If You Are New to Reef Central, Introduce Yourself Here! - Page 4

Aquarist007 · 04/11/2009, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bmayzgirl
Hello all, yes I am a newbie. My name is Chrisie, have had an aquarium for 10 months now, and have fallen head over heals for the saltwater world. I am so excited about all the new things I learn every day.........the good and the bad! BTW happy Easter to all.

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and happy easter to you too

10 month old tank--how about posting some pictures

Beals123 · 04/11/2009, 06:09 PM

Hey guys, my name is brandon. I am in the navy currently live in Jacksonville Fl, soon to be millington tn. I have been bitten by the salt water bug! My buddy has some tanks and gave me a 25 gal tank with two false perculas to make my 2 year old daughter happy. I have pretty much taken it over as mine and can't wait to move and get a bigger tank and start my reef tank. Very excited and would love any advice and/or help! Thanks,
Brandon

Michael · 04/11/2009, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by capn_hylinur
Michael--WK posted the stats when I asked a couple of pages back

oh-ok, thanks scott, i suppose i will just take another look back through the pages, sorry, i didnt notice

Michael · 04/11/2009, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Beals123
Hey guys, my name is brandon. I am in the navy currently live in Jacksonville Fl, soon to be millington tn. I have been bitten by the salt water bug! My buddy has some tanks and gave me a 25 gal tank with two false perculas to make my 2 year old daughter happy. I have pretty much taken it over as mine and can't wait to move and get a bigger tank and start my reef tank. Very excited and would love any advice and/or help! Thanks,
Brandon

hey brandon, welcome to the forum.

theres lots of guys and gals on here with smaller tanks and most are doing well, however id start with a 75 gallon if it were me, unless money is an issue of course, (it is for most of us) but a larger tank for a newbie to the hobby is easier to maintain, still even a 25 is a good start, read the stickys at the top of the forum and do plenty of research and you will do just fine

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Too Sweet · 04/12/2009, 08:12 AM

Here we go I'm picking the rest things up at the P.O. tomorrow to get started with my reef tank. I have a few questions. I live in the caribbean as you can see I have two options of getting water the ocean and D.I.Y saltwater mix. The 30 gal that I have, I used the ocean, I test the water before I use it in my tank. Is it a good idea to use the ocean water in my tank or should I just mix it? Or the local DNR said it was ok to use the ocean water. (I won't be stealing it) LOL

WaterKeeper · 04/12/2009, 09:32 AM

I tend to doubt you'll drain the ocean filling that 30 gal. I'd say, of course use the ocean water. You can't beat mother nature. Some people run ocean water though a filter but I really don't think that is necessary unless the water is unusually turbid. I would suggest running carbon when using it as it can remove any trace organic contaminants that may be leaching into beach water. Mixing ASW and NSW is fine. Just make sure to match the salinity.

Too Sweet · 04/12/2009, 05:37 PM

Thank you Waterkeeper. My reef tank will be a 60gal. tank and I do run carbon on the 30 gal tank so therfore I will continue. Hauling 60gals of saltwater from the ocean shall be a task. lol

Fish4Me2 · 04/12/2009, 05:48 PM

Can a long-time lurker, but infrequent poster say "Hello"? I hope so, because here goes:

Hi, I'm Shannon. I'm from Southern California. After many years of freshwater tanks, I decided to try a saltwater tank in 2006. I quickly progressed from: "A biocube sounds like a great way to start;" to: "I only want fish, and never anything larger than 75 gallons;" then "Gee, I could try that geen slimer and see how it goes;" and finally: "I really think a 180 gallon tank would look great in the living room!"

For the record, it does look pretty great!

I've gotten some great advice through my lurking here, and just wanted to official say "hi" and thanks!

WaterKeeper · 04/12/2009, 05:59 PM

But look at all the muscle mass you are building if you haul about 160 pounds of seawater to you tank each week, Shannon.

J Nano Reefer · 04/12/2009, 06:36 PM

Hi, my name is Jakob, please call me Jay. I am a 15 year old boy from Reykjavik in Iceland, thats where i currently live. I have been with the fish bacteria for 7 years now, i please do not want people to underestimate me just because im young. Why not: My english is clear, i am mature and i work at a lfs. All the seven years i have kept fish i have only been into the freshwater fish but recently i have wanted more and more to set up a reef tank. So i am working on a Nano reef tank, i am not sure of size yet but it will be around 70L. I am at school currently but i am going to get a masters degree and a doctors degree in biologi. So i am a future biologist that will specify in fish. I dont know where i am going to work but i am probably someday going to open a lfs myself.
I currently have a 100g Central american cichlid tank and am buying the 70L tank soon.
So thats me, and i hope i get to know any of you better.

Fish4Me2 · 04/12/2009, 06:45 PM

I could give a whole new meaning to the term "Beach Babe"

My husband still shakes his head over the fact that I wouldn't let him put a deck in the back yard because it would have created steps that I couldn't roll my Brute over!

WaterKeeper · 04/12/2009, 06:50 PM

Hi Jay

To Reef Central

At 15 are you tackling the master or doctorates first?

J Nano Reefer · 04/12/2009, 07:24 PM

Thank you, master first, but not in a few years ofcourse.

WaterKeeper · 04/12/2009, 08:49 PM

I hope your Master's Thesis will be on "The Elimination Biological Contamination in the Marine Ecosystem, Precisely Newbies."

J Nano Reefer · 04/13/2009, 05:45 AM

Hahaha. Dont we all.

Limerboy · 04/13/2009, 03:09 PM

Hi all im from the caribbean (Trinidad) to be exact. I currently have a 50 gallon aquarium which is just cycled and ready for fish and inverts. Im very new to the saltwater aspect of aquarium keeping and look forward to some great advice from reef central.

Nipper · 04/13/2009, 07:08 PM

Hello everyone from here in Texas. I'm not totally new to saltwater fishkeeping, but I am new to reef tanks and am getting back into the hobby after about 15 years or so. Look forward to lots of searching and reading, and maybe asking a few questions too!

Michael · 04/13/2009, 10:59 PM

hi-limerboy hi-nipper, welcome to the forum,start with the stickys and hope to see you posting in the forum soon

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nemowannabe · 04/14/2009, 03:35 PM

HI, well I am brand spanking new at this. Just bought a 24 gal Aquapod and mixed my first batch of salt water last night. I have so many questions. I've been trying to read up on stuff but just end up wtih more questions. (do you know how long it even took me to figure out how much salt to add to the water? it's not in any of the books I looked in) anyway, I started my heater and am goin to add my "live sand" Bagged today I think 20 lbs worth? After I do that how long to I have to wait to get my live rock in? I was planning on getting some Live Rock from my boyfriends work buddy who is downsizing his tank. Is this OK or is it too what's the word, cured? to start my cycling process? Also, any brand names or types of test kits anyone can refer me to would be greatly appreciated?
Thanks,
Ps, I bought a submersable heater.... how low should it go in my tank (can the cord get wet??? and any ideas on it's placement in the tank, how about placement of my thermometer. SHould they be on oposite sides of the tank? can the heater go in the slot in the back near the pump or should it be in the "main viewing area?"

Aquarist007 · 04/14/2009, 06:17 PM

Add you live rock along with the sand. This will start the cycling process. Adding the live rock later can prolong the cycling period.

Buy test kits for ammonia and nitrates. As the cycling progresses the ammonia should rise or spike then return to zero. Similarily the nitrogen will rise and then return to zero
When this has occured(3-5 weeks) your tank has completed its first cycling phase.
Curing is a process of cleaning off the debris and dead mater from live rock. Since it is this dead mater that cycles the bacteria in the tank obtaining partly cured rock is probably the best way to go.

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nanonubey · 04/14/2009, 07:08 PM

I'm new to Reef Central, and still green in my knowledge of reef keeping. Came here to learn a thing or two.

Aquarist007 · 04/14/2009, 10:45 PM

You've come to the right place to learn. Start by reading the articles Water keeper has posted below this thread

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v13tfolife · 04/15/2009, 01:54 AM

i hope this is the right page to introduce yourself. well im kevin im 17 been in this fish hobby for 2 years. experience with freshwater and saltwater, but trying out reef. have a 50 gallon fish tank with a sump, 80 lbs of live rock and 100lbs of crush corals.and i was wondering if a 65WATT POWER COMPACT LIGHT will do for a 50 Gallon?. thank you.

Michael · 04/15/2009, 02:59 AM

if you intend to keep just fish kevin then it will be fine, basically fish wont mind the light quality.

as for the crushed coral, most reefers wont touch it as it can eventually aid nitrates to the tank due to the large particles and debris can get between them, again though if only for fish then fine, but id add just a small amount to cover the base

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PRDubois · 04/15/2009, 03:02 AM

Welcome Kevin

04/11/2009, 06:09 PM	#77
Beals123 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Jacksonville fl, soon to be Memphis tn Posts: 3	Anxious to get started Hey guys, my name is brandon. I am in the navy currently live in Jacksonville Fl, soon to be millington tn. I have been bitten by the salt water bug! My buddy has some tanks and gave me a 25 gal tank with two false perculas to make my 2 year old daughter happy. I have pretty much taken it over as mine and can't wait to move and get a bigger tank and start my reef tank. Very excited and would love any advice and/or help! Thanks, Brandon

04/12/2009, 08:12 AM	#80
Too Sweet Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: ST. Thomas, VI Posts: 86	Here we go I'm picking the rest things up at the P.O. tomorrow to get started with my reef tank. I have a few questions. I live in the caribbean as you can see I have two options of getting water the ocean and D.I.Y saltwater mix. The 30 gal that I have, I used the ocean, I test the water before I use it in my tank. Is it a good idea to use the ocean water in my tank or should I just mix it? Or the local DNR said it was ok to use the ocean water. (I won't be stealing it) LOL __________________ "And you said you were broke?" Ha... your a REEFER! Current Tank Info: 55 gal.

04/12/2009, 09:32 AM	#81
WaterKeeper Bogus Information Expert Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 16,147	I tend to doubt you'll drain the ocean filling that 30 gal. I'd say, of course use the ocean water. You can't beat mother nature. Some people run ocean water though a filter but I really don't think that is necessary unless the water is unusually turbid. I would suggest running carbon when using it as it can remove any trace organic contaminants that may be leaching into beach water. Mixing ASW and NSW is fine. Just make sure to match the salinity. __________________ "Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation" Tom Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29

04/12/2009, 05:37 PM	#82
Too Sweet Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: ST. Thomas, VI Posts: 86	Thank you Waterkeeper. My reef tank will be a 60gal. tank and I do run carbon on the 30 gal tank so therfore I will continue. Hauling 60gals of saltwater from the ocean shall be a task. lol __________________ "And you said you were broke?" Ha... your a REEFER! Current Tank Info: 55 gal.

04/12/2009, 05:59 PM	#84
WaterKeeper Bogus Information Expert Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 16,147	But look at all the muscle mass you are building if you haul about 160 pounds of seawater to you tank each week, Shannon. __________________ "Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation" Tom Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29

04/12/2009, 05:48 PM	#83
Fish4Me2 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: TwinCities Posts: 650	Can a long-time lurker, but infrequent poster say "Hello"? I hope so, because here goes: Hi, I'm Shannon. I'm from Southern California. After many years of freshwater tanks, I decided to try a saltwater tank in 2006. I quickly progressed from: "A biocube sounds like a great way to start;" to: "I only want fish, and never anything larger than 75 gallons;" then "Gee, I could try that geen slimer and see how it goes;" and finally: "I really think a 180 gallon tank would look great in the living room!" For the record, it does look pretty great! I've gotten some great advice through my lurking here, and just wanted to official say "hi" and thanks!

04/12/2009, 06:36 PM	#85
J Nano Reefer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Reykjavik, Iceland Posts: 7	Hi, my name is Jakob, please call me Jay. I am a 15 year old boy from Reykjavik in Iceland, thats where i currently live. I have been with the fish bacteria for 7 years now, i please do not want people to underestimate me just because im young. Why not: My english is clear, i am mature and i work at a lfs. All the seven years i have kept fish i have only been into the freshwater fish but recently i have wanted more and more to set up a reef tank. So i am working on a Nano reef tank, i am not sure of size yet but it will be around 70L. I am at school currently but i am going to get a masters degree and a doctors degree in biologi. So i am a future biologist that will specify in fish. I dont know where i am going to work but i am probably someday going to open a lfs myself. I currently have a 100g Central american cichlid tank and am buying the 70L tank soon. So thats me, and i hope i get to know any of you better. __________________ New to Saltwater. Current Tank Info: Nano tank in progression.

04/12/2009, 06:45 PM	#86
Fish4Me2 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: TwinCities Posts: 650	I could give a whole new meaning to the term "Beach Babe" My husband still shakes his head over the fact that I wouldn't let him put a deck in the back yard because it would have created steps that I couldn't roll my Brute over!

04/12/2009, 06:50 PM	#87
WaterKeeper Bogus Information Expert Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 16,147	Hi Jay *To Reef Central* At 15 are you tackling the master or doctorates first? __________________ "Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation" Tom Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29

04/12/2009, 07:24 PM	#88
J Nano Reefer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Reykjavik, Iceland Posts: 7	Thank you, master first, but not in a few years ofcourse. __________________ New to Saltwater. Current Tank Info: Nano tank in progression.

04/12/2009, 08:49 PM	#89
WaterKeeper Bogus Information Expert Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 16,147	I hope your Master's Thesis will be on "The Elimination Biological Contamination in the Marine Ecosystem, Precisely Newbies." __________________ "Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation" Tom Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29

04/13/2009, 05:45 AM	#90
J Nano Reefer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Reykjavik, Iceland Posts: 7	Hahaha. Dont we all. __________________ New to Saltwater. Current Tank Info: Nano tank in progression.

04/13/2009, 03:09 PM	#91
Limerboy Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Trinidad and Tobago Posts: 51	Hi all im from the caribbean (Trinidad) to be exact. I currently have a 50 gallon aquarium which is just cycled and ready for fish and inverts. Im very new to the saltwater aspect of aquarium keeping and look forward to some great advice from reef central.

04/13/2009, 07:08 PM	#92
Nipper Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 32	Hello everyone from here in Texas. I'm not totally new to saltwater fishkeeping, but I am new to reef tanks and am getting back into the hobby after about 15 years or so. Look forward to lots of searching and reading, and maybe asking a few questions too!

04/13/2009, 10:59 PM	#93
Michael NTTH Rookie Help Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gloucester, England,UK Posts: 7,808 Blog Entries: 6	hi-limerboy hi-nipper, welcome to the forum,start with the stickys and hope to see you posting in the forum soon *To Reef Central* __________________ Don't be afraid to ask questions, we in the new to the hobby are here to help you [For My Tank Spec,Photo Album,Articles and website, click on my name] MY Very Kindest and Warmest Regards , MIKE Current Tank Info: I have a 92 gal Corner Tank, and way too many pieces of equipment to list really, (proud member of the reef central corner club)

04/14/2009, 03:35 PM	#94
nemowannabe Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 8	HI, well I am brand spanking new at this. Just bought a 24 gal Aquapod and mixed my first batch of salt water last night. I have so many questions. I've been trying to read up on stuff but just end up wtih more questions. (do you know how long it even took me to figure out how much salt to add to the water? it's not in any of the books I looked in) anyway, I started my heater and am goin to add my "live sand" Bagged today I think 20 lbs worth? After I do that how long to I have to wait to get my live rock in? I was planning on getting some Live Rock from my boyfriends work buddy who is downsizing his tank. Is this OK or is it too what's the word, cured? to start my cycling process? Also, any brand names or types of test kits anyone can refer me to would be greatly appreciated? Thanks, Ps, I bought a submersable heater.... how low should it go in my tank (can the cord get wet??? and any ideas on it's placement in the tank, how about placement of my thermometer. SHould they be on oposite sides of the tank? can the heater go in the slot in the back near the pump or should it be in the "main viewing area?"

04/14/2009, 06:17 PM	#95
Aquarist007 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hamilton, Canada Posts: 28,240 Blog Entries: 1	Add you live rock along with the sand. This will start the cycling process. Adding the live rock later can prolong the cycling period. Buy test kits for ammonia and nitrates. As the cycling progresses the ammonia should rise or spike then return to zero. Similarily the nitrogen will rise and then return to zero When this has occured(3-5 weeks) your tank has completed its first cycling phase. Curing is a process of cleaning off the debris and dead mater from live rock. Since it is this dead mater that cycles the bacteria in the tank obtaining partly cured rock is probably the best way to go. *To Reef Central* __________________ I prefer my substrates stirred but not shaken Current Tank Info: 150gal long mixed reef, 90gal sump, 60 gal refugium with 200 lbs live rock

04/14/2009, 07:08 PM	#96
nanonubey Shogun Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Illinois, Montgomery Posts: 2,048	I'm new to Reef Central, and still green in my knowledge of reef keeping. Came here to learn a thing or two. __________________ 250 DD, Nanoseascreations custom sump and reactor with Seaslug bio pellets , (2) 400w MH Lumen max2 (20k Radium) and (2) 80w ATI aqua blue plus t-5's ,(2) Tunze 6105's w Tunze 7095, (2) Vortech mp40w es,ReefKeeper Elite, JBJ ATO, Reef octopus extreme 200, and Arctica 1/5 chiller. RR 20l frag tank, Nova Extreme light with ATI bulbs, (12) bulb d.i.y. reefledlights.com , (1)Vortech MP10es. " My girlfriend hates when I use the F word in any of it's various forms, fish, fish tank, fish store...." " Ninja fish trips weekly"

04/14/2009, 10:45 PM	#97
Aquarist007 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hamilton, Canada Posts: 28,240 Blog Entries: 1	You've come to the right place to learn. Start by reading the articles Water keeper has posted below this thread *To Reef Central* __________________ I prefer my substrates stirred but not shaken Current Tank Info: 150gal long mixed reef, 90gal sump, 60 gal refugium with 200 lbs live rock

04/15/2009, 01:54 AM	#98
v13tfolife Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 17	im new HI! i hope this is the right page to introduce yourself. well im kevin im 17 been in this fish hobby for 2 years. experience with freshwater and saltwater, but trying out reef. have a 50 gallon fish tank with a sump, 80 lbs of live rock and 100lbs of crush corals.and i was wondering if a 65WATT POWER COMPACT LIGHT will do for a 50 Gallon?. thank you. __________________ kevin tran

04/15/2009, 02:59 AM	#99
Michael NTTH Rookie Help Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gloucester, England,UK Posts: 7,808 Blog Entries: 6	if you intend to keep just fish kevin then it will be fine, basically fish wont mind the light quality. as for the crushed coral, most reefers wont touch it as it can eventually aid nitrates to the tank due to the large particles and debris can get between them, again though if only for fish then fine, but id add just a small amount to cover the base *To Reef Central* __________________ Don't be afraid to ask questions, we in the new to the hobby are here to help you [For My Tank Spec,Photo Album,Articles and website, click on my name] MY Very Kindest and Warmest Regards , MIKE Current Tank Info: I have a 92 gal Corner Tank, and way too many pieces of equipment to list really, (proud member of the reef central corner club)

04/15/2009, 03:02 AM	#100
PRDubois Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Chester, VA Posts: 3,626	Welcome Kevin __________________ http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2534403 Current Tank Info: 225 gal Reef, 60 gal reef & 40b frag tank