Hi,
I just joined up. i can't really say that i am "in the hobby" yet.. because i don't have a tank set up, and i'm still not sure on what kind of time table i will be setting one up.
I have a handful of freshwater tanks, including a freshwater pea puffer tank. All of my freshwater tanks are heavily planted, it is something that i enjoy, but want to experience something "different". I am already in the habit of checking parameters, water changes, etc with the planted tanks. my api master kit even came with salt water stuff!
i picked up a biocube 8 gallon tank, which i had intended to set up for shrimp, but now i'm wondering if i want to try a reef tank instead.
I've read enough to understand that with an 8 gallon tank, i am unlikely to be able to keep more than 1, if any, fish. that is ok. i'd be happy with a couple inverts, honestly. the more i read, though, i'm wondering if i wouldn't be better suited to setting up a 14 or 29 biocube. I am currently looking for one that is a good deal.
since i've got you here, reading this, i have a few questions:
is starting with an 8 gallon folly if i am looking at having no fauna besides possibly a small shrimp and/or a snail or two? from what i've been reading, i would be satisfied with a soft only coral tank.
the biocube 8 doesn't have the bio balls with it (picked it up used, and was used as a freshwater tank i believe) i've been reading that they are possibly a bad deal in regards to collecting debris, which in a small tank could seriously endanger the fauna of the tank. thoughts? i have freshwater equipment to trade/sell so i could probably work out an additional amount of investment. On one hand i could wait and get a bigger tank to do it right, i understand that this isn't going to be a "cheap" hobby in the same way that freshwater is, but there is of course an appeal to using what i've already had and using the budget for filling the tank. Thoughts?
LED upgrades to the lights are pricey, with soft only coral it appears that i would probably be fine with the stock lights.. am i understanding this correctly?
protein skimmers appear to mostly be to address fish waste.. with no fish, does the skimmer become un-needed?
tank size.. as i mentioned, i have a biocube 8 right now. I also have a budget of 140$ burning a hole in my pocket right now. thoughts on "running what i brung" vs seeking out a larger tank? I've set my expectations low to match my budget, and i rather like nano tanks, but i don't want to be setting myself up for failure.
accessories.. it seems that a refractometer is considered to be pretty important.. with a lid and regular water changes of LFS pre-mixed (i have a FANTASTIC LFS saltwater source) could i avoid this purchase up front, or is evaporation going to cause too much salt concentration issues where it really is a requirement?
suggestions on corals and other corals/fauna?
thanks!
I just joined up. i can't really say that i am "in the hobby" yet.. because i don't have a tank set up, and i'm still not sure on what kind of time table i will be setting one up.
I have a handful of freshwater tanks, including a freshwater pea puffer tank. All of my freshwater tanks are heavily planted, it is something that i enjoy, but want to experience something "different". I am already in the habit of checking parameters, water changes, etc with the planted tanks. my api master kit even came with salt water stuff!
i picked up a biocube 8 gallon tank, which i had intended to set up for shrimp, but now i'm wondering if i want to try a reef tank instead.
I've read enough to understand that with an 8 gallon tank, i am unlikely to be able to keep more than 1, if any, fish. that is ok. i'd be happy with a couple inverts, honestly. the more i read, though, i'm wondering if i wouldn't be better suited to setting up a 14 or 29 biocube. I am currently looking for one that is a good deal.
since i've got you here, reading this, i have a few questions:
is starting with an 8 gallon folly if i am looking at having no fauna besides possibly a small shrimp and/or a snail or two? from what i've been reading, i would be satisfied with a soft only coral tank.
the biocube 8 doesn't have the bio balls with it (picked it up used, and was used as a freshwater tank i believe) i've been reading that they are possibly a bad deal in regards to collecting debris, which in a small tank could seriously endanger the fauna of the tank. thoughts? i have freshwater equipment to trade/sell so i could probably work out an additional amount of investment. On one hand i could wait and get a bigger tank to do it right, i understand that this isn't going to be a "cheap" hobby in the same way that freshwater is, but there is of course an appeal to using what i've already had and using the budget for filling the tank. Thoughts?
LED upgrades to the lights are pricey, with soft only coral it appears that i would probably be fine with the stock lights.. am i understanding this correctly?
protein skimmers appear to mostly be to address fish waste.. with no fish, does the skimmer become un-needed?
tank size.. as i mentioned, i have a biocube 8 right now. I also have a budget of 140$ burning a hole in my pocket right now. thoughts on "running what i brung" vs seeking out a larger tank? I've set my expectations low to match my budget, and i rather like nano tanks, but i don't want to be setting myself up for failure.
accessories.. it seems that a refractometer is considered to be pretty important.. with a lid and regular water changes of LFS pre-mixed (i have a FANTASTIC LFS saltwater source) could i avoid this purchase up front, or is evaporation going to cause too much salt concentration issues where it really is a requirement?
suggestions on corals and other corals/fauna?
thanks!
)
