Want to start a reef tank

Herp35 · 09-30-2007, 01:06 PM

I am 15 years old and very interested in starting my first reef tank. I need to go the cheapest, easiest way. Any suggestions on tank size, shape, filter, inhabitants etc... I know a little about starting a tank but I wanted to ask any hobbyists their opinions. I was thinking about a 26 g Nano Cube? Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

Pescaiolo · 09-30-2007, 01:07 PM

Do you have any experience in keeping freshwater aquariums?

to TR!

Herp35 · 09-30-2007, 01:13 PM

I have had 2 fantail goldfish for 8 years.

Pescaiolo · 09-30-2007, 02:14 PM

Oh cool! That is a long time!

Keeping Goldfish and keeping a marine tank is two totally different worlds. Goldfish are cold freshwater fish that are waste machines! Marine tanks have a lot more parameters to worry about and a lot more patience is required. Do a lot of research on the animals you wish to keep and if you can meet their requirement to live happy in your tank. Research is priority! You want to know what you want and how to care for it or you will be killing a lot of animals that we can't replace easily...not only that your wallet will take a hit! Marine livestock is more expensive, a lot more expensive than freshwater livestock. I would try to do a fish only system until you get your feet wet so to speak. In a 26G you will be limited to smaller species but still very colorful.

What is your goal? What kind of livestock do you want to keep in your tank? Are you wanting to keep corals? If so what kind? There are several types of corals who needs differ. Some need strong lighting and flow which in a small tank can cause heat issues depending on where you live. Have a plan and you will not go wrong. You also found the best place to get your info from! TR has several experts and seasoned veterans in the hobby plus the podcasts are so invaluable(thank you Rob!). If you have any questions I am sure someone here can get you an answer.

Herp35 · 09-30-2007, 04:11 PM

Thanks, i was thinking about a firefish, maybe a clown and some mushroom polyps. So i don't need snails and crabs for a clean up crew. How much would it cost to get started? Would tou go with the NanoCube kit or go DIY, if so which filter, light, skimmer, etc... would you use?

**CarmieJo** · 09-30-2007, 06:37 PM

Hi Herp and

to TR!

Wow, you have had your goldfish a long time! Are they in an aquarium or pond? You are starting your journey into marine tanks in the right way, researching first. A marine tank will need more testing than a freshwater tank and what I see as more intensive maintenance.

I have picked up both of my tanks used and this is a good way to save $$ on start up costs. I paid $150 for a NanoCube 24 with a stand, new light bulbs, about 20# LR, the sand, an extra powerhead, a test kit and the livestock. But this is still an expensive hobby. Keep your eyes out for setups on craigslist and the Atlanta Reef Club's "For Sale" forum. If you are buying a used tank ask if copper based medication, commonly used for treating ich, has been used in it. This would be especially true if you are getting a freshwater setup off of craigslist. Traces can remain behind and if they leach into the water in high enough concentrations will kill inverts.

Your stocking list is reasonable for a tank of this size. You would want a clean up crew. I have a clown and a chromis in my NanoCube 24 with about a half dozen snails and hermits, a colt coral, some GSP and zoanthids. With your stocking list you, like me, would only need the stock PC lights that come with most of the all in ones or PC's on a DIY nano. You do not need metal halides to keep fish and softies.

For filtration I recommend live sand and live rock. To save money you can start with mostly base rock and just a little LR to seed it. As far as sand goes, I would not pay for the live sand in a sealed bag. Instead buy plain aragonite sand then let your LR seed the sand. It will be LS in a short time. Better yet get a cup of sand from a fellow reef keeper or two and use this to seed your sand. Atlanta has a big reef club and you can probably find someone in your area to help you out. Budget for a pound of rock per gallon of water. I use a DSB in my larger tank but a SSB in my nano. I am contemplating increasing the sandbed in my nano.

I have never used any of the "cycle your tank in a bottle" stuff and can not see a time that I would. I think that the time a tank is cycling is valuable and many things happen that we can't test for. With saltwater tanks only disaster happens fast! Don't use tap water in a marine tank, instead use RO or RO/DI water.

I don't have a skimmer in my nano but I may get one on down the road. My water parameters in my nano are good without a skimmer but I change 20% of the water every week.

Herp35 · 10-01-2007, 07:39 PM

My goldfish are in a 10 gallon aquarium. So you think a nanocube is the way to go. I have heard that the filters are no good. If I build my own tank do I need an external filter or will the sand and LR filter it enough? I found a 20 gallon acrylic tank @ petsmart. What other equip. do I need?

**CarmieJo** · 10-01-2007, 10:18 PM

Well if you go with a nano the first thing to do is not use the bio-balls that come with it so what you have heard about the filtration is somewhat true. I use a sponge in my nano just to catch junk but I rinse it weekly and do not count on it for bilolgical filtration. The LR and LS are all the filter you need in either type of tank.

If you DIY it you will need a tank

, lights, heater, a couple of water movers, sand and rock. You will probably want a cover of some sort. You will also need salt, a way to measure salinity (hydrometer or refractometer), and test kits. You will probably want a timer for the lights. Acrylic tanks need careful cleaning care as they can scratch. But scratches are easier to fix in acrylic than in glass.

OK everyone, what have I forgotten?

thecoralreefer · 10-02-2007, 03:06 PM

Ah good job so far but, Herp, You still need a clean up crew even in a smaller tank.
Just use less of them so they will last.
Nano's are a good setup if you keep them clean.
One or 2 large Rocks for bio will be fine. 1" sand bed works good.Use Approx 30-50% of the space in rock.
One or 2 fish is about it for a smaller tank. So be picky and read up on that fishes needs.
If you want better lighting and filtration it's easy to upgrade to a w/d or fuge.
More light needs A chiller ! You can pack these with as much coral as you can fit in there.Just keep it clean
and feed very lightly. Test kits are a must so you can see what you did to the water. And what you need to do to the water. Calcium Alkalinity Amonia Nitrite Salinity, or Sg Phosphates Oh watch you temp, stay below 80 if you can. Feed zooplankton in the pm and phytoplankton in the am.

Herp35 · 10-02-2007, 09:38 PM

Thanks for the advice. Does the shape of the tank matter? I found a tall hexagon tank on sale but I have heard something about oxygen diffusion in tall tanks. So LR and LS are all I need filtration wise?

thecoralreefer · 10-03-2007, 12:06 PM

It all depends on the tank Herp.
The Nano has a sort a filter in it.
Any tank w/o that needs a filter of some kind to move the water
and help remove detris.
Some people have altered there Nano's to add a filter(w/d or fuge and a chiller
to account for more lighting. Ca reactors for corals and a phosphate reactor
Taller tanks do have an inherant problem with Ox if you do not have enough flow
in the bottom of the tank. That can be overcome w/ powerheads. They are all different
Live rock is important for more than looks. It also give a place for bacteria to live and fish to hide.
It gives you a place to put your corals too. So install approx 30-50% of the volume of the tank in live rock.
It will also give a place for shrimps and Hermit crabs to feed and hide.
Remember that it is a very violent world these guys live in so a good place to hide is very important !
Pick the inhabitants by research first and looks second ! Find out who is compatible with whom and life will be much easier to deal with. Lots of small fish need sand too to make the house the way THEY like it.
A blue spot jaw fish should have Approx 4" of sand for excavation first and rebuilding second. Some fine sand and some rough pieces for rebuilding. So Do the research. Don't look at it as work. Lookat it as providing for something delicate and beautiful

**CarmieJo** · 10-05-2007, 09:31 PM

I do not have any type of filter in either my 54 or my nano. No sponges, no bio-balls just plenty of LS and LR in both. I have a DSB n my 54 and a SSB in the nano. I do weekly water changes, 10% in the 54 (with a sump/fuge) and 20% in the nano. I run carbon. After listening to some of lectures at MACNA and reading some recent discussions I have started using only a few Tbs of carbon and changing it weekly instead using a larger amount and changing it every few weeks.

Herp35 · 10-06-2007, 08:49 AM

Thanks for the help so far everyone. Could someone give me a list of everything I need to start a reef tank? I am getting ready to start pricing but I need to know what to price.