Hi! Bought a tank....what now ;)

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Lmclay

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After a lifetime of obsession going to aquarium attractions i've decided to buy a small tank and get started myself - couldnt be more exicited visiting the shop today and checking out all of the fishes, coral and other colourful creatures. Got the fear now though reading about all the setting up/testing etc.. getting things right before the new fish family come home - is it easy to pick up? Feeling a little overwhelmed now..... ;(
Anyome have any top tips?
Thanks
Lynds
 
I would be happy to help, how about we start with a list of what you bought so far?
 
Buy books first and do a lot I research. Best advice I ever got and will save you so many headaches later. Good luck!!


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12g Nanoreef. Zooanthids, Ricordia, Star Polyps, Acans and two clownfish. CF Lighting, 75% actinic blue, 25% 10,000k white.
 
I had to say its nice to hear someone else referring to The Fear lol. I agree from above... give a list of your purchases as well as your goals... better yet search around here and find a photo of a tank you'll strive for.
 
Thank you for the lovely replies ;) I've beem out to my local store and theyve advised me to get a starter tank its a 22 litre, i have 2 large pieces of living rock, salt, water testing kit, salt testing kit, protein skimmer, net - think thats it so far. Im off to get my water in the morning ....anyone think of anything ive missed?
Roughly how long is it before i can get my fish - im thinking 6 weeks ish does that sound right?
Cheers people xx
 
The live rock will help speed up the cycle. Do you have any lights yet? What are you planning on keeping in your tank? You sound like you're off to a good start!


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12g Nanoreef. Zooanthids, Ricordia, Star Polyps, Acans and two clownfish. CF Lighting, 75% actinic blue, 25% 10,000k white.
 
22 liters...So that's like 6 gallons? With rock and sand maybe 4? Although it may seem easier to maintain as the amount of water you need to change is very small, this small of a tank will be extremely vulnerable to swings in parameters. So actually, most people here would probably advise you to steer clear from small tanks like this, as the probability it could crash is so much greater, even under the care of a very experienced reefer.

Also, if that live rock you already have has been sitting out outside of water, there has probably been quite a bit of die off...I normally wait until after I have the tank filled before I put in any live rock or sand.
 
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A tank that little is going to be very difficult to keep the parameters consistent. I have a 12g nano and I wouldn't want to go any smaller. Even something like evaporation can knock off the balance. I'd read a book on nano reefs to really study the challenges. Chris Brightwell wrote a great one.


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12g Nanoreef. Zooanthids, Ricordia, Star Polyps, Acans and two clownfish. CF Lighting, 75% actinic blue, 25% 10,000k white.
 
Forgive me its 51Litres - its late here in the UK thats why im talking a little nonsense ;)... I did think that about the rock though, - looks like i got sold to on taking it there and then - might find another local store to go to in future!!! Time will tell what has survived my beginers mistakes hey ;) Livestock wise .... I was thinking a couple of clown fish for my little girl to enjoy (huge Nemo fan), for me - i quite fancy shrimp, star fish maybe?? What am i less likely to kill off easily is probably the best questio i should be asking - which fish are good forgivers?
 
p.s im off for some shut eye but i will read your replies in the morning - thank you again - this forum is going to help enormously!! x
 
Most shrimp are pretty easy, clownfish are great beginners fish. I think 51 is still pretty small though, most would probably recommend 40+ gallons (idk what that is in liters)
 
A pair of clownfish is a great idea. I have two and I just love them.


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12g Nanoreef. Zooanthids, Ricordia, Star Polyps, Acans and two clownfish. CF Lighting, 75% actinic blue, 25% 10,000k white.
 
12 gallons is much better than 6, two clowns would do well.
Is it an AIO? I'm assuming not (Which is good)
If you want a small hob filter can house filter floss, carbon, and other media
Lots of small leds lights for lighting
Many species of LPS and softies can replace anemones for clown hosting.
If you have any questions just ask! :)
Also, welcome to the forums! If you find yourself waiting for replies, you could join other forums and checkout local reef clubs.
 
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[TD="class: xl24, width: 1761"]#1-Dry Rock, there are a few hitchhikers on Live Rock that people want to stay away from, so they opt for using Dry Rock, or Dead Rock. Macro Rock is a good place to start looking for that. Either way you go you will need a minimum of 1lb per gallon. You can use Fully Cured Live Rock, and have the tank cycled in just a few days also. Other way is to use just a couple of pounds of Live Rock and the rest Macro or Dry Rock.[/TD]

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[TD="class: xl26"]#2-Replacement filter media like filter floss and activated carbon (if you get a filter) Which is really not necessary.[/TD]

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[TD="class: xl26"]#3-Multiple Power heads (2 or 3) 10x your water volume for just a Fish Only With Live Rock, and at least 20x your water volume for a Reef Tank. So lets say your going reef, and you have a 100g tank, you would need flow in that tank at minimum of 2000gph, or 2 1000gph power heads.[/TD]

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[TD="class: xl26"]#4-Protein Skimmer, rated at 2 times your water volume. Unless your tank is under 30g, in which case you can do 10% water changes a week to rid the system of detrius. But, you'll have to watch the water parameters close, if things go haywire, you'll have to do more water changes.[/TD]

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[TD="class: xl26"]#5-Saltwater Test Kits. Reef Test Kit. Test for Ammonia, Nitrites, Nitrates, PH, Phosphates, Calcium, ALK and Magnesium.[/TD]

[TD="class: xl26"][/TD]

[TD="class: xl26"]#6-Saltwater fish food. Mysis Shrimp, Squid, Cyclopease, Algae Sheets, Romaine . Flake food is not really a good food to feed your marine fish.[/TD]

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[TD="class: xl26"]#7-Aquarium vacuum. This one is iffy. Most don't use one, if you have enough flow in the tank you won’t need one[/TD]

[TD="class: xl26"][/TD]

[TD="class: xl26"]#8-Rubber kitchen gloves[/TD]

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[TD="class: xl26"]#9-Fish net[/TD]

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[TD="class: xl26"]#10-Two, clean, never used before, 5-gallon buckets[/TD]

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[TD="class: xl26"]#11-Aquarium thermometer, digital being the best.[/TD]

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[TD="class: xl26"]#12-Brush with plastic bristles (old tooth brush) - needed for cleaning the live rock if you don't get Fully Cured Live Rock.[/TD]

[TD="class: xl26"]#13-Power Strip, possibly GFCI outlets by the tank.[/TD]

[TD="class: xl26"]#14-Optional but definitely recommend getting a Reverse Osmosis or RO/Deionization filter for the make-up water, and a barrel for storing the water.[/TD]

[TD="class: xl25"]#15-Possibly a Quarantine Tank for your new fish. They sit in here for a few weeks to kill off parasites and bacteria, to keep it from getting in your main tank[/TD]

[TD="class: xl24"]#16-Heater rated for your size tank.[/TD]

[TD="class: xl26"]#17-Saltwater Mix. Marine Salt. Instant Ocean is the cheap Salt that beginners and Advanced use alike.[/TD]

[TD="class: xl26"]#18-Saltwater Hydrometer or even better a Refractometer, which is more accurate. There is also a Digital Meter that is way advanced if you have the cash.[/TD]

[TD="class: xl26"]#19-Aquarium filter (not absolutely necessary if running with adequate amounts of live rock, but nice to have if you need to use a mechanical filter or activated carbon, or GFO and such)[/TD]

[TD="class: xl26"]#20-Aquarium substrate such as live sand or crushed coral. Some go bare Bottom, others choose the 2-3" bottom, others, more advanced will try the Deep Sand Bed, which is over 6" deep.[/TD]

[TD="class: xl27"]http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=aquarium+heater&_sacat=20754&_odkw=power+heads&_osacat=0[/TD]

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[TD="class: xl28"] Live Rock and Live Sand: Live Saltwater Aquarium Rock and Sand [/TD]

[TD="class: xl28"][/TD]

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[TD="class: xl28"][/TD]
 

IF YOU HAD TO TAKE A REEFING EXAM, WOULD YOU PASS?

  • Yes!

    Votes: 32 45.7%
  • Not yet, but I have one that I want to buy in mind!

    Votes: 9 12.9%
  • No.

    Votes: 26 37.1%
  • Other (please explain).

    Votes: 3 4.3%

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