Newbie to Reef Aquariums

[swanny88]

hello everyone my name is Mitch and I live in San Antonio, Texas.

I've had fish only salt aquariums for over 25 years and am now ready to make the splash into setting up a reef aquarium.

I've scanned and searched this forum for tips on setting up or rather converting an existing fish/live rock set up into a reef tank...but to no avail.

Could someone please direct me to the proper threads to help me get started?

By the way my current set up is as follows:

Tank: 75 gallon Oceanic with a tall base and matching canopy
Lighting: Aqualife set up with compact flourescents: total of 520 watts including the 03 actinics. Also have 4 'lunar light's although the jury is still out on those.

Filter: Wet/dry with bio balls (I understand these are nitrate problems). Any thoughts?

Anyway thanks for being patient with me and I hope you can help me in this conversion.

[Jflip2002]

So do you have live sand and/or live rock right now? If not, you will benefit with it. Take out the bioballs (That shoulda been the first thing said). then with those lights, you can keep probably mushrooms, softies, and some lps. Definitely no anemones or SPS.

The conversion shouldnt be too bad, since youve been doing this for a while, you get the basics of proper water perimeters, and what not. Another question is, what fish do you have? That could stop you from having a reef, unless you trade/sell/give away some of your non reef safe fish.

I think thats a safe place to start....

[dobejazz]

Welcome to TRT Swanny88! Joe has asked some good questions to help us help you on the right path

[Jflip2002]

Im sure Ive missed a few things... But we'll see how it goes from here lol.

[Koddie Doo]

welcome good luck first off get a budget!!!!
go slow think of what kind of game plan u want(types of corals)
hat is you fish situation if u try to convert and we find out you have nothing but triggers in your tank that could be bad...
with that said found a good place to be!!!

[Jflip2002]

Originally Posted by Koddie Doo

welcome good luck first off get a budget!!!!
go slow think of what kind of game plan u want(types of corals)
hat is you fish situation if u try to convert and we find out you have nothing but triggers in your tank that could be bad...
with that said found a good place to be!!!

Sad too because the best fish is the picasso trigger. I wish it were reef safe =\

[dobejazz]

Originally Posted by Jflip2002

Sad too because the best fish is the picasso trigger. I wish it were reef safe =\

Umm I have to disagree Clown Triggers are the coolest

[Jflip2002]

Lets start a poll! lol.

[dobejazz]

Originally Posted by Jflip2002

Lets start a poll! lol.

don't we have enough of those already

[Koddie Doo]

how bout which manly fish would you most likly see beat up that darn girly one!!!!

[Pinderville]

Originally Posted by Koddie Doo

how bout which manly fish would you most likly see beat up that darn girly one!!!!

Yea..

[Loverotties]

Welcome to TRT!Once you have the rock in there any where from 2 - 2 1/2 lbs per gallon. take the bio balls out after it's cycled with the rock.

[ChrisPrusha]

Welcome aboard, swanny88!! w0000000000000000000000000000t!!!

[UseSkaForEvil]

the live rock amount is more of a how full are you planning on stocking your aquarium and how dense are the peices, going by weight alone probably isnt a good idea. if you like alot of clear space and aren't plannng on too many fish you don't need as much rock. also compact flourescents are enough to keep anenomes, i do it and plenty of other people do too.

[AquaGrizzly]

I have pc's (384w) and have some sps corals as well. They are doing good. Not growing crazy like others but keeping thier color none the less. Welcome to trt as well.