Online Planning Guide

[Tradewinds]

Does anyone know of a online planning guide for reef tanks?

This is how I would envision the application working; the new aquarist enters the type of fish and/or corals he or she is interesting in keeping and the planning guide produces a list of equipment needed to best accommodate the livestock.

Maybe it isn't that cut and dry, but it sure would be nice to have a tool to run several scenarios through, before laying out any money - just to find out later that you are headed in the wrong direction.

 

[bertoni]

I don't know of anything like that. Are you looking for a programming project? That might be hard to do, since there are so many alternative approaches in reefkeeping.

 

[JByer323]

Seems like that would take part of the fun (ie: steep learning curve) out of the picture.

No fun in that!

 

[GiantBen]

I'm not aware of anything, but LiveAquaria has temperament and minimum tank size requirements for fish. Keep in mind that the min tank size refers to std size tanks, so cubes might not be big enough in some cases.

 

[capecoral]

Sounds like an enhanced reef calculator

 

[travis32]

I think the planning guide would put some LFS's out of business, because then you would have reef equipment that matches the pet's needs we're keeping therefore offering the most optimal care level to keeping livestock alive... Hmmm.. How many fish stores would go out of business if things lived a long time?? yikes...

 

[NomiGold]

I do not know if this is the sort of thing you were looking for, but here is an online aquarium stocking calculator I've stumbled across. You key in your tank size, dimensions and filtration, and test out your stocking plans. It also has additional information on fish compatibility and needs.

http://aqadvisor.com/AqAdvisor.php

It started off as mainly freshwater (and was quite accurate in my experience), but I see they have added a saltwater version (top left). I'm not sure how that one rates, but it might be fun to try it out.

 

[Original Fin]

Try this for starters...
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1947959


As a beginner myself, I think an interactive planning guide would be great, but, I suspect the idea would never get off the ground.

I've found that there are dozens of ways to achieve the same goal in this hobby, and that expert consensus can be a hard thing to come by. Methods technology and equipment change from year to year, so there would need to be some sort of dynamic polling process in order to maintain relevance.
There are different levels of quality in respect to "doing it right". Having a big budget is an advantage, with some exceptions of course.
Buying used equipment can be another good alternative, provided you know what to look out for and what questions to ask.

There are a few basic guidelines that you will see repeated in these forums over and over, which for the most part, experienced reefers seem to be in agreement on. Still, there are those that feel certain older ways of doing things are best, and others that passionately advocate newer, sometimes controversial techniques. Take the problem of nutrient export for example. You've got Skimmers, DSB's, RDSB's, ATS's, Macro Refugia, Carbon Dosing, Zeovit and other miracle tonics, Miracle Mud, Reactors...it just goes on. All different ways of reducing N&P.

Even if it was cut and dry, there would need to be some sort of incentive to create, host and run such a tool. Revenue would come from industry advertising, so unbiased advice would just go right out the window.

 

[Tradewinds]

I do not know if this is the sort of thing you were looking for, but here is an online aquarium stocking calculator I've stumbled across. You key in your tank size, dimensions and filtration, and test out your stocking plans. It also has additional information on fish compatibility and needs.

http://aqadvisor.com/AqAdvisor.php

It started off as mainly freshwater (and was quite accurate in my experience), but I see they have added a saltwater version (top left). I'm not sure how that one rates, but it might be fun to try it out.

NomiGold - I checked it out and it is a very interesting tool. The logic is based on the tank size rather than particular fish, but still a great step in the right direction IMO.

Here are some of the calculator's features:
- I put in my tank dimensions (24x24x24) and it gave me a list of 68 fish, including their scientific names.
- As I selected fish it would give me general notes about caring for the fish and compatibility warnings (if any) with other fish on the list.
- As each fish was added it calculated the percentage of the tank's stocking level and a recommended water change schedule as the fish load went up.

It would be great if the logic was expanded to include corals as well, but it is an excellent resource as is.

 

[agreeive?fish]

i tried it out but the fish list is way lacking and many of my fish were not avaliable for selection especialy tangs,triggers,large angels and puffers... i realize its fairly new and expermental but it really did nothing to see where my levels were.... but also i did a 75g to see how accurate thier info was and they said a hippo tang cold go in a 75g but a yellow tang was to big for a 75g....

it may be a fair STARTING tool to weed out your wish list but i dont think the info is all that accurate from my 20 minutes of playing around with it with varrious fish combos but thats just my opinion

 

[agreeive?fish]

if you play with the advisor a little you can choose the juvi size option and select fish with similar body build and enter the size of the fish and it will calcuate closer .. in my opinion.. example the only trigger they have listed is a picasso, but mine is a clown so i took the picaso and entered the size of the clown trigger and i tried several different measurments and each time it adjusted the tank bio load percentage and the suggested water change amounts

did the same for a naso tang using a hippo tang, sailfin tang using a yellow ect still could not find an round the fish list to encompas puffers... it will allow ou to enter larger than max sizes for a specific fish


but it will not let you customize tank sizes

 

[Tradewinds]

if you play with the advisor a little you can choose the juvi size option and select fish with similar body build and enter the size of the fish and it will calcuate closer .. in my opinion.. example the only trigger they have listed is a picasso, but mine is a clown so i took the picaso and entered the size of the clown trigger and i tried several different measurments and each time it adjusted the tank bio load percentage and the suggested water change amounts

did the same for a naso tang using a hippo tang, sailfin tang using a yellow ect still could not find an round the fish list to encompas puffers... it will allow ou to enter larger than max sizes for a specific fish


but it will not let you customize tank sizes

For custom tank sizes select "User Defined" in the "Dimension" field and then enter the tank size (inches) in the length, depth and height fields provided.

You can also leave feedback to ask that specific fish be added to the calculator. I left a comment to see if they will entertain the idea of adding corals.

Not an exhaustive resource but I think the site has merit. (But then I'm a newb)

 

[agreeive?fish]

i stand corrected i missed the user defined option.. time to see the eye doctor i guess..LOL

the user defined option sure made my tank load look better on paper by adding the extra foot in length