7 Tips for starters and how I would start again.

[chessplayer86]

7 TIPS for starters

1. identify your suppliers (local fish store, online retailers)
2. Plan ahead before buying anything.
   1. type of aquarium (Fish Only, Mixed, Coral Only)
   2. type of filtration method (sump, refugium, note: dont go HOB)
      
   3. type of overflow method
   4. size of the aquarium and place.
3. Do NOT start buying before planning.
   
4. Buy ALL equipment before you start live-stocking your tank.
   
5. Invest in good equipment and you will save on the long run and will not regret it
6. Take all your time and patience to get all the equipment installed.
   
7. Before you start live stocking your tank, check your equipment and see if your ecosystem is the best for the type of tank you chose.

I am still a newbie to this hobby, and I am starting from scratch again, so here is how I am planning again:

1. The source ** Buy a good RODI & build a water mixing station.
2. The sweet spot ** Pick a place and space where you spend most of your time.
3. The size ** Minimum 40Gallon for starters, I bought a 110Gal square tank..
4. The equipment ** Display Tank, SUMP, Skimmer, Dosing, Media Reactor, Lighting, Water Flow.
5. The filtration setup. ** after cycle setup the selected filtration setup.
6. The display tank aquascape

and finally what everybody wishes they could have started with:

**** LIVESTOCKING THE TANK. *****

everything I said here is only my opinion and is not the only or correct way of doing it, if you have your list on how you would have started post it below =)

 

[mrtian97]

I would add ATO for equipment.

My lfs said I don't need media reactor and dosing as to start, like to hear fellow experience reefer. i am new in hobby also, tank is cycling

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

I would say oversize your skimmer. Hopefully under normal loads you won't need it, but the utility of it will surprise you many situations.

 

[fragthat]

I also agree that an ATO is more important than a media reactor. I think they are essential especially for a smaller size tank, as they provide stability which is paramount to the health of corals.

I would also recommend lightly stocking a tank until one has experience.

 

[mrtian97]

I am inheriting 12 yellowtail damsels, which will be the only fish I will have in my new setup 120 gallon tank. is this considered medium load?

Thanks

 

[Dtackett]

look into what style tank is best for you. its not always best to "start with the biggest tank you can afford" because that may not be what you want. don't let other peoples bad experience scare you away. ive done 10 gallon reefs up to 75 gallon reefs and I gotta say, I like the small ones. so much in fact im currently working on a 1 gallon reef. each type of tank has a different set of guidelines to follow. this is the perfect example...

people say an ato is best for small tanks for stability but then when you get into pico tanks you don't need an ato, you can use a lid that seals to prevent evap which slows salinity swings and gives you better stability than a 200 gallon tank. you can do 100% water changes and once a year you can do a 10x water flush which removes all the nutrients and detritus and essentially starts your clock over. you can also do this for algae or bacteria outbreaks. you cant really do this in larger tanks because its not economical. however, you cant put certain corals in these small tanks because of the length of their sweepers, you cant put many fish in picos and really no fish once you get down below 5 gallons.

so there are tradeoffs for each style of tank and that should be part of your planning. what do you want to do? what style tank do you want? smaller isn't always harder and bigger isn't always better.

 

[steve&mari]

Agreed ato over reactors to start and slowly is key along with reading up on success of others and the stock you plan to keep.

 

[mrtian97]

in addition to zoa and monti that I inherited already, I am thinking the following corals are good for beginners and still colorful:
- Frogspawn
- Acans
- Favias
- what softies are hardy and not pricey? 20 yrs ago when I kept reef tank, I used to have Flower Pot, the Kenya tree? These are not colorful for my taste now

 

[Dtackett]

sinularia.

 

[chessplayer86]

Agreed ato over reactors to start and slowly is key along with reading up on success of others and the stock you plan to keep.

I would have to consider this too.

look into what style tank is best for you. its not always best to "start with the biggest tank you can afford" because that may not be what you want. don't let other peoples bad experience scare you away. ive done 10 gallon reefs up to 75 gallon reefs and I gotta say, I like the small ones. so much in fact im currently working on a 1 gallon reef. each type of tank has a different set of guidelines to follow. this is the perfect example...

people say an ato is best for small tanks for stability but then when you get into pico tanks you don't need an ato, you can use a lid that seals to prevent evap which slows salinity swings and gives you better stability than a 200 gallon tank. you can do 100% water changes and once a year you can do a 10x water flush which removes all the nutrients and detritus and essentially starts your clock over. you can also do this for algae or bacteria outbreaks. you cant really do this in larger tanks because its not economical. however, you cant put certain corals in these small tanks because of the length of their sweepers, you cant put many fish in picos and really no fish once you get down below 5 gallons.

so there are tradeoffs for each style of tank and that should be part of your planning. what do you want to do? what style tank do you want? smaller isn't always harder and bigger isn't always better.

Good point, depends on the style you go for, for the tank and equipment size.

 

[Brian Kim]

7 TIPS for starters

1. identify your suppliers (local fish store, online retailers)
2. Plan ahead before buying anything.
   1. type of aquarium (Fish Only, Mixed, Coral Only)
   2. type of filtration method (sump, refugium, note: dont go HOB)
      
   3. type of overflow method
   4. size of the aquarium and place.
3. Do NOT start buying before planning.
   
4. Buy ALL equipment before you start live-stocking your tank.
   
5. Invest in good equipment and you will save on the long run and will not regret it
6. Take all your time and patience to get all the equipment installed.
   
7. Before you start live stocking your tank, check your equipment and see if your ecosystem is the best for the type of tank you chose.

I am still a newbie to this hobby, and I am starting from scratch again, so here is how I am planning again:

1. The source ** Buy a good RODI & build a water mixing station.
2. The sweet spot ** Pick a place and space where you spend most of your time.
3. The size ** Minimum 40Gallon for starters, I bought a 110Gal square tank..
4. The equipment ** Display Tank, SUMP, Skimmer, Dosing, Media Reactor, Lighting, Water Flow.
5. The filtration setup. ** after cycle setup the selected filtration setup.
6. The display tank aquascape

and finally what everybody wishes they could have started with:

**** LIVESTOCKING THE TANK. *****

everything I said here is only my opinion and is not the only or correct way of doing it, if you have your list on how you would have started post it below =)

Please add, set up a QT tank and equipment for acclimation for our loved little fishes

 

[PatW]

I would think that 12 yellow tails would be the lion share of yor tank. I am assuming you have a skimmer and sump and do regular water changes. I would think if that is the case,you could add on of the smallest tangs, a blenny and a couple of gobies.