Hello World
Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Main
Forum Name: Introduce Yourself
Forum Description: Introduce Yourself the the club.
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45442
Printed Date: July 11 2026 at 6:21pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.03 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Hello World
Posted By: zero79cool
Subject: Hello World
Date Posted: December 16 2010 at 2:25pm
| I am looking to get into the saltwater hobby. I have been running freshwater for years now and I think its time to make the leap to saltwater. I am thinking about buying a Biocube but I am unsure about what size I should get. I would like either a 29 gal for my house or maybe a 8 or 14 gal for my office. I asked a few questions about a 29 gal at my LFS and he said that pretty much right out of the box you can run some fish and corals (as long as the water is stable). I am in love with a lot of the nano/pico tanks I have been seeing lately but I think I should start out with something a little bigger for my first setup. I dont have a lot of room in my house for a big tank (50 gal - 125 gal) even though that is what I would like. I was also thinking about running a little 10 gal I have laying around but I dont know the first thing about where to start. I would really like any suggestions. |
Replies:
Posted By: Jeremyw
Date Posted: December 16 2010 at 2:31pm
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WELCOME! This is the best site in the sale water world! ------------- Next meeting: |
Posted By: Adam Blundell
Date Posted: December 16 2010 at 2:32pm
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Any of those all in one cube tanks is a great way to go. They really are just plug and play and you can get rolling with corals and then fish in no time. I've seen lots of people start out with them, and with great success. Adam ------------- Come to a meeting, they�re fun! |
Posted By: zero79cool
Date Posted: December 16 2010 at 2:56pm
| Cool, I think I just might go with the Biocube. Any suggestions on what one I should lean towards? A JBJ or Oceanic cube? |
Posted By: Sculpin
Date Posted: December 16 2010 at 3:28pm
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Welcome! IMHO bigger is better especially for noobs. If your willing to put in the time though and be vigilant about top-off and water changes you'll be ok. Oh and steer clear of light loving coral unless you get an HQI nano. They will eventually melt in the normal BC's. Stick with Zoanthids, Ricordias, softies and so on. There are some SPS's and LPS's that will work great in a Nano but do your research before you buy. Good luck! Micah
------------- 225 Reef (not really mine but i act like it is) 29 Biocube http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45353" rel="nofollow - My Whole House System Build |
Posted By: Jeremyw
Date Posted: December 16 2010 at 3:39pm
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I agree bigger better. I do disagree I have a JBJ and love it. I have only topped of once in 6 months. I do have a hood on it.
I would say if you can go with a 45 gallon tank or even a 30 with sump. Other wise a 29 gallon jbj or biocube will do you fine! ------------- Next meeting: |
Posted By: zero79cool
Date Posted: December 16 2010 at 4:08pm
| What about water? Should I mix my own or buy from a LPS? Can I buy RO water from my LPS also? What would I have to buy to make my own RO water on the cheap if there is such a thing. How long should I cycle the tank before adding fish/corals? What is a good rule of thumb about how much live rock and sand vs. tank size? Sorry for all the questions. |
Posted By: Jeremyw
Date Posted: December 16 2010 at 4:22pm
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Most LFS have it free if not its usually like .25 a gallon?? To make your own RO water you would have to get an RO/DI usually $100 for a good one. Most people mix there own water but you can def. buy it at some of the LFS.
Cycle will that all depends Mark has a great thread that would answer most of your questions on starting up a new tank. ------------- Next meeting: |
Posted By: Crazy Tarzan
Date Posted: December 16 2010 at 4:23pm
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lots of the LFS (local fish stores) will let you get RO water free, but will charge between $.25-$1.00/gal of pre-made salt water. Check with which ever one is most convenient to get to. I have to top off my BC29 about once a week, week and a half with around a gallon of water. I have to top off my pico (3 gal) daily with at least a pint, sometimes more. The biocube's are nice, but I wouldn't get smaller than a 29 for a first tank. Remember only bad things happen fast in the saltwater realm. Learn patience--it's harder than all get out to not want to add a bunch of stuff to the tank all the time, but slower really is better. And welcome, glad to see someone else wanting to enjoy salt! ------------- Was that in there yesterday? Casper--WY windier than ? Down to a 20, soon to double or nothing |
Posted By: Jeremyw
Date Posted: December 16 2010 at 4:24pm
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Found it http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 read this and then come back with tons of questions. But this will help you answer probably 80% of your questions ------------- Next meeting: |
Posted By: Sculpin
Date Posted: December 16 2010 at 5:09pm
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A good rule of thumb when it comes to cycling is "green means go". That is, when you start getting algae, it's time to start adding fish and a clean up crew. In a 29 this may take about a week or so. Another thing that helps a TON, is to fill it with someones water who's doing a water change. This helps speed up the cycling time quite a bit. 29 BioCubes are really about 25 gallons so 5-5gallon buckets do the trick nicely. Also when your at the persons house mooching water, gets some live sand from them, that is critical. Live sand will help seed your tank and get all the little microbes rockin' and rolln'. The hard part in all that is finding someone who does a 25 gallon water change. I do one or two 30 gallon WC's about every month on my 225 (frequent I know, but I feed heavy) so if you intereseted, let me know. Also there are a few really cool Do-it-yourself modifications out there for the BC's. The one that I think is a must is changing the sump in the back, into a little refugium. You just remove the bioballs, stick some cheato (a beneficial macro algae) and Live Rock back there, scrape the paint off the back, and tape a small light fixture over where you scraped the paint off. Anyways keep asking questions and take your time. Dont rush. Micah
------------- 225 Reef (not really mine but i act like it is) 29 Biocube http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45353" rel="nofollow - My Whole House System Build |
Posted By: zero79cool
Date Posted: December 16 2010 at 5:39pm
| Wow, thanks for all the help. I will be reading the link tonight for sure. Im sure I will be bugging you guys with a ton of questions, hope nobody minds. I know that the setup is going to take awhile and i'm patient but it help that I have my fresh water tank at home and I added a 1 1/2 gallon freshwater tank in my office. |
Posted By: vadryn
Date Posted: December 16 2010 at 6:12pm
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Pay attention to the significant differences between SW and FW, such as filtration. SW is very much a "closed" system compared to a FW system. Mark is very clear about what's needed to be successful.
A Bucket of Salt is <$50 - good for 160-200 gallons. I wouldn't buy premixed SW from the store if I can mix my own.
Tap-water *is* an option. I've kept a sumpless 90g for 18 months with no significant algea problems. That said, we're getting an RO unit for Christmas. Don't let RO water be a huge PITA or a reason to not get going.
Some SW stuff you need to get to start things up. A basic Hydrometer is <$10.
I would recommend the basic API SW test kit that has Alk, Ca, Nitrate, Phosphate in it. ~$30. You can spend a fortune on test kits - don't.
Other than that, Mark's instructions are your recipe for success.
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Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: December 16 2010 at 6:15pm
 This is an awesome hobby. The clickable link to the previously mentioned thread is below in my signature line along with my phone #. I'm always available and happy to answer quick questions or solve a dilema over the phone.  Here's a pic of one of my small tanks:  ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member 
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Posted By: wickedsnowman
Date Posted: December 16 2010 at 6:44pm
| Yeah I would definitely recommend getting the biggest tank that you can when you first start out. I started with a 30g and it was perfect for me. Just be patient and add fish extremely slow. Also due alot of research as to what you can keep and whats compatible. The corals your going to keep will depend on alot of variables i.e. lighting, fish, inverts and flow. I believe most biocubes come with power compact lighting. Which you cant really keep stony corals under. So just look around at what you like and base your decision around that. |
Posted By: zero79cool
Date Posted: December 16 2010 at 7:06pm
| I had no idea what to expect when I put the first post up, I am in shock really on how many people have offered advice and even offered their help. This is awesome. Thanks to everyone! Now I just need to get busy and find a tank lol. I've got a few options so far. I have a 30 gal in bad bad bad shape a friend gave me, a 10 gal I was thinking about going rimless with or a 5 gal eclipse that the filter is broken lol wow I've got a bunch of crappy tanks lol maybe after Christmas I can get one that I really want. |
Posted By: kody72
Date Posted: December 16 2010 at 9:16pm
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i live on the roy border if you ever wanna come check stuff out or have questions. i'd be glad to help you out. ------------- http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=60612&title=kody72-fishroom" rel="nofollow - KODY72 FISHROOM BUILD 281g DT 187g Rimless Frag ATI PM lighting SRO DSCR-300ext 8013908179 |
Posted By: vadryn
Date Posted: December 16 2010 at 9:33pm
| That crappy 30g could be an awesome sump... |
Posted By: zero79cool
Date Posted: December 16 2010 at 10:33pm
| That is such an awesome offer, I might have to take you up on that after the holidays. I will be on vacation after Christmas until January 11th :) |
Posted By: zero79cool
Date Posted: December 16 2010 at 10:34pm
| What all is involved in making a sump? |
Posted By: vadryn
Date Posted: December 16 2010 at 11:13pm
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A sump provides extra space and water where you can facilitate additional filtration. You can have LS and LR in there, as well as macro algae. A drilled tank is made to run with a sump. You just need a return pump to get the water back to the tank and a few plumbing features.
A tank with a sump maintains a constant water level in the display - the level goes down in the sump, makeing it the perfect place to have an auto top-off (ATO). You can hide things like probes, thermostats, heaters etc there, instead of in the display. You can also keep critters in a sump that can't live in the display due to the fish etc you keep there. It's a "refuge" for these beneficial critters - hence the term "refugium."
I have a sump for my large FW tank, but not for my 90g SW
 - if you have a choice to get a drilled or "reef ready" tank, I think it's by far the best way to go. |
Posted By: MadReefer
Date Posted: December 16 2010 at 11:19pm
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Welcome!!
A sump can be as easy as a tank that is placed under the main tank that has a pump in it. Most people add all the stuff they don't want to be seen in it. I like to have a big space for a refugium in my sumps.
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Posted By: FlooringGuy
Date Posted: December 16 2010 at 11:55pm
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I bought a Oceanic Bio 29 HQI last month. A couple things I like about the new HQI vs. Old Models or JBJ are: The light is mounted above instead of enclosed in the tank. This makes it so that your tank doesnt get as hot. The Nano's that they have at the Aquarium all have chillers because of the heat problem from enclosed lights. I also like how it has a window in the refugium compartment. It made it really easy to mount the jbj led lights in that area. It is really helping my growth. The 3 compartments in the back seem to work perfect for what you need. It also comes with a protein skimmer. You are welcome to come see mine anytime. I also bought this brand new online for only $380 shipped. ------------- Call me for Carpet, Tile, or Hardwood. (801) 263-9600 |
Posted By: Sculpin
Date Posted: December 17 2010 at 12:14am
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Oh I forgot to mention, us salt water nerds have an acronym for almost everything. Since I had a really hard time with it as first, here is a run down- LFS- Local Fish Store SPS- Small Polyp Stony (most branching or plating coral fall under that group) LPS- Large Polyp Stony (corals with big "head") LR- Live Rock LS- Live Sand LBTR- Lake Bonneville Tufa Rock (a local rock that works pretty good in place of LR... and it's free!) I'm sure there are a ton more but thats all I can think of for now. If you want I can show you my system when your back from vacation. I'm in North Salt Lake. Oh and since your in Roy, go check out Aquatic Dreams. They are a retail marine aquatic store near you and their staff is very knowledgeable. Micah ------------- 225 Reef (not really mine but i act like it is) 29 Biocube http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45353" rel="nofollow - My Whole House System Build |
Posted By: Studboyt
Date Posted: December 22 2010 at 10:46pm
 I have the Biocube 29 HQI and love it. Mine is in the basement and I have 0 overheating problems.Here is a recent pic.
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