If You Are New to Reef Central, Introduce Yourself Here!

[tonyc@alpine]

Hi everyone, Tony C here from Phoenix AZ. I wanted to introduce myself to you all. Thank you for such great information. I am currently in the research mode before making any purchases for a new Reef Aquarium. I have been reading and learning everything I can from all the post's and info I get from this web site.
What a great way to learn about this new bottomless money pit I too shall call a "Hobby". I am currently reading about the overflow of the reef tank and the design aspect of it. Any comments will be appreciated. I plan on using a tank with dimensions of 60"x24"x24". I will be building a custom made stand which will be longer than the tank, around 72"-76". I plan on having a custom or possible DYI sump, refugium and of course Protein Skimmer. I will eventually send pictures when I get everything off the ground so to speak. I may take longer than the average person as I research everything methodically and learn everything i possibly can each step of the way on configuring my new
"Reef System" so to speak. Once again, thanks for the wealth of information and I look forward to any input you may have.............

TC

[ScottCRRT]

RC came very highly recommended. Can't wait to jump in.

[PhilsAquatics]

hi , my name is phil this is my first time membership of a reef forum , ive been in the hobby for six years and to be honest i only no the basics well i really just no how two keep good water but dont no much about corals and there names and fish as well i always just went to my lfs and said i want that one and things always seemed to work out for me , except for this time around i just set up a new hex i dont really no the size but it holds alot of water im guessing between 40 and 60 gallons just to give a run down the setup is an aqua clear 70 ,2 750 evos, k2 viper 150 mh, bio cube skimmer, 30lbs lr, 10 dead , 2 green chromis and three disbar anthias and that is where i messed up i put them in right after a full cycle and had no idea how fragile these fish were there was a small amonia spike i think cause i did a fishless cycle anyway i burnt the tail on one and they all looked like they were going to die so i ran to my lfs and got the only thing that had half a chance dr.tims one and only, needles to say they all survied and are doing great but now its time to educate on corals and fish i mean i no whats reef safe and whats not but thats about it, i want this tank to be really nice and i dont want to hurt any more fish or put fish that even though i no are reef safe into a small tank like i did so if somone could head me, or navigate me to were to start reading on here that would be great.

[SpoonReef]

Hello Everyone,
I currently have a 29 gallon tall FOWLR it has been up and running for close to 3 years. I am in the process of upgrading to a 90 gallon trimless (if I can find the tank that is) with custom built stand lighting and sump. I came here to fill my head with knowledge so I can minimize my mistakes.

[mrtywalsh]

Hey my name is Marty and I live in Deer Park, Ohio. I'm new to fish tanks in general. I've never had one in my life. Can't wait to dive in. This community looks great!

[krop01]

Not the proper forum

[I Want Corals]

Hello Reefers, and to Enthusiastic hobbies t alike i have been in this hobby for many years and well to be honest I've never felt as if i needed to come and check out RC Sure I put it off once or twice but finally i'm a member!
I'm sure I will be on here often checking up the latest equipment and practices
that you reef keepers keep.

Happy Reefing!

[I Want Corals]

Where do I go to find the forum of where people who want to trade or sell their corals go to.

Thanks (New To RC)

[RockOn681]

Hey my names Ed, I have had a 35 gallon freshwater tank for the past 5 years. I currently have a 92 gallon corner tank that I want to turn in to a reef but I don't have everything I need yet. I built a sump and have the lighting, working on the protein skimmer currently and am wondering what else I really need? Any advice would be gladly accepted.

[BOO999]

Originally Posted by Gobilicious

BOO999,
Beautiful tank!

thanks Gobilicious, it's just the beginning + the photo came out too dark LOL

[Alex V]

Hi all! My name is Alex. I live in Garden Grove, California. I have a 40g fresh water tank for almost a year now. I'm interested in starting a mini reef tank. Right now I'm just doing as much research as I can before I start. I'm a total salt water noob so any comments or advice would be greatly appreciated. Looking forward to learn from everyone here on Reef Central. Thanks!

[MBWannaBee]

Hi RC, i'm MBWannaBee(Marine Biologist wannabe), i'm fourteen and just started my first SW tank. I've kept FW for about two years, but have always been fascinated with Corals and Marine fish I just got the tank set up and started cycling it! Good luck to all of you fellow starters

[brockboi]

Hello everyone. To start with I can't wait to get into the hobby or as tonyc put it above...the bottomless money pit. Fishdisease got me hooked on this site recently and have been reading as much as possible before I purchase a tank. I have had freshwater tanks for about 15 years and have always wanted to get a reef aquarium. my dream is about to come true! I have purchased a 75 gal used tank that is set up and ready to go. I do have to transport the tank, rock, fish, etc about 30 minutes and also have to go through Canadian customs since the set up was purchased in the USA. I can't wait to get started!

[MichellenMike]

Hello everyone...

Michelle and I are new to the hobby and with so many questions with even more different answers we decided to join. We were given an 80g established tank by a friend of ours. It has (I'm Guessing) a 10-15 gallon sump with a coral life super skimmer in it. It came with around 60-70 pounds of live rock and a 2in sand base. It has 2 large leather corals (which I fear might be dying) a rock with green mushrooms, lots of frog spawn, some polyps, and a good size rose bulb anemone. The fish are 1 clown, 1 small black clown, 1 royal tang, 1 coral beauty, 2 shrimp, 1 urchin, 8 turbo snails, 8 Nassarius snails, 1 conch and 1 horseshoe crab.

We have been doing weekly water changes of 10 gallons to try to lower our nitrate levels that are running 80 on the tester we have. Is there a better way to lower the nitrate levels? Our ammonia and nitrite levels are reading 0 on the tester. Also our ph has been consistently tuning at 7.8, how can we raise it?

I have read in some places that even though our tank was established it has to go through the cycling process all over again. So do I need to just wait it out?

Also I live in southern california does anyone know a reasonable place to get lighting? I currently have a coral life pc fixture but the actinic will not stay on even when it's not on the timer. So I am looking to upgrade my lighting.

Thank you for your help...

[D1105]

Another newbie checking in.....

I'm new to this hobby and will be picking a 180g from a friend this weekend. All the information here in this forum have been very helpful. I can't wait to get my tank established and be able to post some pictures of my own. Let the addiction begin..

[Liza B]

Hi, My name is Liza. I'm new to marine tanks but have about 5 years experience with FW tanks. I just wanted to introduce myself. Current tank: 120 gallon with 100lbs LR, 1 Hawaiian Yellow tang, 1 coral beauty angel, 3 Vanderbilt Chromis, 1 flame Hawk fish, 1 royal gramma, 1 Australian Tusk, a small green spine urchin, 1 serpent star, and a Sailfin Blenny.

I want to start corals, mainly zoas and brains, so I will be asking loads of questions.

[bro2]

Hello everyone. Bobby O. from Central Louisiana. will be getting a 75 or 90 gal. soon. will be hanging around alot. Thanks.

[symon_say]

Hi from Dominican Republic, by now i just have a 55g FW tank, but might be getting a 100g SW tank by the end of the year, or beginning of next one, but for now is time to learn and plan.

[royboy17]

hi all i am verry new to this hobby and need some help i was wondering if anyone has any idea about dosing for NO3:PO4-x red sea bialogical nitrate and phosphate remover i dont have the instructions or any clue how to find out i would be verry graitfull for any help

btw i am dislecsic so i am sorry for my bad speling and gramor

thanx

Roy

[BOO999]

Originally Posted by royboy17

hi all i am verry new to this hobby and need some help i was wondering if anyone has any idea about dosing for NO3:PO4-x red sea bialogical nitrate and phosphate remover i dont have the instructions or any clue how to find out i would be verry graitfull for any help

btw i am dislecsic so i am sorry for my bad speling and gramor

thanx

Roy

royboy
hope picture is clear enough, can't find my camera, had to use phone, sorry

EDIT: photos were resized from 1mb to 60kb :s can send originals via email, send me a private message

[noname4]

Hello everyone my name is Joe (noname 4). I have a 29 gallon sw just getting started. Seems like every website i go to seems to have a diffrent way to do things but it seems like this is a good place to be for info if anyone has any advice I will be glad to here from you thanks

[hannahsreef]

Hello everyone,
My name is jared and im from a small town in Pennsylvania. I am 25 with a birthday coming tomorrow. I built my first tank for my 1 year old daughter to enjoy but i discovered that i too enjoy this hobby.I currently have a 28 gallon jbj nano cube running with the normal clowns and some rock and various coral. I just recently purchased a 92 gallon corner unit with a bunch of supporting hardware. check out my other posts for more info. Thanks and im looking forward to getting to know you.

[oceanathome]

Hey Everyone!

My name is Roger and I've been fishkeeping for 30 years. (started young) I was into saltwater tanks about 13 years ago but got out of the hobby going back to fresh only.

A friend of mine had an extra cinnamon clown that was too agreesive for his other fish and was tired of keeping a separate tank for him, so I took him and gave him a good home. He gave me a nice hob skimmer and a bunch of live sand and rock. For the last 2 years I've been enjoying the beauty and satisfaction of reef keeping, though at a minimal starter's point. I had my one fish, a serpant star, snails, crabs and a bunch of mushrooms and other various softies.

My same friend recently told me they were exiting the hobby and asked if I were interested in the big tank. Of course I could not refuse this one. So I got rid of my last freshwater, converted that into a fowlr for the mean clown and moved it into the front living room, it is a 35 tall show tank, eclipse hood, a nice system for what it is.

So the new tank is a 65, 3 drilled holes in bottom with a 'huge' little giant aircooled for the closed loop. The side overflow comes down to a 20 gal sump in the base of the stand, with a nice skimmer and then a return pump. I got all the sand, rock two pajama cardinals and a mated pair of real nemo fish. they are so cute. It has t5 lighting with moon light leds and a cooling fan in the hood. the stand is a nice hardwood rustic finish that hits into the house nicely.

I had some quetions and recently discovered the world of forums due to my Civic Si and OCD with Hondas. I decided to search for a reef forum and picked this one at random. I'm glad I landed here as this seems like a nice group of people who are very into the hobby/way of life and I'm very impressed with the systems and knowledge I've observed. I was pretty proud of myself and my new system, but quickly realized my place with reviewing some of your setups and conversations. I am really only a novice, but I love the hobby and my new system.

I seaded the system with the existing sand from premove, and have finally gotten everything going. Took much longer than I had hoped, but probably not as long as it should have. I've loaded all of his rock as well as mine from the old mini reef 35 long I had my mean clown in before. It looks too full of rock, but I will do more arrangement and probably move more live rock to the other tank. the 35long is being donated to a friend for her red eared slider turtle.

So like I said I was so happy, untill I started reviewing the systems on this forum, now I think I'm just a beginner and realize some of the shortcoming of my new system. I need to research all the pump brands and model numbers to see what I have, including skimmer model. It also came with 4 other powerheads that he used to create movement in sump and use to move water for water changes etc. For the PRICE ($0) I"m still very excited. I will post some pics of the tank as it now in the next couple of days. It has about 40 mushrooms of about 5 varieties and some nice coraline algae growth on the rocks. The fish are transitioning ok, one full day in new tank.

It was not without difficulty, unknowingly broke a nipple fitting on the close off valve from one of the bulkheads, then had an issue sealing that one up at the tank joint, but it is holding now!

Oh and it had a uv light that had shorted at the power input and melted the top, that was plumbed out of the system during the move. Not using one now, also pulled an old florecnt power converter from under there, from before the t5, never even seen connectors like that, but I saved it.

Very happy with where I'm at, though trying to not let you all discourage me. I'm on a tight budget but got a huge leap forward reentering the hobby from a generous friend. They have 3 cats, 3 dogs (two are retired greyhounds), some tree frogs and the new baby pushed them over the limit for time consumption. They are happy the tank is in a good home.

Wow, I'm talkative tonight. . . Anyway, happy to have found you all and I look forward to getting to know you better.

If you are still reading this, thanks for your diligence and for sharing all your most valuable knowledge!!!!!

One of the newest Members,

Roger

[Sea Witch]

Hello, Sea Witch here from Vancouver Island, British Columbia. New to reefkeeping and SW, but very experienced in FW. I'm reading and studying and planning a first reef tank, probably in the 200gal range. Glad I found you guys.

[wlatino30]

hello rc members. names walter. just started back up. always had some sort of tank set up in the house, but only in the past few years have i had a salt water set up "fish only". before that it was fresh for the kids or brackish for me with cyclids. last time i had the 55 gal salt set up it sprung a leak realy bad and the i moved off of base housing to my first home and then i bought a new home. 7 year span since it was last set up. so i dusted it off, fixed the leak and built a stand and hood out of red oak. all my equipment is still in great shape..ie: wet dry rated at 200 gal, and mag5 pump rated at 500gph. now looking at the led set ups that many of you guys have done. aviation electrical by trade "thank to the US NAVY". so i have all the tools and know how to make my own light.

the only thing i dont know is how many white and blue leds should i have at a minimum for the 55 gal tank? and how far apart? i know most of the builds on this forum are 70gal and larger. but 55 is all i can fit in my house. any help whould be greatly appreciated . it would be a fish only for now but wish to add softy and so on.