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

[staindsoul]

Im mitch, I am new to saltwater. I am going to be taking this slow (planning/building). I have always used forums for every hobby, and love the knowledge and money I have saved using forums.

I am remodeling the living room, my dad and I are building a cabinet/bookcase/entertainment center that will house my tank. So my dimensions are locked into a 37 gallon tank. I want to run a sump to another for stability/benefits. Since I already realize that 37gs is small.

Other than that info, I need to study and pick my parts for the build.

[obicanobi0]

Hi I'm Jeremy

Im fairly new to the hobby compared to most here and completely new to RC. Decided to sign up and join the fun! Im going to post some tank pictures up in the upstate reef society section.

[CCMASNORY]

hi my name is carlos and im from east hartford i been i this addiction for 2 years im new to reefcentral i started with a 55gal aggressive fish then could not help my self so i bought a 125gal of cragslist built my own stand for it so it stands 4 feet high tank is at the foot of my bed tank ended up splitting on me what a nightmare had put ever thing in buckets clean up my room wife crying go to my lfs pay $500 for the same tank but new with lifetime warrinty that went good until i lost about $2000 in fish,coral,clams,orster all cause the power went out i try very hard to keep them alive boiling water on the grill but all failed but now my tank is doing very well beside me fighting ich on my fish and coral are doing very well sorry had to vent that out and of my chest

[Marg79928]

Hi Everyone! New to the Forum. Looking into a Solana 60g vs 34g. Debating Any advice on which is best or if anyones looking at getting rid of theirs?

90g Bowfront
4 Years

[shelby28]

not realy new to reefing or RC. i have been in the sw hobby for a little over 5 years now. been away from rc for a little while. was moving some extra tanks around this wekend and it made me miss the forum so im back

[doctormario777]

Hi, my name is David. I'll be setting up my first large scale reef in a couple of months in Del Rio Texas. This forum is a huge knowledge base and a great resource to have!

[skinnywater]

Hello, I am Christopher, from southwest florida. I am fairly new to this hobby as my Dad always had a tank of some kind when I was a kid. Saltwater tanks interest me so much that I have been wanting to start one forever. I just recieved a 55 gallon tank from my sister so I will be jumping into this hobby very very slowly. Looking forward to getting to know other reef enthusists along the way. My other hobby is photography so the two should compliement each other nicely. This is a Great forum and I have been reading posts for quite some time.

[ProudSoonersFan]

Hello! I’m in the North Alabama area and I’m new to saltwater aquariums and I’m in the planning stage at the moment. I have spent many an hour studying material like The Conscientious Marine Aquarist, this forum, and other websites. I bought a 55 gallon aquarium, lights, a wet-dry filter and a partially constructed stand a couple of years ago but never got anything started. My plan is to go FOWLR, finish the stand, construct a canopy to house the lights (and add fans for cooling and oxygen), and use a refugium (with a skimmer, heaters, and ATO) instead of the wet-dry filter. I also plan to make this as cheap as possible so I’m going to buy dry aragonite and dry rock and seed it from cured live rock from my LFS…I don’t mind taking the time. I have many questions but I will start off with the one that I need help with as it may impact the construction of the canopy.

The 2 light fixtures included with my purchase were 2-65 watt Coralife 50-50 CF bulbs (straight pin) in a 48 in housing and 1-40 watt Philips 5000K Ultralume 48 in. I would like to use the existing fixtures and replace the bulbs but I’m really struggling with what to use for a FOWLR setup. Any suggestions?

[ihigh]

Hello! I'm Hai and I'm from New Orleans and I'm sorta-new/old to the saltwater aquarium. About 6 years ago I started my aquarium, after katrina killed my cichlid tank, and I originally had a 30g coral tank with a sump but then gustav killed that off and now I'm back!

I bought a 75g with a stand for $200. Originally I intended to use it as a cichlid tank, but it just so happened to come with a coralife light and I still had some leftover material (dried live fiji rocks, some crushed coral bed, and my old 30g tank I can use for my sump.) so I'm going back to the saltwater family! WOOHOO.

I'll be lurking and asking random questions so please be patient with me! haha

[nmay4584]

hey guys, my name is Neil. I am 28 and an extreme noob to this hobby. I live in Loganville, GA. I have always had a tank in my house, but they have been little freshwater aquariums. I visited a buddy in Connecticut a few weeks ago and he had a reef tank. Well, I fell in love with it. He had a 120G and I couldn't take my eyes off it. So when I got home I decided I wanted to move to the reef tank. So this is where I am starting. I have done a little research and I am thinking about a 95G wave tank. the LFS has one for about $300, but no stand. So I am still debating the options, since I would have to find a stand and they are not readily available. Anyways. Glad to see there are forums like this.

[medic155]

My name is Cody, and I am new to aquariums in general, but will hopefully have my 55g saltwater cycling in the next couple of weeks. I am a paramedic in southern Illinois, and have always had an interest in aquariums, but haven't had the money to start one until recently, when I found my 55g on Craigslist for cheap. I currently have these items:

55g display tank
AquaticLife T5/LED Lights
CPR Aquatics Overflow
2 JBJ 500gph powerheads w/ wavemaker
2 Hydor Koralia 425gph powerheads
60lbs Ocean Direct Live Sand


29g tank for sump/fuge
AquaC Urchin Skimmer/Maxi-Jet 1200 Pump
Mag-7 Return Pump
20lbs Ocean Direct Live Sand
AquaClear 20 power filter that will be removed for QT tank when needed

Also bought a 50gpd RO/DI filter so I can make my own water, and will start construction on my DIY stand tomorrow!

I will be getting 100lb live rock, curing it, and cycling the tank very soon I hope.

Haven't quite decided on exactly what fishes, but have a rough idea for when the time comes:
2 Occellaris Clownfish
2 Banggai Cardinal's
1 Firefish
1 Royal Gramma Basslet
1 White Banded Possum Wrasse
1 Tiger Watchman Goby

All will be added over the next year, in that order, assuming the tank can handle the bio-load.

I've been a silent creeper here since I started looking at saltwater, and figured since I am close to getting water in the tank, I would join to get answers to any questions I might need!

[FlyingRev]

Hello all, and thank you to all who are allowing me to learn as I read their postings.

Am purchasing a 90 gallon reef setup (used, but was professionally designed and built) in a couple of days. I look forward to the day I can give back and help someone in this great hobby.

Be blessed!

[flooddc]

Hi All, I am new to saltwater, but have been experienced in freshwater for 2 decades. I recently converted one of my aquarium into a reef tank. It's a 125G with overflow box and a 70 Gal refugium/sump. I am looking forward to learn and get advice from many reefers here. Thanks

[PufferMolly]

Hello, my name is Molly and I am very new to this hobby. I joined this site to learn more before starting my tank. I am still currently researching and gathering my supplies. So far I have a 125 gal, 55 sump, skimz sm202 skimmer (modified), (2) 72'' VHO-165w , (3) 10,000k, some of these items purchased on this forum... I still need so much and my biggest fear is drilling my glass !

As you can tell I have been a quiet member, and im just getting around to introducing myself. But I have learned a lot reading all these posts and I am looking forward to continue learning plus showing my progress and even my failures (hopefully none).

[mikesmadreef]

hey how is every one my name is mike and i am just about to start my first saltwater tank i want a reef tank i have a 55 g tank with a 35 gallon sump

[sparr0w1]

So, my name is Crystal, I've been reefkeeping for about 12 years. I've worked at public aquariums, and government sport fish hatcheries. I travel alot, and I am currently finishing school while I work at an elementary. I have a 120g mixed reef lagoon style tank. I also have a 20g freshwater planted tank. Currently not seeking any more fish, but always looking for small frags of neat stuff especially orange or reds...also wanting to upgrade my skimmer and circulation pumps soon....I just need to win the lottery....

[Reefer_Madnes]

Noob to the hobby. Picking up a 28g JBJ Nano Cube HQI this weekend. looking forward to all the help i will find here

[Emilsson]

Hi guys/girls

Im not exactly new to the hobby i´ve had a 92l freshwater tank for about two years now. Im from iceland so i count liters not gallons hope thats not a problem looking forward to give all the help i can here and also learn a little aswell

[IvanAcuna]

Hi Guys my Name is Ivan Acuna I'm from Venezuela but now I live in Tampa Florida

After 6 month running a Aqueon 29 gallons only fish I bought a Marineland 56 Gallons Tank to start my reef tank...

only one week old..

Marineland 56 Gallons Tank
Es-shops overflow box PF-800
Aqueon Pro Flex 34500 Model 1
2 Pumps 500 gph
Coral Life Super Skimmer 65 Gallons
Aqua-top SWP-2300 610 gph "return Pump"
Marineland Reef Capable Led Light 24-30

60 pounds Live Rock
70 pounds Live Sand
10 pounds Live sand "refugium"
1/2 pound Chaeto Algae

Life Stock

50 Gallons Reef Cleaner Pack from Reef2go
1 Yellow Watchman Gobi
Small frag of 8 Zoa Polyps

I will start to dozing by the end of the week with
E.S.V. B-Ionic Magnesium and E.S.V. B-Ionic 2-Part Calcium Buffer

My parameters are this
PH 7.8 - 8.0
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 5-10 ppm
phosphates 0.25
Calcium 420
KH 179 ppm

I know that my light is not the best light to SPS corals but I can not buy a chiller right now so I got that one.

Any help it is appreciate, Thanks

[mgrmax]

Hello all!

I have been keeping freshwater tanks for a while and finally made the jump to a reef tank last month. I have a 55 gallon with a wet/dry filter with a built in protein skimmer. The tank has around 50 lbs of live rock with crushed coral and sand substrate.

For lighting I am using a combination of Ecoxotic panorama pros and stunners. I just ordered the apex jr and have been trying to read up on programming it prior to arrival.

Ive been pouring over this forum and have learned a ton.

Thanks!

[Coralgurl]

Hello, my name is Sheena and I live in Alberta Canada. This reefing for me started a year ago when we converted our 55 gl freshwater tank to salt. Made every newbie mistake there is to make, but around the 9 month mark, seemed like all was going well. The 55 seemed small for some of my corals so I started looking at going bigger, around 120 gl seemed like an ok upgrade. Well my bf bought me a 180 gl tank and metal stand for my birthday in January. Needless to say I was a bit overwhelmed but the local forum here has been super at helping me get it going. Tank went live march 5, transfered all fish and corals over. Here's the details:

180 gl tank, euro raced with 2 corner herbie overflows, one is the emergency.
87 gl sump
Reef octopus 3000 skimmer
Brs dual reactor running carbon and gfo
1 filter sock
1800 gl return pump
2 mp 40s
3 radions
180 lbs lr
100lbs sand

Livestock
Sebae clown
bangaii cardinal
royal gramma
Radiant wrasse
Solar wrasse
Blue hippo tang
Tomini tang
2 spot hogfish
Orange diamond goby
Mixed clean up crew
Sand sifting starfish

Mix of lps corals, a few sps and some softies

I also kept the 55 gl tank going, running on a canister filter, has 1 snowflake eel, some softies and a cuc.

This looks like a pretty good place for great info. Both tanks are running well ATM. Cheers

[IridescentLily]

To Reef Central All

[LitiGATOR]

Joined about a week ago and have been reading non-stop; the amount of [excellent] information on this site is mind-boggling. Anyways, I've got a 60-gallons "reef" set-up which is about two months old; things are going well, other than a bout of algae I'm getting ready to battle.

[needmorecowbell]

Hey everyone, I'm Adam. I have just gotten on to this forum but im part of 3 others. I have a 30 gal reef tank with some pretty awesome LEDs.

[MAMPE]

Hi everyone iam new on the marine tank hobby and i really can use any good advise in the process of set up of my new tank,
this i what i have done so far:

55 gal tank, marineland 400 biowheel filter(400 gal/hr), reef crystals salt mix, 80% live sand + 20% crush coral bed, key largo live rock, 1 marineland maxijet 1200 pro, 200 watt thermometer,

i have been running it for 2 weeks now, and i tested it and all my levels are normal exept for ph wich iam going to try and fix with a water change tomorrow, is about 7.4,

the help:

How often i need to change water?
How long before my rock is cycled and how would i know?
What do i have to look for in the mid time?
And most importantly how long before i start adding fish and or corals?

Thank you all in advance and god bless you