New Guy! Please Read

P

Pug

New member
Hi everyone! I am new to the forums...better yet I am new to the world of aquarium life. I had a fresh water 10gal tank when i was a kid...it died. But I am older now and have always been fasinated with fish and coral.

All summer I have been researching the "proper" way to run a tank and now I am to the point were I am going to stores and seeing what is out there. I was referred to the forums by a great sales associate at Benson's pet store in Clifton Park (sry I forgot your name but you know who you are, knew i should have written it down).

Anyway I am a noob when it comes everything. I have been going to pet stores in the area to actually "see" the things I have only been reading about.

To say that starting in the world of marine life is a little intimidating is putting it mildly. I have a set of goals in mind but I don't how to start and I don't even know if what I want to do is a good idea for a NOVICE like myself.

I am looking to put together a 45-55gal tank with minimal appliances visible in the back of the tank. I want to make the tank as self sufficient as possible. Not because I am lazy but because I want my little ecosystem to work. I would like to do a reef but I am not set on jumping right into such a difficult enviornment but I do want to have fish.

So for all of those who have actually read this far down in my first post in the forums. Help!

Thanks
Pug (aka Stephen)
 
so far you are starting out right. your taking it slow and asking questions. patience, patience, patience is the key to success in this hobby. feel free to ask away. a 55 gallon is a good size to start with. you are wanting to keep it equipment 'free' in the display tank think about doing a sump underneath. it would be quite easy and all your equipment would be hidden. melevsreef.com is a good site for constructing sumps by yourself, not to mention the site is LOADED with good info to learn from. another good site is wetwebmedia.com and they go over every single detail to starting up a saltwater tank and maintaining it.
 
Welcome to the group, you have come to a great place to help find the answers you are looking for. Try to make it to some meeings, seeing different tanks and set ups in person helps alot.
 
The sales person would of been Christine...a.k.a. "Crisis Christine" (she usually only posts when she has a crisis...:eek1: :p

The person she called while you were at the store to get this web site would be me :)

:wavehand: Welcome! I'm happy you found Reef Central and CDMAS!
 
Hey thanks everyone for the warm welcome!

That's funny Linda that you were the person Christine called while I was doing my research!

I would love to attend the meetings (if my schedule allows)

Talk to you guys soon.
Pug
 
Welcome and good luck with everything!!I have found that Research is the main key here( well for me) LOL,
But Good Luck!!!!! and keep us all updated on your progress too.
 
Welcome, Stephen - you have come to a great place to learn some things amd meet some people who share the same interests.

Hope to see you at a meeting.

Kevin
 
Re: New Guy! Please Read

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8365006#post8365006 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Pug
Hi everyone! I am new to the forums...better yet I am new to the world of aquarium life. I had a fresh water 10gal tank when i was a kid...it died. But I am older now and have always been fasinated with fish and coral.

All summer I have been researching the "proper" way to run a tank and now I am to the point were I am going to stores and seeing what is out there. I was referred to the forums by a great sales associate at Benson's pet store in Clifton Park (sry I forgot your name but you know who you are, knew i should have written it down).

Anyway I am a noob when it comes everything. I have been going to pet stores in the area to actually "see" the things I have only been reading about.

To say that starting in the world of marine life is a little intimidating is putting it mildly. I have a set of goals in mind but I don't how to start and I don't even know if what I want to do is a good idea for a NOVICE like myself.

I am looking to put together a 45-55gal tank with minimal appliances visible in the back of the tank. I want to make the tank as self sufficient as possible. Not because I am lazy but because I want my little ecosystem to work. I would like to do a reef but I am not set on jumping right into such a difficult enviornment but I do want to have fish.

So for all of those who have actually read this far down in my first post in the forums. Help!

Thanks
Pug (aka Stephen)
Click to expand...

In order to keep the ugly appliances out of site the most common practice is to use a sump. The cheapest way togo about this is to make your own. If it is not a reef ready tank you will need an overflow to syphon water down to your sump tank.

In your sump you will hide your heater, return pump, protein skimmer and most anything else you wish to add down the road.

Best way to build your own sump would be ask to visit other members houses and see thiers. Then we could best explain how they work and how they are constructed;) Could try to explain it to you, but most likely you would believe it is more complicated then it really is.

For saltwater setups RO/DI water purification system is a must. It will reduce your maintenance dramatically. Saving many headaches and much valuable time.

Have you decided what SW fish interest you most? What inhabitants you are looking to keep? This will also better help us guide you & give better advice.

Well come to CDMAS ;)

Kris
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8365970#post8365970 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Pug

I would love to attend the meetings (if my schedule allows)
Click to expand...

You probally have seen it already but the next meeting is stickied to the top of out group's forum. Hope to see you at a few
 
Re: Re: New Guy! Please Read

Re: Re: New Guy! Please Read

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8368060#post8368060 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Lakeside518


Have you decided what SW fish interest you most? What inhabitants you are looking to keep? This will also better help us guide you & give better advice.



Kris
Click to expand...

I still have trouble with this, hence my overstocked tank.
 
Re: Re: Re: New Guy! Please Read

Re: Re: Re: New Guy! Please Read

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8374505#post8374505 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by xian
I still have trouble with this, hence my overstocked tank.
Click to expand...

:lol:
Think we're all in the same boat
 
I am still trying to figure out the details of what I am looking for.
I know I am going to get a predrilled tank with a sump system because I want to see as little man made stuff in my tank as possible. I would like suggestions on brand names for tanks. I haven't really found one that appealed to me aesthetically.
 
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