Newbie

[Beaches]

Hi, just found this website...love it! I'm new to the saltwater arena and would like some "basic/in easy to understand terms" on starting a mini-tank. I have a 10g tank with crushed sand/coral (about 1 1/2-2" deep), regular lighting (am planning to purchase 50/50 bulb), and have a Skilter 250 running at the present time and would like to make a mini-reef or small fish tank (w either damsels or clowns w/anemones, etc)--nothing too difficult to start. I'm planning to purchase a 55g in July (and realize that smaller tanks are much more difficult--have freshwater tank too) but would like to give this a shot, hopefully with no casualties! Any advice would be appreciated...

[Brooke]

Hi Beaches-

Your current set-up sounds like a typical "bare-bones" beginner's set-up. This is fine for getting your feet wet, so to speak, but I would not recommend that set-up for a reef tank. It could be a useful tank for getting used to water changes, testing your water, etc. You could keep an easy fish in that tank and then study up and save $$$ for the bigger reef tank that you are setting up in July.

The best thing to do is read, read, read. We have an archive section with some commonly asked questions and answers that should be helpful. Also, there are a number of reefkeeping books that we considered required reading. A few of my favorites are Natural Reef Aquariums by John Tullock and The Conscientious Marine Aquarist by Bob Fenner. Also check out Ron Shimek's book Coral Reef Aquariums. He has started many very recent trends such as using snails instead of hermit crabs for clean-up and also using a deep sand bed for denitrification.

Hopefully this will help get you started. You can also use the search link above and search all of our posts. Feel free to ask away...there are no dumb questions and we were all new to the hobby once!!

Glad to have you at The Reef Tank!
Brooke

[FishDaddy]

Hi Beaches, great name!

Brooke has given you excellent advice. She has considerable experience with small(nano) tanks. There are several links on her site: http://people.mn.mediaone.net/bearthman/reef.html

I cannot stress enough the importance of reading everything you can. The books cited are a must to read before buying anything, and will always be good references. You will often encounter conflicting advice and opinions, even from the experts, so it it very important to read as much as you can so you can make your own informed choices. Here are a couple more helpful websites: http://faq.thekrib.com/sbegin.html http://www.reefkeepers.org/faq/cache/33.html http://www.animalnetwork.com/fish/li...=&RecordNo=166 http://www.wyx.com/iheo/tank/new.htm http://www.hobbyschool.com/reef/

I would like to discourage getting a 55 gal. for your reef. Establishing and maintaining a reef is a long term commitment and the tank should be able to meet your goals and options for the forseeable future.
A 55 sounds like a huge tank but it really isn't. The main problem is the narrow width that limits your aquascaping; room for lighting and hangon equipment; room in the stand is very restrictive for a sump; you would be limited to only a few fish; and the rock structure must of necessity be a vertical wall. A 75 is a much better size and can use most of the same equipment that you would need for a 55; just more sand and rock. I would also recommend a pre-drilled ("reef ready") tank for much better sump setup.
I have a 55 that's 2-1/2 yrs. old and sure wish I'd gone with a 75 instead. I will be moving the reef into a larger tank in the future.

Take care in not buying equipment that you really don't need. For basics; live rock and a sandbed; protein skimmer; a sump; proper lighting; testing kits and equipment; method for maintaining Calcium & Alkalinity(such as Kalkwasser or 2-part additives); avoiding the use of other additives; and be very patient.
When considering the purchase of any equipment, be sure to research the experience of others by searching the board and asking questions.

Again, welcome to The Reef Tank and Reefing!!
Dick

[toms]

Hi Beaches,
I second FishDaddy's remarks about the 55g tank for a reef. I have a 55 and I am quite proud of it but he nailed everything right on the head. My 100 lbs of rock is a vertical wall that is only about 2 inches away from the front glass. I has taken me about 6 years to "finish" (we all know it is never finished). I am now wishing I went with a 75g or even more because I feel the need to grow . Yet on the other hand, oh what a project it will be to change over A 55 will get small quick.
Good luck and enjoy.

[Alice]

Welcome to The Reef Tank!

Everyone above gave excellent advice and they're sure right about gettng bit by the saltwater bug! You can never have a tank too big

However, I love my little tank (17 gallon nano) and I find them a great opportunity to create a small environment. You have to be careful and realistic though so reading up is your best bet.

You can create a very beautiful small tank; some mushrooms, maybe a gorgonian (a little later, after the tank has matured a bit) some macro algae for interest and to help with nutrient export, a small fish and maybe a shrimp would all look great in a 10 gallon tank.

Ask away! And again, welcome

~Alice

[Beaches]

Thanks a million for all your responses! I have been reading up, asking lots of questions (I think I've about picked the brains of every local aquarium store personnel--lots of varied answers to be sure--but I've found some very dependable, knowledgable folks too!), and reading up on the "web." I've checked my local bookstore and ordered the books you've recommended. Yes, I'm already addicted--started with me getting just one lionhead goldfish and a 3 gallon tank, then a 7g, then a 10g, added another lionhead, now up to 20 g--believe me they are in condo world w/all the trimmings! Then...I saw a porcupine puffer, so that's what got me started on saltwater--and I know I can't have him in a reef tank--but there are others I can have!!! I visited one of my favorite local stores last night and added two pieces of rock (1 medium and 1 small) to my 10 gal so now it doesn't look so bare--I'm still deciding on what else will go in. Anyway, enough of taking up ya'lls time--have a great week and I'll check in to update later.

[Drew]

Hi Beaches, Welcome to TRT!

I have a small clownfish tank that I keep in hopes of establishing a mated pair (only time will tell), and it is a whole lot of fun! Its incredibly simple, a few pounds of rock, sandbed, heater, striplight, power filter, caulerpa, and clean-up crew. Its run wonderfully. Clownfish (perculas or ocellaris) are great fish for small tanks, but if you are looking for something different you could try something like a goby, jawfish, or royal gramma. A few shrooms would add a little more color too, maybe a shrimp...The possibilities are endless!
As for the the future 55 gal, I agree with the previous posters. Go with something wider, with more room for aquascaping. I started out with a freshwater 45 gal with only 12 inches front to back, which is great for fw angels, but frustrating to try to aquascape. I'd go with a 75, you'll be happy you did. Good luck, go slow, have a blast!

Drew

[ 06-04-2001: Message edited by: Drewman ]

[Doug1]

If the 75 is out of budget, consider something like a 40 gallon breeder tank, or one of the tanks with a 36x18 footprint(base dimension). since they are low and wide they can be lit cheaply(subjective term) and still provide a good sand bed to water volume ratio.
Skilter(modified) are OK on nano tanks but on a larger tank you'll want better, if youhavent already bought a skilter for your ten consider the new Red Sea Prizm.
Don't even fool with multi normal out put aquarium lights, check out www.ahsupply.com they have an assortment of power compact lights that are hard to beat, you can put almost 200 watts over a 40 for a little over $200. Believe me you will spend that trying to get enough "aquarium" bulbs and fixtures to support even easy lowlight(relative) corals and such. They can also provide great lighting for your 10g which can sumday be a refugium for your bigger tank, Enjoy