Getting started

grnaroundagills · 10/11/2006, 08:58 PM

Hello anyone interested in or having the time,
My interest is peaked and I want to start a partial reef tank. I've found a 55g salt water set up for a good price. I'd like to go much larger but I'm not sure. I think 55g might be a good starting size. I've done some research on filters and water purification, live rock and sand ect.. still have so much to learn and would appreciate any and all tips, info. My plan is to get the 55g tank as beautiful as i can get it and then upgrade, eventually using the 55g tank as a circulating/filter tank, keeping live rock and sand alone in it. I've never owned anything more than a fish bowl with a beta, so I'm very inexperienced but I have always had a passion for reef and tropical fish. I'd like to buy a big beautiful display tank to start and go real slow. Just starting out with live rock and sand for several months until I'm sure the water is stable and I know better how to controll it. I guess my delima is I don't want to wrap up a bunch of money in a small tank only to be disatisfied and spend more to get the set up I really want. If anyone know a link to nice tank/stand set ups including pumps, skimmers and all that I'll need in a package deal, new or used, please let me know. I'd also like to talk with someone and get ideas and bounce off my thoughts to see if I'm on the right track.
Thanks for your time,
Chris Statesville, NC

meco65 · 10/11/2006, 09:04 PM

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Brenden · 10/11/2006, 09:04 PM

I will sell you mine.;-) I am not far away. I can suggest a place in Salisbury that just opened. He is a new business and IME will make a deal to get a good customer. PM me if you want more info.

rkelman · 10/11/2006, 09:05 PM

If i had to do it over I'd buy someones used setup.....

meco65 · 10/11/2006, 09:09 PM

here are some links to some reading that will help.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...hreadid=912378
Free online class.
http://saltaquarium.about.com/c/ec/1.htm
http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/sta...setupintro.htm

http://home2.pacific.net.ph/~sweetyu...lemethods.html
http://home2.pacific.net.ph/~sweetyu...uarantine.html

http://home2.pacific.net.ph/~sweetyummy42/ich.html
http://www.petsforum.com/personal/tr...osalinity.html

This should help.

SanDiegoreefer · 10/11/2006, 09:29 PM

Try craigslist.org.

smketyr · 10/11/2006, 10:54 PM

Look to see if you have a reef club in your area. Talk with the members and go look at there tanks. It will give you an idea as to what size you might like, consider that a larger tank is more costly, you might not have room for one. Ask the pros and cons of each person you meet.

Personally, I loved my 55gal at first then as I learned more and got more coral and fish, I did not like the 55 gallon anymore. For me it was front to back width. I could not aquascape to my satisfaction, I also had larger pieces of live rock that would only fit one way. I then upgraded to a 120 gallon, Loved it. I had a leak by the skimmer that an o-ring would of fixed, but by the time I discovered it, the floor was ruined. Major repair expense.

I sold the 120 and went nano. Now I am planning a larger tank. I have been checking other reefers tanks and learning what works for them and what doesn't and now I am formulating a plan.

So in short , I spent a lot of money expirmenting without doing hands on research. Now I have a better idea and direction.

Good Luck and have fun.

10/11/2006, 08:58 PM	#1
grnaroundagills Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: North Carolina Posts: 2	Getting started Hello anyone interested in or having the time, My interest is peaked and I want to start a partial reef tank. I've found a 55g salt water set up for a good price. I'd like to go much larger but I'm not sure. I think 55g might be a good starting size. I've done some research on filters and water purification, live rock and sand ect.. still have so much to learn and would appreciate any and all tips, info. My plan is to get the 55g tank as beautiful as i can get it and then upgrade, eventually using the 55g tank as a circulating/filter tank, keeping live rock and sand alone in it. I've never owned anything more than a fish bowl with a beta, so I'm very inexperienced but I have always had a passion for reef and tropical fish. I'd like to buy a big beautiful display tank to start and go real slow. Just starting out with live rock and sand for several months until I'm sure the water is stable and I know better how to controll it. I guess my delima is I don't want to wrap up a bunch of money in a small tank only to be disatisfied and spend more to get the set up I really want. If anyone know a link to nice tank/stand set ups including pumps, skimmers and all that I'll need in a package deal, new or used, please let me know. I'd also like to talk with someone and get ideas and bounce off my thoughts to see if I'm on the right track. Thanks for your time, Chris Statesville, NC

10/11/2006, 09:04 PM	#2
meco65 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Arkansas Posts: 1,603	[IMG][/IMG]

10/11/2006, 09:29 PM	#6
SanDiegoreefer Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: San Diego Posts: 94	Try craigslist.org. __________________ Good planets are hard to find. Current Tank Info: 46 Gal, 50lbs LR, Remora, 2 x Maxi-Jet 900, Coralife 2x96 Watt w/LED's, Filter guys RO/DI, HOB fuge

10/11/2006, 10:54 PM	#7
smketyr Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Powers Lake, WI Posts: 506	Look to see if you have a reef club in your area. Talk with the members and go look at there tanks. It will give you an idea as to what size you might like, consider that a larger tank is more costly, you might not have room for one. Ask the pros and cons of each person you meet. Personally, I loved my 55gal at first then as I learned more and got more coral and fish, I did not like the 55 gallon anymore. For me it was front to back width. I could not aquascape to my satisfaction, I also had larger pieces of live rock that would only fit one way. I then upgraded to a 120 gallon, Loved it. I had a leak by the skimmer that an o-ring would of fixed, but by the time I discovered it, the floor was ruined. Major repair expense. I sold the 120 and went nano. Now I am planning a larger tank. I have been checking other reefers tanks and learning what works for them and what doesn't and now I am formulating a plan. So in short , I spent a lot of money expirmenting without doing hands on research. Now I have a better idea and direction. Good Luck and have fun. __________________ Hippopotmonstrosesquippedaliophobia- The fear of big words. Current Tank Info: Bio Cube 29, 55g reef

10/11/2006, 09:04 PM	#3
Brenden Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Piedmont, NC Posts: 224	I will sell you mine.;-) I am not far away. I can suggest a place in Salisbury that just opened. He is a new business and IME will make a deal to get a good customer. PM me if you want more info.

10/11/2006, 09:05 PM	#4
rkelman Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Belleville, Ontario Canada Posts: 3,438	If i had to do it over I'd buy someones used setup.....

10/11/2006, 09:09 PM	#5
meco65 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Arkansas Posts: 1,603	here are some links to some reading that will help. http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...hreadid=912378 Free online class. http://saltaquarium.about.com/c/ec/1.htm http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/sta...setupintro.htm http://home2.pacific.net.ph/~sweetyu...lemethods.html http://home2.pacific.net.ph/~sweetyu...uarantine.html http://home2.pacific.net.ph/~sweetyummy42/ich.html http://www.petsforum.com/personal/tr...osalinity.html This should help.