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

[sarens]

Originally Posted by aquascapelove

Evening, good late night (least it is where I am) to everyone. I'm super new to the hobby, always loved fish and aquariums but never really was in the position to get into the hobby. My guy has been keeping me involved in his tanks and his love for the hobby as much as he can but problem is we both have very differing tastes in what we like in a reef. So seriously considering finally going for it with a tank all my own. Would love some input on major mistakes first timers make so I can try to avoid some disasters. I'm a long way put from actually starting but feel that's a good thing giving me the time to learn what I need to know and get a better knowledge base than just "helping" with the guys project.

beginner tips (not that I'm an expert):
-paitence, go slow
-watch and pay attention, if something doesn't look right it is not
-shoot questions out on RC and get a good relationship with LFS
-read, learn and never act on impulse
-don't over stock a tank
-run a QT this will prevent tons of problems
-don't overfeed
-regular waterchanges

good luck it is worth the effort

[Lotuaw]

I am some what new to the hobby have i have fallen in love with it. mind you i have had fish tanks on and off for years but i am rocking my first/second salt now. See i started with a 12gal cube that i got in a trade and it was a nice start but me and the misses wanted more on top of that i know that bigger tanks are easier, so now we have a 38 sadly we lost most of are coral in the move. So now that we have to start for day one and yes they are our tank i have to do all the work on them it is ok thow still so much fun. I happy for advice and hinds on how to make things better for my few coral. Mind you a fast point i need to make i have 3 girls so i dont have worlds of money so understand that if you are going to tell me that i need to go spend $900 on a light i will gladly say thank you but just know that i will not go get one my girls have to come first. so if you would like to know anything please just feel free to ask me. Have a great day

[bgerig1113]

Hi everyone. My name is Brandon and I am brand new to the hobby. I am researching everything like crazy and waiting for the right tank to come along. Looking forward to lots of learning here.

[kzeller]

Hi i am Kyle and I am completely new to this hobby and need a lot of help. hoping someone will be willing to stick in for the long haul and give me a hand.

Specs:
90g display
40g (or so) trickle wet/dry filter w crappy external skimmer and bioballs
current us light
mairneland "reef capable" light
a few pumps (idk what they are yet, should have an inventory tonight)

Livestock: (thats known)
LPS
anemones
zoas
clown pair
tang
goby i think engineer
cardinal pair


tons of hair algae on sand bed, some sort or spiky lifeform that the owner thinks is harmful (pic tomorrow. idk what it is yet either), terrible glass condition...i know you are thinking, what a looser. i need more info. tell me what you need and ill get it. old tank keeper never took readings or anything so that is where i am trying to start. will start a journal of this journey soon once i know what to do.


all others are unknown at this point. was handed this setup and told please make it healthy and beautiful again.

[patjfrisc]

Hi my name is pat. I did have saltwater tanks before about 40 years ago. Different times compared to today. Only able to use dolomite as substrate with plastic slatted grid, that used air stone to move water. Only filters were the old plastic units that held carbon and filter floss. Then came canister filters. So any way restarting up a tank updating my information. 120 gallon reef tank.

[Paul B]

Hi Patjfrisc. Nice to meet you. I also started my tank then and still use dolomite and that slotted plastic grid in my reverse UG filter.

[Threshold]

Hello, friends!

I have only recently been bit by the reefing bug (just about a month ago) and I've been diving in (so to speak) and learning everything I can!

I am currently plotting out what I'd need to acquire (both immediately -- like a tank; and down the road -- like kalkwasser). I've also been charting out when I'd be able to do what (eg, curing live rock, building up a colony of pods, adding a mandarin dragonette, etc.).

So in that sense, I'm plotting out what I'll need when -- for the next year and a half!

Even if I don't go forward and buy anything, I have really enjoyed the intellectual exercise!

Anyway, I just wanted to say hello! I do have questions -- but I'll post them in new threads -- rather than pollute this one with them.

-Dave

[matpat]

Hello everyone,

I've been in the freshwater side of the hobby for 20+ years with the last 10 years or so being mostly freshwater planted tanks. I have a 125 Mbuna tank that's been up for 6-7 years and I'd like to swap it over to a FOWLR to get some experience with saltwater tanks before I decide to give a full blown reef tank a shot. I'm sure I'll have lots of questions so I'll be posting in the other forums as they come up

[Bnape15gNano]

Hello I'm new to saltwater and am finally building my first reef tank I have purchased a. Fluval m40 complete system. This is only a 15 gallon tank so will be challenging from what I've read however, I just don't want to buy a huge tank to find this hobby is too much for me. I have been reading a lot about Tampa bay saltwater and am leaning towards " the package" and starting out with bottled sea water from the Lfs here locally.i am planning on having a couple of false clowns and other of which I'm not sure of right now.im excited and nervous at the same time so if anyone has any feedback please tell me what I'm doing wrong / right.also the next question is, is a light timer important because the kit I purchased has a light no system but with no timer.

Thank you in advance for your help.

[Shadowflynt]

Hey all. Kinda new and old to reef aquariums. Had a setup several years ago but due to some issues finding a protein skimmer that worked (got bad advice from lfs and wasted $150 on a skimmer that never worked properly) it crashed and I was unable to continue it at that point. Currently am starting again and have been researching more into the hobby though I have been doing it on the fly as I buildup the aquarium.

Current Tank
33 gallon mixed reef, 4" live sand bed, Approx 30 lbs of live rock, AquaticLife Internal Mini Skimmer 115, Current Orbit Marine LED light, Aqua clear 50 using only sponge filter, Hydor Koralia power head 850 gph

Green star polyp, Flowerpot corals
Yellow tang, six-line wrasse, dwarf lion fish, 3 cleaner shrimp, small cleanup crew

Am planning on moving up to a 55 gallon for my reef tank in the future and turning the current 33 gallon into a sump.

[Splitcane]

Hello everyone,
First of all I would like to say thank you to everyone who contributes to this site. I spent 6 months reading and researching before doing anything. To say I learned a few things would be a serious understatement.

I did things a little different due to the circumstances. I took over someone else's tank..actually just everything that was in the tank. I removed the fish (2 clowns, a damsel and a bow tie chromis) then transferred most of the water to the empty tank (30g) at my place. Then I brought over the 30-35 lbs of live rock that he had. I did my best not to disturb the sand bed because after researching, it looked like I would be better off starting over. ( I used new argonite....about 1.5-2inches in depth). I added a CPR -Bakpak2 ( I think that is the model) protien skimmer and a marineland HOB filter with a bio-wheel. Coralife t-5 lighting an extra power head, 2 heaters (1 for insurance) and 2 thermostats/hydrometers. Topped off the water with about 5 gallons of Pacific Ocean Water purchased from my LFS and ran some basic tests on ammonia, nitrate, nitrite and PH. I used a few of the Kent Marine products to make some very slight adjustments then acclimated the fish. Waited about a 10 days and added 5 snails and 5 blue legged hermits and so far so good......I think. Everything seems to be in line except Nitrate...its seems to be stuck at 20ppm.....could this be due to a lack of plant life?

My initial plan was to start fresh, cycle a tank properly and go about it the right way but I didn't want to just let this others guy's tank die, which was his plan. I hope to eventually turn this 30g into a quarantine tank and move everything into a 55 with a 15g refugium. I have just about everything to start building the 55 The last item I need is an RO/DI UNIT that I am getting this weekend. I will def need some advice on that but if anyone has any suggestions on my progress thus far, I would appreciate your thoughts. Thanks

[Danicesminireef]

Hi, my name is Danice and I'm new to the hobby. I've had my tank running for about 3 weeks now and I'm trying to create a mini reef. My tank is a 29 biocube, I have my sand, live rock, clean up crew, and 2 blue green chromsis fish to start the cycle....trying to make sure I am on the right track

[srizzutto]

My name is Steve I live in PA, two years ago I broke down my tank and sold everything. It was a beautiful 180g bow front. Mainly because nobody paid any attention to it but me and it took my time away from the kids.

Now guess what the kids want? an aquarium : ) I love the saltwater over freshwater, so Ill be doing another reef tank.

This was my favorite site to inhabit for questions and answers so I'm back.

i am going to go with a smaller main tank this time and try a different setup for easier water changes, adding water etc.

I have let quite a bit of my knowledge go and will be looking for some advice going forward.

I attached a pic of my old tank

[STRATNEST6769]

Hello All,

New to Reef tanks

[CGarot87]

What's up guys. My name is Chris. Just started my tank 2 days ago. Love it so far, hope to get a lot of good help and advice in here.

[Devildawg5811]

Hello RC. I'm new to saltwater and have been lurking on here for about a month and a half. I've cycled my 55 gallon and QT'ed a couple of Chromis (they went into the DT last night). I've already gotten a lot of useful information and look forward to getting a ton more.

[JOHNHAMMERHEAD]

Hello,
I am a return hobbyist after taking a too long break from keeping fish.
I am planning to set up a 3'x3'x3' tank made out of 1/2" or 3/4"starphire glass with overflow in the center. I'm near Atlanta GA. I can build it if I can find the glass. Called a glass company earlier this wk and was quoted $210 for each side of starphire glass. I stopped by the shop yesterday and the owner gave me a different quote of $2100 for the material. I know he jacked the price up without realizing he gave me a different quote previously.

Anybody know the average cost for this type of glass?
Anybody know where in the Atlanta area I can find it?

Thanks a bunch

[tcermd]

Hey, my name is Tim hailing from North Myrtle Beach and am making the jump from freshwater to reef. I learned alot from my freshwater tank(cycling, what the heck!). I know I want "everything" in my new tank, but cannot decide on how big is big enough. I do not want to regret the size 6 months after the fact. The only limitation is convincing my spouse. Should invest in the turnkey products or DIY? I have decided upon starfire glass, and heard longer and wider is healthier for the fish. Would love to hear opinions.
TC

[vhuang168]

Hey all,
Just joined and I wanted to introduce myself.

I started reefing in 2002. Had a 100g reef then. Boy was it hard back then! Gave up around 2006 but I've been feeling the itch recently. Moving to a much bigger place has also helped my decision to get back into to hobby.

I've lurking and trying to absorb as much info as I can but it seems like it's not as much black magic as there used to be. I was very surprised to find small tanks being so successful these days.

Encouraged by that, I bought a used 40g all in one with a stand n lights. I won't be starting the tank till May but I'm very excited.

I hope you all will give me pointers and suggestions.

Vincent

[low85str]

Hello everyone I'm new to the hobby a (6 months). I have a biocube 29 with leds media basket and fuge basket from intank. I currently have a pair of clownfish, bubble anenome, torch, green cap, pink cap, xenias and about 3 different zoas

[koko maung]

Hello everyone,

I just joined the forum. I don't have any experience on keeping reef tank but I am planning on start one. I am trying to learn as much as I can and start a tank in about a month. I have been keeping refresh water for about 3 years. I am looking forward to learn a lot from you guys!

[Ray68]

Hi my name is ray. I have had freshwater tanks for about 15 years I have 1-180 gal 1-125 gal 2-55 gal and 1-92 gal corner saltwater reef/fish tank for about 3 months with a 150 gal sump with a reeflo hammerhead pump,Red Sea 380 uv light canister filter,ecoxotic 24" led light, lots of corals some I know what they are some I don't. I have a pair of mated clown's 1 damsel and 4 little blue fish 1 flame scallop 1 peppermint shrimp

[Ray68]

In search of a skimmer for 300gal system any suggestions

[Creamballman]

Hi all. I recently established a twenty gallon saltwater aquarium, after a little convincing from my more experienced brother who has a 55 gallon one. At first we were looking just to establish a back up tank for him but now I have a tank of my own. I currently have a chalck basslet and a tiger jawfish, along with nassarius snails, turbo snails, some hermits and two porcelain crabs.

[jpmwjm]

Hello all.... my name is Jonathan and I am 38 years old. I have kept many freshwater and freshwater planted tanks since I was a teenager. I got into saltwater FOWLR about 3-1.2 years ago and finally built a 75 gallon in-wall tank two years ago. I have had it running with LR and a few fish since then. I am slowly wanting to convert it into a reef tank. I joined Reef Central a couple weeks ago and enjoy all the great information and look forward to being a member.