Starting Again

[Grey Guy]

Where are you located Grasshopper?

Southern California

 

[Grey Guy]

First, Andy G makes some great points
Secondly, go as big as you can, bigger the better for a lot of reasons, think I'm trying to create a environmental sound community but it's going to take time, more room, room for these corals to grow, a complete showcase for your home. I use half my basement, renovation, then added a tank, big enough, but not unmanageable or very costly long-term. I choose a 180-2'x2'x6' long, maybe a 220 would have been my limit. As far as equipment, buy bigger and better, but cost effective. I started with LEDs to save energy consumption, but changed to T-5's, ATI 60" 8 bulb. My corals quickly thanked me, and responded remarkably. I have a mixed Reef, but now have that Acro itch, and LEDs just weren't enough.
Think long term, think big, buy better, buy once!!!!!
I started with well seasoned Live Rock, and added Dry/Live later.
Sump, again bigger the better, Reef Octopus Skimmer 2000 int, rated for 250-300 gal.
I also started with a deep sandbed, but now it's 1-2", and ChemiPure, but no longer use that, I added 2 bricks, still do WC's, but because if my 60+ corals, I need to dose, manually, 100 ml of 2- part. I add R/O when needed.
Fwiw, my tank never cycled.
I feel the most important equipment is: R/O, Skimmer, tank size, lights, and time, your time, log, common sense.
I'm sure I'm missing things in my list, but that's the learning curve, and never rush.

What was your process of going from deep sand to shallow sand?

 

[Grey Guy]

Lol you're asking for advice from people who have been in the hobby 1/3 of the time I've been alive [emoji12][emoji23]

Not sure what you mean. Are you 5 years old or over 60?

 

[Grey Guy]

Start with describing what's your goal with the tank. Size, budget, how much time you want to spend, what type of live stock etc. There are several popular methods now, but they are distinct and only a few. Everyone pretty much takes one of these routes.
Trust will come in due time,

What route do you take for SPS?

 

[tdileo]

Not sure what you mean. Are you 5 years old or over 60?

Was just joking around, I am 15 and 1/3 of the time I have been alive (15 years) is 5 years of experience with a successful tank like you asked.

 

[Grey Guy]

Was just joking around, I am 15 and 1/3 of the time I have been alive (15 years) is 5 years of experience with a successful tank like you asked.

Yeah, I just figured that out. 5 years is a long time when you are 15.

 

[Freddy0144]

If I were to start over from scratch, how would I find instructions that would make me succesful, and always have a plan to follow. What are the modern methods, from start to success? I would need something I could trust and really stick with. I have never been able to find someone I trusted to follow. I try to follow something different that sounds promising, only to find out. "Nobody is doing that anymore."

I have been in the hobby on and off for a long time. I am getting back into the hobby now. I have started by watching youtube. There are some great reefers out there that post some great content FishOfHex is one Melves Reef is another. There are others also. Find what works for other people and read books. There are many of them out there. Coral magazine is also a good resource. After some watching begin planning out what you want. Decide on a budget. One thing that should be stated is mke sure the tank is going to be someplace that is stable. For example if you are a teen than I would go small stick with a cube 35 gallons or so. There are too many life changes ahead of you. If you own a house then that is a different story plan to go with a tank that fits in a budget consider water and electric costs also. I noticed a comment about BRS. I have to agree they sell supplied and dont review the equ they dont sell. which is okay and I like the content they post but it has to be considered there are other products.

If you look at Sanjays reef he is old school and it works his reef has been up for a long time proving that the older technology works. The main thing is to maintain consistence over time.

 

[Tautog]

What was your process of going from deep sand to shallow sand?

I had high nitrates, tried everything, but a 40+ reefer told me to get rid of the deep sand bed, I sucked it out after removing most of the corals and rock, then rearranged everything, that's one reason not to glue your rocks

 

[Tautog]

Southern California

I'm an East coast reefer, Long Island

 

[Grey Guy]

Well, this discussion has been good for me. I realize now that a 120 gallon SPS tank fully equipped with lights and pump, etc. is just going to use up more power than I'll ever be willing to pay for. I even seriously considered a planted fresh water tank. As a result I have decided to stay with my current plan for a mushroom dominated tank. They are easy, cheap to keep and I love 'um.

 

[Grey Guy]

Well, this discussion has been good for me. I realize now that a 120 gallon SPS tank fully equipped with lights and pump, etc. is just going to use up more power than I'll ever be willing to pay for. I even seriously considered a planted fresh water tank. As a result I have decided to stay with my current plan for a mushroom dominated tank. They are easy, cheap to keep and I love 'um.

I feel like I have arrived. I've decided to keep my reef and setup the way it is and make the best of it. Fish and coral are doing well, and I like the way it looks. We don't all have the same talents and resources. If we all did everything perfect and the same, life would be really dull. I will have pictures and start a build thread soon. Waiting for my jell filters to arrive.

 

[Grey Guy]

Well I have started over. Need to post pictures if I can figure out how. The nice thing about staring over is that I feel I can take my time and there is not so much stress. At the beginning, if something goes wrong, it’s usually not a big deal.