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

[jdnidle]

Hello all, I am JD.

Let me first say, thank you.
I am sure I will learn a lot from everyone here, so I want to thank you all in advance.

I have had a 55 gallon freshwater tank up and running for over 13 years now.
It is time for me to get into saltwater.
I have always wanted to and just never took the dive (pun intended)

Like some others have posted, I am going to be taking this slow.
I have done a lot of reading and planning and asking questions to local fish stores and absorbing as much information as I can.

I used to work at a Fish store here in Cleveland, Ohio area, so I learned a lot while working there, but never started a saltwater tank till now.

I just picked up a 65 gallon tank, used from Craigslist.org yesterday in my area.
It is reef ready, pre-drilled with a built in overflow.

I also purchased a used Amiracle sump, which I will be using as my filter.
I will be removing the bio balls and putting in live rock and other items as natural filtration, per the recommendation of my local fish store called Blue Fish on Mayfield Road in Lyndhurst, Ohio.

I also picked up a used, but in great condition, Coralife 125g Super Skimmer that I will use in the sump.

The only thing I have not decided on yet is lighting.
I want LED's due to their long life, but not sure which ones to go with.
I will be reading through the forums and seeing what is recommended.

Other than that, I need to get a good power head and a titanium heater and I should have what I need to at least set it up and get it to start cycling.

I am starting off with some live rock and a few damsels till it cycles and then I will get a few more fish.
Eventually, I want to get into corals, etc. so the fish I pick out now will be "reef safe".
I will be taking my time as I know it is best to take it slow when getting into this hobby and especially when getting into a reef tank setup.

I look forward to getting to know everyone and learning as much as I can.
And having a forum (family) like this is the best way to learn.

Thanks again.

[BretCreager]

Hi everyone, Im Bret. I live in southern New Jersey and for the most part this is my first go at anything fish related.

My fiance has had many fresh water systems and up to 4 or 5 tanks at a time, so the time came to bring her brand new 70 gallon tall with custom stand home from where it was being stored. once we got it in the house we decided it just wouldnt do, now where to put it that made any sence.

so we ended up with a great score on CL and got a set, 135 gallon display, a 55 long that will be used as a sump, and two some where in the range of 20 to 30 gallons, one for a QT and one on stand by for a hospital (hopefully we wont be neededing it), also got a chiller that is probably a little small for the system, a MH light, a couple sets of floresents, about 200lbs of rock, and many other items that he had collected over the years some of use some not so much but cant hurt to have.

so now i have the 70, the stand, and a 42 that are taking up space as she is not ready to let them go... oh well i guess that is the price to pay

so the 170 is going to go in the wall behind my coutch and everything will be housed in the room that is on the other side of that wall, we plan to have a mixed tank and i would hope that im going to be cycling by july!

so we are very excited to get started and start sharing our experience and are greatful for the great information on this site and some of the great ideas that everyone has come up with.

[felipe almeida]

Hi everyone,
My name is felipe and i am from são paulo-brazil. I have a good experiences in freshwater aquarium(over 10 years) and now i started my first reef project.
I love this hobby, and now i am looking for new friends and knowledge in this amazing community.

[dillanb]

Hi well my name is dillan friend told me about this place for help so I was just given a 55 gallon tank I plan on turning it into a saltwater reef tank I'm not sure if I should put a sump in or not and if so would a 10 gallon tank be large enough.

[IridescentLily]

To Reef Central you three.
Your tanks lights sound awesome needmorecowbell.
Litigator, a bit of nuisance algae is a somewhat normal happening when a tank (and the owner) is new.
Mampe,
Firstly, i would find something to replace the biowheel filter
You'll need an ro/di unit.
You should read the stuck threads at the top of this section. Sk8tr has some great info in those 'sticky' threads that relate to the question you listed like how long before you can add fish, how to tell when it's cycled, how often to do water changes, etc.
If after you read the stickies, you find you still have some questions unanswered, feel free to ask us here in your thread

[cphelps80]

Hi all, I'm Chris, 32, I live in Belgium. I've been keeping fish for about 5 years, two years tropical fresh water and the last three with marine. I started off with a nano 60 litre tank for two years and this last year have upgradad to a 180 litre reef tank. I've actually just put in a BTA and am going through all the usual worry of introducing anything new into the tank (how is it, is it okay, is it dead, what's it doing now, is it supposed to do that?). Any whodiddlydoodle, I have a 180l tank, 30 kilo's live rock, various soft corals, BTA, two Ocellaris clowns, a hippo tang, bi coloured dottyback, hermits, sea mine urchin, and a very aggresive boxer shrimp! This is ia fantastic site and have already had help from members with the BTA and an i.d. on vermetid snails.

Fantastic!

[cphelps80]

OOps, sorry I said I have a hippo tang, I don't, I was planning on getting one, the guy at the store said it would be fine for my tank, looking at the forums on here though I realise he is just after my money and not the fish's welfare. Well done again RC!

[prsheba]

Hi everyone!

I'm from Chicago and have been lurking a while doing some research. My husband and I used to have saltwater fish tanks about 10 years ago. Then my cousin started an aquarium about six months ago and we were soooo jealous..totally drooling over his tank. My husband couldn't stand it anymore..so we started visiting all the stores in Chicagoland that carried saltwater fish and supplies. It's been a wonderful time just talking to people and getting all the different insights as to how to start a reef system.

We are taking things very slow trying to buy one thing at a time.(yeah I know...good luck). In our research we kept coming across this forum and decided it was about time to become part of the group.

Well...first thing off the list - aquarium and stand. We purchased a 120 gal glass aquarium this week.

I'm wondering how long the husband can stand looking at an empty tank...

Look forward to learning as much as possible.
Thanks!

[IridescentLily]

Originally Posted by cphelps80

OOps, sorry I said I have a hippo tang, I don't, I was planning on getting one, the guy at the store said it would be fine for my tank, looking at the forums on here though I realise he is just after my money and not the fish's welfare. Well done again RC!

To Reef Central
Belgium you say. Awesome!
I commend you, you looked around and realized where the lfs were coming from regarding the hippo tang. Very good

[IridescentLily]

To Reef Central persheba
I'm excited for you two. Sounds like your taking it slow which is good. It IS hard to wait. But it's worth it Let us know how it progresses.

[AwesomeOceans]

Hey, I'm Sam, 18 from Long Island, NY.

I've been keeping a 29gal salt water reef setup for a few months now. I am really looking to expand. I want to set up a 120gal display tank on the main floor of my house, and run all the plumbing into my basement, where I'd like to keep a 29gal refugium tank, my sump, and a coral frag tank... It will hopefully be my summer project haha.

I'm a Marine Science/ Biology double major at the University of Miami... I love to SCUBA dive.

[IridescentLily]

To Reef Central AwesomeOceans

[Jlaw]

Hello ladies and gentlemen! My name is James I am 2 months new to the hobby, and have been reading many posts on here during that time. Figured I might as well join, I picked RC because I heard you guys were the most knowledgeable. Thanks guys! Here is my tank.

[IMG][/IMG]

[IridescentLily]

Welcome jlaw
That favia and the favites in your tank are huge :-0
Very cool!

[Jlaw]

Thank you! I deleted the Pictures of the corals because they were huge.. How do /i fix that?

[IridescentLily]

You can resize them either on your pc, or your photo hosting site may have a resizing feature. Usually 600-800 wide is good
Or you can just post the links without the image tags on the end of the url.

[LIFishGuy]

Hi all!

Used to be a member of this site a few years back, but I think my account may have been deleted due to inactivity?? I got out of the hobby for a few years because I moved and took my tank down. Now, I have an urge to get back into salt water marine so here I am...just a different screen name.

I had a 29 gallon Oceanic Biocube with live rock, corals, and a few fish. Had it running nicely for a few years with a lot of help from this forum! Now that my biocube is ruined (damaged in the move!!) I need to get a new setup. So now I head over to the beginners section The all in one setups are so expensive I'm thinking of going with a regular tank and maybe a separate sump tank for a refugium and whatnot underneath?? I see what you guys think after I post.

Thanks!

[austin56column]

Hi all, i am craig from NC, have run several different freshwater setups, with varied creatures, plants etc.. currently running 125 fw fish and plants. I am setting up a 56 column to do saltwater and a somewhat simple reef. If there is such a thing.

[IridescentLily]

LIfishguy, welcome, i posted on your thread.

Austin, i'm excited for you. I came from fw background too. There are many who are.
Yes, there are folks here who have a simple setup on purpose, whose tanks have even won tank of the month.
Our advice is to take things slow, and it will seem to be more simple.


To Reef Central you two!

[DishyFishy]

Hey RC. New to saltwater here. I currently have 3 FW Planted tanks and wanted to do something new. So I'm reading reading reading and starting to plan for my SW setup. Found lots of great info so far!

[jimimac911]

Newby here! I have been interested in a Saltwater tank for several years. I am finally taking the plunge. I have been reading and searching info about this hobby for a few months now. This website has been very instramental in my education and its very obvious the people on here are passionate and friendly. I also was wanting to get opinions on the set up Im getting ready to start. Thanks

30g half cylinder
Fluval g6
Corallife turbo twist 36 watt UV sterilizer
JBJ true temp digital thermo/Heater
20lbs of cured live rock
live sand
dwarf lion
snowflake eel
chocolate chip starfish
a few snails- Need input on this
Hermit crab- Also need input. Basically I need to know what cleaners would be good for a small predator tank. Thanks, Jimi

[jeremyml]

Hi all,
Jeremy here and I have to say, I love this site. All sorts of great info. How did anyone know how to keep great tanks before the Internet was born? No tank yet, but lots of plans for the future. Looking forward to bringing the ocean to rural Virginia.

[Slyman17]

Hello all!

I have had cichlid tanks for years but have always wanted a reef tank. I kept telling myself it was too expensive and too much to learn. Well, I can put it off no longer. I do plan on taking my time, I don't even have a tank yet. Here is my plan:

120gl 48 X 24 X 24
30gl sump w/refugium
skimmer
gfo reactor
carbon reactor
calcium and alk dosers
EcoTech Marine Radion XR30w LED Light Fixtures (2) (mounted in the canopy)
Tunze wave makers (2)
RO/DI unit

It will be a little while (month or so) before I get the tank, stand and canopy, but I am not going to start cycling until I have all or most of the equipment. A couple questions right off the bat:

Will 2 of the light fixtures be enough for this tank?

I am going to use mostly dry rock and maybe 10 - 20 lbs live from a lfs. Do I have to do anything to the live rock before putting it in my tank?

Do you think I should even get live rock at all?

Thank you in advance,
Bob

[mesterkamp]

I'm So glad I found this site..... Thanks everyone for all the advice. I look forward to being able to contribute.

Thanks again, Mark

[IridescentLily]

Welcome to the five of you! Looking forward to your tank setups.