New to this hobby

[auditech17]

I’m looking at possibly getting a 40 gallon aquatop Recife eco series from a local store. Is that a good beginner size tank and good brand? It’s a cube I’ve been looking at starting this hobby for over 2 years and jus can’t pull the trigger because I’m not sure what would be best and how to determine what is best for me.

 

[fishski13]

I would say for volume of 40 gallons it is a good starting size plus it is an AIO tank with all filtration in the back which makes it a pretty easy set up especially for a beginner.

The only thing I wouldnt recommend about his tank is its footprint and height. I personally like something that has a bigger footprint, depth and length rather than height. You might struggle with rock work and working out space to put coral in a smaller foot print rather than a larger footprint like a lagoon style tank has.

I dont know what your budget is, but I would also look into the Innovative marine AIO tanks, as they often have sales and have similar size tanks with a variation of footprints.

 

[Propane]

I second Innovative Marine. But all the same a 40 AIO would likely be satisfying.

 

[auditech17]

I would say for volume of 40 gallons it is a good starting size plus it is an AIO tank with all filtration in the back which makes it a pretty easy set up especially for a beginner.

The only thing I wouldnt recommend about his tank is its footprint and height. I personally like something that has a bigger footprint, depth and length rather than height. You might struggle with rock work and working out space to put coral in a smaller foot print rather than a larger footprint like a lagoon style tank has.

I dont know what your budget is, but I would also look into the Innovative marine AIO tanks, as they often have sales and have similar size tanks with a variation of footprints.

The tank at the store comes with stand and tank and everything else for $750, I thought being a starter that wasn’t to bad. To me the deep style take in my mind seems more ocean. They had a fluval I think 32.5 gallon with stand and everything but guy at store said the filtration isn’t as good. I’m honestly not sure what budget I should have.

 

[fishski13]

The tank at the store comes with stand and tank and everything else for $750, I thought being a starter that wasn’t to bad. To me the deep style take in my mind seems more ocean. They had a fluval I think 32.5 gallon with stand and everything but guy at store said the filtration isn’t as good. I’m honestly not sure what budget I should have.

Yeah the deep style is nice for looks, just need to make sure you get good rock work done so you have enough height for coral but also enough shelf like points.

The budget is all up to you. Just keep in mind that you will probably have to purchase some kind of better lighting for most coral as well as a wavemaker which I am pretty sure doesnt come with the tank.

Since you are a beginner, there is an appeal getting a brand new tank, but its also worth checking out the marketplace on here or go onto facebook marketplace and see if you can find good deal for your self that includes everything. As a beginner you dont need anything special, just keep it basic. I have seen 50 gallon Innovative Marine tanks and stands out there for around $500 which is a pretty good price.

Just dont make the mistake putting in too much money into your first tank cause what happens to many is you get into the hobby and within a year you want bigger.

 

[Dom]

I’m looking at possibly getting a 40 gallon aquatop Recife eco series from a local store. Is that a good beginner size tank and good brand? It’s a cube I’ve been looking at starting this hobby for over 2 years and jus can’t pull the trigger because I’m not sure what would be best and how to determine what is best for me.

The first thing to ask yourself, "what kind of inhabitants do I want to keep"? Then build you tank around those inhabitants.

I checked their website and they want $1000.00 + for it. How much are they asking for the setup at the local store?

 

[auditech17]

The first thing to ask yourself, "what kind of inhabitants do I want to keep"? Then build you tank around those inhabitants.

I checked their website and they want $1000.00 + for it. How much are they asking for the setup at the local store?

They want 750$ stand tank and all the equipment comes with it except heater.

Yea I get it. I’m sure everyone here wants the same thing “piece of ocean” in house I want it to be a mini ocean top layer with some fish that like to swim closer to too middle of tank have fish the like the middle of area and bottom for all my bottom fish. I have in my head what I picture what I want and obvisouly coral.

 

[auditech17]

Yeah the deep style is nice for looks, just need to make sure you get good rock work done so you have enough height for coral but also enough shelf like points.

The budget is all up to you. Just keep in mind that you will probably have to purchase some kind of better lighting for most coral as well as a wavemaker which I am pretty sure doesnt come with the tank.

Since you are a beginner, there is an appeal getting a brand new tank, but its also worth checking out the marketplace on here or go onto facebook marketplace and see if you can find good deal for your self that includes everything. As a beginner you dont need anything special, just keep it basic. I have seen 50 gallon Innovative Marine tanks and stands out there for around $500 which is a pretty good price.

Just dont make the mistake putting in too much money into your first tank cause what happens to many is you get into the hobby and within a year you want bigger.

So at the store I went to they install tanks and maintain them too. He said a client has a red reefer 525 that he’s getting rid of and it comes with everything except electronics for 1000$. 2 years old guy is just getting a bigger tank.

Yea I plan on getting into this hobby as it is super relaxing and they are beautiful so I know within a year I will want a bigger tank but right now to try it out I also don’t want to spend a lot in case I don’t like it.

 

[Dave1993]

just go for 90 gallons mate i went 40 gallons ended up wasting £1500 on mp10s and a rsr 200xl i upgraded 3 months later to a 90 trust me you will want a tang eventually and no tanks in a 40 cube im afraid

 

[auditech17]

just go for 90 gallons mate i went 40 gallons ended up wasting £1500 on mp10s and a rsr 200xl i upgraded 3 months later to a 90 trust me you will want a tang eventually and no tanks in a 40 cube im afraid

I’ve been thinking about doing bigger, I also figured if I did 40 gallon and I did upgrade I will have a quarantine tank for fish or whatever if need be. Am I correct on that?

 

[Dom]

They want 750$ stand tank and all the equipment comes with it except heater.

Yea I get it. I’m sure everyone here wants the same thing “piece of ocean” in house I want it to be a mini ocean top layer with some fish that like to swim closer to too middle of tank have fish the like the middle of area and bottom for all my bottom fish. I have in my head what I picture what I want and obvisouly coral.

Just be sure the lighting is ample to support corals... if you are going to have corals.

 

[auditech17]

Just be sure the lighting is ample to support corals... if you are going to have corals.

What is ample of lighting? Like intensity? Isn’t it green and red that are accelerators for algae?

 

[Dom]

What is ample of lighting? Like intensity? Isn’t it green and red that are accelerators for algae?

Ample lighting provides good intensity and spread. And many times, the lighting provided doesn't live up to the pictures on the box.

I've read that using too much red can promote algae growth, but I haven't read the same about green. I keep my red and green on my Hydra 32s at 10%, more for aesthetics than anything else.

Have a read: https://wikireef.com/lighting-2/

Dom

 

[auditech17]

Ample lighting provides good intensity and spread. And many times, the lighting provided doesn't live up to the pictures on the box.

I've read that using too much red can promote algae growth, but I haven't read the same about green. I keep my red and green on my Hydra 32s at 10%, more for aesthetics than anything else.

Have a read: https://wikireef.com/lighting-2/

Dom

I’m sure it’s not a very good light but I’d figure that would be an upgrade I would do pretty quick once I’ve done some research. I’ll check that page out thanks.

 

[Dom]

I’m sure it’s not a very good light but I’d figure that would be an upgrade I would do pretty quick once I’ve done some research. I’ll check that page out thanks.

If it were my choice, I'd start by using the light in a fish only setup. Once the tank is stable, you could upgrade your light and then add corals.

 

[auditech17]

If it were my choice, I'd start by using the light in a fish only setup. Once the tank is stable, you could upgrade your light and then add corals.

That is what I want to do at first to just learn how to do water changes and get it stable. When I set it up I won’t put a fish in it for 2 weeks prob

 

[fishski13]

That is what I want to do at first to just learn how to do water changes and get it stable. When I set it up I won’t put a fish in it for 2 weeks prob

You shouldnt put in fish until your cycle finishes. Every tank is different so the only way to know when it is safe to introduce fish is to test

 

[Reefer Brent]

So at the store I went to they install tanks and maintain them too. He said a client has a red reefer 525 that he’s getting rid of and it comes with everything except electronics for 1000$. 2 years old guy is just getting a bigger tank.

Yea I plan on getting into this hobby as it is super relaxing and they are beautiful so I know within a year I will want a bigger tank but right now to try it out I also don’t want to spend a lot in case I don’t like it.

I have the aquatop 40 I bought last month as well. I paid $899 from the LFS so $750 is a great deal. It has everything you need looks great and you can slowly upgrade as you get more difficult corals and learn about everything. I'm on the same journey.

As for the red sea tank, depending on the electronics it needs you could be easiku talking another $1500+ for a tank that size.

 

[j.falk]

Yea I plan on getting into this hobby as it is super relaxing...

I wish that were true. Reefing is like taking on another job.

I liken it to having a toddler...you always have to be on the lookout for trouble. You have to be vigilant to know when things are going south and what to do to fix the problem before it becomes an even bigger problem.

The good thing is, the longer you are in the hobby the more things will become second nature to you so you'll know exactly what to do and when to do it to prevent problems from occurring. And the day will probably come when you want to throw in the towel. It happens to all of us. My advice. Don't. Keep learning and growing your knowledge base so that things will continually get easier and easier as time goes. Reefing is a challenge. If you want relaxing, that is what freshwater tanks are for...compared to reef tanks, freshwater is a piece of cake. Reefing breaks people. Sometimes to the point of them never wanting to own a tank again.

If I were in your shoes, BEFORE BUYING ANYTHING, I would start by reading up on how to setup and maintain a saltwater aquarium as well as figuring out what livestock you want and making sure to research what the livestock requires at adult size. That cute little fish at the local fish store might be nice and playful when it's a baby and a complete monster when it gets to adult size. Doing your research beforehand will save you a lot of headaches later on.

 

[auditech17]

I wish that were true. Reefing is like taking on another job.

I liken it to having a toddler...you always have to be on the lookout for trouble. You have to be vigilant to know when things are going south and what to do to fix the problem before it becomes an even bigger problem.

The good thing is, the longer you are in the hobby the more things will become second nature to you so you'll know exactly what to do and when to do it to prevent problems from occurring. And the day will probably come when you want to throw in the towel. It happens to all of us. My advice. Don't. Keep learning and growing your knowledge base so that things will continually get easier and easier as time goes. Reefing is a challenge. If you want relaxing, that is what freshwater tanks are for...compared to reef tanks, freshwater is a piece of cake. Reefing breaks people. Sometimes to the point of them never wanting to own a tank again.

If I were in your shoes, BEFORE BUYING ANYTHING, I would start by reading up on how to setup and maintain a saltwater aquarium as well as figuring out what livestock you want and making sure to research what the livestock requires at adult size. That cute little fish at the local fish store might be nice and playful when it's a baby and a complete monster when it gets to adult size. Doing your research beforehand will save you a lot of headaches later on.