Top tips for a saltwater aquarium

Tidal Gardens
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AS
my number one tip is reefing takes time and stable numbers. I wish someone told me when I was a beginner to not chase the number but to chase a happy reef. One tip I wish I did is before you set up your tank plan everything. Your scape being the big thing to plan you can always re do your scape but it takes lots of time and there is some risk. Overall if you have any questions feel free to ask me I might be able to help still kinda new so don’t know it all but if I don’t know it then them someone on this forum probably will.
 
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Don't believe anybody selling you anything or people wanting clicks on the web. This includes BRS videos and most youtube and facebook reefers. There are some good, experienced hobbyists that have weekly shows - I do not mean these folks.

You can find somebody that you like their tank and read about their method if they have a tank thread. Most tanks eventually do the same things over the long term, just maybe in slightly different ways. There are many short-term things that do not end up working out, so don't follow these folks too much. One example of this is export of things... some folks will short-term argue about no water changes and no export, but their tanks never last more than a few years with this method - the long term successful people might not change water a lot, but they do export things and even will change water a bit when they need to. To me, long term is 5+ years... these folks often have the best advice. Ignore any "I started doing X recently and it is the best ever" since these do not last.
 
Deltec
ReefBot Lab, Automated Water Tester
Plan for redundancy/safety where possible. Some thoughts include:

  • Sump
    • make sure your sump is large enough to handle all the water above the drain line in your display without flooding in the case of a return pump failure or power outage
    • make sure the waterline in your display is low enough so that if your drain(s) get clogged your display won't overflow, and also have at least 2 drains, main and emergency, in the first place as a preventative measure
  • Heaters
    • have more than one temperature checking device and check them all regularly
    • if feasible, have 2 heating elements, and if you only have one try to have a second one on standby
    • don't place your heater somewhere is can run dry, such as the return chamber of a sump
  • ATO
    • make sure your ATO reservoir is large enough to handle top off for the maximum amount of days you may forget to refill it
    • if the waterline in your ATO reservoir is higher than the water level where it drains into, make sure you have a siphon break
  • RO/DI
    • use a float valve to shut it off automatically
    • set a timer on your phone/whatever timing device if you don't have a float valve to remind you when to shut it off
    • Have enough RODI stored for emergency water changes, replacement of water after a leak, making new saltwater for any number or urgent situations
  • General
    • Have reef-safe container(s) on hand for emergency livestock storage, quarantine, acclimation, etc
    • make sure your devices have drip loops in the wires
    • use GFCI/surge protect power strips, better yet GFCI/surge protect smart power strips with app control per outlet
    • if you have or plan to keep anemones, make sure your internal display pumps are properly protected
 
I will add one more thing, but it is kinda tied into what I posted above. There are many glory seekers online who do not even have tanks that are full of all kinds of advice and stuff. Avoid these people. Stick with the folks who have experience along with what they can read on the internet.

Lastly, reefing books are still good. While some equipment has changed, chemistry and biology has not changed in our lifetimes, so you can always learn from these folks who have actual credentials and survived the publication process.

I guess that in the end, whom you trust is paramount.
 
DimosArvantis said:
Hi, would love your best tips as just about ti set-up my first one.
Click to expand...
Agree with JDA, Cut yourself a big piece of cardboard, larger than the footprint of your tank. Stay inside the actual footprint 2" all the way around, then get your rocks and start building an aquascape. One other BIG lesson is to always set your rocks on the glass bottom when ready to put in the aquarium, THEN add your sand (preferably live sand) The reason for this is then the rocks will be stable, where on top of the sand they would be very subject to shifting.
 
Learning good husbandry, having a routine and stick to it. Research all the animals and plants (the ones you don’t want in there too). Randy’s articles that are stickied in the chemistry forum anre ann invaluable asset. Error on the conservative side with fish and coral selection. Error on the robust side with clean up crew.

Learn to keep the easy stuff happy then slowly progress.
 
Tidal Gardens
Be consistent with water testing from the start and soon with your water changes as well. You will likely experience the ugly stage a few weeks after you start your system, as such try to develop good husbandry measures early on. I'm fairly new to reefing myself and I kind of feel put off by all the bells and whistles crap and today's reefing gear and equipment. Everything is automated or made to be controlled through an app etc...

A professor of mine always tell us to kiss (KEEP IT SIMPLE, STUPID!) :grinning-squinting-face:
If you're not gonna elbow up and maintain your reef yourself, no amount of fancy and high end equipment will do that job for you.
 
Sophies mom said:
THEN add your sand (preferably live sand)
Click to expand...

Adding onto this, you can save some money by just getting a 10 or 20 lb bag of live sand and using dry sand for your remaining sand bed. With a bit of time the dry sand will be seeded and all good to go
 
Deltec
John K said:
Patience. “nothing good happens fast in a reef tank”

That and a good wet dry vac. Bad Things do happen.
Click to expand...
Totally agree. I will add one thing. Quarantine tank with proper quarantine procedure. Every single fish live in my quarantine tank with proper treatment for 2 and half months before I move it to the display tank.
 
TX_REEF said:
Plan for redundancy/safety where possible. Some thoughts include:

  • Sump
    • make sure your sump is large enough to handle all the water above the drain line in your display without flooding in the case of a return pump failure or power outage
    • make sure the waterline in your display is low enough so that if your drain(s) get clogged your display won't overflow, and also have at least 2 drains, main and emergency, in the first place as a preventative measure
  • Heaters
    • have more than one temperature checking device and check them all regularly
    • if feasible, have 2 heating elements, and if you only have one try to have a second one on standby
    • don't place your heater somewhere is can run dry, such as the return chamber of a sump
  • ATO
    • make sure your ATO reservoir is large enough to handle top off for the maximum amount of days you may forget to refill it
    • if the waterline in your ATO reservoir is higher than the water level where it drains into, make sure you have a siphon break
  • RO/DI
    • use a float valve to shut it off automatically
    • set a timer on your phone/whatever timing device if you don't have a float valve to remind you when to shut it off
    • Have enough RODI stored for emergency water changes, replacement of water after a leak, making new saltwater for any number or urgent situations
  • General
    • Have reef-safe container(s) on hand for emergency livestock storage, quarantine, acclimation, etc
    • make sure your devices have drip loops in the wires
    • use GFCI/surge protect power strips, better yet GFCI/surge protect smart power strips with app control per outlet
    • if you have or plan to keep anemones, make sure your internal display pumps are properly protected
Click to expand...
My first tank years ago was a used tank and sump that I picked up from someone getting out of the hobby. I learned the hard way when I had my first power outage and the sump overflowed. My wife was not happy :) .
 
Tidal Gardens

IF YOU HAD TO TAKE A REEFING EXAM, WOULD YOU PASS?

  • Yes!

    Votes: 32 45.7%

  • Not yet, but I have one that I want to buy in mind!

    Votes: 9 12.9%

  • No.

    Votes: 26 37.1%

  • Other (please explain).

    Votes: 3 4.3%
See comments…

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