Starting a mini reef tank and need some help...

[NYCSpeedcore]

Hi, I am relitivly new to keeping any sort of reef tank and just picked up my first book. I have been trying my best to find a tank manufacturer called "Via Tank" which I saw at my local shop. The tank was running around $200 and I was trying to see if that was a decent deal or even a good tank to go with. It was around 10 gallons, had a under-gravel filter, and high output lighting. I was told for a smaller tank like this I would not need a protein skimmer... any help and links to shops would be a great help! Thanks, I am sure I will be sticking around here in the future.

[iceboxman]

The title says you want it to be a Reef tank and just by your description of the tank, I would say it's a bad deal. You would be paying for an UGF that you don't need. HO lighting might not be sufficient for many of the species you might want to keep.

There are other questions though? Does it comes with some kind of substrate? What other accessories does it come with? A 10G tank by itself can be bought for about $10.

I couldn't tell you for certain about needing a protein skimmer, but I have heard of people successfully running reef tanks without them.

[mapster]

Welcome, NYC Speedcore

I am also a beginner and can honestly say, without the help I've gotten here, I would be lost, broke and have a tank full of dead stuff.

I cant help you out on the Via Tank thing, but Im sure somebody else can. The only thing I will comment on is the lighting. If it is HO fluorescent lighting you will have trouble finding aquarium specific light bulbs for it (i.e. Actinic blue). I hastely bought a HO lighting unit and the only bulbs I could find were GE daylight bulbs wich made everything look yellow-brown.

Also, IMO, 200$ for a 10g set-up semms a little high.

Check out TRT sponsors for links to some good shops. Premium Aquatics is great.

I would also recomend the book "the Conscientious Marine Aquarist" by Robert Fenner. This book has been a big help to me. I have not put it down for more than 15 minutes since I got it 2 month ago.

Again, Welcome and have fun.

[iceboxman]

Oh, I forgot to say... Welcome to TRT.

[karsco]

NYC, welcome to TRT! I think that price seems a little high also. Here is a link that you might find intersting and helpful!

http://www.nano-reef.com/

[NYCSpeedcore]

I know the price seems high, but it is an acrylic tank with rounded rather than glued sides, with the undergravel filter and pump. I believe it is the right type of lighting according to what the guy told me. Is glass or acylic any better than one another? Are there any places that sell something like allglasses mini-bow setups but ment for salt water? Thanks for the warm welcome and the help.

[iceboxman]

Acrylics usually run more expensive than glass and are definitely light. They are stronger for water pressure, but tend to scratch more easily that glass.

From what I understand, it is a 10G acryllic tank, comes with an HO light, a bulb, an air pump, some sort of lid, a UGF and nothing else. It sounds like a fair price for the equipment that you get, but when you realize that you won't need most of it, it's a bad deal.

Also, what kind of "local shop" is this? Is it a shop that carries supplies for all pets, or do they specialize exclusively in fish. If they specialize in fish, do they further specialize in Saltwater/Reef Tanks? Just asking, because sometimes people at general pet stores will just have basic knowledge of fish and sell you things you won't need.

[karsco]

NYC I don't know if you are a do it yourselfer or not, but with a small set up like this you could save some $$$ if you were willing to do some work. I do not like acrylic because it scratches real easy, and I also would not use and undergravel filter. I think you would be better off using a 2 to 3 inch fine sandbed and a small powerhead for circulation. As far as the tank goes I would by a 10 or 15 gallon tank and make all small section with acrylic for a refugium wich would help with your water qualtiy. (See example below)
http://www.nanoreefs.com/aquariums.htm

For lights I would probably buy power compacts and buy a retro fit kit to install into a hood. www.hellolights.com
www.hamiltontechnology.com

I think for the money you will get a lot better setup going this route. Sorry to ramble I have been thinking about setting up another little tank and this is what I would do. Just my 2 cents...

[FishDaddy]

Hi NYCspeedcore,

Good to have you with us!
Which book did you buy? I would suggest either Robert Fenner's The Conscientious Marine Aquarist or John Tullock's Natural Reef Aquariums, or even both. I would recommend getting and reading one of these books before making any purchase decisions.

The self-contained aquariums such as the one you describe and the Marineland Eclipse systems are appealing to the beginning marine aquarist because they seem to be plug-n-play but they usually need substantial modification as a serious reef tank, especially the lights. The Eclipse tanks I've seen do a fair job for fish-only but I would recommend building a system from scratch for a reef.

The 29 gallon tank is popular for first small reefs and many of our members have had good success with them. Larger tanks are much more forgiving and I would generally recommend the biggest tank you can reasonably afford.

Dick

[fliberdygibits]

If you want a "nano reef" in the 10 gallon range, I would look at marine land's eclipse series. They are good acrylic tanks with MANY DIY lighting upgrades described on the net that do very well. It fits a picolo or similar size skimmer, has a decent filter and can be had for under $100.

HTH

P.S. - Some of the eclipses even have bow front tanks and dual light canopies...... big pluses.

[Stang69]

Here is a little bit of reading for you to do it is from a member here that has put up a board to answer questions about starting cycling and ways to set up etc.

http://mojoreefs.homestead.com/files/280_006.htm


Hope this helps
Jeff

[mikeMersot]

Doesnt sound like too appealing a deal to me, getting a ugf with a system isnt much of a plus, they are often free, needless to say you wont be using it anyway, HO bulbs are too hard to find, I would start with a 29 which wouldnt be much more expensive.

[jjharrisx4]

Welcome to the hobby, and the board. Things have been pretty well covered above, but one thing I'd like to add is that there isn't much difference between setting up a 10g and a 30, or 50 for that matter. The real difference comes in the amount of LR you use. One thing to consider is that larger tanks tend to have slower changes chemically than smaller ones. This is a big help to the beginner aquarist. Also, most people tend to grow into larger tanks as they are in the hobby for a while. This often is very expensive as you have to replace equipment that won't be sufficient for the larger system vs. the smaller original tank.

Also, consider the livestock you wish to have. The rule of 1" per gallon doesn't work in the marine world. In my opinion, bigger is better, is easier, is more rewarding for the beginner.

Regarding the skimmer...I have done it both ways, and I LOVE my skimmer. 'Nuf said. Good luck!

One last thing...Since you are starting fresh, you may want to consider purchasing your live rock off of the internet. There are many online retailers that will ship the live rock to your door for a considerable savings vs your local fish store. Often a 1-2$ per pound savings. That is real money that can go into great lighting, or towards a skimmer if you choose. Search the board, or better yet, check out B. Fenner's "Concientious Marine Aquarist" for details on starting a tank w/LR.

[hamburglar]

Lots of mini reef questions today....

Here's a link to my website with my 5.5 gallon tank details.
http://www.lupton-net.com/reeftank

[Jimbo]

Hi I know that I'm coming in late here...

A couple of things for $200 you are not getting anything useful except for the tank. If I had 200 to start here's what I would get.

20-30 gallon bowfront tank, I think they look neat price $50
Stand, well if you don't use some old desk, your looking at $75
10 gallon sump (rubbermade)
10 gallon refugium (a place where algea is allowed to grow)OPT
$10 for rubbermade stuff
Bulk head connectors and plumbing stuff $25
Pump sets in sump $50 ask for advice depending on tank size
Overflow, this takes the water from your tank to the sump. $50
If you can get it (get southdown sand from home depot 2 bags)
$10
50 gal saltmix $20
Lights of America 65 watt flood light (home depot) $29 8000 lumens (good starter light)
ebo jagor heater $20 100 watt
Cheapo protien skimmer $50 (in sump, pump output to tank and skimmer)
Starter test kit $30

So this adds up to $403 (so much for $200) for the hardware, without a stand, but you will get alot more. Things like salt, sand, good pump, protein skimmer, sump, test kit and refugium are all things you will want.

Livestock - Live rock 20-60 lbs, I got a good deal from my LFS(local fish store), paid just a little more than I could have bought it off the internet and I got to pick the pieces. Lets say 35lbs * $4 a pound = $140

You don't have to buy everything all at once, get the tank, sand,salt pump, rock and light. First installment cost $159+$140 live rock=$299

Next month you will need a protein skimmer, sump, overflow, plumbing stuff, test kit make, make sure you have room below the tank for 2 10 gal rubbermade containers. Cost $165
You also may want to add some snails, live sand culture $50

The following month, You will want to add some live stock, cleaner shrimp a coral or two. ect... $50+

Hay your on your way to a great hobby, hope I didn't scare you away , it's good to know what your getting into, for your enjoyment and the health of the animals you keep. Remember the reefs are in jeaperdy. Feel free to post any questions that you might have.

Have a great weekend!