Hello

Hi there,

I agree with Adam. Checking out other hobbyist tanks and learning from them is the way I gained much of my knowledge. I've tried to pass on that knowledge and experience in the threads linked below.
Personally, I'd suggest three things:
1. Read the "Secrets of an Affordable Reef Aquarium" linked in Reefkeeping Tips below.
2. Visit a few of the hobbyists here. Just start a topic asking who lives near. Many will offer for you to come visit, see their "pride and joy" and pic their brains for info.
3. Don't wait until next year. Start out now with a smaller tank to get your feet wet. There is much to learn in this hobby. If you try to do it big in your living room from the start, you will find too many regrets wishing you had known this or that and wishing you had done it differently from the start.

It used to be the standard response to new hobbyists that a large tank was more stable and easier to care for. We've come a long way since the days of that advice. We know so much more about the biology that we can now suggest 10-20 gal tanks are the best way to get started. It's less expensive and easy to use the stuff in the small tank to start the larger upgrade when the time comes that you find yourself totally hooked.

Welcome to awsomeness!!I agree with all of the above. As a noob I started out with just a 30gal. Have been successful enough with it that I havent quit out of frustration( going on 1 year and 8months)! Affordable is one key to success along with patience and support from the people in this community! Good luck and keep us posted!

wick246 wrote: Thanks so much everyone. I like the idea of starting now with a smaller tank but there are some other things going on in our life. We are a little older but expecting our first child next month so I'm guessing things will be pretty crazy for awhile.  A friend has offered us his old fresh water tank which he guessed was a little bigger than the most popular sized fresh tanks so I'm guessing 20 - 40 gallons. What else would we need if we started a small tank?

I think t5 lighting would be best to start. I like almost every fish and coral I have seen if they are healthy. Not sure what types of coral and fish would be happy in a small tank. I went to Fish 4U Saturday to dream a little and was amazed at the variety and color of the fish and coral. I didn't talk to anyone but it was fun to watch others ask questions. Attending a meeting sounds great - do you need to be a member?

wick246 wrote: I think t5 lighting would be best to start. I like almost every fish and coral I have seen if they are healthy. Not sure what types of coral and fish would be happy in a small tank. I went to Fish 4U Saturday to dream a little and was amazed at the variety and color of the fish and coral. I didn't talk to anyone but it was fun to watch others ask questions. Attending a meeting sounds great - do you need to be a member?

Congrats on the upcoming baby.

Two good powerheads will turn the water in a 30 gallon tank. I have used one Maxijet 1200 powerhead in a 30 gal. (Pic below)

Everyone is welcome at the WMAS meetings held at the Rose Garden Clubhouse at Sugarhouse Park at 7PM the first Thursday of every month. The next meeting features an old friend, Mike Savage (see pic below).

In my experience with new hobbyists, and I've helped 100's, the test kits that CapnMorgan listed are not necessary. The four most important things to know are Salinity, Temperature, Alkalinity and Calcium. Just follow the setup method described in the Affordable Reef Aquarium thread and do 10% monthly water changes. That will save you some moolah, because Alk and Ca are going to be within range for the first 3-6 months in a new tank anyway.
- Later, other hobbyists or the LFS can test Alk and Ca.
- There's no need for a heater if the tank is in a temperature controlled room. Reef aquariums do wonderful at room temperature.
- Salinity is easy. 1/2 cup of salt mix per gallon places it just right and as water evaporates, just top off with purified water (RO water from grocery store water units is just $0.30/gallon). Salt does not evaporate.
- Grow macroalgae and Soft Corals first. These things keep the water very clean so testing the Nitrogen compounds (Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate) is unnecessary.
- Then after a week add a fish or two and many snails. Blue Chromis, Blue Damsels, Bicolor Blenny, Clownfish, all are good starting fish.
It's that easy.


And my number is below if you need someone to talk to about your new addiction.


Edited by Mark Peterson - September 23 2011 at 4:03pm

Welcome to your new addiction! I don't think a MJ1200 is too big, you can always deflect the current and point it away from corals if needed.

The Maxi Jet 1200 is my favorite PH, versatile, nearly bulletproof and you can move it to your new tank when you upgrade

I've run several tanks with and without sumps/fuges over the years but IME the ones with are seem to have better water quality and are also more convenient/clean looking since you can hide your heater, skimmer, macro etc and add supplements to the sump so they'll mix before getting back up to the display tank.

The hobby(obsession) has come a long way since I started...it used to be bigger was better. I've seen some amazing nano and small tanks recently though so it's surely possible to run sumpless but I personally prefer a slightly larger system with a sump and fuge.

Pretty much everything except livestock in my current setup was purchased used, from here. There's always good deals and people willing to help, frag and spread knowledge!

$60?