Starting a 55 Gallon

[dpgibb0]

Mine loves silversides, and pellets and anything else that conceivably be considered food.

Nano-Reefs are pretty simply defined as a small tank, anywhere from 10-20 gallons with live rock, and a small amount of fish, a couple of clownfish for example.

Fosters and Smiths sells kits for about $170, with a decent compact fluorescent set up, and built in filtration,,but no skimmer.

I just used a 15h tank, and got a set of 50/50 compacts, and a C.P.R Aquatics Bak-Pak 2 filter/skimmer.

It's small, but there is still 30 lbs.of live rock, plenty of life.

You can bang one out for less than $500.00, you get to see a total reef system on a smaller scale, but the sheer amount of life in and on the rocks is amazing, and it varies quite a bit over time.

I just purchased a 29 gallon Oceanic and its matching stand for 450.00.  I thought that was pricey until I did research and realize that I actually got a good deal.  I don't know if it classifies as a nano.  I read ten gallons or less for fresh and twenty or less for salt to be considered nano.  I don't know if anyone would like to confirm or refute this.

Derrick

[Redcoat]

It wasn't thrown, it shot out the exaust of a lawnmower that my landscapers were using to cut my lawn.

Lost all the equipment as well, I shall not be ressurecting the tank.

Wow...That was certainally an unusual chain of events!  That's something I would expect to see on Desperate Housewives or Malcom in the Middle.  It's hard to imagine a rock being shot through a window hard enough to puncture the side of the tank.  At least it was just a tank that got hit, and not you!!!  

It was one of those industrial sized mowers, it actually bounced off the wall first and then hit the tank, it was a one in a trillion shot.

When I got home, and saw what had happened I was hoping for a rock to come in the window and put me out of my misery.

[Kathy]

It wasn't thrown, it shot out the exaust of a lawnmower that my landscapers were using to cut my lawn.

Lost all the equipment as well, I shall not be ressurecting the tank.

Wow...That was certainally an unusual chain of events!  That's something I would expect to see on Desperate Housewives or Malcom in the Middle.  It's hard to imagine a rock being shot through a window hard enough to puncture the side of the tank.  At least it was just a tank that got hit, and not you!!! 

[Redcoat]

Damn,sorry to hear that.

I lost mine too, 90 gallon, rock through the window and ricochet, stove in an end panel.

No survivors.

Dayum...what are you doing to get rocks thrown through your windows?

I'd love to see some pictures of these reef tanks.  If you guys get your tanks back up and running, take some pictures!

It wasn't thrown, it shot out the exaust of a lawnmower that my landscapers were using to cut my lawn.

Lost all the equipment as well, I shall not be ressurecting the tank.

[jkeithh1969]

Damn,sorry to hear that.

I lost mine too, 90 gallon, rock through the window and ricochet, stove in an end panel.

No survivors.

Dayum...what are you doing to get rocks thrown through your windows?

I'd love to see some pictures of these reef tanks.  If you guys get your tanks back up and running, take some pictures!

I decided not to set up another salt water tank...I just moved the discus I had into the bigger tank....they like it.

[Kathy]

Damn,sorry to hear that.

I lost mine too, 90 gallon, rock through the window and ricochet, stove in an end panel.

No survivors.

Dayum...what are you doing to get rocks thrown through your windows?

I'd love to see some pictures of these reef tanks.  If you guys get your tanks back up and running, take some pictures!

[Redcoat]

I have a 75 gallon and I have to agree that it is quite expensive. I am to the point where I just want to get rid of all of my saltwater stuff and go all discus. maybe I have just been in saltwater so long that I have burned out.  

Guess I shouldn't have said that....wound up getting a damn Cat 4 Hurricane and lost everything in the tank.

Damn,sorry to hear that.

I lost mine too, 90 gallon, rock through the window and ricochet, stove in an end panel.

No survivors.

[jkeithh1969]

I have a 75 gallon and I have to agree that it is quite expensive. I am to the point where I just want to get rid of all of my saltwater stuff and go all discus. maybe I have just been in saltwater so long that I have burned out.  

Guess I shouldn't have said that....wound up getting a damn Cat 4 Hurricane and lost everything in the tank.

[Redcoat]

I'd like to have a large tank dedicated to lionfish oneday... they are quite majestic looking.

They are great fish, lots of personality, they recognize you and try to attract your attention.

A full grown Lionfish sort of just waddles through the water, pumping their stubby little tails, not very majestic, but a pleasure to keep, I've never had more than one in a tank.

If you had a 90 or larger, you could get a lot of the dwarf species, some are really colorful, that would be a cool tank.

[Lionel]

I'd like to have a large tank dedicated to lionfish oneday... they are quite majestic looking.

[Redcoat]

 Well, maybe I'm ahead of the game.  Have the tanks, also have a Bakpak skimmer, + sev'l others, so maybe I can set it up easily when I get to Tn.......I'm planning on selling/giving away lots of my small tanks, 20's, maybe I'll keep the 29g for a nano tank!!!! Also have a 37g, but that's a bit larger, whatever, I'll have time to play soon.................  will need the 50-50 lighting compacts........  later  

All you need is a good local source of live rock and sand and your in business.

[korbi_doc]

   Well, maybe I'm ahead of the game.  Have the tanks, also have a Bakpak skimmer, + sev'l others, so maybe I can set it up easily when I get to Tn.......I'm planning on selling/giving away lots of my small tanks, 20's, maybe I'll keep the 29g for a nano tank!!!! Also have a 37g, but that's a bit larger, whatever, I'll have time to play soon.................  will need the 50-50 lighting compacts........  later  

[Redcoat]

Mine loves silversides, and pellets and anything else that conceivably be considered food.

Nano-Reefs are pretty simply defined as a small tank, anywhere from 10-20 gallons with live rock, and a small amount of fish, a couple of clownfish for example.

Fosters and Smiths sells kits for about $170, with a decent compact fluorescent set up, and built in filtration,,but no skimmer.

I just used a 15h tank, and got a set of 50/50 compacts, and a C.P.R Aquatics Bak-Pak 2 filter/skimmer.

It's small, but there is still 30 lbs.of live rock, plenty of life.

You can bang one out for less than $500.00, you get to see a total reef system on a smaller scale, but the sheer amount of life in and on the rocks is amazing, and it varies quite a bit over time.

[korbi_doc]

Mine is a Volitan also, great fish with lots of personality.

You should try a nano-reef system, they are immensely entertaining without the huge expense of a full blown reef tank.

Yes, my volitans was a lot of fun for a great long time, he kept any visitors entertained. When I first got him, he was on live "feeders", but after the info 'bout impactions because of the large skulls of many feeders, I weaned him off onto the giant pellets, & it was relatively easy to do!!

    Don't know anything much 'bout the nano-reef system, have just read a miniscule portion.  Where to get more info? I'd love to try one out when the time finally comes......  thanks,  Dottie  

[Redcoat]

 Hey guys! I've had salt tanks for years & hope to have'm again when I get set up in Tn..they are a bit of a pia, but wonderful when you get'm stable.. I would advise anyone starting out in SW to buy the book "The Conscientious Marine Aquarist"  by Rob't Fenner, it's a wonderful book that I wish I had when I started, lotsa good info, & he also is big into QUARANTINE!!!! (kinda like discus)..
   Redcoat! I'd love to see your lion! I had one for 8+yrs in a 65g hex tank, & he/she was huge! I was so sorry to lose him, but I will have'm again! My guy was a Volitans, I'd like to get the "radiata", that's my favorite.. I'm so looking forward to setting up again, & you bet I'll follow Rob't Fenner's advice all the way!

Don't believe I can take on a reef tank, tho they are gorgeous! Maybe when I'm totally retired, lol, & I seriously doubt that there'll be any fish clubs down there in Tn, but I'll look around when I get there, lol   Dottie  

Mine is a Volitan also, great fish with lots of personality.

You should try a nano-reef system, they are immensely entertaining without the huge expense of a full blown reef tank.

[korbi_doc]

   Hey guys! I've had salt tanks for years & hope to have'm again when I get set up in Tn..they are a bit of a pia, but wonderful when you get'm stable.. I would advise anyone starting out in SW to buy the book "The Conscientious Marine Aquarist"  by Rob't Fenner, it's a wonderful book that I wish I had when I started, lotsa good info, & he also is big into QUARANTINE!!!! (kinda like discus)..
   Redcoat! I'd love to see your lion! I had one for 8+yrs in a 65g hex tank, & he/she was huge! I was so sorry to lose him, but I will have'm again! My guy was a Volitans, I'd like to get the "radiata", that's my favorite.. I'm so looking forward to setting up again, & you bet I'll follow Rob't Fenner's advice all the way!

Don't believe I can take on a reef tank, tho they are gorgeous! Maybe when I'm totally retired, lol, & I seriously doubt that there'll be any fish clubs down there in Tn, but I'll look around when I get there, lol   Dottie  

[Redcoat]

They are great tanks to have, and I wish I knew of some salt water fish clubs in my area when I was setting up, could have saved some time and agravation.

I'm defineately keeping the salt tanks, although Mr.Lionfish is going to have to wait a little longer for the grouper I've been promising to get him to hang around with.

[RandalB]

I've actually found it to be less work than discus. I've had 2x tanks running for more than a year now and other than refilling sumps, emptying the skimmer and wiping glass they are low maintenance compared to my discus. These two tanks are the only thing keeping my sanity until the fish garage is done and I can get the Discus going again...

There are definately ways to cut corners on equipment costs, especially if you are good with your hands. My lighting for example cost less than $100 including bulbs. Your local Saltwater club can also be a good source for locating cheap used equipment and live rock.

One thing you will have to remember is that Saltwater has to be stocked more slowly than freshwater. Takes longer for the biofilter to catch up in a new system.

I say do some reading on the boards, ask some questions and go for it. A great supplimental aquarium and well worth the effort.

RandalB

PS: Any of you guys want to send me your equipment when you shut down feel free to send it here... LOL

[Redcoat]

It does wear on you after a while, the salt gets everywhere, the water costs a fortune to maintain, the equipment is expensive and the salt does terrible things to it, even when well maintained, if it wasn't for the lionfish that I raised over the past few years, and that I have become very attached to I would have chucked my marine community tank a while ago.


Marine fishkeeping seems to be the polar opposite of discus, with a marine set up, it's a huge investment in equipment to just run the tanks, with discus, the equipment is minimal and the major investment is with fish.

I love the nano cube, but there is no way I could afford to set up and maintain a large scale reef tank, I think a big reef tank is probably the ultimate in home aquarium keeping, but you really need to be motivated for the long term, it's a huge investment in both time and money.

 I don't want to discourage anyone but you really need to know what you are getting yourself into.

[jkeithh1969]

If you think Discus are expensive, wait until you figure out how much you'll spend on live rock, live sand, corals, r/o unit, skimmers, pumps, wave makers, lighting, testing equipment, and at some point, fish.

Use uncured live rock to cycle the tank, should take about two months.

You'll need 20-40% of the tanks volume in live rock.

I have a nano-reef, they are great, a 55 reef tank up and running is amazing, the guy next door to me has a 90 reefer, life forms just pop out of nowhere you Hardly even notice the fish.

You'll go from large volume water changes to large volume water paramater requirements.

Check out  http://www.reefcentral.com/ I'm an amateur at this, you'll need some serious advice, and these people have it.

I have a 75 gallon and I have to agree that it is quite expensive. I am to the point where I just want to get rid of all of my saltwater stuff and go all discus. maybe I have just been in saltwater so long that I have burned out. 

[Redcoat]

If you think Discus are expensive, wait until you figure out how much you'll spend on live rock, live sand, corals, r/o unit, skimmers, pumps, wave makers, lighting, testing equipment, and at some point, fish.

Use uncured live rock to cycle the tank, should take about two months.

You'll need 20-40% of the tanks volume in live rock.

I have a nano-reef, they are great, a 55 reef tank up and running is amazing, the guy next door to me has a 90 reefer, life forms just pop out of nowhere you Hardly even notice the fish.

You'll go from large volume water changes to large volume water paramater requirements.

Check out  http://www.reefcentral.com/ I'm an amateur at this, you'll need some serious advice, and these people have it.

[dpgibb0]

Hello,

I am interested in keeping a reef style 55 gallon, but right now it is full of discus.  After I get them settled in to their new home I intend to transform the 55.  I know very little about reefs; how do I get started?  Do I just add sand, salt and water?  I was told by someone that I need to by like 1-5 lbs of live rock add the sand, salt and water to the tank with an existing filter (for bacteria) and let the tank sit for like a month.  When the tank has stabilized then start adding like a few lbs of rock every few weeks until it has the amount that I am looking for; remove the filter and also add a protein skinner.  Does this seem right?

Derrick