New to the Reef

Medevack1 · 10/03/2011, 08:58 AM

Hey all im new to the Reef, long time ago (20yrs ago) i had a 20gal salt water tank when i lived in Hawaii and now i want to get another one How hard would it be to get back into it? any info would be appreciated it.

Microcosmos · 10/03/2011, 09:12 AM

Welcome back to the hobby!

I'm sure you'll find that a LOT has changed in the technology available in 20 years!

Well, to better answer your question, I'm going to ask some questions: What size tank do you have in mind? Are you planning on doing any do-it-yourself type plumbing (sump, refugium)? What type of livestock do you plan to keep? Have you considered the lighting you will use? Where will you put the tank? Do you already have any equipment, or are you starting from scratch?

Those ought to be enough to get you going, and don't forget to check out the "stickies" at the top!

splateee · 10/03/2011, 09:16 AM

Hello and welcome back,

There has been a lot of changes in the last 20 years. I would start off by reading all the excellent info here and the stickys at the top of the forums. Take your time and be patient and not rush. And most inportantly remember to have fun.

Medevack1 · 10/03/2011, 09:49 AM

thank you guys i was looking on craigslist and found several tanks 45-55 gals. and some with all the filtration , lights, and even some with live coral. thats where im starting at.

cdipasquale · 10/03/2011, 09:55 AM

There have been a lot of changes in the hobby over the years but the basics of water quality and husbandry are still the same so you should have no problem catching up. Newer equipment has simplified the hobby a lot. Good luck

Dustin1300 · 10/03/2011, 10:05 AM

Read, read, read....Then Plan, Plan, and PLAN! You can pick up a descent system on CL but IMO I see systems that are not well maintained and you end up with equipment that is not up to par and could also acquire a system with 'live rock' that is infested with aptasia or some other nuisance! Good Luck!

zigzag1 · 10/03/2011, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dustin1300

Read, read, read....Then Plan, Plan, and PLAN! You can pick up a descent system on CL but IMO I see systems that are not well maintained and you end up with equipment that is not up to par and could also acquire a system with 'live rock' that is infested with aptasia or some other nuisance! Good Luck!

+1 Good advice from Dustin here..

Medevack1 · 10/03/2011, 10:51 AM

Thank you Dustin1300, my friend Larry is the one who got me back into the scene so i will get with him on how to set mine up any ideas on what type of fish i should start with.

skeeter_usaf · 10/03/2011, 11:17 AM

I disagree on finding a tank on CL. Just make sure you look at the tank and all its components before purchasing. I would reccomend they fill it with water so you can test for leaks as well. I bought my complete system off CL and couldn't be happier. Good luck.

Medevack1 · 10/03/2011, 12:05 PM

thank you!!!! whats a good size to start off with!!!!

michaelr · 10/03/2011, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skeeter_usaf

I disagree on finding a tank on CL. Just make sure you look at the tank and all its components before purchasing. I would reccomend they fill it with water so you can test for leaks as well. I bought my complete system off CL and couldn't be happier. Good luck.

I Beg to differ actually. I have a beautiful 120 gallon tank that came with the stand and great filter for 250 bucks. Sure i may have just gotten lucky but it just goes to show that it can be a great option if your cautious.. Im actually pretty glad i got the used tank because i have busted the bank anyways

zigzag1 · 10/03/2011, 05:13 PM

IMO, there are good deals to be found on CL, but you just need to be careful. I see a few good deals, but many, many neglected and overpriced systems as well. Probably, the best advice is to take your time and don't jump on the first 'good deal' you find, no matter of the seller opinion. Be prepared to just say no to systems that are loaded to with pests, poor equipment, etc. If you can find someone who has a good system that just needs to move quickly, this is your best chance at catching a good deal. If you are not experienced in the hobby and don't know good livestock and equipment, this may not be a good route for you. JMTC & GL!

And, to answer the OP - read, reasearch, plan, and plan some more! RC is a geat resource for that!

Medevack1 · 10/05/2011, 09:06 AM

awesome im going to start with either a 45 or a 55 gal tank and see how that works out for me .....

ovrboost · 10/05/2011, 10:18 AM

welcome back. I pretty sure you have not lost that much, but it has been 20 years and lots of technology has past by. You might also want to think about what you want to put in it so you have an idea of how big you want to go. don't want to get something to small and then have to upgrade in a couple of months, but look on the other hand if that does happen, it is practice.

Medevack1 · 10/06/2011, 08:05 AM

2 clowns, and some small ones im thinking 45 gal should be fine....

Medevack1 · 10/25/2011, 06:12 AM

Well i finally got something!!!! lol couple of weeks ago i went to a local swap meet for aquarium enthusiests and i got a great deal on a 55 gal ready to set-up tank, i got my sand, water, live rock and its been doing great so far. Next step is get some fish in it !!!

Microcosmos · 11/04/2011, 06:40 PM

Keep us posted!

Sean Bartel

10/03/2011, 08:58 AM	#1
Medevack1 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Winston Salem NC Posts: 8	New to the Reef Hey all im new to the Reef, long time ago (20yrs ago) i had a 20gal salt water tank when i lived in Hawaii and now i want to get another one How hard would it be to get back into it? any info would be appreciated it.

10/03/2011, 10:05 AM	#6
Dustin1300 Reefaholic Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Carmel, IN Posts: 5,135	Read, read, read....Then Plan, Plan, and PLAN! You can pick up a descent system on CL but IMO I see systems that are not well maintained and you end up with equipment that is not up to par and could also acquire a system with 'live rock' that is infested with aptasia or some other nuisance! Good Luck! __________________ INDMAS President Check out my tank in the Large Tank Forums, "A Reefaholic's 1000+ Gallon Mixed Reef System Build"! Current Tank Info: 600 Gallon DT, 140 Gallon Grow Out Tank, 125 Gallon Sump, 90 Gallon Fuge, 200 Gallon Fish QT, 15 Gallon Frag QT

10/03/2011, 11:17 AM	#9
skeeter_usaf Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Brandon, Fl Posts: 98	I disagree on finding a tank on CL. Just make sure you look at the tank and all its components before purchasing. I would reccomend they fill it with water so you can test for leaks as well. I bought my complete system off CL and couldn't be happier. Good luck. __________________ 220 Mixed Reef, 60 gallon sump, Euro Reef Skimmer, Phosban Reactor, 250w Halides, LED's, wavemaker, ATO, RO/DI and much more. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º> ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><((((º>

10/03/2011, 05:13 PM	#12
zigzag1 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Anderson, Indiana Posts: 1,276	IMO, there are good deals to be found on CL, but you just need to be careful. I see a few good deals, but many, many neglected and overpriced systems as well. Probably, the best advice is to take your time and don't jump on the first 'good deal' you find, no matter of the seller opinion. Be prepared to just say no to systems that are loaded to with pests, poor equipment, etc. If you can find someone who has a good system that just needs to move quickly, this is your best chance at catching a good deal. If you are not experienced in the hobby and don't know good livestock and equipment, this may not be a good route for you. JMTC & GL! And, to answer the OP - read, reasearch, plan, and plan some more! RC is a geat resource for that! __________________ :beer: Mixed Reef, started 10/2004: 6' BB 125g DT, 100lbs LR, 40g sump, Dual Ehiem 1000 returns, Eshopps dual overflow, JBJ ATO, Vertex IN-180, PM Ca reactor, 250w MH w/VHO Actinic, AC3 w/Aquasurf, Tunze 6105 pair & 40B frag tank 8 Fish, 20+ corals, shrimp, snails, worms, bugs, etc.

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10/03/2011, 09:12 AM	#2
Microcosmos Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Hagerstown, MD, USA Posts: 328	Welcome back to the hobby! I'm sure you'll find that a LOT has changed in the technology available in 20 years! Well, to better answer your question, I'm going to ask some questions: What size tank do you have in mind? Are you planning on doing any do-it-yourself type plumbing (sump, refugium)? What type of livestock do you plan to keep? Have you considered the lighting you will use? Where will you put the tank? Do you already have any equipment, or are you starting from scratch? Those ought to be enough to get you going, and don't forget to check out the "stickies" at the top!

10/03/2011, 09:16 AM	#3
splateee Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Flower Mound, Texas Posts: 561	Hello and welcome back, There has been a lot of changes in the last 20 years. I would start off by reading all the excellent info here and the stickys at the top of the forums. Take your time and be patient and not rush. And most inportantly remember to have fun.

10/03/2011, 09:49 AM	#4
Medevack1 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Winston Salem NC Posts: 8	thank you guys i was looking on craigslist and found several tanks 45-55 gals. and some with all the filtration , lights, and even some with live coral. thats where im starting at.

10/03/2011, 09:55 AM	#5
cdipasquale Moved On Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 106	There have been a lot of changes in the hobby over the years but the basics of water quality and husbandry are still the same so you should have no problem catching up. Newer equipment has simplified the hobby a lot. Good luck

10/03/2011, 10:51 AM	#8
Medevack1 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Winston Salem NC Posts: 8	Thank you Dustin1300, my friend Larry is the one who got me back into the scene so i will get with him on how to set mine up any ideas on what type of fish i should start with.

10/03/2011, 12:05 PM	#10
Medevack1 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Winston Salem NC Posts: 8	thank you!!!! whats a good size to start off with!!!!

10/05/2011, 09:06 AM	#13
Medevack1 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Winston Salem NC Posts: 8	awesome im going to start with either a 45 or a 55 gal tank and see how that works out for me .....

10/05/2011, 10:18 AM	#14
ovrboost Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: irvine Posts: 97	welcome back. I pretty sure you have not lost that much, but it has been 20 years and lots of technology has past by. You might also want to think about what you want to put in it so you have an idea of how big you want to go. don't want to get something to small and then have to upgrade in a couple of months, but look on the other hand if that does happen, it is practice.

10/06/2011, 08:05 AM	#15
Medevack1 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Winston Salem NC Posts: 8	2 clowns, and some small ones im thinking 45 gal should be fine....

10/25/2011, 06:12 AM	#16
Medevack1 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Winston Salem NC Posts: 8	Well i finally got something!!!! lol couple of weeks ago i went to a local swap meet for aquarium enthusiests and i got a great deal on a 55 gal ready to set-up tank, i got my sand, water, live rock and its been doing great so far. Next step is get some fish in it !!!

11/04/2011, 06:40 PM	#17
Microcosmos Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Hagerstown, MD, USA Posts: 328	Keep us posted! Sean Bartel