I'm Getting a Tank!!

lizzy

lizzy

Member
I'm finally going to get a tank!! I'm so excited! I dont really know all that much. i've been trying to learn more the past 3 months but its hard cuz on here everyone already knows what everything does and what all you need to set everything up, but i've had no experience with fish at all...I mean...we have fish in the chiropractors office i work at and i feed them and stuff...but i dont really know what nirtrates and nitrites and all that stuff is...so my question is...what would you guys recomend for me to read...book or anything really...that would be able to tell me all that kind of stuff. I'm so excited though! I'm getting it for my birthday from my husband! He slipped the other night. So i'm way excited!! I really cant wait!! Thanks for any help or ideas you can offer!:jumping: :happyfish
 
techshredd

techshredd

Member
free tank is always fun haha umm just read the forums that will help u learn or just search yahoo and read all you can good luck
 
lizzy

lizzy

Member
I dont know what kind (as far as gal. go.) i think he wants to surprise me. i think i'll start with a fowlr tank, but i do want to move up to a reef...so keeping that in mind i think i want to get everything i would need for a reef so i dont have to switch everything out. what do you think?
 
bkbkid

bkbkid

Member
Well for a reef tank the bigger the better, you will need to do alot of research on the hobby before hand, if you don't learn as much as possible you'll spend much more money that if you had doing everything correctly in the first place. I recommend almost 2 lbs of live rock per gallon, theres some places that actually ship it under water and it comes cured with all sorts of goodies. I also recommend a very good skimmer along with a refugium instead of a sump which could cause nitrate problems in the future. Finally the last important thing is the lights I suggest metal halides hqi's with supplement actinic pcs or t5, some people just do t5s but make sure they have individual reflectors for each bulb or else it won't be sufficient enough. I would say a good protein skimmer should cost around $300 in sump versions are the best IMO, a good lighting system will be upwards of $400(this is something you want to get the best as possible, because you'll find yourself real soon wanting a better light) and a big refugium upwards of 20+ gals depending on the size of your tank
 
buzzword

buzzword

Member
I am trying for the second time to do a reef, i am going with a 120 and have researched for the last month. I have read 4 books and I will deffinately have to say read The New Marine Aquarium by Peletta. Great book, easy to read, doesn't speak over your head. This book and The Conscientious Marine Aquarist are very similar, with he Conscientious having more detailed info about the fishes and inverts and such. And read the threads at the heading to this forum from Beth they are very good as well.
Good luck.
 
1journeyman

1journeyman

Active Member
The two books mentioned will get you well on your way. The author of one of the above books also has a webpage "wetwebmedia" that contains a ton of info.
 
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