Just getting started in the hobby.

ghst1203reef · 08/08/2013, 01:16 PM

Hey
As the title states I'm just starting out in this hobby. I went and got myself a topfin 37G starter kit, probably should have gotten the starter kit since I'm gonna change everything it came with. Bought 40 pounds of live sand and now around 30lbs of live rock. I plan on getting a Marineland Bio-Wheel power filter and a 14000K Custom Reef Spectrum LED light from build my LED.
I've now been to two of the LFS here on the eastside and both have been great so far. I still have a lot of questions and hope I'll be able to find answers on here. I don't plan on adding a sump to this tank, so should I still be putting a protein skimmer with it or am I even able to without a sump setup? I went a bought a water test kit yesterday (I'm only a week into the cycle) and the water is already showing levels of ammonia, nitrite and nitrate is this normal? I'm also having a hell of a time getting my Instant ocean hydrometer to give me steady reading. I will defiantly get a Refractometer in the next week or so.
Down the road I plan on getting some soft coral and maybe some lps then a few fish. Any tips or suggestions would be great. Looking forward to being active on this forum.

rholguin · 08/08/2013, 07:26 PM

Yes ammonia, nitrite, and nitrates are normal at the beginning. Your ammonia and nitrites should go away after your tank cycles. Nitrates should go away, but may be detectable at real low levels.

Remember be patient. Slow and steady.

dr. todd · 08/08/2013, 07:33 PM

refractometer look at the milwaukee digital about 100$ and very easy gives a analog read out.

ghst1203reef · 08/09/2013, 11:13 AM

I went ahead and got a marineland penguin 350 power filter and the maxi jet 900 power head yesterday. Should the power head be going across the tank or should I be facing it forward to bounce off the glass?

EPRuss · 08/13/2013, 09:10 AM

I'm also new to the hobby, but have been doing a ton of research. Not sure if you need a protein skimmer or not. I would guess it depends on what your going to keep in your tank, and how often you are going to preform water changes. If your going to have a fair amount of fish, I'd say it's a good idea to have one. You can go with a HOB (hang on back) skimmer; someone has just offered a used one for sale on this forum. You might want to try to scoop it up.

ghst1203reef · 08/13/2013, 11:17 AM

Yea from the research I've done a skimmer would be good but with this size tank it might just be better to do more frequent water changes. If I do get one I will go with a HOB. I'm still unsure about jumping into the whole sump thing. Maybe on the next one.

ghst1203reef · 08/13/2013, 03:42 PM

I also painted the back of the tank black the other day. I'll post some pictures after I get the light on.

915MANG · 08/13/2013, 04:10 PM

Think about getting a sump, only because its a PITA to do everything once your tank is full of corals and fish.

ghst1203reef · 08/13/2013, 04:18 PM

Two reasons I'm unsure of adding a sump

1 I'm kinda of scared of it lol.

2 I will end up getting a bigger tank down the road maybe as soon as 6 months. That one I will be putting a sump on it. Then this one will go into my daughters room.

915MANG · 08/13/2013, 05:06 PM

I hear you

egq · 08/13/2013, 06:15 PM

All the more reason to consider the sump. Since once you upgrade to a bigger tank, you will technically be having to split your time between family and two tanks. Why not have the sump that helps maintain your tank just a bit longer.

ghst1203reef · 08/13/2013, 08:00 PM

this was the first night I setup the tank

ghst1203reef · 08/13/2013, 08:04 PM

After adding more rock

after painting the back

after adding more rock.

What do you guys think of the rock layout should I change it again? Should I change it?

dr. todd · 08/13/2013, 08:09 PM

I would move the rocks away from the sides you wont be able to clean algea build up.

ghst1203reef · 08/13/2013, 08:16 PM

Yea I didn't think about that.

ghst1203reef · 08/13/2013, 08:28 PM

With this new hobby I'm finding that I'm ordering things from online for the first time. So the first thing I ordered was a maxijet 400 from vivid aquariums. I got it to day and it was the older model that doesn't come with the propeller. I was thinking that's what I get for ordering online but I called them to let them know, just to see if I was SOL. They looked it up said I was right and are sending me a new and told me to go ahead and keep this one too. I don't see a lot about them on this forum so just figured I would share my experience.

ghst1203reef · 08/13/2013, 08:55 PM

Sorry for over posting in here today but one more thing to add

I now have 3 different reading on my salinity level
My hydrometer reads 1.022
LFS#1 reads 1.024
LFS#2 reads 1.027
the 2 LFS taken within 3 days of each other and I test everyday so I know the level didn't change any in that time
I will be getting a refractometer real soon.

egq · 08/13/2013, 08:59 PM

Consider your evaporation factor. Since your tank is low volume even having a little water evaporate changes your salinity. If you notice the salinity went up there fore add water. We had a 45 gallon and adding water was a constant necessity

egq · 08/13/2013, 09:03 PM

Also my hydrometer sucks. It doesn't give us actual salinity levels. But it is constant. So what we do is if it reads 1.020 we know we have 1.024. So we adjust for it. I honestly don't see the need to get a 100 dollar tool when the cheapy one can get the job done.

ghst1203reef · 08/13/2013, 09:35 PM

That's what I thought when the first shop told me it was perfect at 1.024 when mine said 1.022. I even tested before I took it to the second one. It came up as slightly over 1.022 so I was thinking it would read 1.025 at most but when it showed a little over 1.027 now I'm not sure which one is right. BRS has them for 40 so around 48 with shipping.

EPRuss · 08/14/2013, 01:02 PM

I picked up a refractometer on Amazon for under $30. Don't really know how good it is in comparison to others, but I figured it's better than a hydrometer.

ghst1203reef · 08/14/2013, 05:49 PM

Yea I think I'm gonna get one. I probably wouldn't have if both shops came up with the same number

ghst1203reef · 08/15/2013, 09:30 AM

EPRuss.. good call on amazon. I didn't even think to look for stuff on there. I've never really shopped online before so this is all new to me. They have all kinds of stuff I need on there.

pnavarro170 · 08/15/2013, 05:50 PM

Off to a good start, I got the octopus bh-50 in tank hang on, so you wont have to worry about a thing if it overflows. Its gonna take alot away as far as looks are concerned though, but its been working great

ghst1203reef · 08/15/2013, 08:19 PM

So I just picked up 2 clowns I'll post some pictures a little later.

08/13/2013, 04:10 PM	#8
915MANG Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: El Paso, TX Posts: 950	Think about getting a sump, only because its a PITA to do everything once your tank is full of corals and fish. __________________ Mike O YOUTUBE "915MANG" Current Tank Info: 120 Gal in progress Fish & a few corals 34G Solana

08/13/2013, 05:06 PM	#10
915MANG Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: El Paso, TX Posts: 950	I hear you __________________ Mike O YOUTUBE "915MANG" Current Tank Info: 120 Gal in progress Fish & a few corals 34G Solana

08/14/2013, 01:02 PM	#21
EPRuss Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Texas Posts: 166	I picked up a refractometer on Amazon for under $30. Don't really know how good it is in comparison to others, but I figured it's better than a hydrometer. Last edited by EPRuss; 08/14/2013 at 01:15 PM.

08/15/2013, 05:50 PM	#24
pnavarro170 S.T.A.R.S PRESIDENT Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: El Paso TX Posts: 3,963	Off to a good start, I got the octopus bh-50 in tank hang on, so you wont have to worry about a thing if it overflows. Its gonna take alot away as far as looks are concerned though, but its been working great __________________ 150G

08/08/2013, 01:16 PM	#1
ghst1203reef Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: El Paso TX Posts: 127	Just getting started in the hobby. Hey As the title states I'm just starting out in this hobby. I went and got myself a topfin 37G starter kit, probably should have gotten the starter kit since I'm gonna change everything it came with. Bought 40 pounds of live sand and now around 30lbs of live rock. I plan on getting a Marineland Bio-Wheel power filter and a 14000K Custom Reef Spectrum LED light from build my LED. I've now been to two of the LFS here on the eastside and both have been great so far. I still have a lot of questions and hope I'll be able to find answers on here. I don't plan on adding a sump to this tank, so should I still be putting a protein skimmer with it or am I even able to without a sump setup? I went a bought a water test kit yesterday (I'm only a week into the cycle) and the water is already showing levels of ammonia, nitrite and nitrate is this normal? I'm also having a hell of a time getting my Instant ocean hydrometer to give me steady reading. I will defiantly get a Refractometer in the next week or so. Down the road I plan on getting some soft coral and maybe some lps then a few fish. Any tips or suggestions would be great. Looking forward to being active on this forum.

08/08/2013, 07:26 PM	#2
rholguin Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: El Paso, TX Posts: 846	Yes ammonia, nitrite, and nitrates are normal at the beginning. Your ammonia and nitrites should go away after your tank cycles. Nitrates should go away, but may be detectable at real low levels. Remember be patient. Slow and steady. __________________ Robert Current Tank Info: 80g rimless.

08/08/2013, 07:33 PM	#3
dr. todd Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Las Cruces Posts: 143	refractometer look at the milwaukee digital about 100$ and very easy gives a analog read out.

08/09/2013, 11:13 AM	#4
ghst1203reef Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: El Paso TX Posts: 127	I went ahead and got a marineland penguin 350 power filter and the maxi jet 900 power head yesterday. Should the power head be going across the tank or should I be facing it forward to bounce off the glass?

08/13/2013, 09:10 AM	#5
EPRuss Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Texas Posts: 166	I'm also new to the hobby, but have been doing a ton of research. Not sure if you need a protein skimmer or not. I would guess it depends on what your going to keep in your tank, and how often you are going to preform water changes. If your going to have a fair amount of fish, I'd say it's a good idea to have one. You can go with a HOB (hang on back) skimmer; someone has just offered a used one for sale on this forum. You might want to try to scoop it up.

08/13/2013, 11:17 AM	#6
ghst1203reef Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: El Paso TX Posts: 127	Yea from the research I've done a skimmer would be good but with this size tank it might just be better to do more frequent water changes. If I do get one I will go with a HOB. I'm still unsure about jumping into the whole sump thing. Maybe on the next one.

08/13/2013, 03:42 PM	#7
ghst1203reef Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: El Paso TX Posts: 127	I also painted the back of the tank black the other day. I'll post some pictures after I get the light on.

08/13/2013, 04:18 PM	#9
ghst1203reef Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: El Paso TX Posts: 127	Two reasons I'm unsure of adding a sump 1 I'm kinda of scared of it lol. 2 I will end up getting a bigger tank down the road maybe as soon as 6 months. That one I will be putting a sump on it. Then this one will go into my daughters room.

08/13/2013, 06:15 PM	#11
egq Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: El Paso Posts: 513	All the more reason to consider the sump. Since once you upgrade to a bigger tank, you will technically be having to split your time between family and two tanks. Why not have the sump that helps maintain your tank just a bit longer.

08/13/2013, 08:00 PM	#12
ghst1203reef Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: El Paso TX Posts: 127	this was the first night I setup the tank

08/13/2013, 08:04 PM	#13
ghst1203reef Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: El Paso TX Posts: 127	After adding more rock after painting the back after adding more rock. What do you guys think of the rock layout should I change it again? Should I change it?

08/13/2013, 08:09 PM	#14
dr. todd Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Las Cruces Posts: 143	I would move the rocks away from the sides you wont be able to clean algea build up.

08/13/2013, 08:16 PM	#15
ghst1203reef Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: El Paso TX Posts: 127	Yea I didn't think about that.

08/13/2013, 08:28 PM	#16
ghst1203reef Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: El Paso TX Posts: 127	With this new hobby I'm finding that I'm ordering things from online for the first time. So the first thing I ordered was a maxijet 400 from vivid aquariums. I got it to day and it was the older model that doesn't come with the propeller. I was thinking that's what I get for ordering online but I called them to let them know, just to see if I was SOL. They looked it up said I was right and are sending me a new and told me to go ahead and keep this one too. I don't see a lot about them on this forum so just figured I would share my experience.

08/13/2013, 08:55 PM	#17
ghst1203reef Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: El Paso TX Posts: 127	Sorry for over posting in here today but one more thing to add I now have 3 different reading on my salinity level My hydrometer reads 1.022 LFS#1 reads 1.024 LFS#2 reads 1.027 the 2 LFS taken within 3 days of each other and I test everyday so I know the level didn't change any in that time I will be getting a refractometer real soon.

08/13/2013, 08:59 PM	#18
egq Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: El Paso Posts: 513	Consider your evaporation factor. Since your tank is low volume even having a little water evaporate changes your salinity. If you notice the salinity went up there fore add water. We had a 45 gallon and adding water was a constant necessity

08/13/2013, 09:03 PM	#19
egq Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: El Paso Posts: 513	Also my hydrometer sucks. It doesn't give us actual salinity levels. But it is constant. So what we do is if it reads 1.020 we know we have 1.024. So we adjust for it. I honestly don't see the need to get a 100 dollar tool when the cheapy one can get the job done.

08/13/2013, 09:35 PM	#20
ghst1203reef Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: El Paso TX Posts: 127	That's what I thought when the first shop told me it was perfect at 1.024 when mine said 1.022. I even tested before I took it to the second one. It came up as slightly over 1.022 so I was thinking it would read 1.025 at most but when it showed a little over 1.027 now I'm not sure which one is right. BRS has them for 40 so around 48 with shipping.

08/14/2013, 05:49 PM	#22
ghst1203reef Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: El Paso TX Posts: 127	Yea I think I'm gonna get one. I probably wouldn't have if both shops came up with the same number

08/15/2013, 09:30 AM	#23
ghst1203reef Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: El Paso TX Posts: 127	EPRuss.. good call on amazon. I didn't even think to look for stuff on there. I've never really shopped online before so this is all new to me. They have all kinds of stuff I need on there.

08/15/2013, 08:19 PM	#25
ghst1203reef Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: El Paso TX Posts: 127	So I just picked up 2 clowns I'll post some pictures a little later.