Beginner Questions!

[LordNecro]

Hi I’ve been really interested in diving into the reef saltwater tank hobby and have a few questions before getting my first tank! First question; what aquariums do you guys recommend? I’ve been looking into AIOs like the Red Sea Max E 170, as well as others such as the Red Sea Reefer 250 or XL 300. Also interested in the Waterbox 170. So basically a 50-60 gallon tank. Would doing it DIY be better? I’m looking into a low/easy maintenance tank where I can focus on the fish and coral. Budget isn’t as important so if you are wondering what’s my budget for equipment and tools I’m willing to pay for the best.
Next question, are there any resources that explains maintenance and equipment in detail? I know about things like water changes, cleaning the glass, but as for equipment I’m confused about what is needed and how often they have to be cleaned.
Thanks in advance!

 

[dwest]

Hi I’ve been really interested in diving into the reef saltwater tank hobby and have a few questions before getting my first tank! First question; what aquariums do you guys recommend? I’ve been looking into AIOs like the Red Sea Max E 170, as well as others such as the Red Sea Reefer 250 or XL 300. Also interested in the Waterbox 170. So basically a 50-60 gallon tank. Would doing it DIY be better? I’m looking into a low/easy maintenance tank where I can focus on the fish and coral. Budget isn’t as important so if you are wondering what’s my budget for equipment and tools I’m willing to pay for the best.
Next question, are there any resources that explains maintenance and equipment in detail? I know about things like water changes, cleaning the glass, but as for equipment I’m confused about what is needed and how often they have to be cleaned.
Thanks in advance!

I’ve never used an all in one type tank so I can’t comment on that. I do know that a 40 gallon breeder makes a great starter size. As far as equipment, I highly recommend going to the BRS website and start watching videos. Welcome to R2R!

 

[LordNecro]

I’ve never used an all in one type tank so I can’t comment on that. I do know that a 40 gallon breeder makes a great starter size. As far as equipment, I highly recommend going to the BRS website and start watching videos. Welcome to R2R!

Thanks so much! Will do!

 

[X-37B]

You can also search this thread for all the information you can think of!
And......

 

[Sabina]

Hi I’ve been really interested in diving into the reef saltwater tank hobby and have a few questions before getting my first tank! First question; what aquariums do you guys recommend? I’ve been looking into AIOs like the Red Sea Max E 170, as well as others such as the Red Sea Reefer 250 or XL 300. Also interested in the Waterbox 170. So basically a 50-60 gallon tank. Would doing it DIY be better? I’m looking into a low/easy maintenance tank where I can focus on the fish and coral. Budget isn’t as important so if you are wondering what’s my budget for equipment and tools I’m willing to pay for the best.
Next question, are there any resources that explains maintenance and equipment in detail? I know about things like water changes, cleaning the glass, but as for equipment I’m confused about what is needed and how often they have to be cleaned.
Thanks in advance!

All in one tanks are PERFECT to start. As for low maintenance and live stock I made a few videos. Recommend watching them in this order.

 

[SPR1968]

You might find this useful:

The Supreme Guide To Setting Up A Saltwater Reef Aquarium

The Supreme Guide To Setting Up A Saltwater Reef Aquarium Introduction The marine environment is one of the most complex systems on the planet. The aquarium you are about to set up is only a tiny sliver of the vast ocean, but it is nowhere near simple. This task is going to take patience, a...

www.reef2reef.com

Anything else just ask and Welcome to R2R!!!

 

[Niteowl]

Looks like you got plenty of advice. Welcome to R2R.

 

[LordNecro]

Thanks! Already decided to go with the Red Sea max nano! Everything is coming next week and I can't wait!

 

[vetteguy53081]

170 is a great starter . While youre in the hunt for a tank, do take a look also at the Waterbox series as well as Innovative Marine line

 

[vetteguy53081]

 

[muzikalmatt]

Hi I’ve been really interested in diving into the reef saltwater tank hobby and have a few questions before getting my first tank! First question; what aquariums do you guys recommend? I’ve been looking into AIOs like the Red Sea Max E 170, as well as others such as the Red Sea Reefer 250 or XL 300. Also interested in the Waterbox 170. So basically a 50-60 gallon tank. Would doing it DIY be better? I’m looking into a low/easy maintenance tank where I can focus on the fish and coral. Budget isn’t as important so if you are wondering what’s my budget for equipment and tools I’m willing to pay for the best.
Next question, are there any resources that explains maintenance and equipment in detail? I know about things like water changes, cleaning the glass, but as for equipment I’m confused about what is needed and how often they have to be cleaned.
Thanks in advance!

My first tank was an AIO, an Innovative Marine Nuvo 40, and I absolutely love it! It was the perfect size for my area and budget and has been up and running for about 15 months now. I find the lack of a sump and associated plumbing to be a bit less daunting as a first time reefer. I think if you're looking for easy and low maintenance an AIO is a good way to go, especially with all of the options available.

Regarding maintenance, I'm sure there are plenty of guidelines/resources available. The BRS-TV 52 Weeks of Reefing series on YouTube is a great resource and they have a video on maintenance here. I use an app on my phone called Aquarium Note where you can set notifications. I've setup a bunch of notifications for different things, especially the long term maintenance items that only need to happen once or twice a year. It's a great reminder and frees you up from having to keep track of it in your head.

Beyond your daily maintenance, some typical guidelines for equipment maintenance are:

• Remove and clean/replace mechanical filtration (filter socks or filter floss) every 3-4 days.
• Remove and clean your skimmer (body and pump) every 6 months. I typically pull it all out and soak it in a citric acid bath for a few hours, wipe it clean, then rinse it in RODI water before putting it back in the tank.
• Remove and clean your return pump every 6 months. (citric acid bath)
• Remove and clean your powerheads every 3 months. (citric acid bath)

If budget isn't a concern, it's good to have duplicates of some of this equipment so you can swap in a clean one for a dirty one and clean the dirty one when you have the time. Vortech powerheads are great for this approach as you can just swap the wet side in the tank with a clean one. Hopefully this is helpful information. Happy reefing!