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

[Tiggers tank]

Hey guyz. name is Nick.
I have a 150l marine tank that i started 2months ago and now have a trigger and a lionfish in. i have a few Qs but would like to learn to know you guyz first
so...
im from jhb but now in the freestate love bikes and love fish

 

[dehooch]

New guy from Texas here. Had freshwater tanks all my life and have been researching SW tanks here a lot lately. Lots of great threads to read through, especially the DIY section on LEDs.

 

[x101xARES]

New to the forums

New to the forums

Hi reef central, My name is Fred and I have 110 short that was givin to me from my father in law and it is just sitting in my spare room. I am currently researching everything to get me going. I have an ro/di unit that produces 50 gallons a day, two skimmers(red c-skim 1800, and another one can not remember the name but know it can handle the tank but not like the red sea.) The sump that came with it is a diy sump, I think it is a 30-40 gal plastic storage bin with a raised(6-8 in. from the bottem) netted platform with another smaller plastic storage binon top of the platform with rectangular holes in the sides and bottom filled with bio-balls and shotgun shell plastic wads. Not sure of the name of the light, but it has 2-250 watt halogens and 4-54 watt blue bulbs, and the light is hanging above the tank approximently 10 inches from the tank. I have one 300 watt heater. two wave makers(not sure what their actually called) one is bigger then the other. the bigger one is setup in the front left opposite of my incoming water flow into the tank and the smaller one is setup back right(same side of water flow into the tank). The back left corner has a black drain box filled with bio-balls about 1/4 the way up. The water is pumped from the sump through a pump to a 3/4 hose to 1/2 inch pvc through the drain box to the top of the tank, then the pvc 90s and runs along the back top side of the tank and the 90s again to run along the top right side of the tank, the pvc at the top right has holes drilled for the water flow. The tank is around 30 yrs old and has alot of surface scratches on the front and right side of the glass, the back and left side is painted. I did some research on how to get rid or minimize the scratches and order a cerium oxide scratch removal kit and awaiting its arrival and plan to go to work on the scratches when it arrives. I also plan on building a canopy for the tank and retro fitting the lights in it, but need some suggestions on keeping the lights and components from getting the salt creep( I think that is what its called lol) and maybe someone has some plans or ideas on how to put all the lighting and components in the canopy. And i was also thinking of going without a substrate, suggestion from father in law who said he was always having problems with having sand bed. But was wondering how would the live rock sit in a tank without a substrate to hold the weight? Ok I am gonna quit rambling on and sorry if this is alot at one time, I am just really excited about getting this thing up and running and have nice reef tank.

 

[x101xARES]

oh and also need some suggestions on some other equipment I may need i.e. a trusted tds meter, test kits, or do they make a meter that will test everything(tds,ph, alk, calc, salinity, etc.) and what is difference between a sump and refugium?

 

[cassidjc]

Fng

Fng

Hey all my name is Jonathan. I'm just another [profanity] to the hobby. Just started my first tank on 9/11/11. My roommates brother gave us a 55 gallon tank/stand and we were watching tanked and decided to make a marine tank ourselves haha. I've always wanted a saltwater tank as far back as I can remember. I grew up with freshwater tanks but FW fish just dont have the brilliant colors and living organisms to make the aquarium pop like SW does. I really appreciate what y'all do, between this forum and my LFS I am chugging along pretty good. So far I have about a 3/4" layer of live crushed coral and on top of that a 3/4" layer of live sand. I have a 20lb natural live rock and am going to work on getting the next 30-35 lbs. I'm going to stay patient and let my tank go through the proper cycling. My live rock had a small starfish and probably 5-8 fire worms on it that I've seen. There is also a lot of (excuse my ignorance) tentacle looking things coming out of barnacles on it. Also last night I noticed there are about 10 small things that look similar to a feather duster coming out of the pores. I also have seen an increasing number of Copepods in the tank which I assume is good. I'm currently just running a HOB filter but I'm planning on doing a refugium and protein skimmer and dropping the filter. I also still need a heater. Last night I bought a marineland x4 bulb canopy light setup that is a HUGE difference from my regular fluorescent hood light setup. It has x2 blue bulbs and x2 actate bulbs. Thanks for reading and I'm very open to suggestions and would prefer messages vs posts.

 

[Bucko827]

Hi all,

My name is Mike, im actually a complete noob at this and would appreciate all the help you can give.
I used to keep fresh water fish 10 years ago and after recently visiting an aquarium store me and the misses decided we would setup an tank and let the kids pick the fish, they chose marine fish (Nemo, Clown Fish) so we decided to do some research.
So far we have looked into some stuff but not everything then an oppurtunity knocked on our door we got offered an 80G tank (Measurements L67", W12 1/2", H27 1/2") with filter (Fluval 405), 2 heaters, a pump and a light.

Any help or advice greatly appreciated

 

[Bucko827]

Hi all,

My name is Mike, im actually a complete noob at this and would appreciate all the help you can give.
I used to keep fresh water fish 10 years ago and after recently visiting an aquarium store me and the misses decided we would setup an tank and let the kids pick the fish, they chose marine fish (Nemo, Clown Fish) so we decided to do some research.
So far we have looked into some stuff but not everything then an oppurtunity knocked on our door we got offered an 80G tank (Measurements L67", W12 1/2", H27 1/2") with filter (Fluval 405), 2 heaters, a pump and a light.

Any help or advice greatly appreciated

 

[swflfisher]

new guy here

new guy here

new to being a member, been lurking on and off for awhile.:fish1:

 

[DB9181]

=-)

 

[Dankrencisz]

hello, I'm Dan...

hello, I'm Dan...

I'm new to Reef's but not to fish. I acquired a 55 gallon reef tank off craigslist from a couple that was moving and couldn't take it with them. Dirt cheap. Had to be gone by that evening. Anyways, I had a 75 gallon sitting empty at home with the hopes of turning it into a reef sometime in the future.

I gathered all the rubbermaid containers i had lying around the house, parted with a crisp $50 dollar bill... and i took all the water and sand and about 65 lbs of live rock and deposited it all into my empty 75.

I'm using a regular Fluval 405 filter for the time being until the overflow and sump go in and a skimmer (that came with the original 55 from craigslist) I have 3 maxi-jet power heads for movement and a SolarMax T5 light set up with moons.

So far, just a hand full of snails and hermit crabs, a clown, a damsel and a chrommie. Also whatever mysterious creatures growing on the rock. Look like a translucent pink'ish pencil eraser. Not sure what they are... taking a pic of them to the LFS.

 

[jayjigga]

Hi All! My name is Jay, I have an addiction to all things fish...and inverts...and plants...and now coral

I got into the SW world via RAOK and now I'm trying to read up as much as possible. I've wanted to set up a salt tank for at least 7 years, but ventured off into the dendro world after a freshwater hiatus. I recently went back to FW because my daughter likes watching the fish, and now I find myself an owner of the cliche clown fish (which I think is gorgeous).

Thanks guys for all the input and time that this community invests. Us noobs need all the help we can get.

 

[GasmaskCowgirl]

Hiya, my boyfriend and I are completely new to this hobby and are looking for as much helpful information as possible! Thanks for having us!

 

[gethyn30]

Hey All

Hey All

New to this site just set up a 200 gal frag table and excited to be part of the community. Will need all the help i can get.

Bill

 

[Laura2713]

New Member

New Member

Hi Everyone,

I am new here and brand new to saltwater aquariums. We just got our 210 gallon setup today! Waiting for water to settle. I predict we will be needing a lot of help and suggestions.

Laura

 

[lilymcallihan]

New to Reef Central

New to Reef Central

Hello Everyone! My name is Lily Callihan.:inlove::inlove::spin2: I have always wanted a saltwater tank and finally got one tonight for only $80.00. It is a 30 gallon with an Oak base. The guy I got it from was great, he even delivered it and help me set it up. The only problem is, I do not have a heater or the salt required to start it up and I am out of money. If anyone has an extra heater or salt to start up the tank I would be really appreciative.

Also, how do you get the glass clean on the inside of the tank when there is alot of salt?

 

[jellyluvr]

New and have a lot to learn

New and have a lot to learn

Hi... I'm Jellyluvr, Almostaszoo's girlfriend. Most of you know him and know what tank we have... 55 gal reef tank, 20 gal sump, LED lighting, ECO SMART Vor Tech, and all of the levels are low right now. I am buffering and trying to get the levels back up... but then the tank overflowed today and the 5 gal bucket that is suppose to fill the sump completely filled everything to include the carpeting. :headwalls: I need to be able to talk to people on a regular basis when I can't talk to Almostazoo. Damn 10 hour difference sucks!!

He is away; as in out of the country doing amazing things and I'm learning the tank. I thought I had it down as far as testing levels and feeding; all the easy stuff. Now that I have plumbing issues, I have NO IDEA what to do. I love this hobby and everything about it, and don't want anything to go wrong. Please help the unknowing girlfriend.

I figured that I should get my own login that way I'm not asking questions that Almostazoo should / does already know.

I had to call a tech today and he is so great, I sent pics of the water levels and tank and he is talking me through it.

That is it for the drama today... Only 3 more months or so of doing this alone....

 

[Mikail97]

Hi everyone , my name is Mikail i am new to this hobby ive had a tank set up for 7 weeks and i have a tomato clownfish a yellow wrasse and a cleaner shrimp, and 5 pounds of live rock , i read lots and bought lots of books before i set up my saltwater tank its a fowlr right now but i am looking to make it into a reef once the tank is stable and i am experienced, just thought i'd introduce my self :fish1:

 

[xpace]

Hi all, I'm all new to this SW thingy and already got a 60g fish tank, all running with water and sand only, no salt yet, as I'm testing for any leaks, emergency stops and so on. It's been running ok and looks beautifully clean and crisp (will see for how long )

will need all the help and advise

thanks

 

[Dazmguk]

I'm Darren, from VA and like most posts above, a total novice in the saltwater arena. After reading the forums for a day or so, I realize how very little I know. I was basically given a 72 gal bowed tank about a year ago, so thrown in the deep end as it were. I have a basic understanding of how things and just enough knowledge to be dangerous. I just picked up a 100gal from craigslist, as I think a seam might be failing on mine, so I'm going to need to upgrade almost all of my equipment. Not fun. And after reading the forums; realizing quite how expensive that's going to be. I home to pick many of the brains here. Thanks.

 

[Dazmguk]

I'm Darren, from VA and like most posts above, a total novice in the saltwater arena. After reading the forums for a day or so, I realize how very little I know. I was basically given a 72 gal bowed tank about a year ago, so thrown in the deep end as it were.
I have a basic understanding of how things work and just enough knowledge to be dangerous. I just picked up a 100gal from Craigslist, as I think a seam might be failing on mine, so I'm going to need to upgrade almost all of my equipment. Not fun. And after reading the forums; realizing quite how expensive that's going to be. I hope to pick many of the brains here.
Thanks.