Hello everyone,
I just thought I would take the time to introduce myself as well as ask a few questions while I am at. I also would like to add that I am glad to have found an active reef forum. I belong to many other forums already due to the abnormal amount of different animals that I own, and I believe that forums are a great place to learn!
So now on to some questions.
Since I have never dwelled in to the dark arts of salt water keeping, I plan on starting off with a beginner sized tank. From what I have read, 40 gallons are a good size to start with. Are my readings correct, or have I been led astray? I wouldn't even mind going smaller, but I know the smaller the tank, the more fluctuations in your water parameters can occur. I don't think I would REALLY have much of a problem with that, seeing as I have many years of freshwater keeping under my belt, but I can understand where everyone was coming from as I read all about nano-reefs.
Next question; with a 40 or smaller, is there a preferred method of filtration, or is it still a sump and skimmer combo? I am just having a hard time figuring out how I would find a tank that is pre-cut to accommodate a sump AND skimmer and then shove it in the cabinet. I know all about the disadvantages of using an HOB filter with saltwater, due to the potential nitrate factory it can become (if one is lazy). However, do you even need to have media in an HOB? For example, could you get away with using just a filter sponge, seeing that the live rock and sand are your bio filtration? Reason I ask is because I have plenty of AC HOB filters in storage that could drastically cut costs, but I want to do this right, and being cheap can often not be 'right'.
Next Q! Are HOB protein skimmers frowned upon as well, or are they a tad more lenient? I don't see how they could become a nitrate factory, but I can assume they would require often cleaning from 'grime' build-up, yes?
Back to filters, what are the thoughts on canisters? Could you remove the media to reduce chances of becoming a nitrate factory and put live rock in it instead? That way it could act like a biofilter and produce more flow then an HOB. If this is something that is suitable, how would you incorporate a protein skimmer?
Second to last question, is the nitrogen cycle similar to that of a freshwater tank, as in you add ammonia to the tank to get the cycle going, or is there another method? Every darn YouTube video that I have watched doesn't go into the nitrogen cycle in depth at all. They have been making it sound like you just get things running with your live rock and sand bed and then just test every day. But how would that get the nitrogen cycle going without any addition of ammonia producing additives?
LAST QUESTION I PROMISE!
Can someone please link me up with a species list for 40 gallons or smaller? This can include inverts, fish, corals and more!
Thank you all so much in advance. You'll see my questions on here often, so just get used to it ;)
-Trav
I just thought I would take the time to introduce myself as well as ask a few questions while I am at. I also would like to add that I am glad to have found an active reef forum. I belong to many other forums already due to the abnormal amount of different animals that I own, and I believe that forums are a great place to learn!
So now on to some questions.
Since I have never dwelled in to the dark arts of salt water keeping, I plan on starting off with a beginner sized tank. From what I have read, 40 gallons are a good size to start with. Are my readings correct, or have I been led astray? I wouldn't even mind going smaller, but I know the smaller the tank, the more fluctuations in your water parameters can occur. I don't think I would REALLY have much of a problem with that, seeing as I have many years of freshwater keeping under my belt, but I can understand where everyone was coming from as I read all about nano-reefs.
Next question; with a 40 or smaller, is there a preferred method of filtration, or is it still a sump and skimmer combo? I am just having a hard time figuring out how I would find a tank that is pre-cut to accommodate a sump AND skimmer and then shove it in the cabinet. I know all about the disadvantages of using an HOB filter with saltwater, due to the potential nitrate factory it can become (if one is lazy). However, do you even need to have media in an HOB? For example, could you get away with using just a filter sponge, seeing that the live rock and sand are your bio filtration? Reason I ask is because I have plenty of AC HOB filters in storage that could drastically cut costs, but I want to do this right, and being cheap can often not be 'right'.
Next Q! Are HOB protein skimmers frowned upon as well, or are they a tad more lenient? I don't see how they could become a nitrate factory, but I can assume they would require often cleaning from 'grime' build-up, yes?
Back to filters, what are the thoughts on canisters? Could you remove the media to reduce chances of becoming a nitrate factory and put live rock in it instead? That way it could act like a biofilter and produce more flow then an HOB. If this is something that is suitable, how would you incorporate a protein skimmer?
Second to last question, is the nitrogen cycle similar to that of a freshwater tank, as in you add ammonia to the tank to get the cycle going, or is there another method? Every darn YouTube video that I have watched doesn't go into the nitrogen cycle in depth at all. They have been making it sound like you just get things running with your live rock and sand bed and then just test every day. But how would that get the nitrogen cycle going without any addition of ammonia producing additives?
LAST QUESTION I PROMISE!
Can someone please link me up with a species list for 40 gallons or smaller? This can include inverts, fish, corals and more!
Thank you all so much in advance. You'll see my questions on here often, so just get used to it ;)
-Trav
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