Wanting a salt water tank..
- Thread starter SammieT
- Start date
sreefs
Member
This is a great place to start, read and read some more, a ton of great information to be found. I would start by reading Reef Discussion and New to the Hobby forums. Also like was said read the Stickies at the top of many of the forums!
And Welcome to the best site on the net, an unbelievable amount of knowledge on here willing to help.
And Welcome to the best site on the net, an unbelievable amount of knowledge on here willing to help.
NSimpkins
New member
+1 to all the above advice. It is a FUN, REWARDING, and ADDICTIVE hobby.
Make a plan. What size tank? What size sump? What kind of fish/coral do you want. Every time I've had a question folks on here will be happy to help. Then make a budget. You can also find used (even on here) equipment if you can't afford to buy new.
Besides tank and sump you need to think about rock and sand and lights and test kits and refractometers etc. not as daunting as it sounds but a lot of little things that add up. Hence the plan and budget.
Other than that the only MUST I would give you is plan on getting a Reverse Osmosis DeIonisation unit (RODI) unit. Water is the most important thing to start this hobby so do it right. You can buy from your local Live Fish Store (LFS) but that will get old quick. You will end up getting one anyway so get it to start.
Don't be afraid to ask questions, even if they seem stupid, they're not. Chances are I or someone on here had it when they started too.
Make a plan. What size tank? What size sump? What kind of fish/coral do you want. Every time I've had a question folks on here will be happy to help. Then make a budget. You can also find used (even on here) equipment if you can't afford to buy new.
Besides tank and sump you need to think about rock and sand and lights and test kits and refractometers etc. not as daunting as it sounds but a lot of little things that add up. Hence the plan and budget.
Other than that the only MUST I would give you is plan on getting a Reverse Osmosis DeIonisation unit (RODI) unit. Water is the most important thing to start this hobby so do it right. You can buy from your local Live Fish Store (LFS) but that will get old quick. You will end up getting one anyway so get it to start.
Don't be afraid to ask questions, even if they seem stupid, they're not. Chances are I or someone on here had it when they started too.
JakeMallowFilms
New member
I started with a 20 gallon saltwater tank. It had a few dry rocks, sand, and 2 clownfish. Through having my clownfish get sick multiple times, I progressed to an 8 gallon nano. In there, I had my 2 clownfish, shrimp, gobies, etc. At that point, I knew a lot about the hobby.
Now I own a 75 gallon mixed reef, and it's been going great. Seriously though, you have to realize what you're getting into. I spent > $5000 on my tank so far. You also have to have patience... corals aren't going to populate your tank overnight. It takes some time.
I completely disagree with having an RO/DI unit to start. As it's not bad to have it, it's just going to complicate everything more. I don't have an RO/DI unit, I buy pre-mixed saltwater from my LFS, and top off with freshwater from my LFS (distilled.)
Anyways, all you really need to start are the following:
1. a fish tank (preferably 20-55 gallons to start)
2. live sand/live rock (to speed up the cycling process)
3. a heater (or a chiller, depending on where you live/fish you want to get)
4. Filtration (mechanical, biological, or chemical (research more in depth))
5. Lighting (LEDs, Halides, etc)
6. Sump (depending on size of aquarium, and plan)
7. Patience... and a lot of money.
'njoy the hobby.
Now I own a 75 gallon mixed reef, and it's been going great. Seriously though, you have to realize what you're getting into. I spent > $5000 on my tank so far. You also have to have patience... corals aren't going to populate your tank overnight. It takes some time.
I completely disagree with having an RO/DI unit to start. As it's not bad to have it, it's just going to complicate everything more. I don't have an RO/DI unit, I buy pre-mixed saltwater from my LFS, and top off with freshwater from my LFS (distilled.)
Anyways, all you really need to start are the following:
1. a fish tank (preferably 20-55 gallons to start)
2. live sand/live rock (to speed up the cycling process)
3. a heater (or a chiller, depending on where you live/fish you want to get)
4. Filtration (mechanical, biological, or chemical (research more in depth))
5. Lighting (LEDs, Halides, etc)
6. Sump (depending on size of aquarium, and plan)
7. Patience... and a lot of money.
'njoy the hobby.
gone fishin
New member
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1031074
Take a look at the link. There is a lot of info. I wish you good luck.
Take a look at the link. There is a lot of info. I wish you good luck.
igot2gats
Deeeetroit Basketball!
The Stickies are a great place to start.
However, I highly recommend coming up with a plan first: deciding on a tank size, and a budget. Granted, there really isn't a 'budget' per se in this hobby, as it's a bottomless budget, but you still need a plan on how your budget will be affected.
After you have a tank size, and budget, THEN the Stickies are a great place to to and read.
However, I highly recommend coming up with a plan first: deciding on a tank size, and a budget. Granted, there really isn't a 'budget' per se in this hobby, as it's a bottomless budget, but you still need a plan on how your budget will be affected.
After you have a tank size, and budget, THEN the Stickies are a great place to to and read.
Will do thank you
hampsterblade
New member
The money part said earlier is very true. I have managed to get a lot of what I need using Craigslist and still have sank 700$ into a basic tank. This is a 55 with 20 long sump. And I have those days where I just want to do something with it and will easily throw 100 dollars into buying something for the tank. I drilled myself, designed my own standpipe. Its definitely a hobby that can keep your hands busy.
Coelli
New member
I have to agree about the expense - make absolutely sure you have the budget, because the more you get into the hobby, the more expensive it can get if you want to do it right. You can do it cheaper, but it'll take a lot of experience and time finding used equipment or building your own. So just be prepared for that.
For me, asking questions on forums and reading a couple of books was very helpful.
For me, asking questions on forums and reading a couple of books was very helpful.
kmbyrnes
New member
Read, read, read and then read some more.
Know going in that you will have some failures, learn from them.
Figure out who on the forums is knowledgeable and follow their advice when posted.
NEVER, EVER buy fish or other livestock on impulse. If you like what you see, go home and research it. Find out if it's compatible with your current livestock and your skill level meets its requirements.
LFS can be good sources of info, but are in business to sell you things.
Don't try to buy all the flashy toys right at the start.
Know going in that you will have some failures, learn from them.
Figure out who on the forums is knowledgeable and follow their advice when posted.
NEVER, EVER buy fish or other livestock on impulse. If you like what you see, go home and research it. Find out if it's compatible with your current livestock and your skill level meets its requirements.
LFS can be good sources of info, but are in business to sell you things.
Don't try to buy all the flashy toys right at the start.
ReefsandGeeks
New member
I have been in the hobby for 7-8 months now, and one thing I wish I had done when I started was to buy used. I bought everything new, and the price went alot higher than expected. If I would have bought used I could have gotten an awsome deal with a little patiance. check craigslist. you can find complete setups on the cheap, and can even get advice o setup from the person who already has the system set up.
Coelli
New member
Yes, good advice... I'm setting up a new tank soon. I bought the tank used for a really good price. A local reefer is building a custom stand for less than I would have paid for a stand at retail (and it will have 3 doors and be built entirely of wood. It'll cost at least half of what a particle board stand would have cost at retail). I bought the skimmer used from someone who had only used it for a month, for less than half the cost of new. I'm looking for a used sump now and if I can't find one will build it from a glass aquarium purchased cheap. About the only thing I'm buying new are the return pump and the lights. I want the latest version of the lights and they're in high demand so they don't come up used very often. Also, I want the 2 year warranty.
See if there's a local forum for your area, it will be one of your greatest assets when trying to find deals.
Flood your basement while lighting $100 bills on fire. Then you'll know what it's like to own a reef tank. :hmm5:
