Newbie advice requested

[Specimen]

Hi everyone,

I'm new to reef and saltwater tanks but not new to freshwater. I've been investigating a reef setup but I'm not sure how much I would like to invest in this hobby just yet. I bought Tullock's book and have read through it a lot , as well as surfing the web, but would still appreciate some advice.

I'm considering a starter micro reef about 20gal as described in tullock's book and I have the following concerns:

I'm concerned about water quality with evapouration and without a sump how could I setup an auto water top off system without having something ugly hovering near my tank? I'd like to stick it under the stand if possible but how?

Is there a serious risk to a tank if you go on vacation for 2 weeks and no one looks after it? I've never had a problem with my FW tank, I just had very hungry fish when I got back.

Also I might be moving next year, it seems that reef tanks are very difficult to move is this true?

[Dman]

Specimen,
Reef tank water parameters are alot more fickle than FW. The larger the tank you start out with the better, that way water parameters won't swing wildly and you won't lose livestock. If you are going to start out with a 20 gallon, it will have to be monitored almost every day for the first year.
Auto top offs can be mounted in the hood, I've seen them in Ecplise hoods as well.
Don't get me wrong, I don't want to sound negative or try to put you off, that is really not my intention. All saltwater setups, regardless of size or complexity usually require 12-18 months to properly mature and establish an equilibrius biosphere :D Also, the chemistry aspect needs constant monitoring during this period, otherwise the disappointments will surely outweigh any enjoyment you may derive from some of the most beautiful creatures under the face of the earth.

Please, please, please do your research, read, ask questions, be specific, especially on a tank so small. One of the wonderful things about this hobby is that there isn't anyone in it who gets any enjoyment out of seeing someone fail. And you'll be amazed at the lengths some poeple will go to help

Dman

[ajx22]

Just wanted to http://www.aquariumpros.ca/images/welcome.gif

Specimen to the Reef Forum!!

Dman is definitely right on the money in his reply. Consider a larger tank...MUCH easier and you won't have the issue of loosing livestock due to an overnight CRASH. As for a vacation...being in Toronto...you are lucky enough to have AquariumPros.ca local to you.

Drop us a line at Questions@AquariumPros.ca (mailto:questions@aquariumpros.ca) and we can discuss our livestock holding and professional maintenance offers. We are able to either maintain your tank ON-SITE or if vacationing, we can hold your livestock in our facilities for the time you are away (safe return guarantee).

Hope that this helps...and if you have any SPECIFIC questions, be sure to post them in the Ask Dr. Frank forum so that my partner (25+ year veteran and marine biologist) can address them.

Welcome to the Forum again and we all look forward to hearing of your progress.

Best regards,

[Specimen]

Hi everyone,

Thanks for the replies so far. I'm not leaping into this hobby anytime soon, my tenative plan is for the summer of next year to start building my tank. So I'm leaving lots of time to do research. I've been poking around the web for at least two months reading everything I can on all of this and I'm aware of the water fluctuations in small tanks. A 20 gal tank is just something I'm considering, for various reasons, because the lighting is much cheaper, I don't need as much livestock to make it look full etc. Also I've seen others on the web with even smaller tanks 10gal who have little or no reef experience have successful tanks. I'd love to convert my 65 gal tank into a reef but I live in an apartment and I'm not sure I want to setup a giant reef like this and then disturb it when I buy a house someday and have to move. I've moved a freshwater tank before and that wasen't too bad, but I can imagine chasing down all the invertibrates in a reef tank to move them would be nothing short of a nightmarish experience. A smaller tank would be, well simply put, more portable. I've considered a sump for a tank this size to help increase the water volume but I'm dead scared of a flood, my landlord's already angry enough about my big tank. But my ideas up in the air right now as I have lots of time to think and plan.

I have a lot of respect for animals, gained from cat and freshwater fish ownership, and I don't want any unnecessary deaths. So I have to make sure this hobby really is the right move for me and its the right time ya know? But regardless I'm having fun planning things out, even if I discover that this isn't the right time for this project. The only money I'll be dropping into this hobby, prior to summer of next year of course, is on books. Rest assured I'm not that kind of scarey person who runs out and buys their tank and fish at the same time. :P

So I guess thats why I'm here.

Plus I've just always been facinated by corals and equally interested in propigating them.

More advice is appreciated thanks!

[reefburnaby]

Hi,



If you want a "self" sustaining 20G, you'll need to buy quite a bit of hardware to pull it off. A calcium reactor or kalk reactor for starters and a dosing pump for auto-top off. There are some DIY techniques...but they get pretty tricky. As long as you don't have tons of fish in a 20G (really, you should only have two max), they will find food in the live rock and sand beds.

I would just hire a professional company to take care of it while you are on vacation. Or...have a reefer friend in a local reef club take care of it while you are away.

Personally, I have a 20G...and I think it is the wrong size for a begineer reef. I had all sorts of problems. If I did it again, I would a get a 40G breeder.

- Victor.

[cvrle1]

When I first started I wanted to go with my 15 gallon FW but then I got 33 gallon for free from my x-gf :dance:

I think that it is perfect size for a new aquarium. It is very stable when it comes to water parameters, lighting I have right now can be used on bigger tanks as well (icecap 660), less fish and corals to buy but it will look just as good as a big tank once it's done and best of all once I get a BIG aquarium I can use this one as a decent size sump.

As for moving your tank, I personally don't have experience with that but from what I was reading from other people they had no problems moving aquarium 100+ gallons for miles and miles and miles.

Good luck.

BTW: WIll it be reef or FOWLR or fist only tank??

[Specimen]

Invertebrates mostly, thats what I'm keen on. I was only planning on 3 small fish maximum but two might be a better idea.

Thanks for all this advice, its given me a lot to think about. Then again I have lots of time to plan it out too. :)