View Full Version : Omg Where To Start !
Hi all,
Im new to the forum, I have kept tropical fish for about a year in a 24" tank, usualy community fish and I am considering (stress considering) a marine reef tank.
Its tough to know where to start aint it !
I have the following book The Reef Aquarium: A Comprehensive Guide to the Identification and Care of Tropical Marine Invertebrates, Volume 1
Martin A., Jr. Moe (Foreword), J. Charles Delbeek, Peter Wilkens (Unknown)
and have read a zillion pages on the net, just wanted to sound out if I am on the right track with costing equipment, This is the list I have prepared for now.
Juwel 260
T5 compact lighting ?
Heater
Protein skimmer
Fluval 304 external
pumps ?
live rock ??
what else ?
was considering Auqamedic 500 filter system as it looks nice all in one unit. Didnt really want to have sump type setup.
Cheers, Simon.
Cheers.
Hi,
A lot of this will depend on what you plan to keep.
Out of interest, what do you want the external for? You should, IMO, only really need the external for chemical media. In a system with invertebrates that utilises live rock, biological media may just succeed in driving the nitrates up to undesireable levels, because it doesn't have the capacity to support anaerobic bacteria which turn nitrate into nitrogen gas. This applies to all biological filter media, IMO. For a successful reef, all you need is some live rock, a protein skimmer and all the rest. A lot of people now utilise what is known as a deep sand bed - a layer of fine sand around 4 inches deep, filled with animals like bristleworms, snails and the like, which will provide an enormous surface area for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria alike. I use this in my tank, along with live rock and a protein skimmer, as the only means of filtration. Ammonia and nitrite is 0, nitrate is about 1.5, althogh in my old tank all of these paramteters were 0.
Sorry for the quick skim over, if you have any other questions please feel free to ask.
"Where to start!"
How about, Hi! and welcome to UR!
First thing to do with the Jewel is take the filter out and bin it! Secondly I'd go for the standard T5 lights as opposed to the "U" shaped compacts. Mainly because you lose a lot of light with the Us and there are also questions about their durability (they can become brittle). Metal Halide lights don't tempt you?
Do you already own the tank? Why not a sump, they offer a LOT of flexabilty!!!
Anyway Simon, welcome to the site.... and let the fun begin! ;)
D.
thanks for advise etc, keep it coming ! sooo many questions and possibilities its just nice to read everyones opinions on whats a nice simple setup.
Cheers.
Garry thomas
30-04-03, 15:21
Simon wellcome m8, another good book, allthough slightly dated is nick dakins questions and answers. As said it is dated but will answer alot of the questions which are bouncing around in your head......GT
It cant be all crap.........It started me off :lol:
Welcome Simon,
You've picked a good book there. There's been some discussion in the past on good books to start from to explain the basics. Here's a link to a discussion on just that subject:
A good starter book (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/index.php?act=ST&f=3&t=5850&hl=books)
or even better here's on that covers the best and the worst books around:
Grrr, money i've spent on crap books!!!!! (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/index.php?act=ST&f=3&t=6927&hl=book)
IMHO there's a hierachy, it sounds like you may already be beyond real basics books (e.g. John H Tullock's "Your First Marine Aquarium"), so maybe an intermediate like "New Marine Aquarium" by Mike Patella. But, IMHO the 'bibles' are still "The Reef Aquarium" Vols 1 & 2 by Sprung and Delbeek. Things may have moved on a little since they came out (no discussion of Deep Sand Beds) but they're still the business.
Anyway, that's my tuppence-worth.
O one peice of advice I really need help on,
How can I convince my Wife that spending thousand quid on a large see through bath that will use up half of her dining room is a good idea ?
She has the obvious questions at present, 1. will it smell ? 2. how much noise will it make ?
She is happy with the little 24" tropical we have in the living room as its quit and doesnt smell !!!!
If it helps, smell will not be a problem - well should not be.....
However, as for noise... well that depends on the equipment you eventually purchase - but compared to your community set-up - there will be a noticeable and obvious increase in noise pollution. You can obviously take steps to keep this to a minimum....
Things you may not have considered.... is chances are you will wet/soak/ruin the carpet......
As for persuading the wife... two tips .... one get her into marine keeping (did not work with me)... or otherwise lie - along the lines of "no love, you wont notice the difference"..... :P :D
Kind regards
Elliot
Originally posted by elliot@May 1 2003, 11:44
As for persuading the wife... two tips .... one get her into marine keeping (did not work with me)... or otherwise lie - along the lines of "no love, you wont notice the difference"..... :P :D
LOL, I find the cowards way quite effecting too ! Lie now pay the price later is always easyer !!!!
SimonH,
This is a wonderful - but not cheap hobby.
If you are good with your hands, you can save oodles of money - but if not.... I would seriously look into exactly what you intend to keep - and plan down to the finest granularity.
Good luck, and keep asking those questions.... we have all been there :)
Elliot
My method for calculating costs for marines is to work out exactly how much you're going to spend, and then double that figure. ;)
Having said that, it's one of the most satisfying things in my life. Nothing quite like having your own chunk of reef.
How can I convince my Wife
:lol: I suspect once you've gotten over that hurdle, reef-keeping itself will be a breeze! ;)
Anyway, how about these:
1. The addition of simulated tropical sunlight into your dining room is likely to improve you mood and well-being. Why? Well SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) affects a huge number of people in the UK and an even larger number to a mild (unreportable) degree. What's the treatment? Well.. from a SAD online website: "Light therapy has been proven effective in over 80% of diagnosed cases, with exposure from 30 minutes to several hours per day to very bright light, at least 10 times the intensity of ordinary domestic lighting". So... even if you don't have SAD, dreary winter UK weather still make you feel down and lead to a lowered immune system (so more colds etc). But having a reef tank around can make you healthier and happier.
2. There is always the WOW! Factor. Just think of the impact that the stunning variety of colours in a reef tank will make on those dinner guests you have over? No woman in the world can resist having something in the house that will make her friends green with envy. Forget fancy curtains or wierd modern art paintings hanging on the walls, make it a reef tank if you really want to WOW them. ;)
3. Smell??? People spend a fortune on "Mountain Breeze ionisers" to reduce stress and improve the quality of the air in their houses. You'll have 'Ocean Breeze' all the time. I can't see the 'smell' doing anything but reducing stress, blodd pressure, etc, etc.
4. Noise... that could be a little trickier. Take a look around and you'll see threads on "How do I sound-proof my skimmer?" All I can suggest is you take a look at those threads and follow the advise given there: Best Sound Insulator?, For noisey Skimmer (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/index.php?act=ST&f=3&t=11427)
Okay maybe there's a wee bit of exaggeration and BS in there... but it worked for me ;) :lol:
HTH
Steve
Having said that, it's one of the most satisfying things in my life. Nothing quite like having your own chunk of reef.
Yup - what more can one add?
Elliot
philworrall
01-05-03, 13:22
Learn to sign your name quickly.
You will need it at the divorce lawyers when you flood the living room for the third time.
Smell and noise are not in it when it comes to floods.
:wacko: :unsure: :blink:
Hope you enjoy the hobby
Cheers
If you live in a flat ... 3rd party/accidental damage insurance is VITAL
Trust me - I know
Elliot
lol many thanks,
I'll take RockHound tips !!! :D
Simonm
It's a strange but very interesting and amaizing hobby. My reef provides a focal point in my living room which is ten times more interesting than the telly. My wife is a childminder and when any new customers come along to veiw the house, it's the tank that usually persuades the "customer" that "this is the house for me".
If you've got kids (got 3 of my own), it can be a great scource of education for them, but, to sit there in the evening and watch all the life that come out of the live rock and the stunning diversity of colours of the fish, it should clinch it for the wife.
Smell is not an issue and any noise can usually be overcome with some padding for vibrating pumps etc.
Show your wife some of the piccys in the photo section to see what can be acheived. Many of the people on there don't have any more than a few years experience with reef keeping.
Floods are generally an exception to the rule...so just be a bit careful and it shouldn't happen.
If the mrs needs anymore persuasion.....ring me on (01273) 480046 and i'll try to sway her in the direction of a superb marine tank.
Kindest regards and good luck
Andy
hehe andy,
thanks for tips. Looks like not fishkeeping does not only require fish expertise but wife handling also !
Agree on your points, it can be a hobby, educational and good to look at !
Heres hoping I can get the Capex by the board of directors (the wife).
thanks,
Simon,
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