024-1.026 depending on time of day. We have added a couple zoanthids, a torch coral, and a pink sun coral. The sun coral is just now opening after about 10 days but the rest have been doing great with lots of growth in the zoes. I am curious bout the calcium. it has been rising since the tank started. Started at about 400 ppm and today my hanna checker blinks 600 ppm. What would cause the calcium to rise? The only treatments i have done is aphasia x, and with the sun i started macro power. Any suggestions?

Jeff
90G DT, Octo150 skimmer, refugium, 9.5 Danner return pump with two hydro 1050 powerbeads and a 48" reef barrier LED.

 

[ndemtp]

when i started my 90 g, after the nitrogen cycle i had a lot of that brown algae. i tested my water parameters with pH 7.8, calcium 425, temp 77.8, ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 0, sg 1.025. i then started the addition of my clean pup crew. within a week most of the algae was gone. I then did a good glass scrubbing, a sand bed clean, cleaned all pump parts and then a weekly water change. been doing very well with near no brown algae. green algae has been building on the live rock but the snails work away and it seems they keep everything in check.

 

[ndemtp]

if you want to see that minimum things you need try going to bulk reef supply and look at their video series. also vivid aquariums has videos and mr saltwater tv. all have videos on you tube to help the new guy

 

[ndemtp]

Ideas

Ideas

Hi!
I just bought a 25.5" square cube that is 12.5" tall. The guy I bought it from said it was somewhere around 33 gallons.

I don't want to be a pest and ask the same questions that have been asked over and over. Is there a section that tells you what equipment you should start out with? ie wavemaker, sump, protein skimmer etc - including sizes/kinds. I'm reading some books, but I'd really like a list of what I need to make this thing workable.

if you want to see that minimum things you need try going to bulk reef supply and look at their video series. also vivid aquariums has videos and mr saltwater tv. all have videos on you tube to help the new guy

 

[ndemtp]

Clean up

Clean up

Hello , this is my 3 weeks tank and brown algea is killing me , any ideas ?

when i started my 90 g, after the nitrogen cycle i had a lot of that brown algae. i tested my water parameters with pH 7.8, calcium 425, temp 77.8, ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 0, sg 1.025. i then started the addition of my clean pup crew. within a week most of the algae was gone. I then did a good glass scrubbing, a sand bed clean, cleaned all pump parts and then a weekly water change. been doing very well with near no brown algae. green algae has been building on the live rock but the snails work away and it seems they keep everything in check.

 

[iteched]

Hi Everyone,

Just getting back into marine tanks - had one years ago (like in the late 80's, early 90's) that was taken down due to moving. Luckily I found homes for my prized "Marine Betta" and others.

I'm setting up a new tank and it seems that much has changed (tank setups) over the last few decades.

My new tank is 55 gallons and currently it has:

1. Water (mixed with "Instant Ocean Reef Crystals" - got the 45 lbs tub for $30 at Petsmart sale).
2. Heater (The temp is currently 77F).
3. About 1 inch of crushed coral.
4. A top mounted "MarineLand" filter.

It's been running about 4 days now and I'm trying to decide on how much "live rock" to purchase. Initially I want to get it going as a "FOWLR" system.

I'm not totally familiar with "Live Rock" as my old system was "FO" and had very basic filtration (old style under-gravel filter - eheim canister filter).

I don't like stressing fish (using them to cycle the system).

Will live rock be OK to add to this system now or should I wait?

Thanks! Ed

 

[iteched]

I'm also considering an in-tank protein skimmer - but as it is just water at the moment there is nothing to skim. I like the "Hydor Slim" model as it will fit well with my tank.

 

[DanYGabriela15]

Hi I'm Daniel. I've had my 20 Gallon Tank for just 2 months and I'm really enjoying it. Originally my intention was to set it up for my daughter but I've found myself getting more and more sucked in - not too many people around here share my enthusiasm !

So I went through the initial live sand and rock stages and waiting for the water to mature. I decided I was going to start with corals only and have recently put my first ones in. I currently have a red mushroom, torch, frogspawn and 2 days ago I put a small hammer coral. After a few days acclimatising to the water the first three really seem to be thriving.

I have started feeding phytoplankton about once every other day.

 

[DFWSaltwater]

Hello, Hello, I am Susan a.k.a Volitanlioness, just setting a 90 Gal SW Tank this weekend. I have been out of SW the past few years, moved from Michigan to Texas. I have been keeping Freshwater Discus.
I am actually tearing down a 90G SW tank that has been running for 3 years, they just want it gone, so I decided to get back into SW. Why not right?

 

[neededahobby]

New to hobby and new to Reef central
Decided in January to finally take the plunge and get the giant saltwater tank we always wanted. 125G -FOWLR for now.

Just added 1st fish - 2 clowns after >8 weeks cycling! So much fun watching the critters that came with the rock. who knew mini worms could be so exciting to see.

 

[mrld4]

After much browsing, I kept coming back to this site so I decided to make it home and I needed 50 posts to be a part of the family and to dig deeper So I introduce myself

Started purchasing pieces last august, now I have one clownfish, he's been going for about a month, one yellow tang still in quarantine tank and just added a few crabs and snails (who have thus far turned to be way more exciting than I anticipated)

(90gal FOWLR but working toward reef)

So much to learn so hopefully I can get it from this site. Nice to meet you all!

 

[dbg]

Ready to learn

Ready to learn

Hello all,
I am new to the hobby and ready to learn. I have a 90 gallon reef tank with a few fish an corals.

 

[Pleeadeez]

Hello.
I thought I registered a year or so back but I guess not - so here I am (again) as I finally really start entering this hobby. I am currently (with the help of someone) setting up a 90 Gal reef tank I inherited through this person.
I imagine I will be here a lot in the future so hello and thanks everyone in advance!

cheers

 

[justreallybored]

New

New

Hey im new to the site. My name is matt, or just call me justreallybored. Im not totally new to reef tanks, but im coming back into it after an over 10 year absence and was only in it for about 1 year originally. I had a 55k gallon long tank with live sand and rock....snails, hermits, brittle star, 1 fish (think it was a blue chromis) and shrimp. Tank did fine till I made the rookie mistake of topping off with salt water....wasn't testing enough of Anything and got too salty and everything died. Anyways. I have basic understandings and have read tons of books and online articles and vids so im not a complete novice. Getting back into the world is a major shock though. This time im doing a small 30g in my basement. My old canister got brittle and key components broke when trying to put it back together. I have a skimmer but have been told its not needed for such a small tank. Found a good LED I like, Current USA Orbit Marine on amazon for 165$, it has what I want and am comfortable paying the price. Need a new filter, been told a HOB is fine for such a small tank. I will be using live sand and live rock, just my preference. Also will be putting in hermits, snails, and shrimp again. Really looking for all around advice based on what I have mentioned. Filter help. I don't know really. Currently im looking for setup advice, on a budget. Thanks!

 

[njtat2dguy]

Hello all.. Been involved with freshwater tank for the past 25 years. Just took the plunge and I am in the process of converting two of my freshwater tanks over to salt. Going to convert one of my 220g and 90g. Been picking up all the pieces I will need slowly over the past few weeks and I think next week I will start actually putting it all together. I'll try and post some pictures as I get rolling.