Brand new to saltwater

D.Schneidt · 11/26/2012, 07:18 PM

Hey Guys, I am brand new to saltwater (you couldn't be any newer). What is the best size tank to and equipment to start with right off the bat? Any information would be great!

Thanks,

Devon

Chaotic Reefer4u · 11/26/2012, 08:58 PM

To Reef Central
Devon

stlcard · 11/26/2012, 09:08 PM

most seem to say 75 gal display. any smaller and you deal with the pain of nano and water quality. any larger and well... expenses go up and water changes are larger.

75 allows for a good mix of fish as well.

Heres the best advice i wish i had before i jumped into the hobby.

1. spend some time on liveaquaria(dot)com and research all of the fish/ coral options out there. find out what is compatible with what. which fish do you like the most? which fit in your budget? what corals do you like the most? SPS require high flow and intense lighting (which means more $$$) if you want to do SPS eventually, your better off buying quality equipment over slowly upgrading piece by piece.

Create a "Stock List" of the fish and corals you want to keep. Then use this list to create your setup around the stock. (this is the most efficient way to spend your money wisely)

Plan to use a sump setup. Do your research, they arent very complicated or expensive. And they provide so much more for a healthy and clean system.

READ, READ, READ. the best things in reefkeeping, most success, and least heartache come with TIME. you Must be patient in this hobby if you want success.

D.Schneidt · 11/26/2012, 10:14 PM

thanks for the tips i appreciate them!

hollister · 11/26/2012, 10:19 PM

This hobby can be like wow this was easy , or why did i ever want this. Research and preplanning are the key. This book is worth its wieght in gold.

http://www.amazon.com/Book-Marine-Aq.../dp/1564651029

stlcard · 11/26/2012, 10:21 PM

not a problem. we were all in your boat once. another quick tip, if you run into questions or just need a guide with step by step directions read the stickies in the New to hobby forum. chances are almost certain any question you have has been asked and answered twelve times over in this forum. Its so huge they have archives!

if you still cant find your answers here or google, feel free to ask away. The more specific the better. broad and general questions get limited response just because of the sheer number that RC users come across.

either way, welcome to RC. this is an awesome hobby.

426Hemi · 11/27/2012, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hollister

This hobby can be like wow this was easy , or why did i ever want this. Research and preplanning are the key. This book is worth its wieght in gold.

http://www.amazon.com/Book-Marine-Aq.../dp/1564651029

If it worked for you, great. But I'm not going to use a book that is nearly 20 years old for my information. Too much in this hobby has changed in the last 20 years. No to mention you can get all that information on RC for free.

PowerNap · 11/27/2012, 07:22 AM

Hey, A fellow Jersey guy! Welcome!
I haven't tried these guys but DISCOUNTEDPETPRODUCTS.NET is right around the corner from you and may be worth a look. The size of your tank depends on the size of your budget and the available space. 55 gallon is often considered the minimum for a newbie. Bigger is better for water quality reasons, but costs are higher. Used is always an option, but you run the risk of buying someone elses problems..
good luck and keep us posted.

gbru316 · 11/27/2012, 07:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 426Hemi

If it worked for you, great. But I'm not going to use a book that is nearly 20 years old for my information. Too much in this hobby has changed in the last 20 years. No to mention you can get all that information on RC for free.

That book should be required reading for beginners, old or not.

Lots of things have changed, but the basics really haven't, and when you're a beginner, you want basics, not advanced concepts.

JCKoenig · 11/27/2012, 08:36 AM

Welcome!

I started out a year ago with a JBJ 24, figured I would start small and mostly try it out to see if I would fully enjoy this hobby and not grow tired of it. A nano is a lot of fun even though its small. You can always upgrade. With a smaller the tank you NEED to stay on top of it a lot more since the water quality can change really fast!

D.Schneidt · 11/28/2012, 04:26 AM

Thanks guys!

SaltyWenStirred · 11/28/2012, 07:02 AM

I have the 38G Innovative Marine Nuvo tank. I think it's the perfect tank. The glass body is rounded on the corners. No pieces glued together to form a right angle. It's a gorgeous tank.

I'm not THAT much into it that I wanted the expense and work of maintaining a tank twice that size or larger. I also didn't want the stress of maintaining a tank smaller than that due to the principle of dilution. Toxins can be far more potent and kill quickly in a small tank because there's not more water to dilute them.

The Nuvo is an all-in-one. No separate tanks. They make a protein skimmer for the tank too that works like a charm.

11/26/2012, 07:18 PM	#1
D.Schneidt Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Vineland, New Jersey Posts: 18	Brand new to saltwater Hey Guys, I am brand new to saltwater (you couldn't be any newer). What is the best size tank to and equipment to start with right off the bat? Any information would be great! Thanks, Devon

11/26/2012, 08:58 PM	#2
Chaotic Reefer4u ♥Acropora Aficionado♥ Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Hollister,Ca. Posts: 5,163	*To Reef Central* Devon __________________ Live everyday as if it was your last, take time to smell the flowers, enjoy all things living, never take anything for granted, you just never know when your number might be up... Current Tank Info: * 90g. Reef Ready TruVu tank with 30g. Platinum Filtration Series Sump SpS Acro enthusiast *

11/27/2012, 07:22 AM	#8
PowerNap Registered Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Turnersville NJ Posts: 132	Hey, A fellow Jersey guy! Welcome! I haven't tried these guys but DISCOUNTEDPETPRODUCTS.NET is right around the corner from you and may be worth a look. The size of your tank depends on the size of your budget and the available space. 55 gallon is often considered the minimum for a newbie. Bigger is better for water quality reasons, but costs are higher. Used is always an option, but you run the risk of buying someone elses problems.. good luck and keep us posted. __________________ Engineer Extraordinaire My other aquarium is a corvette. Current Tank Info: 56g column, RKL controler, 2x AI Sol white, custom stand and canopy.

11/27/2012, 08:36 AM	#10
JCKoenig Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 123	Welcome! I started out a year ago with a JBJ 24, figured I would start small and mostly try it out to see if I would fully enjoy this hobby and not grow tired of it. A nano is a lot of fun even though its small. You can always upgrade. With a smaller the tank you NEED to stay on top of it a lot more since the water quality can change really fast! __________________ CAD Lights 8g. Nano Box Tide LED w/Storm controller

11/28/2012, 07:02 AM	#12
SaltyWenStirred Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 245	I have the 38G Innovative Marine Nuvo tank. I think it's the perfect tank. The glass body is rounded on the corners. No pieces glued together to form a right angle. It's a gorgeous tank. I'm not THAT much into it that I wanted the expense and work of maintaining a tank twice that size or larger. I also didn't want the stress of maintaining a tank smaller than that due to the principle of dilution. Toxins can be far more potent and kill quickly in a small tank because there's not more water to dilute them. The Nuvo is an all-in-one. No separate tanks. They make a protein skimmer for the tank too that works like a charm. __________________ Innovative Marine 38g Nuvo Tank; Skkye 92W LED light Innovative Marine AuqaGadget - Skimmate Protein Skimmer, midsize Innovative Marine MiniMax All-In-One Media Reactor (PhosGuard) Nikon D90 35mm

11/26/2012, 09:08 PM	#3
stlcard Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 317	most seem to say 75 gal display. any smaller and you deal with the pain of nano and water quality. any larger and well... expenses go up and water changes are larger. 75 allows for a good mix of fish as well. Heres the best advice i wish i had before i jumped into the hobby. 1. spend some time on liveaquaria(dot)com and research all of the fish/ coral options out there. find out what is compatible with what. which fish do you like the most? which fit in your budget? what corals do you like the most? SPS require high flow and intense lighting (which means more $$$) if you want to do SPS eventually, your better off buying quality equipment over slowly upgrading piece by piece. Create a "Stock List" of the fish and corals you want to keep. Then use this list to create your setup around the stock. (this is the most efficient way to spend your money wisely) Plan to use a sump setup. Do your research, they arent very complicated or expensive. And they provide so much more for a healthy and clean system. READ, READ, READ. the best things in reefkeeping, most success, and least heartache come with TIME. you Must be patient in this hobby if you want success.

11/26/2012, 10:14 PM	#4
D.Schneidt Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Vineland, New Jersey Posts: 18	thanks for the tips i appreciate them!

11/26/2012, 10:19 PM	#5
hollister Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 2,037	This hobby can be like wow this was easy , or why did i ever want this. Research and preplanning are the key. This book is worth its wieght in gold. http://www.amazon.com/Book-Marine-Aq.../dp/1564651029

11/26/2012, 10:21 PM	#6
stlcard Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 317	not a problem. we were all in your boat once. another quick tip, if you run into questions or just need a guide with step by step directions read the stickies in the New to hobby forum. chances are almost certain any question you have has been asked and answered twelve times over in this forum. Its so huge they have archives! if you still cant find your answers here or google, feel free to ask away. The more specific the better. broad and general questions get limited response just because of the sheer number that RC users come across. either way, welcome to RC. this is an awesome hobby.

11/28/2012, 04:26 AM	#11
D.Schneidt Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Vineland, New Jersey Posts: 18	Thanks guys!