When is it a REEF tank

[rot_stupid]

I've had my 150g tank for a few years, with the hope of having a reef tank. Sadly tried to add a colt coral a while ago and it didn't last, so I've had a FOWLER tank for a while. I've been slowly adding a coral here and there for the past year, but having one small frogspawn in a 150g didn't seem like a reef to me. Then we added a sun coral, follolwed by a flower pot, but they didn't thrive so I still considered it a FOWLER with a few corals. Finally we added a brain coral that has not only hung on, but actually started to grow onto nearby liverock. We have added another coral, which we think is a brain coral, I can't remember what the LFS called it, and it has been looking good, so we just added a carpet anenome and an acropora today.
Everything is still pretty small in my tank and I see more LR than coral, so I'm afraid to say I havef a reef tank. At what point does it constitute a REEF tank?

 

[extinct 1ne]

I know man, I've had my tank up with a few coral frags, but I mean if you look at the big picture...2 small frags...that's why for now on I'm buying corals at least 4"-5". I'm in the same boat as you are...
By the way I like your tank.

 

[bullitr]

post some parameter
also how big is your skimmer /what kind
what kind of lights and how old are the bulbs

 

[tank a holic]

once you get inverts (corals and anemone's) and fish mixed I concider it a reef, no matter how many or how big. after FOWLR is Fish Only

and +1 on I like your tank

 

[flower]

Originally Posted by tank a holic
http:///forum/post/3080269
once you get inverts (corals and anemone's) and fish mixed I concider it a reef, no matter how many or how big. after FOWLR is Fish Only

and +1 on I like your tank
I agree...it isn't a fish only if there is more in the tank than fish...
Just say you have your REEF tank started, then tell your friends about the new corals and frags. Your tank looks really good, and as you go the coral will one day outnumber the rock. So just enjoy your tank at every stage.

 

[rot_stupid]

I currently have a Currant Sunpod light System with 3 250W 14K HQI bulbs that are brand new (just replaced a few days ago), and I'm running PC's underneath in my Fuge. I have an ASM G-1x Skimmer (it's rated barely enough for my tank, but was the biggest I could fit in my sump), and I have about 300 Lbs of LR (200 in Display and the rest in the sump).
My parameters are:
Amm - 0
NO2 - 0
NO3 - <10
pH - 8
Alk - 7dKH
PO4 - .2
Calcium was low at 315

 

[coral keeper]

Originally Posted by Flower
http:///forum/post/3080339
I agree...it isn't a fish only if there is more in the tank than fish...
Just say you have your REEF tank started, then tell your friends about the new corals and frags. Your tank looks really good, and as you go the coral will one day outnumber the rock. So just enjoy your tank at every stage.
+1

 

[robertmathern]

Dang it CK I like your avaitar on the other site better. I looked at that dot forever and the only thing intresting that happened is I fell asleep lol

 

[aquaknight]

Fish and corals constitute a 'reef tank.' Inverts in no way shape or form are required for a reef. All up and down the mid-to-northern Atlantic seaboard there are lots and lots of fish and inverts, but no one would consider those areas to be 'reefs.' It isn't until you get in to the Carolina's and more so into Southern Florida, where corals start to appear, that you start getting 'reefs.' A tank with only corals and no fish, is a 'frag tank,' not a reef

.

 

[windlasher]

Originally Posted by rot_stupid
http:///forum/post/3080157
I've had my 150g tank for a few years, with the hope of having a reef tank. Sadly tried to add a colt coral a while ago and it didn't last, so I've had a FOWLER tank for a while. I've been slowly adding a coral here and there for the past year, but having one small frogspawn in a 150g didn't seem like a reef to me. Then we added a sun coral, follolwed by a flower pot, but they didn't thrive so I still considered it a FOWLER with a few corals. Finally we added a brain coral that has not only hung on, but actually started to grow onto nearby liverock. We have added another coral, which we think is a brain coral, I can't remember what the LFS called it, and it has been looking good, so we just added a carpet anenome and an acropora today.
Everything is still pretty small in my tank and I see more LR than coral, so I'm afraid to say I havef a reef tank. At what point does it constitute a REEF tank?

It’s a reef tank when your monthly water changes become weekly water changes, the cost of supporting the systems and equipment triples, and the number of additives on your shelf quietly begins to outnumber the brands of cereal on your grocers shelf. And lets not forget the worry…

 

[coral keeper]

Originally Posted by robertmathern
http:///forum/post/3080475
Dang it CK I like your avaitar on the other site better. I looked at that dot forever and the only thing intresting that happened is I fell asleep lol
Thanks! LOLOLOL!!

 

[bullitr]

Originally Posted by rot_stupid
http:///forum/post/3080455
I currently have a Currant Sunpod light System with 3 250W 14K HQI bulbs that are brand new (just replaced a few days ago), and I'm running PC's underneath in my Fuge. I have an ASM G-1x Skimmer (it's rated barely enough for my tank, but was the biggest I could fit in my sump), and I have about 300 Lbs of LR (200 in Display and the rest in the sump).
My parameters are:
Amm - 0
NO2 - 0
NO3 - <10
pH - 8
Alk - 7dKH
PO4 - .2
Calcium was low at 315
upgrade the skimmer soon remove all the LR from the sump to have space and get a calcium reactor or doser( bailing method) there are so many cheap skimmer out there you do not need a deltec or bubble king they have knock off the works the same. i have swc msx 300 for 400 dollars compared to deltec,euroreef,bubble king for at least 5 times more.
just my 2 cents.

 

[bullitr]

Originally Posted by windlasher
http:///forum/post/3080521
It’s a reef tank when your monthly water changes become weekly water changes, the cost of supporting the systems and equipment triples, and the number of additives on your shelf quietly begins to outnumber the brands of cereal on your grocers shelf. And lets not forget the worry…

i used to change my water every 4 months or longer with no issues but i used calcium reactor and i dose kalkwasser, magnesium and lugols on my automatic tap off on my mixed reef with lots of sps