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- Thread starter JohnL
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Welcome to Reef Central
Abyssopelagic
New member
Hey all! Looking to start setting up a reef in like 2 years, so I am trying to do as much of my research now as possible! Thanks for having me!
Welcome.
Welcome!
Welcome to Reef Central
Hello.
While I am not technically new to RC (thanks to griss and JohnL for restoring my account!), after such a long time, here is my introduction.
My father's interest in aquatic life started when he was on base in Okinawa as an MD for the army in the 70s. He fell in love with diving, shell collecting, and aquaria. I know that he caught a blue ringed octopus in a tide pool and kept it for a bit. Back home, married with kids, he eventually made friends with a fish guy - Bruce. This guy built tanks, filtration systems and supplied fish. I vaguely remember this time. I know there was a salt tank but I more remember his awesome shell collection (I may post some pictures one day. They are still in storage). My father passed when I was 8yrs old but my mother kept his tank and friendship with Bruce. He eventually built us ~300 gallon salt. Both these tanks were fish only. My mother also got recertified in scuba and got me and my brother certified as well. Lately I've been diving for Meg teeth.
Sometime around my freshman year of HS I got a 10 gallon fresh water. This would soon lead to a job at my LFS. I was there for 8yrs and learned a lot. The first 4yrs - when I was "full time" - were the best. The 4yrs I was away at college I would work when I was home on breaks. I miss those days and those guys!
In those 8 years I would get rid of the 10 gallon. Add a 150 gallon fresh water, a 65 fish only salt, a 30 FOWLR, and a 10 nano reef. I was mostly active on aquariacentral and monsterfish. I love that wetwebmedia is still around. I have not had a tank since 2007. I'm pretty sure I will be purchasing an Innovative Marine 240 INT soon. It will probably be delivered sometime in the spring. I will definitely have a build thread.
I feel like I have a lot of catching up to do. The fundamentals remain the same but the technology has been upgraded and there are more suppliers in the game. Gone are florescent and MH lights. In are LEDs and filter rollers. Are skimmers still as relevant? I know I took the one off my nano. Was that because of the size of the tank or do they in general do more harm than good by removing too much? Is this reef specific? How about FOWLR? I havent dove too much into it yet, but as of now the fact that everything has a controller now and there are controller boards is the most intimidating. These are for pumps? Dosing? Feel free to post your favorite links to, well, anything. Catch me up knowledge wise and spend my money.
Anyway, I am super excited to be diving back in and god it is so nice to be back in a forum community. I really do not like what the internet has become. Thanks to those who have provided help and insight so far. I look forward to sharing my updates and hopefully in time being able to contribute.
While I am not technically new to RC (thanks to griss and JohnL for restoring my account!), after such a long time, here is my introduction.
My father's interest in aquatic life started when he was on base in Okinawa as an MD for the army in the 70s. He fell in love with diving, shell collecting, and aquaria. I know that he caught a blue ringed octopus in a tide pool and kept it for a bit. Back home, married with kids, he eventually made friends with a fish guy - Bruce. This guy built tanks, filtration systems and supplied fish. I vaguely remember this time. I know there was a salt tank but I more remember his awesome shell collection (I may post some pictures one day. They are still in storage). My father passed when I was 8yrs old but my mother kept his tank and friendship with Bruce. He eventually built us ~300 gallon salt. Both these tanks were fish only. My mother also got recertified in scuba and got me and my brother certified as well. Lately I've been diving for Meg teeth.
Sometime around my freshman year of HS I got a 10 gallon fresh water. This would soon lead to a job at my LFS. I was there for 8yrs and learned a lot. The first 4yrs - when I was "full time" - were the best. The 4yrs I was away at college I would work when I was home on breaks. I miss those days and those guys!
In those 8 years I would get rid of the 10 gallon. Add a 150 gallon fresh water, a 65 fish only salt, a 30 FOWLR, and a 10 nano reef. I was mostly active on aquariacentral and monsterfish. I love that wetwebmedia is still around. I have not had a tank since 2007. I'm pretty sure I will be purchasing an Innovative Marine 240 INT soon. It will probably be delivered sometime in the spring. I will definitely have a build thread.
I feel like I have a lot of catching up to do. The fundamentals remain the same but the technology has been upgraded and there are more suppliers in the game. Gone are florescent and MH lights. In are LEDs and filter rollers. Are skimmers still as relevant? I know I took the one off my nano. Was that because of the size of the tank or do they in general do more harm than good by removing too much? Is this reef specific? How about FOWLR? I havent dove too much into it yet, but as of now the fact that everything has a controller now and there are controller boards is the most intimidating. These are for pumps? Dosing? Feel free to post your favorite links to, well, anything. Catch me up knowledge wise and spend my money.
Anyway, I am super excited to be diving back in and god it is so nice to be back in a forum community. I really do not like what the internet has become. Thanks to those who have provided help and insight so far. I look forward to sharing my updates and hopefully in time being able to contribute.
wvned
Well-known member
You could run a tank exactly as was done 30 years ago if you wished.
I use skimmers. I like what they do.
LEDs are kind of a pain. They are very adjustable but dialing them in is required.
The hardest part now is all the controllers. The old days of plug something in and it does what you expect it to are gone.
Use Jebao pumps and wave makers is my biggest suggestion.
I think filter socks and rollers are silly. Why do you have anything large enough to be removed by them in your tank? If they are fine enough to catch much then they plug and are a constant maintenance headache.
There is very little agreement on what to do anymore. There seem to be several way to be successful but I think this just seems so because people do a lot of unnecessary things and think they matter.
I use skimmers. I like what they do.
LEDs are kind of a pain. They are very adjustable but dialing them in is required.
The hardest part now is all the controllers. The old days of plug something in and it does what you expect it to are gone.
Use Jebao pumps and wave makers is my biggest suggestion.
I think filter socks and rollers are silly. Why do you have anything large enough to be removed by them in your tank? If they are fine enough to catch much then they plug and are a constant maintenance headache.
There is very little agreement on what to do anymore. There seem to be several way to be successful but I think this just seems so because people do a lot of unnecessary things and think they matter.
^ Completely agree.
I've said for decades that there is no one correct way to successfully maintain a reef tank. You have to tinker around with stuff and find what works for you.
I only recently moved on from MH to LED. I still run a skimmer. I do use filter socks on occasion.
I'm struggle with controllers as well as I'm not the most technical person in the world. I've finally figured out my (older) Apex. But, a couple friends have convinced me to switch to Hydros with my upgrade and I've been struggling to figure it out. It might be easier once the new tank is up and running and I can actually see it in action.
I've said for decades that there is no one correct way to successfully maintain a reef tank. You have to tinker around with stuff and find what works for you.
I only recently moved on from MH to LED. I still run a skimmer. I do use filter socks on occasion.
I'm struggle with controllers as well as I'm not the most technical person in the world. I've finally figured out my (older) Apex. But, a couple friends have convinced me to switch to Hydros with my upgrade and I've been struggling to figure it out. It might be easier once the new tank is up and running and I can actually see it in action.
Oh, I forgot to add, I do (manually) dose Alk, Ca, Mg and NO3. I've had a brand new Jebao doser for a year or two now but, keep holding off setting it up until the new tank is running. The new tank will have a Ca Reactor but, I want to have the doser as well.
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