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

[DUPioneers]

Hi all....

Brand-spankin' newbie here....at least, to the salt end of things.

I have had plenty of FW experience, ranging from the easy to manage to the maddeningly finicky (stupid beautiful rift valley cichlids....), however a change of address and a new fry in my life saw me drain my last FW tank, sell my livestock back to the LFS, and sell my 55 and stand on Craig's List.

Though I live in Colorado, I've been playing under the oceans on vacation since I was 12, and have always dreamed of a SW tank...but it was only recently that my "shoal-mate" finally gave me the go-ahead to make the conversion....

(She even gave me permission to eventually get a dragon moray, but baby steps...baby steps....)

I haven't purchased a thing, but would love to begin my foray into this new world with something like a 180 gal FOWLR (and LS) tank. We'll see how things go, though.

(It was, of course, AFTER beginning my adventures here at RC that I realized that my old 55 would have made a decent sump for a new tank....oh well, live and learn I suppose...)

Anyway, I have definitely enjoyed the hours spent lurking on the site and have learned more here in a week than I could have imagined.

Thanks in advance for all of the help that you'll all undoubtedly give me...and my apologies in advance for all of the stupid questions I'll undoubtedly ask!

Cheers!
:wavehand:

 

[Waco Pilot]

Talk about a hitchhiker!!


Hello All,

My husband Andy and I have been lurking all over this sight since we found it a week ago -- we have just set up our 75 Gal Reef Tank... so far...so good... we started off with about 100 lbs of live rock, and about that much live sand. We have the Aquatics Life 6 lamp light which we love and the RM 200 refugium running very nicely below the tank ... we have been watching a complete empty tank for the week -- testing the water and salinity regularly -- keeping an eye on the temp to make sure all was stabilzed -- driving the poor guys at Gerber's nuts with our endless questions -- their patience is amazing and their help has been tremendous.

We really have been working hard at being patient. :bounce1: We did see a couple of itty bitty teeny tiny little starfish (dark color with really long legs) and were pleased we had a couple hitchikers in our live rock. But after staring at Copepods in the refugium all week, we ended up down at Gerbers again :wave: and talked with them at length today about fish. They suggested putting a couple fish in the tank to start that process, so after staring at all the possibilities -- we came home with a Scooter Blenny and a Red Firefish. Both were properly acclimated and are now happily crusing around the tank checking out their new digs. :fish1:

We just fed them a tiny amount of brine which they both enjoyed immensely. We were standing there watching and all of the sudden Andy, says "Holy *(#@&$!!" I about jumped out of my skin when I looked around and saw this....

Like I said at the beginning... Talk about a hitchhiker!! We have no idea where this chap has been hiding all week -- much less which rock he managed to squeeze himself in to come home with us when we were choosing rocks! Trust me, we looked at each rock with particularity and he was no where to be seen!

We have a bit more building in the rock department to do -- but we're moving slowly, bit by bit.

Anyway -- we thank you all for everything we have learned in here so far -- we look forward to the tremendous amount we have to learn. Andy was in SW about 20 years ago -- but a lot has changed since then!

Cheers!
Susan & Andy

 

[Rybren]

Tank looks good and welcome to the madness, I mean hobby.

What I really want to know is.. are you really a Waco Pilot? What model & is it yours?

 

[Waco Pilot]

Hi Rybren,

Thanks for the welcome! You're right -- it is a madness - we had to attend a small cocktail party -- and left early so we could come home and check on the fish -- the dogs are a bit disgusted by the attention the fish tank is getting!

As to the Waco Pilot -- yes -- both of us are pilots -- Andy has a 1935 Waco YKC-S and I have a 1930 Waco RNF. Those are the two flyers. I also have another RNF (about 80% done) and Andy has a Waco 10 that is a total project. Yes -- Wacos are another sickness... there is a 12 step program for it -- which usually ends up in the purchase of more Wacos !

 

[Rybren]

left early so we could come home and check on the fish

Been there, done that (and am still doing it)

Andy has a 1935 Waco YKC-S and I have a 1930 Waco RNF. Those are the two flyers. I also have another RNF (about 80% done) and Andy has a Waco 10 that is a total project.

You're killing me. Those are incredible planes - I'm GREEN with envy.

 

[Waco Pilot]

You're killing me. Those are incredible planes - I'm GREEN with envy.

Trust me, we know how fortunate we are to have them and we love sharing them.... if you ever find yourself on a fish hunting expedition down here in Dayton... be sure to let us know - I'd recommend the summer time... open cockpit planes are not so much fun in the dead of winter -- and it's better to transport fish home! :lolspin:

 

[Rybren]

Hmm, it's funny, but I can't say that I've ever considered heading south to go fishing. I'm sure that there are plenty of great spots to fish, but I've never even thought of it.

Back in the late 70's when I was working as a bush pilot/fishing guide in Northern Ontario and the Northwest Territorries, 98% of our clients were guys from the Mid-West heading north to go fishing.

You can be sure that if I ever make to Dayton, I'll be knocking at your door - summer or winter. A little cold would be a small price to pay.

Back to our regularly scheduled thread....

1. Remember that only bad things happen quickly in your tank.
2. Go slowly and be patient.
3. If I read your first post correctly and your LFS knowingly sold you a scooter blenny to put in a 1-week old tank, find yourself another LFS, and fast.
4. Remember points 1 and 2
5. Consider returning the two fish
6. Remember points 1 and 2
7. If you ignore 5, consider getting some live pods to feed the blenny
8. Remember points 1 and 2
9. Good luck and be patient

 

[Waco Pilot]

Bush Pilot... wow... we're not worthy! You Rock!

Thanks for the tips...we really appreciate them...

We are trying to be very patient... and will be extraordinarily cautious based on what you have stated. There are live pods crawling all over the live rock in the tank and the refugium. We test the water probably twice a day -- keeping a eye on the chemistry -- we certainly don't want to jeopardize the fish in anyway -- our neighbor has an established tank and I know we could put the two of them there if need be or take them back to the store as you say.

The numbers we see this morning are:

SG/Salinity - 1.024
PH - 8.4
AM - 0.25 - (our first indication of any ammonia)
NO3 - 0
NO2 - 0
Temp is 78 - (I was reading the thread with differing opinions on temps and some feel this is low?)

Thanks so much!

 

[pigmagnet]

fresh meat here. trying to solve an aiptasia outbreak right now.

 

[illaddictreef]

Whats going on Reef Central!!! My name is Mike and I am very, very new to the game! I mean all i have is a 75 gal tank with pre-drilled holes and a 29 gal basic tank and that's pretty much it! LoL! So if there's any advice out there that yall may have will be helpful! I would like a good amount of SPS, LPS, Mushrooms, Zoanthids with some assorted fish.

 

[Alaskan]

Hello All,
My name is Justin and I'm new to Reef Central and all I can say is you guys are great. I'm going to be building a 180 gallon mixed reef starting next month after my tank and all the other parts and pieces get here. I have been reading a lot of threads about other peoples builds and I might get one started so you all can watch me attempt to flood my house, Hope not!
-J

 

[Island_Fish]

Guess I should have posted this here instead...

I'm new to the group and just wanted to say HI for now. I have kept fresh water tanks for years, but considering salt water and/or reef. I'm just researching for now as it seems I have a lot to learn and I don't want to rush into anything. I'm sure I'll have LOTS of questions as I go along, but for now I'll start with just one...

Our new house is less than a block from the beach. Can I use beach sand for my tank? It seems like it would be dirtier than buying sand but would have lots of beneficial critters as well. Would the benefits of the natural inhabitants outway the cleanliness or vice versa? I'm not in any hurry to add fish and other inhabitants so if the sand would just take extra time to set up, that's not a concern. I typically use pool filter sand in my fresh water tanks so I'll probably go that route if I don't use beach sand.

Thanks... and nice to meet you!

 

[gonzoclownzo]

I'm new here, I bought a house, found some aquariums in the basement and this website and login. What should I do now?

 

[Big H]

Selcon

Selcon

Hi Guys, Trying to find Selcon for sale, can't get any over here(UK). And anybody know if i'll pay import tax etc, sorry for the daft questions, this was my 1st port of call !!

H

 

[CAINE]

hello im new to the site been in the hobby for a few years but still concider my self a learner/newbee i curently have a 37g up with the things that suvived the fire under my 125g

 

[marty810]

My first POST - Introductory

My first POST - Introductory

Hello RC, I'm a rookie on salt water tanks although I have more than 10 years experience with fresh water. But this is a whole different animal. I got a gift tank from my friend who needed to move and get rid of his tank. It's a 125 gallon with a 55 gallon tank underneath as a filtration system or I guess the term here is overflow system. We moved it from his house with the sand, rocks, fish and 90 gallon of water. So the tank is fully operational with 7 fish and I have already added 3 and some coral. Now I'm going to depend on RC to learn as much as I can. Talk to me RC....

 

[marty810]

Btw, forgot to mention that my name is Marty. I figured since it's my username that it was obvious, so sorry about that.

 

[Scream311]

Hey Reef Central Crew ! Ok so I finally made the Leap and became a Memebr to this Amazing Site I hear so much about. A lil about me. My names James and I'm from San Antonio Tx. Currently a MAAST Member but have found myself browsing threads at every lil chance I get so I figured id browse an even bigger site and share opinions on forums and of course obtain more knowledge in this Addicting Hobby. I've been an active Aquarist for the last 13yrs. 10 as freshwater. And the last 3 salt. Started with a 55 killed a few fish and ended up with a 125 in wall. As of October 2010 I picked up a 210 and have turned that into an Aggressive Trigger Grouper Tang and Angel FOWLR. It has a 90 beside it that I plan to turn into an Octo. And the 125 in wall will become a REEF. Getting my feet wet with Coral in a 20Tall

 

[Original Fin]

Hello RC!

So here's my deal. I'm obsessed with this hobby. My wife says that I'm out of control, but she's happy I'm not into guns or motorcycles instead. My 20 MO daugther loves to "help" me with maintenance, and especially likes to watch the "bugs" in the refugium.
I've only been at the SW thing since May of this year, and I had no previous experience with FW, although I've got friends and family that do, so I wasn't completly ignorant, just mostly.

Anyway, I've been out here in the hot and sunny Central CA valley since 2006, but I was born and raised in Massachusetts...moved out here following a job promotion, and now we're kind of stuck here for a while. Eventually we want to move back east...it's very nice here, but it just doesn't feel like home. In the mean time, this turns out to be a great place to get my feet wet in the hobby. :clown: Our house, like all houses around here has central heating and air. It's modestly sized, and energy efficent, so we keep climate control running year round. No Higher than 79, no lower than 68, so the tank temp is easy to maintain without the need of chillers and large heaters. I'll probably jinx myself for saying so, but I can only recall one short power outage in the 5 years I've been here. It would be a whole different ball game in MA, and I'm sure a generator and dedicated cooling for the short but hot summers would be must haves.

So, I currently have an AGA 55 mixed reef. There's really not much in the tank yet...the centerpieces are a toadstool and Kenya tree coral if that helps to paint the picture. Other than that, have a couple zoo frags growing out, some red and green mushrooms, a small xenia colony, green star polyps and a green BTA. For fish, it's a Bi-color Angel, Pajama Cardinal, Green Mandarin, and a pair of tank raised Ocelaris clowns. CUC is 4 turbo snails, a couple nassarius, astrea, various hermits, a black long spine urchin, and a Coral Banded Shrimp. It's also noteworthy that I have a literal forrest of feather dusters.
Had a few losses along the way...a beautiful Percula clown that succumbed to Brook, a Six Line Wrasse with a mystery illness, and a Diamond Goby that decided to try his hand at terrestrial living. Most of my corals have done well, but I did lose a green brain that just never took, and my ricordia has slowly been withering away.

The tank's got about 60 lbs of LR (Fiji and Tongan) and a 2" arragonite sand bed. I started off running with just an Aqueon HOB cartrige filter, and a couple of wimpy T8's. Soon after the tank cycled, I ditched the Aqueon in favor of a CPR Aeroforce HOB skimmer, and also upgraded to a 4 bulb T5 lighting system. For flow, I've always had just one Evo 1050.
A couple months ago, I assembled my DIY sump/fuge system from (2) AGA 10's, both drilled and coupled to fit inside my narrow stand. I continue to use the HOB skimmer, but I've just moved it down below. I'm culturing pods and chaeto in one of my fuge chambers, and the other just has a DSB, albeit with a small footprint. I use a Mag 7 for return, and an overflow box/siphon in the DT. I also rigged a cheap but effective ATO from an $8 float valve, and a 6 gallon water jug.

Eventually, I'd really like to do a larger in wall reef, maybe in the 90-240 range, but I'm not interested in dropping the big bucks for premium equipment and rocks to do it. If I can' figure out a way to set up and maintain for a reasonable, sustainable cost, then I'll just stick to my 55. The cost of Rock will definately be a limiting factor, so I'll likely make most of it myself, whether it be arragocrete or perhaps even ceramics.

Another interest of mine in regards to a potential larger system are Algae Turf Scrubbers as supplemental filtration. I'd like to experiment with one on my 55, to see whether or not doing one on a larger tank could reduce my filtration equipment costs to the point of where it would be feasible for me.
Another pet project of mine is finding a way to reduce water changes as much as possible. The cost of salt on a large system is nothing to sneeze at. There's been some interesting research done on that subject by GARF, but there seems to be some disagreement within the community as to the potential longevity of mud bed systems.

I'll close for now with a couple pics of me, my family and my system. See ya around!

 

[TexasDude]

whatsup!

whatsup!

hey everybody! i'm new here but have been following some of the threads and have gained alot of knowledge from this forum. just wanted to drop in and say whatsup!