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

[Maliaga]

Hello Folks,

I'm Martin from Potomac, MD...suburb of Washington DC. I'm a newbie and about to start my first saltwater tank. I'm starting out with a 29 gallon tank I have sitting around.

So far my setup is:
29 gallon tank
2 - Hydor Evolution 750 powerheads
Reef Octopus HOB BH1000 Skimmer
HOB filter
35 pounds of Dry Reef Rock
150w heater
Standard light that came with my freshwater setup (I'll splurge on decent lighting down the road)

I've always wanted to have a reef tank. This 29 gallon will be my first venture into the hobby. If I can stick with it and have some success I'd like to upgrade to a 90 gallon tank someday.

Baby steps. I want to see how it goes and hopefully benefit from RC's input.

I need to decide on what type of sand I'll use or bare bottom it. After that point I'll be ready for the cycling process.

I'll be pestering the community soon enough.

-Martin

[Fishmommy]

Hi all!
I am a longtime freshwater hobbyist. I am planning a reef tank for next year and have a lot of learning to do in the meantime!
I live in NH USA and am a mechanical engineer.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[electronaught]

Hi,

I'm also relatively new to the idea of a reef setup. I grew up with various freshwater tanks and fish, but never marine.

I purchased a 55g marine tank with livestock, filters, etc. on craigslist over the summer and soon decided to convert it to a reef, mostly because the kids and I thought it would be really cool to have an anemone for the ocellaris.

With live rock, aragonite and a cleanup crew added, I started reading about anemones, corals, and all the other wonderful creatures we could add to our reef once it was all ready and stabilized.
Of course learning about all the cool stuff we could add prompted me to keep an eye out for a larger tank.
I was also getting tired of the industrial wasteland look that two filters (one HOT, one canister), a protein skimmer and a couple powerheads, created in the tank. Those things take up a bunch of space too.

Even more reading got me thinking about setting up a sump and refugium to boot!

So now (thanks to craiglist) I find myself with a 125.
It's drilled but will need a few more holes to accommodate the flow I want. I'm creating a list for all the pieces I'll need to get the display and sump/refugium going, the stand refurbished and the aquascape nicely planned to account for the different types of critters we plan to add.

The hardest part about all of this is being patient, but I'm sure it will pay off. (That's what I have to keep telling myself.)

I've learned a ton here already and look forward to sponging up more information.

Livestock in the 55g:
4 blue/green chromis
1 engineer (convict) goby (about 10" long)
1 ocellaris clown
1 powder brown tang (currently in quarantine because it contracted marine ich/ Cryptocaryon irritans)
1 lamarck's angel
1 matted filefish (he was supposed to eat the two aiptasia I found in the live rock, but doesn't seem at all interested)

[Roman120G]

Hi everyone

My name is Roman,
I am in Montreal, Canada,

All my life had fresh water tanks with gold fishes.
did not know much about marine tanks till about mid January 2013.
Since then a lot of time was spent on web surfing and talking to LFS owners to gather info.
Have been purchasing equipment starting from end of January.
Got 120g display, 55g tank for custom sump and 57g tank for saltwater storage ( did not want to use garbage/food grade bins) from local store with some equipment, and rest purchased online from Bulkreefsupply. Those guy are great, fast shipping to Canada and great communication.

built my sump - drain with filter socks and skimmer in first compartment, fuge in second, return in 3rd and ato in 4th ( did not want to have containers around the area).
RO/DI unit with auto shut off swith connected to splitter that feeds water to ato and saltwater tank. I choose which way it flows.

reefkeeper elite controls everything.

coralife super plus 220g skimmer,
mag 1200 return pump

cpr overflow box 102 with 2 1" drains ( did some modifications to make it quiet and removed sponge filters - since I have filter socks in sump, do not want to clean overflow box sponge every week or so)

2 ecotech mp40es pumps
and planning to get 2 ecotech radions pro in about a month after cycling finishes.

put carbon in sock in between baffles in sump. Water became clearer next day.

all of the above equipment is running now and waiting for the curred live rock to arrive next week.

got 140lb of Fiji pink live sand, some will go to the fuge's deep sand bed.
Display will have about 1.5-2inches.

once cycling finishes, will install GFO reactor from BRS and start getting livestock.

there will be some questions.

It is nice to be a part of comminity and hope to get a lot of usefull information and feedback.

[bellowme]

My name is Mike and I live in Okinawa Japan. I am new to the hobby and I am in the process of setting up my 75 gallon tank. Browsing this forum has already been very helpful, and I look forward to getting more involved as I learn this hobby.

[devimik]

Hi reefers, my name is Mike DeVincent. I've had freshwater tanks all my life, but just getting into saltwater. I did tons of research here and ended up with a 90g reef ready tank. Here's the current setup:

90g reef ready tank with corner overflow
Reef Octopus 150 skimmer
Mag 9.5 return pump
29 long sump
Tunze Osmolator ATO
120 lbs Caribsea Aragamax sugar sand
115 lbs rock
2 Hydor Koralias (1500 and 550)
2 120w 20.5" 10K Maxspect Razor 420 LED lights
2 150w Aquasource heaters

Currently, in cycling mode - just finished aquascaping the rock. Half of the rock I got live, the other was dry. I've already seen copepods and amphipods, so that's a good sign. Looking forward to getting a few fish. Gotta say I love this site and have learned so much reading over the months since purchasing the tank before Christmas, waiting for the staining of the stand and canopy, then doing the plumbing and other tank setup. Definitely not rushing anything here as I've learned to be patient with this process. Hopefully, all will go well. Here's a pic of the tank with the moonlights on - still a bit cloudy since I was moving some rock around.

[Chevy84]

hello everyone my name is luke i live i north east ohio new to salt water and looking for any clubs in norteast ohio thanks

[Alohadood]

Heyo!

I'm Zach (aka Alohadood) new to the forums, referred here by reefingmadness, from another site

Currently residing in Iowa (near a couple nice little LFS)

background is 15 years in planted FW tanks, and only a sad little year in FOWLR, But am making the jump to reefing!

Will be lurking around the boards looking for info and help along the way. But I'll say thanks for your time and expertise in advance!

[DrJohn]

Hello everyone, built my first tank in 1988, started with a 26g flatback hex, ran it for 9 years. Managed to keep a clam alive for 2 years with only a single 24" actinic and a 3 foot flourescent (I think I got it at Home Depot). Have built a few more tanks since then, most recently a 75g with 15g sump in 2000. Ran that tank until 2003 when I had to take a break from "reefing" due to transfer overseas to Japan. The Navy has been bouncing me around every 3 years since, so I havn't been able to start a new tank. I should be able to stay put for a while now, and I am looking forward to jumping back in.

I'm very interested in some of these new LED lighting setups, as the tank is going into a room that will double as a home theater, so light control is a big issue. I don't want an open top, and I've had heat buildup issues with power compacts in the past. I hope folks out there have some good advice.

[Wiselex]

I just notice the wen i put the live rock on new tank i saw this what the hell is this is this a pest ?? So I can take it out!!

[Wiselex]

This is the second pic

[Wiselex]

This is all my tank is a 20 gallon

[carmexx]

Hey everyone...Happy to be here and look forward to becoming part of the community and learning from all of you. I have been up and running for 3 1/2 years, mixed reef, 46 gal bow front, 10 gal sump. Equipment is aquatinics tx5, of which i am in the process of replacing with 2 AI SOL super blue fixtures, SWC 120 skimmer, sicce syncra 4.0 return pump, tunze 6045 PH, and Lifereef overflow.
Inhabitants are 2 occ. clowns, indigo dottyback, bicolor blenny, and a tiger jawfish.
Thanks Ryan

[saywhatnowfish]

HIIIIII

Happy to be apart of this community and learning what i can.
I'm not completely new to salt water, for the last two years i've been a contract scuba diver for fresh water and salt water tanks. The biggest salt water tank i helped take care of with my team was a 21000 gallon tank! Fish only, I've never worked with coral or a tank that had anything but big sand filters, big carbon filter, and large UV, skimmers etc! I am also a fish biologist! So fish are much loved... but coral... Inverts.... SO lost!

SO in a sense I'm completely new to this because I've never had a small salt water tank!
I have a 60 gallon cycling right now, on week two!
Right now I'm waiting for my apollo lights, octopus skimmer, hang on the back UV, to come in. I have a reactor for GFO and biopellets (???still learning) that are on hold for me at my LFS store.
And of course asking around for a neat fish/coral stocking list and reading up on things.
much love
Kristin

[JohnnyHT]

Hello everyone, my name is Johnny and I'm new to the hobby. I was kinda of "jumpstared" into this hobby by a friend. I expressed interest in getting a smaller freshwater tank when he said "Dude, I'll give you my 65 gallon tank and pump." ...little did I know that it's a saltwater set up. So here I am with a 65 gallon tank, stand, wet/dry sump, lights....with no water, no salt, no LR....nothing. I'm doing a crap load of homework before diving (excuse the pun) into this hobby. My friend will be helping me set up the tank once I get all of the supplies.

Anywho - I look forward to interacting with everyone.

Cheers!

- Johnny

[BenjaminCross]

Hello guys.
I'm new here and uh..well, nice meeting you!
I thought of buying an aquarium myself too but I still don't have the time to do so (hectic scheds) so I want to gather information about building one and how much would it cost...and also about the fishes too.
Yep, never forget the fishes.

[davethewave1989]

Hi Everyone !

Just wanted to introduce myself to everyone! Name is David and just starting out in the hobby. Just bought a small little 14gallon Bio Cube and I'm just wanting to start slow. So I'm reading and reading before I begin. If anyone has anything that they think I should know or read please give me the link.

Thanks & looking forward to this new fun hobby!

[dbm reef]

Hello,

I am not new but i havent really posted much on here so i guess i will introduce myself

My name is Jess and as of right now i am running a 24x24x21 cube with (1) 250 mh
reef octo skimmer.

I recently tore my 300 gallon tank down and sold it to another local reefer
as i am down sizing and upgrading to leds and equip that will be cheaper to run.

Tank is on its way its a reef ready neo105 with black silicone
i will be running my sump in the garage still (which is where it was from the 300)
and plumbing it thru the wall in the same spot as the old one

i will be running a mp40 to start and shortly moving to 2
soon i will be ordering radions i think and going with
either a dc powered reefoctopus or a rlss skimmer

I will be using a dc pump for my return as well

[Down]

Not "new" (as you can see by my joined date) but I'm aiming to be a bit more active. I'm currently keeping my eye out for a used 240G (or larger) tank to start a FOWLR tank.
Hopefully will be happening soon!

[Dave.H]

Hey everyone, my name is Dave.
I live in S/W Florida Naples area, not new to reef tanks, just never went all in. I had a 75 gal saltwater with a grouper in it for 10 years, he killed or trashed everything he could (was pretty cool for a while) a bulkhead failure put an end to that one.
I cleaned up the flood, and took the strawberry grouper to the pet store.
I now have a 90 gal reef ready ,Essops 100 sump with a 700 mag drive pump,essops 100 protein skimmer, two powerheads a 1050 and a 750,1/4 hp chiller gets pretty hot here. Tank live stock,110 pounds live sand, 100 pounds live rock, soft corals, 21 head green candycane, 6 head green hammer,a brown gorgonian branch, green star polips,10 turbo snails, lighting, coral life 4 T-5s with 4 blue leds. I have found a lot of info here before i did the setup, I will post some pics soon.

[Phoenixdown]

Im Sarah and i'm in college. Being a poor college adult i am trying to collect or build what i need for a reef and invert setup. I grew up with an old school salt water tank, but haven't had a chance until now to start my own.

So far:
50ish gallon tank via craigslist
20ish gallon tank(future sump) and glass sheet free via craigslist
Fluval heater via garage sale

Wish list:
A good skimmer
some pvp
overflow (probly will diy)
a stand?
pump
powerheads
2 sets of lights


Yeah i have a ways to go....just have empty tanks waiting lol. Im about 2-3 months out before i can get to live rock... unless i find a good deal.

I LOVE INVERTS!!! One day i want a cephalopod...seaslugs too.

[Scoobysnack77]

Hiii , im a Lee and im new to this hobby. Sorry if i pester everyone for knowledge. I have a 75 gallon tank with 2 bumblebee snails, electric blue hermit and a blue damsel. Ive only had the tank up and running for 3 weeks. So far so good I just joined this site so i hope i dont read that i did everything wrong,lol

Lee

[Andy305]

Hey everyone!

My name is Andy and im new here to RC. I have been in the hobby for about a year and i'm hooked. I started out with a 30g nano and now have a 90g reef tank. Not too many corals but im getting there. The 90 has been running for about 4 months now and everything is going smooth. (Prob not anymore bc I said that) I have learned a lot on this forum and I hope to contribute where I can. I currently live in South Florida. Even though I just recently started my 90, I already have plans to go BIG! Well, that's all for now! See ya around!

[justclowning84]

im very new as of today im lost lol

[TimLikesFish]

Hi everyone i'm Tim and i'm new to the forum. I'm currently preparing to setup a 90 gallon with 40 gallon sump. I look forward to learning a lot from everyone here and i'm so excited to build my first reef.