Reefer Newbie

Anthony Reda · Jul 21, 2015

Hi All! Starting my first reef tank. I have had some freshwater tanks in the past but this will be my first saltwater tank... I am a bit terrified haha. My plan is to start small as I currently only have space and budget for a 20 gallon set up. I intend to start with just sand and live rock, then add some easy to maintain corals and eventually when I feel confident I may add a pair of clownfish. Looking for some recommendations on sand, live rock, beginner corals and lighting to use. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks all

143MPCo · Jul 21, 2015

Welcome to R2R!!!

143MPCo · Jul 21, 2015

Good info here: https://www.reef2reef.com/blog/291/

Anthony Reda · Jul 21, 2015

Thanks, 143MPCo .... I have read through this initial guide about 5 times now

143MPCo · Jul 21, 2015

Anthony Reda said:
I have read through this initial guide about 5 times now

Good to know that folks are reading it

... let see if we can get you additional recommendations [HASHTAG]#reefsquad[/HASHTAG]

kschweer · Jul 21, 2015

Welcome to R2R. Many people have good success with the eBay leds suck as taotronics if you're on a budget. Sand I like either Fiji pink or if you want something a bit more coarse look at the seafloor special grade. With rock I like to start dry rock so that I'm not worried about adding any unwanted hitchhikers. Best of luck!

4FordFamily · Jul 21, 2015

Welcome home, you'll love it here! So much knowledge and helpful members!

trio91 · Jul 21, 2015

best of luck dude... folks here can help you out with the build so you should be in good hands

KJ · Jul 21, 2015

Welcome to R2R.

LetItReef · Jul 21, 2015

Welcome.
Look into Dry Rocks and Current Orbit LED- substantial light for Softies and LPS and will not break the bank.

Bensadork · Jul 21, 2015

I use the current orbit marine LED light fixtures and I have had no issues with lighting as of yet. I have a couple of zoa frags as well as some green star polyps and an RBTA and i just purchased a gonoporia. I have read the horror stories about these corals so I have my fingers crossed that I can avoid being a statistic and keep it happy and healthy for longer than a year.

Shep · Jul 22, 2015

Welcome to the community! I would suggest looking at Kessil lights, I have them and absolutely love them.

SeahorseKeeper · Jul 22, 2015

Welcome to R2R!!

Reefing Madness · Jul 22, 2015

jaycee123 · Jul 23, 2015

Hi! I just got a 40 gal set up. I'm very excited as well! I'm kind of lost on what to buy and what I need. I will be researching like crazy!!

hybridazn · Jul 23, 2015

Welcome to r2r!

kireek · Jul 30, 2015

*Welcome to Reef2Reef @Anthony Reda ! As far as corals go,I like to recommend zoanthids,mushrooms and caulastrea(candy canes) for beginners.
I also like the pink Fiji sand mentioned and the gold variety available.I prefer the larger grain size.

Anthony Reda · Aug 2, 2015

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome! Update on my setup so far: I went with a 29 gallon tank. So far I have my tank, stand, canister filter, heater, and a power head. Still need to purchase protein skimmer, lighting and a few other small things.

I have decided to go with Dry Fiji Live Rock from Bulk Reef Supply because I am on a budget and I have read great reviews. Anybody have any experience using this brand?

I like the look of the Carabsea Agra Alive Indo-Pacific Black sand. I noticed most of you recommended the Fiji Pink. Does color of sand play a huge role in a reef tank?

Also. I would like to do a geographic reef tank (if that's a thing). Meaning that I want all of my sand and rock and beginner corals to be from the same region. My thought being that if I set up a reef that may be found in nature, most of the things I put in will want the same conditions to grow and survive healthy. Any thoughts?

Happy to be apart of the reef community! Cheers

madtownguy · Aug 2, 2015

Anthony Reda said:
Thanks everyone for the warm welcome! Update on my setup so far: I went with a 29 gallon tank. So far I have my tank, stand, canister filter, heater, and a power head. Still need to purchase protein skimmer, lighting and a few other small things.

I have decided to go with Dry Fiji Live Rock from Bulk Reef Supply because I am on a budget and I have read great reviews. Anybody have any experience using this brand?

I like the look of the Carabsea Agra Alive Indo-Pacific Black sand. I noticed most of you recommended the Fiji Pink. Does color of sand play a huge role in a reef tank?

Also. I would like to do a geographic reef tank (if that's a thing). Meaning that I want all of my sand and rock and beginner corals to be from the same region. My thought being that if I set up a reef that may be found in nature, most of the things I put in will want the same conditions to grow and survive healthy. Any thoughts?

Happy to be apart of the reef community! Cheers

Did you get a biocube? 29 is an odd number, but I see you need lighting so I guess it isn't. No rush for protein skimmer. Color of sand makes a difference, if you want a chiller it won't matter much but keeping the tank cool just gets harder with black sand. Dry rock isn't live rock so make sure you understand which one it is. It is either dry or live. I'm a big fan of live personally.

Anthony Reda · Aug 2, 2015

madtownguy said:
Did you get a biocube? 29 is an odd number, but I see you need lighting so I guess it isn't. No rush for protein skimmer. Color of sand makes a difference, if you want a chiller it won't matter much but keeping the tank cool just gets harder with black sand. Dry rock isn't live rock so make sure you understand which one it is. It is either dry or live. I'm a big fan of live personally.

Their site describes it as dry rock. It was live at one point so it has dried algae and other bacteria on the rock but it must be cured. They gaurantee it as hitchhiker free but say it's more aesthetic purposes because it has some color to it versus bare dry rock.