New to the Reef World.

Fantor · 03-23-2007, 02:13 PM

Hi:
I am new to the reef world and would like some help. I have 37 gallon freshwater tank with plants and fish. Now I would now like to start a reef tank. I have been trying to find startup info on the net but have found very little. Can you guys tell me "HOWTO" or at least point me to a good reef startup site so I can do some research before I start. I would like to start small do to space and financial issues. This is what I could find so far on the net as far as startup goes. Tank 20 gallons, live sand 20lbs, live rock 20lbs, 1 power head, 1 heater 1 hang on tank protein skimmer. Put it all in the tank with distilled water and let it sit for 2 weeks to cycle. Is this right?? Am I on the right track?? Lighting I have not decided on yet. How much do I need for a 20 gallon tank?? 5 watts per gallon, 10 watts per gallon??? Also what is the deal with base rock and live rock, cured and uncured ???

Thank you for any info and or help: Fantor

Pinderville · 03-23-2007, 02:16 PM

Welcome to TRT!!

This is the best place to get info. It sounds like your off to a good start. Others will chime in with more details.

JimInAugusta · 03-23-2007, 02:23 PM

http://www.nano-reef.com/ or the nano forum here.

Man I couldnt type out all the answers. My fingers would go numb. I like the site I linked. In short I would

-go with as close to 10 watts/gallon as the wallet allows.

-use RO water rather than distilled.

-base rock simply isnt as pretty as the rock that shows so we use it as understructure for the pretty top rock although no one calls it top rock.

-live rock is full of bacterial life. It is called cured live rock if it has had time to cycle through and stablize. Get the crap out in a sense.

-uncured rock may/will cause a huge spike in ammonia levels and temporarily cause trouble until it has had time to cure.

Jim

markrxdi · 03-23-2007, 02:28 PM

welcome to trt!!!

abigtroutt · 03-23-2007, 02:41 PM

Fantor Welcome to TRT !!!!

I like your start so far. As for lights what do you plan on keeping on your tank. Softies due better with low light and LPS more light and SPS corals need lots of light.

Go with cured live rock, it will cost a few more dollars up front but with a 20 gallon tank It will be worth it shorter cycle time.

I like the live sand starts you off with a good sand bed and also cuts the cycle time.

Water the cleaner the better ! R/O or RO/DI is the best

Powerheads depends on the kind and size of unit. I like the Maxi-jets or the Hydors. More bang for your buck!

The cycle process depends on what you start with. Do you have any test kits? also dont add any fish during the cycle process..it only hurts the fish and they are not needed.

You have come to the right place for Info.. There are a lot of great people here with a ton of experence.

Once again welcome glad to have you here!!!

Fantor · 03-23-2007, 05:39 PM

Thanks for the info so far guys. I am not planing on any fish at this point. Thats what my freshwater tank is for. I only plan on growing coral and may be some invertebrates. As far as coral goes I am not sure at this point. I am thinking soft but still have to do more research.
So I am correct than on how to start a reef tank?? Tank, live sand, live rock, power-head, heater, protein skimmer, and RO/Dis water. Put it all together and let it sit. I need to add sea salt to the water right, before it goes in the tank??
As far as lighting goes does the ACTINIC BLUE light count toward the watts per gallon or just the 12000k white light. I am looking at a 24" power compact light setup with one 65 watt actinic blue light and one 65 watt 12000K light. Does this setup give me 130 watts for 6.5 watts per gallon or just 65 watts for 3.25 watts per gallon??

Thanks Again: Fantor

dobejazz · 03-23-2007, 06:38 PM

Welcome to TRT !!
Here is a great article to get you started

http://thereeftank.com/forums/faq.ph...les#faq_sywart

Fantor · 03-24-2007, 08:52 AM

OK I have read through the links you guys have sent me. I believe I have a pretty good grasp on things but I still have two questions. 1. Does the blue actinic light count to wards the watts per gallon? 2. Do I need a charcoal filter with a protein skimmer for my 20 gallon tank?? If so does it matter if the filter is a hang on back type or a submerged type???

Fantor

JY13131 · 03-24-2007, 08:55 AM

Don't know about the lights, but you do not need a charcoal filter. Welcome to TRT

salt-rookie · 03-24-2007, 09:03 AM

Welcome Fantor....FIRST question......have you owned the tank since it was new? Have you EVER treated with a medication that contaqins copper? If so...get a new tank...COPPER KILLS REEFS! Silicone can hold the copper.

Fantor · 03-24-2007, 10:16 AM

I do not have the 20 gallon tank yet. I just have my 37 gallon that is setup as a freshwater tank. I am going to keep the freshwater tank as is and go buy the 20 gallon when I have finished my research and am ready to buy equipment.

Fantor

VWD · 03-24-2007, 10:19 AM

Welcome to TRT!!!!!

JY13131 · 03-24-2007, 10:27 AM

Oh! And you might want to think about a LITTLE bit bigger tank for a couple of reasons. More room for error when there is higher volume of water, won't cost that much more and before you know it, you will want an even BIGGER tank!!!

Fantor · 04-05-2007, 02:56 PM

Ok... Here's an UPDATE:

I took a few of your guys suggestions and went with a bigger tank. I now have a 29 gallon tank. I got crazy deals on my setup so far. I picked up the tank and iron stand for $30.00, 60 lbs of live sand for $20.00 "I got like a 4"-5" sand bed now..:-)" and 35 lbs of live rock with a 400 gallon per hour power head for $50.00. So so-far I am $100.00 into my reef setup. I put everything in my tank and filled it 3/4 full with RO saltwater from my local fish store," I got the water free since I bought so much from them for my freshwater tank". O I also threw in an underwater filter that I had laying around. It's a Cascade 300 filter. The type that has the black bio sponge on the bottom, and charcoal in the middle. Now I have a few questions....

1. Tank Temp: I am picking up a heater tomorrow and would like to know how warm should I keep my tank. The lfs dude said 82 degrees. I thought that was a bit high so i though I would ask.

2. Live Rock: The live rock I bought was from a local guy's tank that he was down sizing. I guess a 260 gallon tank was to big for him..:-) Anyways he says the rock is 5+ years old. Each peace is very colorful with bright green, red, and purple stuff growing all over them. One piece seems to have little white tubes with red hairs coming out if it. As I look at the rock in my tank the hairs sometime shoot in and out of the white tube. can some one tell me what this is and how to grow it??? Another rock witch is frickin huge has about 10 - 12 half clam shells embedded in to the rock. Will the clams if that is what they are regrow?? Last question about live rock "well for now". Will any of this rock grow Coral?? One rock has what looks like a 2" tall purple x-mas tree coming out of it. Is this a coral??

Any and all input would be helpfull. I need to go and pick up my wife now from work, but I'll be back later tonight with some lighting questions.

Thank You: Fantor

Fantor · 04-05-2007, 05:12 PM

3. Water Flow: How much water flow do I need??? Is there such a thing as to much flow?? The 400 gallon power head I have shoots about 1/2 way down the tank and moves the water around quite a bit.

4. Lighting: How much lighting do you guys recommend and what type?? I was thinking of going with a 175 watt 10000k MH setup with 2 56 watt Blue PC bulbs. Right now I just plan on growing what ever grows on the live rocks and sand. Later adding hermit crabs and stars. I still have not decided on soft or hard coral yet but I have plenty of time to decide that later.

5. Protein Skimmer: Should I get a protein skimmer with the bio balls and sponge in the skimmer like the CPR BAC-PAC models, or should I go with one that does not have filter media like Jebo.

6.Food: What if anything does live rock/sand eat?? Also if anything grows on the rocks, "like the white tubes thingys or the purple x-mas tree" what should I feed it??

Thanks Again Guys: Fantor