Need Newbie Help

xzebra007 · Feb 1, 2021

Hello and welcome... I am looking for some help on starting a new Reef/Coal 32.5 gallon Marine X Waterbox tank.

I use to have a Cichlid tank years ago. Have always wanted a reef/saltwater tank.

Totally new to all of this so sorry if my questions may seem quite basic. This is very new to me and I do not want to invest in a lot of wasted money.
Any tips/suggestions are much appreciated!

Most videos show very basics...But how do you mix and make sure the water is good to go? Especially with a sump...Meaning the volume is more than the tank size?
Are there specific kits that are recommended to monitor the water?
General water temp?
I hear inverts are a good staring point....What is best low key, low maintenance? How do I feed and care for them?
Beginer level coral that look good, how to and maintenance?

lapin · Feb 1, 2021

Howdy and welcome

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

Soren · Feb 1, 2021

@xzebra007 First, welcome to R2R! You should get a lot of good feedback here to help answer your questions.
I am not very experienced yet myself, but here is what I would share toward your questions:
1. Estimate total water volume needed including display tank and sump but excluding volume taken by rocks/sand/etc., mix more than enough water (in an extra can such as a 33-gallon Rubbermaid Brute trashcan) with the right amount of salt to reach ideal salinity (typically around 1.026 specific gravity or 35 parts per thousand), fill tank and sump to appropriate set height (determined by different factors that you should research), and save the extra water for the first water change.
2. You will want test kits or instruments for the most important parameters. Some of the common brands are Nyos, API, Salifert, Hanna. Typical important parameters to measure are salinity, ammonia, nitrate, phosphate, alkalinity, pH. Maybe I am forgetting some, since I am still new to this as well.
3. Typical water temperatures seem to be around 78°F (25.5°C) for reefs, but this is determined more specifically by your intended occupants.
4. Inverts recommended for starters are probably snails and small crabs. The reason they are added first is usually to combat algae (which is their food source). Most reefs include small invertebrates to consume detritus or food left overs that are missed by fish, so most small invertebrates require no special food.
5. This is a broad question, so here are just a few possibilities: Sarcophyton toadstool leather, sinularia, cespitularia, xenia, anthelia, duncans, zoanthids, palythoas, rhodactis mushroom anemones, discosoma mushroom anemones, etc.; do some online research or buy some books that have information on this question to learn for yourself what you want.

Try searching keywords from your questions both here on the R2R forums and in general online searches. You will find plenty of information that should help to get you started on the right path.

...and @lapin shared a very useful link to guide you in the right direction!

xzebra007 · Feb 1, 2021

Soren said:
@xzebra007 First, welcome to R2R! You should get a lot of good feedback here to help answer your questions.
I am not very experienced yet myself, but here is what I would share toward your questions:
1. Estimate total water volume needed including display tank and sump but excluding volume taken by rocks/sand/etc., mix more than enough water (in an extra can such as a 33-gallon Rubbermaid Brute trashcan) with the right amount of salt to reach ideal salinity (typically around 1.026 specific gravity or 35 parts per thousand), fill tank and sump to appropriate set height (determined by different factors that you should research), and save the extra water for the first water change.
2. You will want test kits or instruments for the most important parameters. Some of the common brands are Nyos, API, Salifert, Hanna. Typical important parameters to measure are salinity, ammonia, nitrate, phosphate, alkalinity, pH. Maybe I am forgetting some, since I am still new to this as well.
3. Typical water temperatures seem to be around 78°F (25.5°C) for reefs, but this is determined more specifically by your intended occupants.
4. Inverts recommended for starters are probably snails and small crabs. The reason they are added first is usually to combat algae (which is their food source). Most reefs include small invertebrates to consume detritus or food left overs that are missed by fish, so most small invertebrates require no special food.
5. This is a broad question, so here are just a few possibilities: Sarcophyton toadstool leather, sinularia, cespitularia, xenia, anthelia, duncans, zoanthids, palythoas, rhodactis mushroom anemones, discosoma mushroom anemones, etc.; do some online research or buy some books that have information on this question to learn for yourself what you want.

Try searching keywords from your questions both here on the R2R forums and in general online searches. You will find plenty of information that should help to get you started on the right path.

...and @lapin shared a very useful link to guide you in the right direction!

Hi Soren ...Greatly appreciate your time to respond and all of your assistance.

I should have specified I would like to put (2) Clowns (1) Goby and a possible a shrimp with the addition of the crabs/and or possible snails. Any certain instruments I should use to accurately measure specific gravity and mix you would recommend?

Soren · Feb 1, 2021

xzebra007 said:
Hi Soren ...Greatly appreciate your time to respond and all of your assistance.

I should have specified I would like to put (2) Clowns (1) Goby and a possible a shrimp with the addition of the crabs/and or possible snails. Any certain instruments I should use to accurately measure specific gravity and mix you would recommend?

That sounds like a good stocking list for a 32-gallon.

Typically, salinity is measured in four ways with four types of tools: refractometer (light refraction, very precise, needs calibration), swing-arm hydrometer (specific gravity, less precise, no additional calibration), floating hydrometer (specific gravity, very precise, no additional calibration), or electronic sensors (conductivity). Links show examples of the tools and are not necessarily recommendations.

There are many brands of salt with advantages and disadvantages. Instant Ocean is a cheap and common brand, but it is less consistent. Tropic Marin has some of the best reviews for salt quality, but it is more expensive. After research, I plan to shift to Tropic Marin, but I am currently using Instant Ocean salt since I got it cheaply and do not have corals yet. I really do not feel qualified to give recommendations on salt brands, though, so search the forums for reviews and comparisons.

An additional resource for information that I recommend you check into is Bulk Reef Supply. They sell many different reefing products through their store, but the best information comes from numerous tests and different research they do to prove products. This information is shared through their YouTube videos for us to be able to learn from their experiences.