good learning reference?

velfamily · 11/13/2008, 12:33 PM

i am looking for a good "how to" guide!
even the newbie forum is full of acronyms and initials!
trying to learn about something, then have to go look up what something in that post means ..... it's never ending!

i feel more confused

is there a book or other resource that you recommend for the ultimate newbie?

we have a little 5 gal with crabs & a peppermint shrimp.
green dots have started to show up on all the LR (go me for knowing this one

)
and the piece of dead coral we bought for pretties has started to look 'velvety' with a tan colored - something.
i'm wanting to rid of stuff naturally.... this is our learning tank so we can set up the 60 gallon we have - with a little experience under our belts, ya know?

thanks for all your help!

sdc19982002 · 11/13/2008, 12:42 PM

Need more info. What are your ammonia,nitrite,nitrate,ph,levels. Specific gravity? Are you using a hang on filter? What kind of light bulb?

cdness · 11/13/2008, 12:44 PM

look through the newbie threads on the board. Also there are many books out there that can help. One that I have is "Concientions Marine Aquarist" and it is a good book. Also just ask questions. If there is an acronym that you don't know, feel free to ask and the people on the board are able to assist.

_E_ · 11/13/2008, 12:59 PM

I second cdness' book recommendation...a great resource that I still use on occasion. However, I would say that Reefcentral is the best resource that I have found. Lots of FAQ threads that will give you the basics like this one: Tank FAQ
Also, here's a link to many of the abbreviations that we use around here: Tank abbreviations
Also, if you're not sure what something means or need further clarification, just ask...we tend to use the abbreviations without thinking.
On to your other question. Hard to tell without a pic, but if was decorative (i.e. dead) coral, then it is likely some sort of algae. You will go through many stages of this as your tank settles in.

seapug · 11/13/2008, 01:01 PM

Start here:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...readid=1031074

Lots of helpful, basic info.

If you want to buy a good book or two that cover the basics of setup, filtration and livestock, I'd recommend Natural Reef Aquariums by Tullock and Conscientious Marine Aquarist by Fenner.

Playa-1 · 11/13/2008, 01:09 PM

I agree, Check out "The Conscientious Marine Aquarist" by Robert Fenner. That will be an excellent investment for you. There are other good books that you might want to take a look at too.
Tips and Tricks

Also check out the Home page and you will notice all types of reference information such as Calculators and FAQs and Articles. On the Home page of Reef Central you can find these threads.
Reference
So, You want to start a reef tank...

Reef Central also has lots of Sticky threads. These are usually loaded with information relating to frequently asked questions.
For example: Reef Central has a "New to Hobby" forum. When you click on that forum the first few threads are book marked or have a * beside them. These are what's commonly referred to sticky threads. It would be wise to read the sticky threads in the different forums.

IridescentLily · 11/13/2008, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by velfamily
i am looking for a good "how to" guide!
even the newbie forum is full of acronyms and initials!
trying to learn about something, then have to go look up what something in that post means ..... it's never ending!

i feel more confused

is there a book or other resource that you recommend for the ultimate newbie?

we have a little 5 gal with crabs & a peppermint shrimp.
green dots have started to show up on all the LR (go me for knowing this one )
and the piece of dead coral we bought for pretties has started to look 'velvety' with a tan colored - something.
i'm wanting to rid of stuff naturally.... this is our learning tank so we can set up the 60 gallon we have - with a little experience under our belts, ya know?

thanks for all your help!

Hi. You mean you want to know some of the reef keeping and forum acronyms like "FTS" or "GAC", GSP, "OM2way", "SQWD", "Acro", "Millie", etc.
Right?

JBuffetReefer · 11/13/2008, 02:02 PM

Other good books to have are the pocket guides fish & invertebrates (two separate books) by Scott Michael. These are good references for just about anything you will find at a LFS and you are wondering if it will be able to survive in your tank.

11/13/2008, 12:33 PM	#1
velfamily Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 168	good learning reference? i am looking for a good "how to" guide! even the newbie forum is full of acronyms and initials! trying to learn about something, then have to go look up what something in that post means ..... it's never ending! i feel more confused is there a book or other resource that you recommend for the ultimate newbie? we have a little 5 gal with crabs & a peppermint shrimp. green dots have started to show up on all the LR (go me for knowing this one ) and the piece of dead coral we bought for pretties has started to look 'velvety' with a tan colored - something. i'm wanting to rid of stuff naturally.... this is our learning tank so we can set up the 60 gallon we have - with a little experience under our belts, ya know? thanks for all your help!

11/13/2008, 12:44 PM	#3
cdness Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Fargo, ND Posts: 870	look through the newbie threads on the board. Also there are many books out there that can help. One that I have is "Concientions Marine Aquarist" and it is a good book. Also just ask questions. If there is an acronym that you don't know, feel free to ask and the people on the board are able to assist. __________________ 125G Reef, 40G sump, Marineland 4500 returns, Dart Closed Loop, OM 4-way, LED and Apollo LED Red River Valley Reefers - Fargo, Moorhead, Grand Forks Reef Club -http://redrivervalleyreefers.com Current Tank Info: 75G display, 20G sump, Additional 10G Fuge, drilled, Ocean Runner 6500 for closed loop, Catalina Aquarium CA4000 Return pump, MSX 160 Skimmer

11/13/2008, 12:59 PM	#4
_E_ Professional Lurker Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Du Quoin, Illinois Posts: 1,169	I second cdness' book recommendation...a great resource that I still use on occasion. However, I would say that Reefcentral is the best resource that I have found. Lots of FAQ threads that will give you the basics like this one: Tank FAQ Also, here's a link to many of the abbreviations that we use around here: Tank abbreviations Also, if you're not sure what something means or need further clarification, just ask...we tend to use the abbreviations without thinking. On to your other question. Hard to tell without a pic, but if was decorative (i.e. dead) coral, then it is likely some sort of algae. You will go through many stages of this as your tank settles in. __________________ Eric "If you think things can't get worse it's probably only because you lack sufficient imagination." Current Tank Info: 140 DSA with basement sump room

11/13/2008, 01:01 PM	#5
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	Start here: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...readid=1031074 Lots of helpful, basic info. If you want to buy a good book or two that cover the basics of setup, filtration and livestock, I'd recommend Natural Reef Aquariums by Tullock and Conscientious Marine Aquarist by Fenner. __________________ insert clever saying here. Current Tank Info: 200 gallon custom Marineland DD peninsular tank. LPS dominated mixed reef. Previous 90 gallon mixed reef TOTM April 2009.

11/13/2008, 02:02 PM	#8
JBuffetReefer Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Sacramento CA Posts: 510	Other good books to have are the pocket guides fish & invertebrates (two separate books) by Scott Michael. These are good references for just about anything you will find at a LFS and you are wondering if it will be able to survive in your tank. __________________ Pour me something tall and strong, make it a hurricane before I go insane. It's only half past twelve but I don't care. It's 5 O'Clock Somewhere Current Tank Info: 120 Gallon Tank soon to be reef tank & 34 Gallon Reef Tank

11/13/2008, 12:42 PM	#2
sdc19982002 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Wills Point,Texas Posts: 925	Need more info. What are your ammonia,nitrite,nitrate,ph,levels. Specific gravity? Are you using a hang on filter? What kind of light bulb?

11/13/2008, 01:09 PM	#6
Playa-1 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA Posts: 7,497	I agree, Check out "The Conscientious Marine Aquarist" by Robert Fenner. That will be an excellent investment for you. There are other good books that you might want to take a look at too. Tips and Tricks Also check out the Home page and you will notice all types of reference information such as Calculators and FAQs and Articles. On the Home page of Reef Central you can find these threads. Reference So, You want to start a reef tank... Reef Central also has lots of Sticky threads. These are usually loaded with information relating to frequently asked questions. For example: Reef Central has a "New to Hobby" forum. When you click on that forum the first few threads are book marked or have a * beside them. These are what's commonly referred to sticky threads. It would be wise to read the sticky threads in the different forums.