Newbie starting up Reef Tank

[Kibouchi]

I'm a marine-biology enthusiast who formerly landscaped my own freshwater outdoor pond with a rock waterfall. I live in AZ where it's hot as hell and don't have the room outdoors to build a good pond that would keep the fish safe from the heat of the sun. I'm from New Hampshire originally and I miss the ocean (Phoenix is 5.5 hours from the Pacific).

That said, I've been researching the necessary equipment, steps, and maintenance schedules for properly maintaining a saltwater reef tank. It's a huge learning experience, and thus far I know that it'll cost about 1200 bucks to get set up (will have to aquire equipment over time), and has to go through cycling periods before you can introduce fish.

I've read articles online and how-to stuff, but for things like this there's always tips and tricks that go deeper than the textbook step-by-step instructions that really come in handy.

I'm not an expert on fish tanks, but if they're anything like ponds, you should try to implement as much of a natural ecosystem as possible (utilizing plants and fish to oxygenate the water). Are there ideal plants/fish combinations that help this process?

Thanks!

[Parrothead]

Welcome to Reeflands

There is a sticky at the top of the page that has alot of really good information in it, check it out, it's called click here before you ask

Most of us use sand (that after a short while will become live sand, don't fall for the bagged stuff labeled live sand) and live rock this provides natural filtration for the system, aeration is provided primarily by flow and surface skimming and movement, that is why you will read how important a sump is. Thats my next project myself.

What size tank are you planning and I'm glad you've been doing research and studying vs. just putting it up and then learning, we are all here to help.

Again, Welcome to Reeflands.

[Flyboy450r]

Welcome to reef land also. Parrothead will not steer you wrong best advice you could ever want. I guess my first piece of advice would be dont count the bills. 1200 sounds like alot but thats a great figure for start up cost but to maintain it with ro water, test strips, salt, electricity, and so on the bill is a little over whelming. But well worth every penny. Go as big as you can for your budget/ your house will alow. It will save you a headache and be much more rewarding in the long run.

[Parrothead]

Thanks Flyboy,

but there are alot of other people on here that know a whole heck of a lot more than I do, believe me, I'm still learning, we all are to some degree.

[Kibouchi]

Thanks for the advice guys!

I'll probably do a small one. I don't want to spend a ton of money on a large one for the sake of having a large one. I might upgrade to a larger one once I've learned the proper maintainence. A friend of mine told me to start with "ugly fish" that are expendable until I get the hang of it. The problem is that I respect all marine life beyond the point of "this is pretty, it gets to live". All marine life is fascinating to me and no fish is worth being used as a guinnea pig. I really want to take this slow and do it right. Measure twice, cut once.

Parrothead, when you say to use sand, do mean just.... sand? Like, go to the beach and grab some, or do I need to get a specific type?

When I built my pond I used a natural filtration system. I pumped through a pvc pipe that was covered in 6 inches of gravel. Never had any problems with the pump, and the fish in the pond would feed off the algae. I'm trying to bring a little of that concept over to the tank, but I have a feeling that it's not the same at all. Especially since my pond was freshwater.

Thanks for the help and I will definitely read the sticky!

[Parrothead]

Caribsea, plain old aragonite sand, not live, then go to a fellow hobbyist or your lfs and see if you can get a cup or 2 to seed the sand with, as for size, from personal exp. if you can go with a min. of a 75 gallon, preferrably a 90 to start, I've got a 55 and am severely restricted when it comes to available real estate.

[gregr]

You are so on the right track... Can't tell you how many times we've read about people not doing any homework and then being shocked when the fish go belly up
Anyhow- I just wanted to reinforce the concept of getting a big tank- not just because it's cool but because it'll be tons easier to keep healthy than a small one. Usually people want to start small, maybe because of the cost involved, but also because they think it'll be easier. It won't, at least up to a point. If you can get the space and funds to start out with a 75g (ballpark) that's the way to go.
If you're in Phoenix (or any of the other sizable cities) try to find a reef club- they'll be a lot of help.
Oh yeah- one more important tip-- don't take what they say at the local fish store for the absolute truth. They aren't always 100% honest... to say the least.

[Kibouchi]

Thanks for the advice, Gregr. You guys have all been extremely helpful

I went to the store and priced out a 75 gallon tank. I do video production professionally, so a few contractual gigs on the side will help fund this hobby. I wanted to go 90 gallon, but I just don't have the space anywhere in my house. The 75 will fit perfectly in this little slot in the living room. It's a low-traffic, out-of-the-way area where it can be seen, but there aren't people walking through it all the time so it won't be messed with.

That's ok though, the 75 is still a pretty massive tank. I will take your advice about referring to a reef club. We have a pet bird, as well, and we know the owner of a local pet store who is very learned and honest about his creatures, but he's not 100% dedicated to saltwater tanks, and especially not reef tanks. I wouldn't say it's a trust issue for him as we've known him a long time, but more of a knowledge issue. He knows more about the animals themselves than he does about maintaining the tanks and whatnot. I'll see what I can find in the Phoenix area.

My goal is to get the tank cycling by the beginning of september (I don't make enough to buy everything at once. it'll have to be over a couple months). I read all about the nitrogen cycle, very interesting stuff! Excited to learn more!

[gregr]

Good deal- like I said- you're on the right track.
I do sound and video production work too (along with photography). Hey- has the idea of a chiller come up yet in your research? Unless you keep your house real cool you might have some issues during the hot months. A couple of fans aimed at the surface of the water can help enormously but you may be in chiller territory. Something to think about.

[Kibouchi]

I haven't heard of a chiller. In AZ right now it's getting up to 115 daily, but I keep my house at around 80 while my wife and I are at work during the day, and then 76 when we get home. Then, 73 when we go to bed. A chiller might be something I'd want to invest in during the summer. I don't know though. It only gets that hot for a few months out of the year. By the time I get this thing cycling (september) it might be starting to cool in AZ. I'll keep that in mind though.

[Abaddon]

Start with GOOD quality live rock. They have sponsors on here that can steer you in the right direction. Many people (including me) swear by Tampa Bay Saltwater. But check out MarineDepot.com and order the Caribsea sand with live bacteria. It'll help cycle the tank quicker.

Best thing to do is make a list of everything you are going to need and start making the purchases LONG before you mix up the first batch of saltwater. There are some things you are going to HAVE to have and then there are things you might just want. I made my own sump (check out this site for ideas Melevsreef.com | Acrylic Sumps & Refugiums) and purchased the tank and then started stocking up stuff I needed. It took over a month before I made up my first batch of saltwater.

Good luck!

[Kibouchi]

But check out MarineDepot.com and order the Caribsea sand with live bacteria. It'll help cycle the tank quicker.

Thanks for the well-wishes, but that statement goes against everything that the other members of this board have taught me over the past couple weeks. I was told by several people to buy aragonite sand (dry), and not spend a dime on actual live sand, but to get a cup or two from a fellow hobbyist's tank.


Making my tank cycle faster would be nice, but not if it means spending a lot more money. I'm in no hurry. I'm trying to adopt this as a lifelong hobby that is stemming from a thus far lifelong interest. Rushing to get my tank cycled isn't something I'm prepared to do. I want to take this slow and steadily, especially since I have to aquire parts of a long period of time. I make a good amount of money, but not enough to buy everything up at once and assemble it. It's going ot have to be a process, and one I'm going to enjoy greatly. I try to look at it as simply having more time to learn and research.

For me, it's not just the joy of having the tank in front of me. It's the process of setting it up.

Thanks for the advice though