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

New Salty

New Salty

Hello everyone. My name is Rich. I just purchased my first SW tank and I'm excited to get it up and running. I've had FW tanks for years, but have always wanted a reef tank.

My tank is an Innovative Marine SR-80. I purchased a caddy basket and refugium light to put in place of one of the filter socks. I also picked up IM's full sized Ghost Skimmer.

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I'm starting the tank with 10lbs of Nature's Ocean live sand with the rest of the sand being dry aragonite from my lfs. I'm also going with about 100 lbs of live rock from the lfs. This rock was all dry several months ago and has been stewing in their holding tank. I'm hoping that I won't have too much trouble with die off since the rock will go straight from their tank to mine.

I plan to cycle that for a few weeks with no lighting. I read "Newbies, a little something on cycling/breaking in a new reef tank." posted by Prow in 2005. Lots of great info in there. I'm going to try to stick as closely to his suggestions as possible.

After the initial cycle, I plan to add some cuc, lighting, and my refugium. I'll hold off on the skimmer until the tank matures a bit.

I don't have an RO, so I'm going to startup with treated tap water. I'll add the RO when the budget allows.

Feel free to send me your comments and suggestions.
 
hello Rc members my name is eric from longisland ny im a long time reefer but never used rc . Im getting back into the hobby im on the hunt for a new tank but im unsure on the size
 
Upgrading

Upgrading

Made the transition to saltwater about a year ago and have learned from several unfortunate mistakes; I turned my 48 gallon bow front tropical into a saltwater system last year and it's just not big enough (isn't that always the problem?)! Recently I lucked into a great deal on a 135 gallon, 6' tank and am working towards setting that up. I have spent hours and hours researching -- even though my current system is up and stable, I want to do this one RIGHT. The new tank has a single pre-drilled hole, bottom corner - I just told my bf last night that I need 3 holes up top for a Bean Animal... he's "thrilled". :lolspin: I bought a 40B for a sump (current system has is FOWLR and has a canister; I want to be able to do corals in the new set up), new (larger) skimmer (currently have a HOB RO), 2 powerheads (controllable) to add to the 2 I already have, new heater, ATO, carbon and GFO reactors; still need to buy lights and a return pump -- and of course, build the stand and sump. I'm remodeling my entire house, and I promised to finish up the current projects before starting on this one, so it will be a couple of weeks before we get rolling, and I'm using the time to learn and prepare. I currently have a pair of oscellaris (one orange, one black), 2 fire fish, 2 zebra dart fish, 2 pajama cardinal fish, 2 camel shrimp, 1 snapping shrimp and an assortment of hermit crabs (which will not be going into the new DT as they killed all my snails :mad2: ). I have recently removed 2 psychopathic 3 stripe damsels after they killed the royal gramma, the goby, the original oscellaris and a couple of cardinals. They are currently in QT awaiting their fate -- return to the lfs from whence they came or transfer to my electrician friend who has a number of larger tanks at home. Speaking of electricians... he's coming tomorrow to put in dedicated outlets for the system.

Anyway, I tend to be long winded, but that's my current situation. I have learned SO much already and am really looking forward to a slow and careful build to get it right the first (??) time with this new larger system. I've checked out several reefing sites in the process but I keep coming back to RC as i like the format and information best from what I've come across.
 
Hello all. Thanks for the info I've already gotten from you guys. I just bought a 180 gallon glass frag tank with a buddy to grow coral for other friends and hopefully sell a few pieces too. He's been into this for a long time, but this is my first time other than winning a goldfish at a carnival. I bought a snorkel, so I'm pretty sure I'm ready!
 
I'm getting back into the hobby. I sold my 175 gallon bowfront tank about 4 years ago before my youngest son was born. Looking at tanks now and hoping to get back in the hobby.
 
Hi All, I'm new to Reef Central and have a question.

But about my tank first, I have a FOWLR and started with a 120 litre clear seal, however upgraded to a Signiture 900 about 2 weeks ago. I moved my LR over and all is good, have plenty of corrallane algae too.

I was sold a mandarin by my LFS (always wanted one but was waiting for my system to be able to handle it with pods etc) they advised he was eating frozen and so he would be OK and that I should have pods on my existing rock work, I am supplementing him with them too.

He isn't eating frozen when I target feed them too him and it's been a couple weeks now, so I wanted to try and cultivate them in my sump.

Do I need sand? What's the best to do this? Set up near the return pump?

Many thanks
Wes
 
Newbie to the fullest

Newbie to the fullest

Hi there everyone my name is manole from Florida area I am very very new to the saltwater aquarium hobby I have purchased a 180 gallon aquarium with soft plumbing. I also had from previous aquarium set up roughly about 200 lbs of rock which I cleaned dryed and cleaned again before new use I have cycled my new tank 3 times in about 3-4 months with ammonia and roughly 20 lbs of live cured rock from LFS. Aquarium now is up and running for about 2 months give or take I have 9 fish all very small 1-2 inches with about a hand full 7-8 pieces of frags mostly zoas and poly. And that is all lol (LFS recommended set up biggest skimmer they have no idea on name I can look into it with 2 in sump pumps one for each side of aquarium 40g sump with a gyro 150 powerhead and 2 72" led fixtures with 2 reactors 1 for carbon and other for GFO.
 
Hi everyone, my name is corey. I'm brand new to reef central. I've been in the hobby for roughly 10 years. Havnt had a tank in a while though. Looking to start over if anybody knows of a setup for sale. I'm looking for a 5-6' tank, drilled. Stand, canopy, sump, and whatever else. My budget is around a grand and I'm located in the Tampa. Bay area of florida. Thanks
 
Hi everyone, I'm fairly new to the hobby but have had fresh water systems throughout the years. I am looking to get into the hobby, fairly soon except I am not sure of the exact setup. I know I want a cube with a minimum of 45gal, but was ideally looking for a all in one or something close to it, which would allow me to upgrade components over time. Any assistance/advice would be great & welcomed.
 
Hello

Hello

Hello my name is steve I am new here to reef central like 7 years ago I had a lot of saltwater tanks and only of a couple of corals. Now all the sudden I got the bug back😄. So I went out and bought a full system with some fish and a some soft corals 2 hrs away. It was a 55 gollon tank. And it's been almost a month and I haven't lost even one thing I guess I got lucky. I have a basket ball sized anemone with egg producing matted pair of clownfish. Everything is now back to full size. And I just bought a few sps. Will have to post a few pictures when I figure out how to I think I need to shrink the size or something. Have a great day and happy reefing. 😃
 

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Hello from Lompoc, CA

Hello from Lompoc, CA

Hi all. Noob here. I'm picking up a 29 Gallon tank with live coral and two Clownfish today from a military friend who is moving on Monday. I'm totally new to the salt water world, but was a huge fresh-water hobbyist 15-20 years ago. It's been that long. I just didn't want to see his marine life die so I agreed to take it; I've never intended to get back into fish tanks, but here I am, hoping to get a wealth of information in the next 3 hours before I pick up the tank.

About me: recently retired from the US Air Force as a generator technician and IT Tech during the latter half. I'm an avid SCUBA diver and spend a significant time in the Pacific Ocean here on the Central Coast of CA; however, I expect this fish tank a totally different experience.

Anyways, I look forward to picking up some good info and pointers and hopefully being able to contribute along the way. Wish me luck.

Cheers,

Pete
 
My name is Aaron and I live in S. Florida. After about a month of solid research i decided to take the plunge. Really who am I joking, I think I am only getting my feet wet so far. Anyway I set up my Biocube 29 with about 30 lbs on Nature's Ocean live sand and 25 lbs of live rock. Threw in a dead shrimp to help start the cycle and am having way to much fun staring at an empty tank. I will be hanging around here for advise i am sure.
 
Flat4sti said:
My name is Aaron and I live in S. Florida. After about a month of solid research i decided to take the plunge. Really who am I joking, I think I am only getting my feet wet so far. Anyway I set up my Biocube 29 with about 30 lbs on Nature's Ocean live sand and 25 lbs of live rock. Threw in a dead shrimp to help start the cycle and am having way to much fun staring at an empty tank. I will be hanging around here for advise i am sure.
Click to expand...


Hi Aaron do you have any pics?
 
Hi! I'm Gwen and my husband and I have a 75 gallon tank. We have worked out a terrific division of labor. He measures all the levels of everything in test tubes and runs to Home Depot for various plumbing supplies and chases me around the house with stanky skimmate and I dutifully don't ask what things cost. I'm thrilled that my gadget loving and system designing man is doing all the heavy lifting and I get to spend hours staring at liverock.

The tank has been up for a little over a month now. We seem to be very nearly done cycling and impatient wifey that I am, talked him into a couple of emerald crabs and a handful of hermits. Mostly I adore new pieces of live rock and searching for hitch hikers.

We've gotten a bunch of aptasia (bought a peppermint shrimp tonight) and one astarina. A lovely little urchin, tons of spaghetti worms, many beautiful feather dusters (love them), a bunch little isopod creepy crawlers and tonight this beautiful new friend:

dateposted-public


Is this maybe an open brain coral? I have to say, looking at all the images on Google, my brain is not seeing an obvious distinction between open and closed brain coral. And if it is an open brain coral, there seems to be some suggestion that he would most like to be in the substrate? I'm inclined to leave him right on the liverock where he came. But if anyone can help me with ID, I'd love to do some more research on how to make him a happy critter.

Cheers
 
Hello all helpful interested people. My names Joshua and this is my first tank ever. I have a 30g and a 14g set up.Mostly corals and algae to go in both and the minimum amount of fish to keep the balance. I've been reading up on certain things i need help with and people on this site are great.

Peace
 
Hello

Hello

Hi everyone just want to introduce myself, I'm Kerry and have been a reef keeper for 8yrs now and love everything about the hobby.

I always say It doesn't matter how long you have been in the hobby because everyday there is always something new we did not know,this is the great thing about this hobby.
 
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