Newbie College Student

daphilster08 · 01/13/2012, 12:56 PM

Hey guys,

My name is Phil and I have been wanting to get into saltwater aquariums for some time. I have been in the freshwater side of the hobby for quite some time. My brother takes care of the big tank at my parents house consisting of multiple SA catfish, fish like Datnoids and stingrays. At college, I have a 45 gallon cube which houses a angelfish, a couple new baby discus, and a couple L46 Zebra Plecos :biggrin:
I have done my research for the past couple years on reefin and am excited to start. I want to start with either a all in one tank or a cube tank. I am super busy in medical school so I am not sure exactly when I will be able to afford a little tank but I was hoping to get started with in the next couple months. Help me get started :nixon:
Here is some info i gathered so far and would like to start along these lines.. Cheap way I know but thats all I can do for now. Kind of random info but tell me what you think
Tank
jbj 3 gallon picotope
nano/biocube14, 28 or 29
finnex 4 gallon
mr aqua framless**
around a 30 gallon cube

filter
aquaclear 30 hang on refuge
ac 70 made in to refuge?

light
18w coralife mini aqualight

3-5 pounds live rock for 3 gallon, small pieces instead of 1 big one

water flow
rio 50
mini jet 404

heater
50 watt turned 78-80 degrees

go to fleet farm and get 7 gallon closed top water jug $10

Thanks guys! Look forward to meeting you all! Here is what i keep now.. Pics are a tad bit old tho

120 gallon fatboy at home

Denbf58 · 01/13/2012, 01:22 PM

To Reef Central if you are going to do fish only the all in one tanks are ok if you want to do a reef would go a different route as most do not good lighting and the hoods can hold in a lot of heat.

daphilster08 · 01/13/2012, 01:57 PM

Thank you! Ya thats good advice! I would personally rather have like a 30 gallon cube with a sump underneath but I don't have the room at the moment. I really want to have soft corals and SPS and make it really alive in that manor. However, I would like to have a few reef friendly fish as well. I was think a couple clownfish and a goby. Still reading up and looking for the best information

SushiGirl · 01/13/2012, 09:33 PM

If you want more than one fish, get the largest tank that you have room for. The 30 would be fine for corals and a couple of clowns & a small goby.

daphilster08 · 01/13/2012, 09:44 PM

Thanks Sushigirl! The reason why I want a AIO is because I have to tear the tank down in like 5 months once school ends to bring it home.. In this tank(hopefully a 29 gallon nano/biocube, I would like to have a few fish like you said but also plenty of corals..
However, I am a bit confused on which corals you have to feed with a turkey baster and what do you feed them? Feedback from anyone is helpful!

Bluemon · 01/13/2012, 09:48 PM

most corals are photosynthetic and dont need any feeding. especially the corals fit for a nano, (easy lps, soft, polyps) they dont need turkey baster feeding

xavi_west · 01/13/2012, 09:53 PM

nice does are zebra plecos?

daphilster08 · 01/13/2012, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluemon

most corals are photosynthetic and dont need any feeding. especially the corals fit for a nano, (easy lps, soft, polyps) they dont need turkey baster feeding

Thanks for the answer! Sorry just trying to sort through all the different types of corals.. Will take me a few years to be a expert at them! lol

Quote:

Originally Posted by xavi_west

nice does are zebra plecos?

Yes those are my Zebra Plecos. Cool little guys! I can get better pics in the future because these pics are old.

SushiGirl · 01/13/2012, 11:22 PM

Wow, not to be a buzzkill, but I wouldn't set up a tank just to break in down in 5 months! I didn't even have fish in mine for the first 3 months, at 5 months it will just barely be starting to be established enough for everything to look good.

xcastn0shad0wx · 01/13/2012, 11:22 PM

What Med School do you go to?
If you are wanting to get by cheap I'm sure some locals on here or in a club would have some used items they wouldn't mind selling cheap. Also you could keep an eye out on craigslist.
I'm in practically the same situation as you and have been collecting all the items needed for my 65G since 2009! Finally got water in the tank during this break!

daphilster08 · 01/13/2012, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SushiGirl

Wow, not to be a buzzkill, but I wouldn't set up a tank just to break in down in 5 months! I didn't even have fish in mine for the first 3 months, at 5 months it will just barely be starting to be established enough for everything to look good.

I knew someone would say something about this lol I live an hour away from home.. It would make the ride home in the back seat

Quote:

Originally Posted by xcastn0shad0wx

What Med School do you go to?
If you are wanting to get by cheap I'm sure some locals on here or in a club would have some used items they wouldn't mind selling cheap. Also you could keep an eye out on craigslist.
I'm in practically the same situation as you and have been collecting all the items needed for my 65G since 2009! Finally got water in the tank during this break!

I am at CSS actually for Nursing and will go to grad school for anesthesia hopefully in a couple years! and man thats what I really need right now! I check craigslist like 20 times per day lol I am hoping to get some help through this beginning part but will wait to see what comes up.. I am gonna start collecting slowly too but would love to be up and running with in a month!

01/13/2012, 12:56 PM	#1
daphilster08 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 16	Newbie College Student Hey guys, My name is Phil and I have been wanting to get into saltwater aquariums for some time. I have been in the freshwater side of the hobby for quite some time. My brother takes care of the big tank at my parents house consisting of multiple SA catfish, fish like Datnoids and stingrays. At college, I have a 45 gallon cube which houses a angelfish, a couple new baby discus, and a couple L46 Zebra Plecos :biggrin: I have done my research for the past couple years on reefin and am excited to start. I want to start with either a all in one tank or a cube tank. I am super busy in medical school so I am not sure exactly when I will be able to afford a little tank but I was hoping to get started with in the next couple months. Help me get started :nixon: Here is some info i gathered so far and would like to start along these lines.. Cheap way I know but thats all I can do for now. Kind of random info but tell me what you think Tank jbj 3 gallon picotope nano/biocube14, 28 or 29 finnex 4 gallon mr aqua framless** around a 30 gallon cube filter aquaclear 30 hang on refuge ac 70 made in to refuge? light 18w coralife mini aqualight 3-5 pounds live rock for 3 gallon, small pieces instead of 1 big one water flow rio 50 mini jet 404 heater 50 watt turned 78-80 degrees go to fleet farm and get 7 gallon closed top water jug $10 Thanks guys! Look forward to meeting you all! Here is what i keep now.. Pics are a tad bit old tho 120 gallon fatboy at home Last edited by daphilster08; 01/13/2012 at 01:06 PM.

01/13/2012, 01:22 PM	#2
Denbf58 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: selden N.Y. Posts: 885	*To Reef Central* if you are going to do fish only the all in one tanks are ok if you want to do a reef would go a different route as most do not good lighting and the hoods can hold in a lot of heat. __________________ Life is good Current Tank Info: 75gal reef ready koralia 3, 30g sump, 4b 48" t5s lighting, 29g reef with breeding pair clowns 55g reef 55g freshwater

01/13/2012, 09:33 PM	#4
SushiGirl Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Fort Worth, TX USA Posts: 8,267	If you want more than one fish, get the largest tank that you have room for. The 30 would be fine for corals and a couple of clowns & a small goby. __________________ Visit my Homepage or "My Albums" (via Profile) for hitchhiker pics. Current Tank Info: 55g softy/LPS tank & 20L reef tank

01/13/2012, 11:22 PM	#9
SushiGirl Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Fort Worth, TX USA Posts: 8,267	Wow, not to be a buzzkill, but I wouldn't set up a tank just to break in down in 5 months! I didn't even have fish in mine for the first 3 months, at 5 months it will just barely be starting to be established enough for everything to look good. __________________ Visit my Homepage or "My Albums" (via Profile) for hitchhiker pics. Current Tank Info: 55g softy/LPS tank & 20L reef tank

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01/13/2012, 01:57 PM	#3
daphilster08 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 16	Thank you! Ya thats good advice! I would personally rather have like a 30 gallon cube with a sump underneath but I don't have the room at the moment. I really want to have soft corals and SPS and make it really alive in that manor. However, I would like to have a few reef friendly fish as well. I was think a couple clownfish and a goby. Still reading up and looking for the best information

01/13/2012, 09:44 PM	#5
daphilster08 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 16	Thanks Sushigirl! The reason why I want a AIO is because I have to tear the tank down in like 5 months once school ends to bring it home.. In this tank(hopefully a 29 gallon nano/biocube, I would like to have a few fish like you said but also plenty of corals.. However, I am a bit confused on which corals you have to feed with a turkey baster and what do you feed them? Feedback from anyone is helpful!

01/13/2012, 09:48 PM	#6
Bluemon Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 902	most corals are photosynthetic and dont need any feeding. especially the corals fit for a nano, (easy lps, soft, polyps) they dont need turkey baster feeding

01/13/2012, 09:53 PM	#7
xavi_west Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Puerto Rico Posts: 140	nice does are zebra plecos?

01/13/2012, 11:22 PM	#10
xcastn0shad0wx Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 50	What Med School do you go to? If you are wanting to get by cheap I'm sure some locals on here or in a club would have some used items they wouldn't mind selling cheap. Also you could keep an eye out on craigslist. I'm in practically the same situation as you and have been collecting all the items needed for my 65G since 2009! Finally got water in the tank during this break!