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

[Oakleyann]

Hello!

My name is Meghan and I've been messing around with a 29gal FO tank for about 2 years now. I've been learning as I go, so it's a miracle I haven't killed everything yet

Oh, and I do my own fish collecting. I'm SCUBA certified and have my saltwater fishing license and lobster permit. Right now I have one little blue and yellow damsel (since '09) and a lobster. Yes, that's right, a Florida lobster (for about 4 months now). He's quite a character and fun to have in the tank right now.


Here are my inhabitants:

 

[FrenchAngelFan]

A Newbie to Reef Central--125-gallon FOWLR--question

A Newbie to Reef Central--125-gallon FOWLR--question

Hi, folks.

I'm a newbie to Reef Central. I wanted to join a forum, so I could learn more about the hobby--that is, fish, corals, equipment, and ideas.

For now, I currently have a 125-gallon FOWLR, with the exception of a small leather coral. The tank has well over 100lbs of live rock with some nice coralline algae. My tank inhabitants are the following: Hippo Tang, Naso, a juvenile French Angel, two ocellaris clownfish, a firefish goby, and two blue yellow-tailed damsels.

As far as filtration, I have a Eshopps 200 Wet-Dry filter, and I cobbled together a small refugium over in the pump section. And, I recently added a skimmer that I had stored away--a Sea Clone, which is at the lower end of skimmers. I have three Koralia Powerheads (2 1050gph and a 400, I think).

Well, here are my questions: What can I do to increase the filtration in my tank? I have read that bioballs will eventually lead to high nitrates, and this tank is about five months old. Should I replace the bioballs? If so, with what filter media?

Second, does anybody have a HOB skimmer for sale? If so, I might be interested?

Third, I have done FOWLR tanks for the last three years, so I would like to add a couple corals to the tank--only a few softies and some mushrooms--something really hardy. The French Angel does not mess with my small leather, so I think I could do a few corals as long as they do not move like a polyp. At this point, I have two t5 lights, but they are really weak, so what would you guys recommend as far as lights, but not something that would be exorbitant in price?

I apologize for the long message, but if somebody could respond and share his or her experience, I would greatly appreciate it.

 

[eschlarb]

Hi Reef Central

Hi Reef Central

Hi, New Member, and pretty much new to the hobby. I had a tank about 20 years ago, but so much has changed, I might as well be jumping in for the first time. I bought a 2nd hand tank - 90 gallons that came with a pretty good full setup, but also with a lot of problems. Reef Central has been my main source for info, and will be the first place I look from now on. Thanks so much for all of the great advice on here. You have no idea how helpful it is to someone jumping back in.

I think the only thing I have not found on the boards her so far is how how to frag myself, I need more time with my tank, but still have to try to fit in 8 or so hours of work every day... if anyone has any advice on that, I would really appriciate it.

Seriously, everyone here is awesome, and I cant wait until I have a question that is not already answered here, so I can participate. Looking forward to many years of reefing.

 

[tjacobsx22]

Hello All

Hello All

I am very glad I found this place because I scored a free 46 gallon tank and it will be my first setup. I am <font color="blue">PUMPED!</font>

 

[Oklahomareefer]

Oklahoma City Metro area

Oklahoma City Metro area

Hello all,

I am new to the hobby and am looking to meet people that are from my area. I need to find LFS that are good suppliers. I have a 12 gallon Aquapod that my husband and children bought me for Christmas. It has been running for eight days now with LR and LS only. My water parameters were checked around noon today and were as follows :

pH 7.3
Ammonia 0ppm
Nitrite 0ppm
Nitrate 0ppm
Salinity 1.024

 

[pakarinen]

Not new to the hobby but I've had my tanks shut down for several years. Planning on a Caribbean nano of some kind in a 20gal hi (tall?).

I'd really like to try a deep sand bed but it seems there's a LOT of controversy about them, even though there are at least a few scholarly papers out there.

 

[the reefer]

my name is jaime and im an alcoholic... wait this is the wrong site lol jk. well im new to the RC and started my tank up 3 months ago. ive been reading alot of good threads and hope i get alot of info for my future adventures with saltwater. i have a 12g nano cube with 10-12 lbs LR and 10 lbs LS

 

[mhopper321]

NEw reef keeper

NEw reef keeper

Hey guys Im new to this hobby though I have had freshwater tanks my whole life but nothing as large as my new project. I am in the process of setting up an 85 gal saltwater aquarium with probably fish, live rock, and hopefully if I can get it right some soft corals to start. If all goes well I may get more adventurous later in a year or so. I am in need of advice on setup so please dont hesitate to throw you knowledge around. Im very excited about taking this on but also very nervous because its so new. Currently Im trying to figure out my lighting situation. The tank I have had 2 t12 lights which I dont think will suffice for my plan so Im researching lighting requirements. Tank dimensions are 48x 18.5x 22.5. I hope to meet lots of great people on here and hope to build a few friendships along this journey! Do I have to use a protien skimmer? What about UV sterilizers? What else should I need? Geez Im overwhelmed with all the info and gadgets out there so Hit me up with any advice!
:beer:

 

[erikras]

Hey everyone,

I'm from the Cleveland, Ohio area and I'm new to saltwater, but not aquariums. Before college I had a 10gal and 38gal freshwater tanks. Now that I've settled down I set up a little Fluval Edge freshwater tank between on the ledge between the kitchen and living room. While it's really nice to look at, I wanted something that was bigger. Also, being an Energy Engineer (Mechanical Engineer by education) I'm always looking for something to tinker with.

The LFS had a 20% off sale and I scored a deal on a Fluval Osaka 320 (~84gal) kit. I really debated getting this setup since there wasn't room for a sump. However, after doing much reading, I think I'll be fine with the Fluval 405 canister and a hang-on-back protein skimmer. I planning for a FOWLR setup. At the moment, the stand is assembled with the tank sitting on it dry. When my RO/DI unit arrives, I'll be able to start with some real progress.

Thanks in advance to all of those who will be lending me a great deal of help and I hope I can return the favor.

 

[bruingolf04]

Sean's 2nd RC Post!

Sean's 2nd RC Post!

Hello!

I apparently posted in the wrong place for my first post, so I'll keep this short here:

I'm 24 year old Inside Sales Rep (A Very Popular Web Hosting Company) and I have 2 month old 10g setup. I have the full description and pictures, feel free to check it out here and comment on the Nano Reef Section of RC:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1958798

I'm excited to be here and continue to learn as much as possible, I'd like to thank the thousands of great people posting for what could be the most thorough knowledge-base on the internet.

 

[troutbum24]

hello

hello

Hello all, my name is Blaine and I just striked an interest in marine aquariums. I remember as a kid always thinking they are really cool, and just recently I saw a really cool reef/aquarium so I have just started reading all about them and found myself here. My only concerns right now are cost for intitial setup, cost of electricity bill (Im thinking of getting a 25/30 gallon tank), and the temperature of the climate I live in Really cold in winter down to the 20's farenheit to the 90-110 in the summer months. Anyhow, hopefully I'll find some of that info in this forum as I have not explored yet.
Blaine

 

[jsehlms]

Hello.
New guy here, looking to pick up a 90G to replace a 75G FW I had for a few years. Can't wait to dive in and start learning a ton.

 

[BuckeyeFan]

Hello Everyone, my name is eric I meet a guy at a local fish store and he told me about this site so I thought I would come check it out . Iam new to this hobby but I have always had fresh water..I am working on a 72 gal bow front I have had it setup for about two months now. I am not real sure what to do with it now I hear so many different things to do lol So Iam here hoping to learn more and get help in this long journey. So if any one has any good input please feel free to let me know.....Thanks

 

[k0k0z]

Hi, My name is Lukas, found out the site by looking at other froum. Started a 20g tank 4 months ago, by change I grabbed a 55g cube and decided to move to it while it is still fresh. Hope to learn some new neat stuff and get a view on some things from a different angle.

 

[TriggBOF]

My brother (Automatt) recommended I joined the site, I've been a freshwater fishkeeper for on and off since I was a kid, but saltwater has always been out of reach cost wise, well Christmas was good to me, and Petco had a buck a gallon sale at just the right time, so now I've got the parts for a 29 gallon set up slowly trickling in. Waiting on BRS reefsaver rock, and I can start scapeing. Waiting till I get back from a trip to Disney World at the end of the month to start the cycle, also gives me some extra time to get lights. Been lurking for a few weeks now relearning chemistry, and diving a bit more into lifestock, and learning the different needs of different corals.

 

[Angelfish33]

Hello everybody, my name is Lauren, found this site just browsing forums. Recently acquired a 30 gallon tank and just looking for some interesting and different things to do with it! Can't wait to get moving on the site.

 

[Nervex]

Hi there, names Jason born in Los Angeles now residing in beautiful Taipei, Taiwan.

I work at my brothers school here and recently I have been put in charge of our 100 gallon fish tank. I enjoy what I've learnt thus far and know Reef Central would be a great place to gain more knowledge into my new hobby.

The fish tank has been running for about a half year now but my brother and I are both still learning on how to maintain the balance required to make the beautiful ecosystems like the ones here.

Looking forward to joining this community.

 

[ReeferDownUnder]

Hello from the Great Barrier Reef, Dave here, i live in North Queensland, Australia. i currently have a 55g zoanthid dominated reef with a pair of pecula clown, a longnosed hawkfish and a few bangii cardinals. i am in the process of converting the spare room into a 300g frag setup. i have a good understanding of the basics but would really appreciate some advice of addatives for keeping corals in tip top condition. i live about 40mins away from a licenced coral collector and can get top quality acans, scollies and arcos stupidly cheap. once my frag setup in running i plan to propergate acans and acros. any advice on other sort after corals (that are fairly easy to frag) would be great.

 

[Bojames]

Hi,
I don't have any saltwater tanks but I have a little experience in tropical. I don't know how long it will be before I start setting a saltwater up, but I am currently enjoying the research/design phase. I have ended up at this site a lot as I've been doing my research and decided to join. My plans are for a 4ft 90gal saltwater tank with LR, a few soft corals, an anemone, 2 clowns, and more (still looking into other fish and invertebrates).

 

[suds1421]

New here, no SW tanks yet but I'm sure if I hang out here long enough I'll have one.