New to Reef keeping by necessity...

ollie32 · 11/13/2012, 07:49 PM

Hi everyone...yes sir newbie here...not to fish keeping in general, but due to a situation by an older sibling I am the new owner of a 65 and 20 gal set of reef tanks..oi!

Long story short my sister has been "attempting" to keep a couple of reef tanks and has grown very disappointed. I love my sister, but personally I think she lacks the patience to keep these fascinating tanks thriving. So as of 1 week ago she basically has dropped off thousands of dollars worth of tanks, live corals, sand, salt and test equipment in my lap..(not bad for me eh?)..

Anyway I will do my best to introduce myself and my tanks along with what I would like to succeed at doing here. I am a mechanic by trade(currently layed off) with 28 years experience. Over the years I have had various sizes of freshwater setups and am currently keeping a nice 75 gal African Cichlid tank for over a year with good success. I currently have the 20 gal up and running for over 6 weeks now maintaining a steady salinity and the tank has cycled.(she started hooking me up with the 20 gal) Now that she has gotten completely out of the hobby she has brought me all of the rest of her stuff and I'm currently sorting everything out. Oh and BTW I do have several species of live corals and invertebrates already existing in the 20..including 1 cleaner wrasse...

Now onto some ideas I have. From previous freshwater setups I have a dry 90 gallon tall, and now the 65 tall. Not sure if I want to think of getting rid of the 90 and committing to the 65 or what, but that may change with what I'm learning. My idea as of right now is to get the 65 cycled and transfer all the inhabitants of the 20 into the larger tank. At that point, then the 20 could be a sort of quarantine tank. I have had thoughts of making the 20 a refugium, but I'm still VERY green and have a LOT of reading to do.

I'll try and include a list of all the components when I get them all identified. I'm sure I'll have a multitude of questions so please bare with me if I seem like a little kid with all the asking...anyways cheers and I'll be around..

Also if any experienced hobbyist out there has any advice, I'm always willing to listen.
Not the greatest pic, but Ill have more and better quality later..

kreef82 · 11/14/2012, 11:45 AM

welcome to the hooby. its an addicting money pit

chrisfont23 · 11/14/2012, 01:18 PM

Patience is key to this hobby. Enjoy. Welcome aboard.

Sugar Magnolia · 11/14/2012, 01:57 PM

To Reef Central

Be sure to read through the stickies at the top of this forum.

plapczynski · 11/14/2012, 05:21 PM

Welcome. I need a sister like that.

plapczynski · 11/14/2012, 05:24 PM

I also agree, the stickies on top will get you going, at least to the point where you you aren't totally lost. Remember to search for questions, a lot of thing have been answered.

ollie32 · 11/14/2012, 08:08 PM

Will do thanks for the welcomes..

DutchLeck · 11/14/2012, 09:30 PM

Welcome!

11/13/2012, 07:49 PM	#1
ollie32 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Detoilet, Michigan Posts: 2	New to Reef keeping by necessity... Hi everyone...yes sir newbie here...not to fish keeping in general, but due to a situation by an older sibling I am the new owner of a 65 and 20 gal set of reef tanks..oi! Long story short my sister has been "attempting" to keep a couple of reef tanks and has grown very disappointed. I love my sister, but personally I think she lacks the patience to keep these fascinating tanks thriving. So as of 1 week ago she basically has dropped off thousands of dollars worth of tanks, live corals, sand, salt and test equipment in my lap..(not bad for me eh?).. Anyway I will do my best to introduce myself and my tanks along with what I would like to succeed at doing here. I am a mechanic by trade(currently layed off) with 28 years experience. Over the years I have had various sizes of freshwater setups and am currently keeping a nice 75 gal African Cichlid tank for over a year with good success. I currently have the 20 gal up and running for over 6 weeks now maintaining a steady salinity and the tank has cycled.(she started hooking me up with the 20 gal) Now that she has gotten completely out of the hobby she has brought me all of the rest of her stuff and I'm currently sorting everything out. Oh and BTW I do have several species of live corals and invertebrates already existing in the 20..including 1 cleaner wrasse... Now onto some ideas I have. From previous freshwater setups I have a dry 90 gallon tall, and now the 65 tall. Not sure if I want to think of getting rid of the 90 and committing to the 65 or what, but that may change with what I'm learning. My idea as of right now is to get the 65 cycled and transfer all the inhabitants of the 20 into the larger tank. At that point, then the 20 could be a sort of quarantine tank. I have had thoughts of making the 20 a refugium, but I'm still VERY green and have a LOT of reading to do. I'll try and include a list of all the components when I get them all identified. I'm sure I'll have a multitude of questions so please bare with me if I seem like a little kid with all the asking...anyways cheers and I'll be around.. Also if any experienced hobbyist out there has any advice, I'm always willing to listen. Not the greatest pic, but Ill have more and better quality later..

11/14/2012, 01:57 PM	#4
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	*To Reef Central* Be sure to read through the stickies at the top of this forum. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

11/14/2012, 05:21 PM	#5
plapczynski Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Chillicothe, OH Posts: 51	Welcome. I need a sister like that. __________________ 40 Gal-2 Koralia 750's, 1 Nano 240 & 425, Remora HOB, Ecoxotic Panorama Pro LED’s (2x 12k, 2x Blue/Magenta, 1xBlue). 60 lbs LR, 60 lbs sand, 2x Ocellaris Clowns, 1xBlue Spotted Watchman Goby

11/14/2012, 05:24 PM	#6
plapczynski Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Chillicothe, OH Posts: 51	I also agree, the stickies on top will get you going, at least to the point where you you aren't totally lost. Remember to search for questions, a lot of thing have been answered. __________________ 40 Gal-2 Koralia 750's, 1 Nano 240 & 425, Remora HOB, Ecoxotic Panorama Pro LED’s (2x 12k, 2x Blue/Magenta, 1xBlue). 60 lbs LR, 60 lbs sand, 2x Ocellaris Clowns, 1xBlue Spotted Watchman Goby

11/14/2012, 09:30 PM	#8
DutchLeck OK REEF COMMUNITY Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: OKC, OK Posts: 123	Welcome! __________________ If you are ripe you'll rot, but if you're green, you'll grow. 80 gal RR * Mocha Clowns, Bangaii Cardinal, Tribal Blenny, and many corals! Check out the new community for Oklahoma Reefers: Facebook.com/OKReefCommunity Current Tank Info: AI Super Blues * 150 gallon * Mocha Clowns, 2-Yellow Wrasse, Marble Wrasse, RBTA, GBTA, Mixed Reef

11/14/2012, 11:45 AM	#2
kreef82 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 55	welcome to the hooby. its an addicting money pit

11/14/2012, 01:18 PM	#3
chrisfont23 Reef Monster Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Long Island Posts: 1,343	Patience is key to this hobby. Enjoy. Welcome aboard.

11/14/2012, 08:08 PM	#7
ollie32 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Detoilet, Michigan Posts: 2	Will do thanks for the welcomes..