What sould I do?

GR8Reefs · 04/09/2006, 11:38 PM

I am under serious stress. I would like to start a 90 gallon reef tank. I am not sure of the time constraints and the patients setting the tank up. I would love to do it but am not sure. I have had fresh water tanks in the past, and I wanted to try a reef tank once in my life.
Any assistance in this matter would be most helpful.

bertoni · 04/09/2006, 11:39 PM

To Reef Central

I'm not sure this hobby is good for someone already under serious stress, but here's a good place to start reading:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hreadid=166836

mg426 · 04/09/2006, 11:45 PM

I agree with bertoni the stress level can be up there some times. But once you get things running and figured out it is one awesome hobby. Very rewarding. Just take it slow and post all of your questions. And do as above read !!!!!!

GR8Reefs · 04/10/2006, 12:20 AM

Thank you for the link...there is just so much more to a reef tank than a freshwater. I have a newborn and it would be really cool to have her see the tank grow as she does.

Sk8r · 04/10/2006, 12:22 AM

Decide what sort of tank you ultimately want (corals/fish?) and what sort. Then read up on those areas of the forum until you know what to look out for. Get your equipment, and get your necessary test kits, and go with it. Patience with the stage you're at, and willingness to test and go step by step, one addition, one change at a time, are absolutely key. All that said, it's not that hard, just exacting. If you can enjoy everything at the stage you're at, however basic during the first year, you'll enjoy a salt tank immensely.

Ti · 04/10/2006, 12:53 AM

My tank adds to my stress.
LOL

Sk8r · 04/10/2006, 02:22 AM

Well, and there are a couple of constraints: you're taking on something that can either be highly automated (costs money) but not totally so (you still have to be on top of things); or where you can do most things by hand. In either case, you can never just run off and leave the tank on its own while you're gone for a week. You have to plan how it will get its makeup water, (fairly simple, but futzy), how your specimens will get the lights turned on and off (simple), and best of all, you have to arrange somebody to tank-sit for you, and train that person in emergency care---like what to do if the power goes out or the sump hasn't filled properly from the topoff. There are a lot of problems you can solve, a few that will still pop up that you can't predict, but if you've planned ahead, you can cope. Small tanks are a lot more skittish and hard to handle than bigger tanks---a 90 is a good stable size.

04/09/2006, 11:38 PM	#1
GR8Reefs Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 2	What sould I do? I am under serious stress. I would like to start a 90 gallon reef tank. I am not sure of the time constraints and the patients setting the tank up. I would love to do it but am not sure. I have had fresh water tanks in the past, and I wanted to try a reef tank once in my life. Any assistance in this matter would be most helpful.

04/09/2006, 11:39 PM	#2
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	*To Reef Central* I'm not sure this hobby is good for someone already under serious stress, but here's a good place to start reading: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hreadid=166836 __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

04/09/2006, 11:45 PM	#3
mg426 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: maryland Posts: 6,923	I agree with bertoni the stress level can be up there some times. But once you get things running and figured out it is one awesome hobby. Very rewarding. Just take it slow and post all of your questions. And do as above read !!!!!! __________________ I found a way to make a small fortune running a reef tank. Start with a large fortune. Unofficial President of the SEACLONE haters club Current Tank Info: 125 mixed reef 110 lbs LR, 1x250watt XM 20K MH 2x175watt XM 20K MH on Magetics 2X96 watt actinic PC, 220 watt VHO actinic, 30 gallon refugium, closed loop system powered by Sequence Dart MSX 200 skimmer 38 gallon sump, Oceansmotions squirt

04/10/2006, 12:22 AM	#5
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Decide what sort of tank you ultimately want (corals/fish?) and what sort. Then read up on those areas of the forum until you know what to look out for. Get your equipment, and get your necessary test kits, and go with it. Patience with the stage you're at, and willingness to test and go step by step, one addition, one change at a time, are absolutely key. All that said, it's not that hard, just exacting. If you can enjoy everything at the stage you're at, however basic during the first year, you'll enjoy a salt tank immensely. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

04/10/2006, 12:53 AM	#6
Ti Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 7,927	My tank adds to my stress. LOL __________________ Hair algae is my Macro algae.

04/10/2006, 12:20 AM	#4
GR8Reefs Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 2	Thank you for the link...there is just so much more to a reef tank than a freshwater. I have a newborn and it would be really cool to have her see the tank grow as she does.

04/10/2006, 02:22 AM	#7
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Well, and there are a couple of constraints: you're taking on something that can either be highly automated (costs money) but not totally so (you still have to be on top of things); or where you can do most things by hand. In either case, you can never just run off and leave the tank on its own while you're gone for a week. You have to plan how it will get its makeup water, (fairly simple, but futzy), how your specimens will get the lights turned on and off (simple), and best of all, you have to arrange somebody to tank-sit for you, and train that person in emergency care---like what to do if the power goes out or the sump hasn't filled properly from the topoff. There are a lot of problems you can solve, a few that will still pop up that you can't predict, but if you've planned ahead, you can cope. Small tanks are a lot more skittish and hard to handle than bigger tanks---a 90 is a good stable size. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.