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

[kalisgirl]

Never thought I'd be staring at rock

Never thought I'd be staring at rock

Hey all. My name is Kristin. Been keeping freshwater tanks for 30 years. Decided to finally try SW after my ancient Red Devil passed and I found myself with an empty 75g tank. My family had a blast picking out live rock. We have about 85 pounds in there now. Tank has been running for about a month, readings are great, saving money for fish. Of course I spend way too much time on liveaquaria's site just reading and dreaming. The sad thing is I find myself just staring into the tank at tiny hitchers going happily about their business. Who would have thought rock could be so great.

 

[SouthBayPhoto]

Howdy all!

I've had aquariums since about 2003 or so. I got a 46 gallon bowfront (which I still have, but it's freshwater now) from my father and have enjoyed the "hobby" ever since. For a while I changed it over to a saltwater tank and enjoyed it even more. However, I didn't quite have the lighting right and all that, plus the size (bowfront) of the tank was driving me crazy with getting stuff to work. (buying items)

Soooo, I went bigger. I ended up buying a 90 gallon and started building that. The guy gave me a Del Mar sump (really it was a biofilter I was using as a sump) and a Mag-12 in the deal. So, I plumbed it up all nice and was excited. It only had one small overflow box in the middle of the back wall with one drain in it, however. But it was "reef ready" and I was thrilled. Anyway, I ended up buying a "retrofit" type kit by IceCap and mounted four T-5 HO's with individual reflectors into the wooden canopy and ran them with a 660 ballast. It looked great. I was saving up for the sand and live rock when issues happened at home and I needed the money and had to sell my 90 build. I was soooo bummed. I never even got to start it up except for running regular water through it for a few days to leak test it.

So, I had to move anyway and ended up changing the 46 gallon back to freshwater to make things easier after I moved.

Anyway, I finally was able to buy a 110 gallon a couple of days ago. It came with a bunch of other stuff with it (I'll do a separate thread about that) that I have to ask about. It's not drilled, but I'm planning on making it reef ready. I've already put up a post in the DIY section on Beananimal's original post on his system. I'm not sure if I want to do two overflows in the corners, one bigger overflow box in the middle rear or a coast to coast system all the way across the back. Hopefully Beananimal will get back to me on my questions.

Anyway, good to meet you all and I hope I can get and give some great info on here. So, here are pics because as they say, the post is useless without pics.

When I first brought it home - The design is on a second sheet of thin glass that is actually taped to the back of the tank.

The stand - I couldn't put it on the stand myself yet, plus had to clean everything. LOL

Finally got it assembled - Left front

Right front

Side view

Top view of canopy - Not sure I like the "double doors" due to lighting placement

Finally the extra equipment I got with the tank

Happy reefing!
Mat

 

[eyesonyou2ube]

Glad I found this site! Looking to make some new friends to share this awesome hobby!

Glad I found this site! Looking to make some new friends to share this awesome hobby!

Just want to say hi to everyone, and a big thanks in advance for who ever welcome me to RC. I will go one now to tell about my tank. I have a vision in my head of a awesome looking reef tank all built buy me very little bought. I have always want a salt water tank. Just never had the time or the money to have one. I moved down to Georgia about three years ago. Visited the Atlanta Aquarium and the next day started this build! I am a firm believer in not taking from the wild tempting at times but will never! I started watching YouTube videos and became insanely addicted. Funny thing about me is that I could really care less if I had fish in my tank or not. I love the small guys the inverts. So far I have rebuilt a 55 tall and built me a custom 25g sump. I have made my own rock and tank stand still waiting to finish the stand lol. Everything is hard plumbed with PVC! I have one fish in the tank a lawn mower blenny. That I had from my first attempt. (tap water dont work lol)

Everything is up and running looking for some discount stuff like algae and starter sand and pods before my reef tank is a reef I want tons of those little guys in my tank. So if you have read all the way down here and haven't gotten bored welcome me and maybe you could help me out!
Thanks again

 

[twitchzoo]

newbie

newbie

Hi all, :wavehand: I'm very new to saltwater, have always admired reef tanks but have only had freshwater. A nearby LFS recently got in some seahorses, :thumbsup: which I have always thought were neat. So I started researching, which led me to advice that one start with a "beginner" saltwater tank for at least a year before obtaining seahorses. So I'm researching all that is required for setting up and maintaining a tank. I'm overwhelmed and not sure I can keep up with it all, plus, my hubby is not on board with the idea either.:thumbdown Anyway, every chance I get I'm spending reading on the internet about reef tanks. I've looked at CL and have found several complete setups for sale and am wondering about going that way. Another option would be to convert my 55 gal. freshwater tank to salt, but I was thinking 90 gal. would give me more tank space without taking up more wall space.

That said, if I could find someone nearby to mentor me, I would not be so hesitant. I'm in Greenfield, IL anyone close willing to help me out?:hmm2:

 

[Scizzle]

Thank you all (in advance) for answers to my many newbie questions!

 

[inechoic]

I've been lurking around here for a few months, thought it's time to go ahead and post in this thread.

I've been keeping aquariums most of my life to varying degrees of success, currently have a half-*** 29 gallon softie tank set up, ghetto rigged lighting and all ( In my defense, I was a broke student at the time I set it up). I recently have happened into a new living situation, a new job, and a 72 Gal. Reef Ready AGA Bowfront.

This time I'm doing it the right way, with the correct plumbing, a Reefkeeper lite that I bought off a very kind local reefer, and a new LED lighting setup through reefledlights.com. I'll be starting a tank thread soon, while I bumble my way through "Responsible" reef keeping.

I guess I needed SOMEWHERE to sink all this new disposable income...

 

[Gogking]

Hi, I'm Gary.
I got sucked into this hobby about a year and a half ago.
I started with a freshwater 23 gallon bow front from goodwill that I found, I loved that tank and my fish. However... After several months I had a friend who had been keeping a saltwater tank with some clowns. They saw my tank and asked if I would want to take over their fish for them because they did not want them anymore but still wanted them to go to a good home.
Long story short I did lots of research and ended up buying a pre drilled 55 gallon with a small sump. And after a lot of squeezing more money out of my budget I now have:

Fishies:
Two percula clown's (From the friend) an Orange Dimond Goby, Two Blue/Green Chromis, and bunch of snails from reefcleaners.
Equipment:
55 gallon with 60 lb of rock I am seeding, 50 lb of sand, heater, 2 hydor koralia 450's, sump + a 5 gallon homemade add-on for my hydor slim skim and heater.

The reason I am joining, instead of just reading through the forums like a creeper, is my metal halide fixture just arrived in the mail today! (I was running marineland LED's until now), and once I am sure my tank is stable and ready (It has only been up for six months) I will be entering the world of corals. I always like to have people I can bounce ideas or concerns off of, and I definitely want to be successful as I enter the reef world.
Here are some pictures of my tank from a little while ago:

 

[g35mike]

Not really new to RC been a member for a few years now just never really posted and about 2 years ago got out of the hobby. I used to own a 180 mixed reef and a 34 Solana mixed. I have been debating on what to get and i ordered a RSM 250 the other day so I am excited to get back into it!:wave:

 

[LeslieRN]

Hey all. My name is Kristin. Been keeping freshwater tanks for 30 years. Decided to finally try SW after my ancient Red Devil passed and I found myself with an empty 75g tank. My family had a blast picking out live rock. We have about 85 pounds in there now. Tank has been running for about a month, readings are great, saving money for fish. Of course I spend way too much time on liveaquaria's site just reading and dreaming. The sad thing is I find myself just staring into the tank at tiny hitchers going happily about their business. Who would have thought rock could be so great.

That is so funny! We do it all the time! So far, we have found a keyhole limpet, a half-shell snail, a tiny asteroidea starfish, some little feather dusters, and a few itty-bitty brittle starfish. SW is so freaking cool, but kinda scary too. Best of luck to you!

 

[RhodyTanker]

Hello all, new to forum and saltwater hobby (4 months in)

I have a 20 gallon FWLR tank with a small clown, chromis and goby with a my dwarf 1/2 black angel being the feature.

First post coming so check it out... (got a coral question)

 

[kory1006]

Been lurking the forums for quite some time. Figured I would make an account and say hello and thanks for all the information.

 

[bryanh]

Loooooooooong time lurker(joined 2002?? :eek1: ). Posted some questions a while back, never got started in the hobby. Just purchased a new home and now I am ready to get a system going. Will be reading and asking questions as I go. Loads of great information here. Thanks to all who give freely of their knowledge and experience(s). :wave: :wave: :wave:

 

[sefloyd2000]

Hello - Brand new to hobby

Hello - Brand new to hobby

Hello, I have been bitten by the fish bug and will be buying a tank this weekend. Not wanting to go too big right out of the gate, I am buying a 47 gal bow front tank just to get the swing of things.
My question is this. does anyone have a plumbing diagram of an ideal setup with a sump, etc.? I realize I probably can't do this with the bowfront tank but I want to plan for the future.
thank you and I love this site.

 

[soundgy]

Noob here,

Converting from Freshwater Planted Tanks to Reef/Mixed?

Thank you guys in advance for your wonderful knowledge and skills.

Can't wait!

Matt

 

[J-Squared]

Have been in the hobby for a couple years & have read on RC until my bladder makes me pull away from the computer. But new to posting and replying...

Engaging myself with the rest of all the brilliant minds on RC. Great site!

 

[J-Squared]

my 2 cents...

my 2 cents...

Have been in the hobby for a couple years & have read on RC until my bladder makes me pull away from the computer. But new to posting and replying...

Engaging myself with the rest of all the brilliant minds on RC. Great site!

 

[GCoules]

Could use some help!

Could use some help!

Ok, here's the thing. I have a long story, but I don't want to bore anyone.
Basically, my parents thought I was smart enough to handle a tank, even though I know nothing about this stuff. They bought me a 37-gallon tank for my birthday present, and all it's been so far was a major pain in the butt.
I went to the pet store that they bought the tank from, and asked how I should set this up. They explained everything to me, and after I added some fish, they went our of business because the owner retired.
Oh well, there was another place. They have told me that everything I have ever done was wrong. :headwalls:
They tell me that fish produce nitrates, which over time turn into nitrites, whit turn into ammonia. I knew that wasn't right, because there weren't any fish in my tank when I went through the nitrogen cycle. Anyways, they are telling me that I have a high ammonia level in my tank. So I did some water changes. I haven't gone back yet, but I would like five questions answered:
1) I have live rock, but I never cured it before adding it because the people at the store said theirs was already cured. Should I still have cured it?
2)My parents refuse to let me get a job working for anyone else because my dad has offered me an opportunity, so I am limited to my only $100 at home, what should I get?
3) I know I need test kits, but which kits should I get that test whatever I need to test for?
4) I want a fish-only tank. I'm supposed to have some live rock, right?
5) Anything that I need to know, just add it please!!! All I have is a filter and a heater... That's all, and I know it's bad, but it's my parents' faults for thinking I can do this and it's partially my fault for not researching. Thanks for reading, if you did.

 

[Bens_Reef]

Hello, new to saltwater

Hello, new to saltwater

Hello, I'm new to saltwater aquariums but so far I love it. I'm sure I'll have lots of questions in the near future as I watch my new tank grow.

 

[Lionfish10]

Hello, I'm getting in to the hobby but I need to make sure I no enough to get me started. I Am brand new to the hobby and am fish-less. I am also in the dart frog hobby. I love animals but marine animals are my favorite.

 

[Chris155hp]

From Dart frogs to Reef Tank

From Dart frogs to Reef Tank

Hey guys I'm new to the hobby. Im coming over from Dart Frogs (selling 95% of my frogs and tanks). I have been doing my research for a couple of weeks and just place an order for a 60 gal Reef Savvy 36x20x20 Rimless tank. =) It should be ready by nov. Also have an SWC 160 Cone skimmer on the way.