Saltwaternoob89
New Member
- Joined
- Oct 14, 2022
- Messages
- 16
- Reaction score
- 39
- Location
- NOVA
- What state or country do you live in
- Virginia
Good Evening all!
I have kept fish on and off since I was a child, all freshwater, several 55g running at a time with relatively no issues. I am in the military and move around every 4-5 years. The next move in 2-3 years, probably less than a couple hundred miles due to my specialty, but a possibility to the west coast as well. I have torn down, moved, and set back up freshwater fish over a thousand miles without losses but I don't think I will be able to do that with a saltwater tank (seems like a whole different league). I am looking to move probably 2-3 more times including where I plan to retire. When I retire I plan on a much larger tank ~200g. I have always been fascinated by saltwater aquariums but due too how much I move and the "learning curve" everyone talks about I had been scared to start up a tank. I got a 28 gallon Bow Front from a friend, and after a lot of research from people who have been in the military and moved the consensus was anything over 30 gallons was too much to tear down/keep alive in transit/set up at the new location. From what I have researched smaller tanks are harder for newcomers to start up due to changes can happen fast. I contemplated a 10g sump (would add around 25% water volume assuming the sump actually might hold 6-8g?) for volume/hiding equipment in the small tank but for now I'm just sticking with hang on the back filter/skimmer/heater in the tank.
Over the last month or so I have slowly researched everything I will need and sorted it all out in a list, and purchased my "needs". Watched a lot of different youtube guides and the BRS intro videos. Visited a few LFS and I am at the point where hopefully I will have the water and liverock in the tank by the end of the week.. just need to mix the salt and get the live rock from LFS... that should put me ready for fish after cycling around Christmas. It would be cool just to have a few fish and some coral. A pair of clowns, torch coral look really cool, the arrowhead crabs look super cool as well but I don't think they will go well in the tank with the corals (have heard mixed reviews), and maybe a wrasse or something. The last thing I "need" is lighting, but I figure I have a month or two to figure that out before I actually put anything in the tank.
I hope to learn a lot more here as I progress. Look forward to talking with you all!
- Jay
I have kept fish on and off since I was a child, all freshwater, several 55g running at a time with relatively no issues. I am in the military and move around every 4-5 years. The next move in 2-3 years, probably less than a couple hundred miles due to my specialty, but a possibility to the west coast as well. I have torn down, moved, and set back up freshwater fish over a thousand miles without losses but I don't think I will be able to do that with a saltwater tank (seems like a whole different league). I am looking to move probably 2-3 more times including where I plan to retire. When I retire I plan on a much larger tank ~200g. I have always been fascinated by saltwater aquariums but due too how much I move and the "learning curve" everyone talks about I had been scared to start up a tank. I got a 28 gallon Bow Front from a friend, and after a lot of research from people who have been in the military and moved the consensus was anything over 30 gallons was too much to tear down/keep alive in transit/set up at the new location. From what I have researched smaller tanks are harder for newcomers to start up due to changes can happen fast. I contemplated a 10g sump (would add around 25% water volume assuming the sump actually might hold 6-8g?) for volume/hiding equipment in the small tank but for now I'm just sticking with hang on the back filter/skimmer/heater in the tank.
Over the last month or so I have slowly researched everything I will need and sorted it all out in a list, and purchased my "needs". Watched a lot of different youtube guides and the BRS intro videos. Visited a few LFS and I am at the point where hopefully I will have the water and liverock in the tank by the end of the week.. just need to mix the salt and get the live rock from LFS... that should put me ready for fish after cycling around Christmas. It would be cool just to have a few fish and some coral. A pair of clowns, torch coral look really cool, the arrowhead crabs look super cool as well but I don't think they will go well in the tank with the corals (have heard mixed reviews), and maybe a wrasse or something. The last thing I "need" is lighting, but I figure I have a month or two to figure that out before I actually put anything in the tank.
I hope to learn a lot more here as I progress. Look forward to talking with you all!
- Jay
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