New To Saltwater Tanks, Let Alone Reefs. HELP

[cbrenn71]

i'm somewhat familiar with fish but i'm completely clueless when it comes to corals and other animals. what is SPS? sorry for the dumb questions. what lives together well, and what can't i mix.

[Petunia]

here are some sites that you should check out, they will help you:

http://www.liveaquaria.com/

http://www.liveaquaria.com/general/c...lity_chart.cfm

http://www.reefcorner.com/Manual/feeding.htm

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/index.htm

http://www.reefkeeping.com/

http://www.coralreefnetwork.com/sten...s/seaweeds.htm

http://www.seasky.org/sea.html

good luck. i have a nine gallon all-enclosed nano. no special lights in it and no skimmer. i have corals, fish, and inverts... everything is doing great in it. the anemones will require a better lighting system than what comes with the nanos.

welcome!!! keep us all posted on your progress and attach pics if you can.

[darthteddy]

Wish i had gotten that list when i was new. lol

[three90s&125sump]

I don't think I would try to build the tank. I would just buy a decent one maybe a used one. Your three to one aspect ratio is a 30 long (BTW). The skimmer you are going to want to build will employ a needle wheel pump or a venturi injector. I am partial to the needle wheel designs my self they are simple and easy and very efficient. You can buy small needle wheel pumps from "all seas marine" but I think for the price you will spend on building one combined with the feeling of weather it will or wont work and the time you have invested in building it you would be better off to purchase an ASM mini. A stand will be simple enough to build as will a sump with baffles and everything else. The lighting and the canopy or hood will be fairly simple too. On a tank as small as 12 gallons (maybe just run a 20 long for the ease of addaption to lighting) you can get away with keeping almost anything under PC or VHO lighting. If you do go with a 20 long you can use 2 or 3 or 4 24 inch VHOs for a substantial amount of light. If you want a smaller tank you can get PCs in an 12 or 18 inch lenth.

To do an excellent 20 gallon nano... You may end up spending between $350 (all DIY) to $500 for OEM equipment. To do a full out techno set up on a 20 nano you may end up spending in the neighborhood of $1200. You could do a nice set up for a nano if you purchase all used stuff for good deals (patience) you could get buy on spending around $200.

[cbrenn71]

is it better to buy rock that has already been cooked, or do it myself.

i guess i see the process as being very expensive in itself. whereas i may be able to pick it up it looks like for around 3.50 to 5.00 a pound for fiji

[three90s&125sump]

Originally Posted by cbrenn71

is it better to buy rock that has already been cooked, or do it myself.

i guess i see the process as being very expensive in itself. whereas i may be able to pick it up it looks like for around 3.50 to 5.00 a pound for fiji

I would cook it either way, especially in a nano.

[darthteddy]

5 bucks for fiji is an awsome price at least where im at. I think that as long as you dont go bare bottem that you shouldnt worry about cooking it as long as it is coming out of an established system aka a LFs tank. Where im at good fiji costs around 10 to 15 bucs per lb

[coker98]

if you want nice looking clowns that dont get big i would suggest pink skunk clowns or white cap clowns.