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

[thoutchens]

I went through custom aquariums. All in one setup and I couldn't be happier

Thanks for the response! That's the way I'm leaning. Is there a big difference trying to keep the tank stable and clean when comparing a 45-75 gal tank vs. 100+ gal? I want to get my feet wet with a smaller tank until I get this down but, I don't want set myself up to fail either.

 

[FinFeeder]

Hi!

Hi!

I've kept fish since I was a little kid. After a cross-country move I don't have a big setup anymore. I'm crammed into a small apartment and I'll probably have to move a lot and travel for work.

 

[JBradford]

Hello from Tulsa!

Hello from Tulsa!

Hello all,

My name is Justin Bradford, everyone calls me JB, and I'm from the Tulsa area.

I've have FW tank that I've had setup for going on 2 years. 65 gallons running a canister filter and a couple 250w heaters. It's a blast and i'm hooked.

So i dove into SW this year. it's a complete setup i got used from my LFS. 90 gallon, 30 gallon sump, T-5 lights, skimmer (not sure on brand), and a 300w heater. I've got 90lbs of sand and 70lbs of rock and I'm about half way through my first week of the cycle. This will be a coral/fish tank but mainly coral.

I've been stalking the site gathering info for a couple of weeks and i decided it was time i join and learn some more. I appreciate all the help you all have already unknowingly given me.

I'll post up some pics shortly of my setup as soon as i get them off my phone.

Thanks,
JB

 

[Malarkey]

Hello, my name is Chris and I was bit by the fish bug a long time ago as a teen. We had many tanks growing up and as most of us we started with freshwater. After a few years we started a fish only marine tank in the latter part of 1984. The hobby was much different back then than it is now. We kept that tank going until I went to college and is started suffering from lack of attention. That tank went by the wayside only to be replaced by a 55 in the 90's. that tank didn't last long as we really couldn't afford it at the time. After that I took a long break until around 2006 when we had a 72 bowfront LPS and fish tank. We kept that for almost 4 years until I was traveling with work so much I couldn't keep up with the maintenance. Now to the present, I no longer travel for work and my wife is at home all day to enjoy them so we decided to put together a 90 gal mixed reef. We have been up and running for 6 months now. I have been reading all I can find and taking it very slow as I can tell you from experience that nothing in a marine tank that is good ever happens quick. We are enjoying watching all the critters and the fish and hoping for the corals to outgrow the tank so when the kid goes to college we will have to invest in a much larger tank.

 

[Untamed Rose]

Lots of folks n and outta and just had to get back into the hobby hu.

 

[jeff240gallon]

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

Thanks for the response! That's the way I'm leaning. Is there a big difference trying to keep the tank stable and clean when comparing a 45-75 gal tank vs. 100+ gal? I want to get my feet wet with a smaller tank until I get this down but, I don't want set myself up to fail either.

Honestly.. I think the bigger the tank the better. I understand if you don't want to dive in head first, but you also don't wanna get a small tank only to get a bigger tank shortly later without wasting your money. Smaller tanks are much more unstable IMO. I started with a 36... Hated it I was always treating the tank for something. Then went to a 75... Not as bad.. Now I have a 240 and I have had zero issues now and it's been six months (other than a diatom bloom which... Happens). I have a container for extra water called an evaporation tub, and i literally never top of my tank, I simply just feed my fish. I do water changes about once a month to month and a week ish.. never had an issue with algae or sickness,parameters, etc. If you need more help feel free to send me a message.

 

[Untamed Rose]

Thanks for the response! That's the way I'm leaning. Is there a big difference trying to keep the tank stable and clean when comparing a 45-75 gal tank vs. 100+ gal? I want to get my feet wet with a smaller tank until I get this down but, I don't want set myself up to fail either.

Bigger tanks are easier to keep stable of you have a clue. Feet wet in that range is like 65 gal. and failure is in lack of looking stuff up so gooogl **** chestr,iy rocks everything.

 

[damielrhodesii]

Kind Of new, But...

Kind Of new, But...

Hello everyone, my name is Damiel. I'm kind of new to the hobby but I've been doing my research and talking to people for months. I have a 75gal reef ready tank with a corner overflow. I have an eshopps R-200 sump/refugium running as well. I have about 80 pounds of dead rock but my tank has been up for a about a month now. I have 2 clowns, 4 blue chromis, 1 diamond back goby, 2 peppermint shrimp and a couple of snails. I have red algae in my refugium. Right now my tank is having a problem with diatoms. The store I shop at says that it will go away on it own. When I bought the tank it was brand new and they say that's why. My tank has cycled already. so looking forward to being on this forum.

 

[damielrhodesii]

Hi! I'm new to the hobby. Just getting started really as I'm trying to decide what type of tank I want to purchase. Not very mechanically inclined and weighing the pros and cons of getting an all-in-one set up or one to build. Interested to hear your opinions......

When I first started I was thinking about building my own tank, but so much comes with it. buying the tank, buying the drill, buying the diamond brillbits to drill the hole, knowing where to drill the holes, buying a good overflow that wont flood your home. Personally I think that you should just look into buying a reef ready tank. It will be worth it in the long run. And also start off big. I have a 75gal reef ready and paid like $220 for it. which I think is good.

 

[thoutchens]

Honestly.. I think the bigger the tank the better. I understand if you don't want to dive in head first, but you also don't wanna get a small tank only to get a bigger tank shortly later without wasting your money. Smaller tanks are much more unstable IMO. I started with a 36... Hated it I was always treating the tank for something. Then went to a 75... Not as bad.. Now I have a 240 and I have had zero issues now and it's been six months (other than a diatom bloom which... Happens). I have a container for extra water called an evaporation tub, and i literally never top of my tank, I simply just feed my fish. I do water changes about once a month to month and a week ish.. never had an issue with algae or sickness,parameters, etc. If you need more help feel free to send me a message.

Thanks for the info! I'm reading everything I can get my hands on. It seems like the answer is "go big or go home", lol. Appreciate your insight and advice.

 

[thoutchens]

Bigger tanks are easier to keep stable of you have a clue. Feet wet in that range is like 65 gal. and failure is in lack of looking stuff up so gooogl **** chestr,iy rocks everything.

Thanks! I'm reading everything I can and reading what others are posting. All extremely helpful.

 

[thoutchens]

When I first started I was thinking about building my own tank, but so much comes with it. buying the tank, buying the drill, buying the diamond brillbits to drill the hole, knowing where to drill the holes, buying a good overflow that wont flood your home. Personally I think that you should just look into buying a reef ready tank. It will be worth it in the long run. And also start off big. I have a 75gal reef ready and paid like $220 for it. which I think is good.

Thanks! Appreciate the info.

 

[j_mazzy]

Hello,

I last visited in January of '06 according to my log in history. A decade is just far too long to be out of touch with the community. I am venturing back into the world of reefing and look forward to reading all your collective wisdom. I am excited to see how far this hobby has come and the scientific advancements that have been made. Wave simulators, nano-skimmers, diffused LEDs. wow just so much to walk into and just start a decent tank at prices that are so much better than a decade ago (except for named Zoanthids, just ask muchoreef, lol).

I look forward to hearing from you fellas and ladies.

 

[Stagrindin757]

Wow

Wow

Nice

 

[Amadeux]

Hi everyone. I'm new to the hobby. Just got my tank and equipment on May 4th. Also, got the live rocks and sand installed and salt water was delivered that same day.

I'm looking forward to learning as much as I can here. Thank you!

 

[RNhep]

Hi my name is Rithee i'm new to reef aquarium. i have 29 gallons fresh water tank for about 2 years but now everything died and i'm looking getting into the reef aquarium hobby. looking forward to get a lot of info from this forum.

 

[timmyliauw]

Hi guys!!!

My name is Timothy and am full-time student in Los Angeles, California. I have 20 gallon nano reef tank, bakpak2 protein skimmer, bio-ball, and ceramic ring, gfo, sponge with clownfish pair (1" and 1"1/2") and carpenter flasher wrasse. I have weird history about the tank. At first my dad's friend gave me her tank and she told me to clean the rock in which I did (mistake). Then I put rock back again to the tank and started nitrogen cycle and killed my fish. I have what other people call it an impulse buyer. I don't like to see my tank empty and buy bunch of fish without doing any research. Those fishes died and then I stop buying another fish until 1 months ago. That is when I bought my clownfish pair and carpenter flasher wrasse. Now the tank has been running for 6 months since I got it. I want to know what is diatom because when i'm doing research, so far I haven't experience any of algae bloom on my rock. I do have some brown algae on my class and not sure if that is consider as algae bloom. How often should I feed my fishes?

 

[Jon0807]

Hello!

My name is Jon. I've kept many different freshwater tanks and fish throughout the years since I was a kid. My mom bought my daughter a 36g bow front aquarium a few years ago that recently crashed due to constant overfeeding by someone I won't name at the moment *coughwifecough* I've been wanting to have a saltwater setup for a long time but due to cost and the care needed for maintenance, it just wasn't the right time. But now, I feel that now is a good time to finally take the plunge. I've learned a lot throughout the years, from books, to magazines, to online forums such as here (I've lurked on and off or a while) to youtube. With all the info and support out there, I feel that I'd have a good chance at success. I don't plan on keeping too many fish, at the most 4 and some corals. But hopefully this leads to something larger. I have a bunch of equipment on order and should be getting them in a few days. I'll keep you guys up on my journey into the reefing world

 

[monkeyruler90]

just acquired a 125 tank and thinking about turning it into a salt tank!

 

[96fordsix]

Took Oceanography in high school and loong time ago. Daughter moved out and left a 10 gallon tank, so here we go. One Damsel, two hermit crabs and some live rock