Im getting back into the hobby... I think

[abrahamx]

Hi, I just signed up. I have been getting the bug again after 16 years out of the hobby. Just wondering what has changed. I see alot of led lighting. That was not around in the mid 90's. I had the actinic and metal halide lighting. I had a very nice 90 gallon reef tank back in the day and am looking for a new one. I may go nano or small. Or big. Knowing me it will be big. Just trying to get a feel for what I may have missed and what is the typical setup for a reef tank these days. I know the live rock sure has went downhill in a major way. I used to buy pink rocks full of christmas tree worms etc... Now I see bare rock at most places ( I kind of got out of the hobby cuz I felt bad taking all the stuff from the ocean, looks like all the good stuff is long gone). Granted I have not been to alot of places lately. I wonder if the tropicorium is still open here in MI. Any help, advice, direction is muchly appreciated.

 

[KJ]

Welcome back to the hobby or Addiction

 

[Brian W]

Welcome back!!

 

[Mandrew]

Welcome back. I'm from Michigan as well.

 

[Kershaw]

Well a standard set up is in my opinion
Tank
Sump
Protein skimmer
Lights
Return pump
Heater
Rock (live or dry)
Powerheads

 

[abrahamx]

So same standard set up. Sump is a new term. I assume that is what I used to call the filter. I have a acrilic, what was it called, trickle filter from back in the day( are these still used). It had a hang on the side thingy and the filter itself was under the tank. I see all these clean stream line tanks with no plumbing visible, whats up with that?

 

[Bradley Crocker]

Welcome to R2R!

I would say the biggest change is online. There are so many livestock sites anymore that it's not even funny. The ones selling dry goods make it so convenient to order whatever you want whenever you want. And no one can complain when they get free shipping on a bucket of salt and 50 lbs of sand and rocks!

 

[Kershaw]

So same standard set up. Sump is a new term. I assume that is what I used to call the filter. I have a acrilic, what was it called, trickle filter from back in the day( are these still used). It had a hang on the side thingy and the filter itself was under the tank. I see all these clean stream line tanks with no plumbing visible, whats up with that?

The sumps have changed allot from the wet dry or trickle filter. Defintly look at how some are set up now they are really simple even though some people's look complicated. Basicly all you have is where the water comes in which will feed a constant volume area for skimmer then you have a bubble trap to remove bubbles, then return pump. Allot of people also run a refugium in the sump for nutrient export

 

[Cflip]

I just got back into myself. Bought a bunch of new equipment. But most important use a QT. Fish aren't as healthy from stores as they were 10 years ago. I learned this the hard way.