Hello Reef2Reef,
Thought I'd introduce myself. I've always had a passion for fresh and saltwater aquariums at an early age. I'm probably no different than most of you on this site. I started out with a 2o freshwater tank and then transitioned to saltwater in my early/mid teens. It was love at first sight when I saw my first saltwater tank. I graduated to a 55 gallon saltwater aquarium and kept everything from angelfish to triggers. I know, you would never do that now! I've never done a reef tank before, but I've been reading books and doing a lot of research on the side before I take the plunge. I don't want to just jump right in and "figure things out as I go". The hobby has sure changed since I first started.
I first got into this hobby for fish and I'm still drawn to a fish only aquarium. But, I think it would be a great experience to have a small piece of the reef in my home. I can see why the hobby is so popular now more than ever! The corals are absolutely beautiful and some of the reef tanks are a work of art. I'm not planning anything over the top, or super challenging. I'm more drawn towards LPS. Not sure about the size of the tank yet. I've been kicking around tanks from 10-40 gallons. I'm not planning on having a large fish population (all dependent on tank size of course). But, the fish will be on the smaller size (that's for sure). I'm planning on keeping things as simple as possible including the equipment. Relying on water changes to keep my parameters and nutrients in check. I'm leaning on not using a skimmer (if I don't have to). Possibility a AIO tank. I'm still researching lighting and I think that will be the biggest decision that I make. With LPS I may not need the top of the line when it comes to output, but I'd like to get a quality light non the less. Maybe a Kessil, AI, or EchoTech Marine Radion (i've heard great reviews on this light).
I hope to learn more about this hobby from being a member on this site. Happy reefing, and I hope to see you guys and gals around in the forums.
