Reef Keeping 101

[cbrack83]

I am new to the saltwater aquariums.. I am starting with fish only but I am getting reef safe fish with plans to keep coral later on... I am looking for any good recommendations on articles that cover the basics (101) of a reef tank and corals... Any suggestions??

I am sure there are many posts on here but I am hoping for some articles or even videos that you guys would recommend...

Thanks in advance!

 

[Pg513]

This article set me up very well when I first started.:

http://www.reefedition.com/291/

 

[cbrack83]

Thanks Pg513!

 

[dbl]

Might want to read through this as well.

http://reef2reef.com/threads/the-supreme-guide-to-setting-up-a-saltwater-reef-aquarium.138750/

 

[cbrack83]

Thanks dbl... I have read through a good portion of this... I guess I might not have posed my question correct... I am really looking to learn more about different types of corals and how to care for them as I have never done this before....

 

[mcarroll]

I have a special fondness for these:

mcarroll's Favorite Chemistry Links
mcarroll's Favorite Fish Links​

Plus, read all the stickies you can here:

New to Saltwater & Reef Aquariums? Post Here
Reef Chemistry by Randy Holmes-Farley
Fish Discussion​

And these threads as well:

The SPS Q&A Thread.​

 

[Frop]

Before I started I watched what videos on the series they had,

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBaMLrfToJyybUT18OE3fMomFb9XU0ffC

So far (still being new) if I could go back and tell myself something before I started it would be, "Hitchhikers and diseases are really easy to get in your tank." I say that because I've had to treat for 2 different parasites on my fish and ID'd about 3 different hitchhikers in the display tank. I'm on month 2.

 

[mcarroll]

Most corals have very similar requirements:

• stable mineral parameters (Ca, Mg and alk)
• a stable, not overwhelming nutrient source
• >10,000 lux of light
• good flow

Do that and just about any coral will scream.

If you can provide >30,000 lux (still not that much) you'll get better results with some corals and you get into the zone where you can consider keeping clams too.

Good flow may be the hardest as there is no test kit for it. So nail the rest and don't skimp on flow. Tunze make all my favorite flow pumps.

 

[cbrack83]

Thank MCarroll I will read through those... and thanks for the info at the end... I received some flow pumps with my tank but they are nothing special... I am going to switch them over to Tunze one at a time until thats all I have... I have a large tank that I am build as it was given to me so my plan is for 4 pumps buy the time i am fulling running and start to add coral... (this being several months down the road)

Frop, I have watched most of this series and its been great!!