So tomorrow is the DAY TO GET A NEW TANk then WHAT?

imfsub12

Member
well i think we have decided on getting the 29 G tank...
ok we are going to be asking our LFS question about setup and YES buy A BOOK.. but what are some of your recommendations..
ie.. buy tank, salt, LR, ect bring home.. then what?
again yes i'm new just trying to learn as much as we can..
 

mrsgoose

Member
Hi - congrats on getting started! I just started a 29g over New Year's, but I wish I'd done research, ie found this forum beforehand! I had a lfs guy advise me, he put in an underground filter - big nono according to most here, and then rock and sand together, which is fine, but he said I should get fish right away to cycle with. Not a good thing to do anymore. This guy was very traditional and set in his ways.
Anyway, my advice, go slowly - read a lot, check the archives of this site for advice on setting up rocks, cycling etc. My tank is doing well now, I undid some of my earlier mistakes and have 2 happy clowns, a firefish, shrimp and now 2 corals! It's a very expensive and psychologically draining hobby... but well worth it! Good luck... people on this site are great resources!
here's a pic of my first coral and my firefish...
 

azreefgirl

Member
Congrats on the decision to get a tank! Bring it home, set it up where you want it, then make sure that you like the way it looks there and that it is definitely set up where you want it because it'll be awful hard to move once there's water in there! Then add your RO water and mix in the salt a little bit at a time (until most of it has dissolved, then add some more until you reach close the the desired SG of 1.023-1.025), then let the pump mix the saltwater and age it for at least 24 hours before you add any LR. Then go get LR and set it up in the tank. Stand back and look at it. Decide that it's not exactly how you want it and rearrange it. Stand back and look at it. Rearrange it again. Repeat until the rock it set up how you think you want it.
Once you start to add corals, you will decide to rearrange it yet again...
But hey, that's part of the fun of it!
Then comes the waiting--the cycle starts.
Compile a list of fish and corals that you'd like to have in your tank and thoroughly research each critter to make sure they're compatible with each other and will do well in a new 29g tank. Doing your research before you go the the LFS and come home with something that doesn't belong in your tank just because you like the way it looked in the store, or because someone at LFS gave you incorrect info. Yes, I'm speaking from experience. And I'm paying for it dearly--I have a Twinspot goby (that should be in a larger, more mature tank) that I have to handfeed twice a day with a turkey baster and the tank pump off to make sure he gets enough food and doesn't starve.
But anyway, enjoy the entire process of setting up and establishing your tank. It's a very worthwhile and satisfying process if done correctly and not rushed. It's a great feeling to create an environment in which your fish and other critters are happy and thrive in! :happyfish
Good luck and keep us posted!
 

bruder

Member
When you mean "for the moment" do you mean after your cycle right? Please don't put a clownfish in there during your cycle.
Please let us know about what you plan on doing...
 

monalisa

Active Member
Originally Posted by imfsub12
well i think we have decided on getting the 29 G tank...
ok we are going to be asking our LFS question about setup and YES buy A BOOK.. but what are some of your recommendations..
ie.. buy tank, salt, LR, ect bring home.. then what?
again yes i'm new just trying to learn as much as we can..

sooo, is someone making you do this?? or...what?
Lisa :happyfish
 

imfsub12

Member
Originally Posted by Bruder
When you mean "for the moment" do you mean after your cycle right? Please don't put a clownfish in there during your cycle.
Please let us know about what you plan on doing...
That would be mean i would cry if i did that

no no AZReefGirl said what are you planning on doing with the tank..!!!!
Clown fish later...
i will use a raw shrimp of that...
Hea what do you guys mix your water in IF you LIVE in an Apartment? and when we do water changes.. do we have to buy another heater??? to get the water up to the right temp?
 

joncat24

Active Member
main thing is , make it fun for the family or gf or wife too. Dont make it a chore.
Get the tank setup mix the water in it. Put your base rocks in, put your sand around the rocks and cobver the rest of the bottom. Finish your rocks after it all settles and clears up and enjoy.
Don,t worry too much into it or it takes the fun out of it. Just go slow and research your stuff before you buy it instead of after.
there are a ton of peeps on here that really know there stuff and are just chomping at the bit to help ya out. so use there knowledge as much as you can and dont get stressed.....Have a good time
 

bruder

Member
For my nano, I have a 5 gallon bucket dedicated to making SW. I have a small heater, thermometer and powerhead in there to keep things stirred. Always let your SW mix for at least a day before you add it to the DT.
 

imfsub12

Member
Originally Posted by joncat24
main thing is , make it fun for the family or gf or wife too. Dont make it a chore.
Get the tank setup mix the water in it. Put your base rocks in, put your sand around the rocks and cobver the rest of the bottom. Finish your rocks after it all settles and clears up and enjoy.
Don,t worry too much into it or it takes the fun out of it. Just go slow and research your stuff before you buy it instead of after.
there are a ton of peeps on here that really know there stuff and are just chomping at the bit to help ya out. so use there knowledge as much as you can and dont get stressed.....Have a good time

Ya My GF is so excited to get a tank.. she will be the one that will have the levels EXACT.. she has to have everything perfict.. got to love that...
 

imfsub12

Member
Originally Posted by Bruder
For my nano, I have a 5 gallon bucket dedicated to making SW. I have a small heater, thermometer and powerhead in there to keep things stirred. Always let your SW mix for at least a day before you add it to the DT.

Ok thanks oh is there a good way to clean the bucket if i already have one? as i know want want to use house hold cleaners...
 

bruder

Member
Originally Posted by imfsub12
Ok thanks oh is there a good way to clean the bucket if i already have one? as i know want want to use house hold cleaners...
You could use warm water and vinegar, but for 5 bucks I would just get a new one
For the amount of money you are investing (going to invest) in the hobby, it is worth the 5 bucks to make sure it is new and clean.
 

sigmachris

Active Member
Originally Posted by imfsub12
Ok thanks oh is there a good way to clean the bucket if i already have one? as i know want want to use house hold cleaners...
Buy a new bucket!!! In fact buy two, you will quickly realize that you will need them. Dedicate them to fish only and never let any household cleaning products touch them.
 

azreefgirl

Member
I take a 5 gallon jug to my lfs and they fill it up with pre-mixed saltwater. It lasts me for 2 weeks worth of water changes (I do 10% each week), keeps me from having to mess with making it and storing it myself, and it gives me a good excuse to visit the fish store again!
 

imfsub12

Member
Originally Posted by Bruder
For my nano, I have a 5 gallon bucket dedicated to making SW. I have a small heater, thermometer and powerhead in there to keep things stirred. Always let your SW mix for at least a day before you add it to the DT.

Ok thanks oh is there a good way to clean the bucket if i already have one? as i know want want to use house hold cleaners...
 

imfsub12

Member
Originally Posted by AZReefGirl
and it gives me a good excuse to visit the fish store again!


but you heat your water before putting it in the tank? as i'm geeting the impression most do...
 

azreefgirl

Member
Originally Posted by imfsub12

but you heat your water before putting it in the tank? as i'm geeting the impression most do...
Nope. Here in Arizona, we don't really need to. LFS may use a heater in their tank (or maybe not--it's kept inside), I've never asked. But I store it in my house and the temp regulated by the ambient temp inside (I do NOT keep my house cold--I'm not a cold-weather girl). The temp inside the tank doesn't fluctuate much at all after a water change compared to before, so I've never worried about a heater for my spare water.
 
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