Advice if it's worth to start a tank needed.

[TonyHanke]

So hello everyone, I'm new here, and I'm writing this cause I need an advice. You see, I am fascinated with underwater world, and secrets it contains, and that fascination is so strong, I think of studying marine biology (I'm in high school right now). I know maintaining a reef tank isn't easy, but I think it's my dream to have one. I am buying a tank freshwater in very close future, to gain experience. The thing is, from research I've done here, and in other places, I know that getting the tank to mature can take me 2 years, and there are big chances, that in like 3, maybe 5 years from now, I'd be moving to America or somwhere else, 'cause we don't have great marine biology colleges here in Poland. Is it wise, to start a tank, let's say, in a year, in a perspective of moving out, maybe to another continent? I thought of a 55 gallon tank, with some internal skimmer and fluval fx 6 with UV sterilizer as a main filter. I don't think my parents would want to maintain the tank when I'm gone.

 

[mcarroll]

I don't think it will be worth it unless you purposefully limit the scale of whatever you decide to do. A full scale reef (even a little one) takes quite a bit of investment, in time and money.

IMO spend this time readin, reading, reading, reading. As many books and magazines as you can, from every time period. (Check the library for back issues!)

If you have to keep a tank, then make it a simple freshwater tank, or a simple saltwater hermit crab tank....lots of other options that would keep you engaged for a few years, but not weigh you down at the same time.

 

[TonyHanke]

That's what I thought, thank you for confirmation.

 

[Zionas]

Move to America or wherever you’re settled, then start a tank. Get the biggest tank you are willing to spend time and energy and have the resources to take care of. Starting something as a long-term project (meant to be one, at least for us here) when you know you’ll be making a move isn’t good for either you or the stuff in the tank. Save up, and when you’re ready to take the dive, then go for it. You’ll spare yourself the heartache of having to leave something behind, and what you put into it.

If it gives you any encouragement, there’s people who’ve had their setups for a decade, even two. And being able to take care of fish that can live as long, or longer than a cat or a dog is a big source of satisfaction. I don’t know about everyone, but for me I’d feel a lot more satisfaction knowing I’m able to keep 5 fish well into old age, rather than having kept 50. I don’t see the setup as a place where stuff constantly comes and goes, it’s about a sense of longevity for me.

And that means you’ll have to have the circumstances that let you remain in a place long enough to be able to build towards it. Good luck with the move, wherever it takes you, and we’ll be here when you’re ready.

You have time, don’t worry. And with captive breeding from places like Biota, maybe there’s even more stuff available captive bred by the time you’re settled.

As for schools, find ones that have a good Marine Biology department. Doing a quick search, and depending on whether East Coast or West is what you prefer:

(1) UC San Diego

(2) Boston University

(3) UCLA

(4) University of Miami

(5) Oregon State University

Just to name a few. Apparently Canada’s a bit cheaper? I definitely know a few Americans who went to Canada for undergrad and postgrad. The obvious one would be UBC (but Vancouver’s not cheap, I’m from there), University of Victoria (Vancouver Island), Dalhousie (Halifax) Memorial University (Newfoundland) are a few choices if that’s the route you choose.

Europe might be a bit more specialized but in North America schools will have “General Education requirements.” There’s a good chance you’ll need to take other science and math classes, and arts related classes, and have a certain number of credits before you’re able to meet the specific requirements for “declaring” a Marine Biology major. Expect to take 1.5-2 years before you can declare, and ask your school about the Gen Ed requirements for a BSc in Marine Biology.

You might get lucky and find a place where you can enter the major from Day 1, but there’s the possibility you’ll have to take a bunch of other stuff to get there.

 

[dinosaur_1552]

So hello everyone, I'm new here, and I'm writing this cause I need an advice. You see, I am fascinated with underwater world, and secrets it contains, and that fascination is so strong, I think of studying marine biology (I'm in high school right now). I know maintaining a reef tank isn't easy, but I think it's my dream to have one. I am buying a tank freshwater in very close future, to gain experience. The thing is, from research I've done here, and in other places, I know that getting the tank to mature can take me 2 years, and there are big chances, that in like 3, maybe 5 years from now, I'd be moving to America or somwhere else, 'cause we don't have great marine biology colleges here in Poland. Is it wise, to start a tank, let's say, in a year, in a perspective of moving out, maybe to another continent? I thought of a 55 gallon tank, with some internal skimmer and fluval fx 6 with UV sterilizer as a main filter. I don't think my parents would want to maintain the tank when I'm gone.

If you have a very strong desire I would get a nano/pico, you can have a couple of fish and inverts 10g upwards straight after the cycle which is likely ~1 month only.

They say smaller tanks are harder, but in practice for easy corals and hardy fish like clowns smaller tanks are perfectly fine and mean less mess, less money, easier to setup and get rid of, ideal for your circumstances - and you could gather invaluable experiences for the time when you setup your forever tank.

 

[Jamie9]

I think it's a good idea to get that freshwater tank and start researching reef tanks. I would recommend when you buy the freshwater tank, think about it in terms of eventually being a quarantine or hospital tank for your reef. Or it could be a test to see what products you like for the reef tank, so that ideally you can use everything you already have once you switch to salt water.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

My advice would be to either stick with your original plan and get a freshwater tank, or get a small 15g or less tank that would cycle quickly and would allow for you to dip your toes into the saltwater world.

 

[dastrader]

I would skip the freshwater and do a small low maintenance nano tank. You can get your feet wet and get to enjoy watching and learning hands on. A small nano with easy/beginner inverts would be easy to maintain and could be given to someone when you move. And you would love it and learn while you’re there. A few easy soft corals, hardy fish and snails and a hermit crab. There’s nothing better to learn from than building actual experience.

But don’t go to big or complicated since you are moving.

As said above. 10, 15, maybe 20 gallons.

 

[TonyHanke]

Move to America or wherever you’re settled, then start a tank. Get the biggest tank you are willing to spend time and energy and have the resources to take care of. Starting something as a long-term project (meant to be one, at least for us here) when you know you’ll be making a move isn’t good for either you or the stuff in the tank. Save up, and when you’re ready to take the dive, then go for it. You’ll spare yourself the heartache of having to leave something behind, and what you put into it.

If it gives you any encouragement, there’s people who’ve had their setups for a decade, even two. And being able to take care of fish that can live as long, or longer than a cat or a dog is a big source of satisfaction. I don’t know about everyone, but for me I’d feel a lot more satisfaction knowing I’m able to keep 5 fish well into old age, rather than having kept 50. I don’t see the setup as a place where stuff constantly comes and goes, it’s about a sense of longevity for me.

And that means you’ll have to have the circumstances that let you remain in a place long enough to be able to build towards it. Good luck with the move, wherever it takes you, and we’ll be here when you’re ready.

You have time, don’t worry. And with captive breeding from places like Biota, maybe there’s even more stuff available captive bred by the time you’re settled.

As for schools, find ones that have a good Marine Biology department. Doing a quick search, and depending on whether East Coast or West is what you prefer:

(1) UC San Diego

(2) Boston University

(3) UCLA

(4) University of Miami

(5) Oregon State University

Just to name a few. Apparently Canada’s a bit cheaper? I definitely know a few Americans who went to Canada for undergrad and postgrad. The obvious one would be UBC (but Vancouver’s not cheap, I’m from there), University of Victoria (Vancouver Island), Dalhousie (Halifax) Memorial University (Newfoundland) are a few choices if that’s the route you choose.

Europe might be a bit more specialized but in North America schools will have “General Education requirements.” There’s a good chance you’ll need to take other science and math classes, and arts related classes, and have a certain number of credits before you’re able to meet the specific requirements for “declaring” a Marine Biology major. Expect to take 1.5-2 years before you can declare, and ask your school about the Gen Ed requirements for a BSc in Marine Biology.

You might get lucky and find a place where you can enter the major from Day 1, but there’s the possibility you’ll have to take a bunch of other stuff to get there.

To be honest my thirst thoughts were UCLA and UCSD, but still I haven't made any bigger research, but I'll do maybe this weekend if I have time. Thank you fro advice, it was very helpful.

 

[TonyHanke]

So now I'm, after I've read all of your recommendations, I think I'd do something small aside of the freshwater, I think I'll try hermits, I just love crabs.

 

[Sophie"s mom]

I don't think it will be worth it unless you purposefully limit the scale of whatever you decide to do. A full scale reef (even a little one) takes quite a bit of investment, in time and money.

IMO spend this time readin, reading, reading, reading. As many books and magazines as you can, from every time period. (Check the library for back issues!)

If you have to keep a tank, then make it a simple freshwater tank, or a simple saltwater hermit crab tank....lots of other options that would keep you engaged for a few years, but not weigh you down at the same time.

Not to mention watching some BRS videos. Tons on info in those.

 

[TonyHanke]

Not to mention watching some BRS videos. Tons on info in those.

I've already found them and their videos, they'r great source of knowledge

 

[Sophie"s mom]

I've already found them and their videos, they'r great source of knowledge

One thing I can tell you from they're videos with my firsthand experience, when you first set up, please, please PLEASE leave the lights off for the first 3 to 4 months. I know, it is tough, but so very worth it. I completely skipped the "ugly phase" by doing this. Start with fish, they do not need the lights. Trust me, you will be very happy that you did this.

 

[mcarroll]

Not to mention watching some BRS videos. Tons on info in those.

I've already found them and their videos, they'r great source of knowledge

Maybe better than nothing (because they do drop some tidbits), and certainly entertaining. But a bit like doing a research paper with only an encyclopedia as a reference, if you know what I mean.

They are probably more interesting and useful for product related videos (eg demos) to be honest. The information density in most vids (not just theirs) is so low it would take an eternity for a newb to get a worthwhile amount of useful info – you'd spend a *long time* not picking up fundamentals, knowing just enough to be dangerous. "I can pick up a screw driver, so now I can build a house!"

No offense to anyone who goes unnamed (about to name names), but if I were a newb I would want to consume Martin Moe, Delbeek & Sprung, Tullock, Fosse & Nilsen, Baensch, Fenner, Borneman, Spotte (and maybe LOTS of others) with copious amounts of Michaels, Burgess, etc. for the livestock profiles!!!! I'd also read every back issue of TFH and FAMA back into the 1960's (including all the ads!!), as well as any other regular hobby magazine. Hopefully that's all online somewhere these days...seems like a lot of it is. Lots of old books are still in circulation, but a lot seem to have made it online as well, check (eg) openlibrary and archive.org.

Outside of the books, magazines and authors I mentioned, for online I'm actually thinking more like *everything* on the Advanced Aquarist archive and Reefkeeping.com (some of which is also here on R2R along with RHF, Dana, etc) with time also spent over on Google Scholar to go deep into references from time to time.

Mostly reading! LOTS, AND LOTS OF READING.

Online (ie videos, forums, etc) is (obviously) a great place to get answers to the questions that reading will give you though!

Such as: "Who the heck are 'Delbeek & Sprung'???"


("expert" HINT: You want all three volumes. Volume three is like an equipment catalog/setup guide where one and two are filled with fundamentals. It may come as no surprise that all three volumes go together really well, with volume three resting squarely on the support from one and two. Their lopsided recommendation for Volume 3 also illustrates why they aren't best used as a primary resource. I take them as intending to be more entertaining vs educational anyway....a bit like old school "infomercials".)

 

[mcarroll]

One thing I can tell you from they're videos with my firsthand experience, when you first set up, please, please PLEASE leave the lights off for the first 3 to 4 months. I know, it is tough, but so very worth it. I completely skipped the "ugly phase" by doing this. Start with fish, they do not need the lights. Trust me, you will be very happy that you did this.

That's one way to do it – and folks do get bored with a new aquarium setup sitting there with the lights out, so it's a good tip to be patient.

However, if you're more into corals (because they are WAY easier than fish), then you'd be better off the other way around: start with the lights on, but no fish, with live rock and lots of coral. Also no real uglies. Lower incidence and severity of disease for fish under this scenario too.

Straughn recommended this "advanced move" in his 1954 saltwater handbook, BTW. Not a new idea but also not a trendy idea, so it doesn't really circulate online. I and some other folks on R2R and elsewhere have done it (before I knew about his book too) – so there's no good reason not to, unless you just need fish. ;)

 

[Sophie"s mom]

That's one way to do it – and folks do get bored with a new aquarium setup sitting there with the lights out, so it's a good tip to be patient.

However, if you're more into corals (because they are WAY easier than fish), then you'd be better off the other way around: start with the lights on, but no fish, with live rock and lots of coral. Also no real uglies. Lower incidence and severity of disease for fish under this scenario too.

Straughn recommended this "advanced move" in his 1954 saltwater handbook, BTW. Not a new idea but also not a trendy idea, so it doesn't really circulate online. I and some other folks on R2R and elsewhere have done it (before I knew about his book too) – so there's no good reason not to, unless you just need fish. ;)

Absolutely correct! It all depends on ones own needs and wants. So much of this hobby is that way. There are countless ways to get where you want to go, it's all about the ride.

 

[Dom]

So hello everyone, I'm new here, and I'm writing this cause I need an advice. You see, I am fascinated with underwater world, and secrets it contains, and that fascination is so strong, I think of studying marine biology (I'm in high school right now). I know maintaining a reef tank isn't easy, but I think it's my dream to have one. I am buying a tank freshwater in very close future, to gain experience. The thing is, from research I've done here, and in other places, I know that getting the tank to mature can take me 2 years, and there are big chances, that in like 3, maybe 5 years from now, I'd be moving to America or somwhere else, 'cause we don't have great marine biology colleges here in Poland. Is it wise, to start a tank, let's say, in a year, in a perspective of moving out, maybe to another continent? I thought of a 55 gallon tank, with some internal skimmer and fluval fx 6 with UV sterilizer as a main filter. I don't think my parents would want to maintain the tank when I'm gone.

I would wait to commit on a tank of any kind until you put down roots somewhere.

 

[TonyHanke]

Maybe better than nothing (because they do drop some tidbits), and certainly entertaining. But a bit like doing a research paper with only an encyclopedia as a reference, if you know what I mean.

They are probably more interesting and useful for product related videos (eg demos) to be honest. The information density in most vids (not just theirs) is so low it would take an eternity for a newb to get a worthwhile amount of useful info – you'd spend a *long time* not picking up fundamentals, knowing just enough to be dangerous. "I can pick up a screw driver, so now I can build a house!"

No offense to anyone who goes unnamed (about to name names), but if I were a newb I would want to consume Martin Moe, Delbeek & Sprung, Tullock, Fosse & Nilsen, Baensch, Fenner, Borneman, Spotte (and maybe LOTS of others) with copious amounts of Michaels, Burgess, etc. for the livestock profiles!!!! I'd also read every back issue of TFH and FAMA back into the 1960's (including all the ads!!), as well as any other regular hobby magazine. Hopefully that's all online somewhere these days...seems like a lot of it is. Lots of old books are still in circulation, but a lot seem to have made it online as well, check (eg) openlibrary and archive.org.

Outside of the books, magazines and authors I mentioned, for online I'm actually thinking more like *everything* on the Advanced Aquarist archive and Reefkeeping.com (some of which is also here on R2R along with RHF, Dana, etc) with time also spent over on Google Scholar to go deep into references from time to time.

Mostly reading! LOTS, AND LOTS OF READING.

Online (ie videos, forums, etc) is (obviously) a great place to get answers to the questions that reading will give you though!

Such as: "Who the heck are 'Delbeek & Sprung'???"


("expert" HINT: You want all three volumes. Volume three is like an equipment catalog/setup guide where one and two are filled with fundamentals. It may come as no surprise that all three volumes go together really well, with volume three resting squarely on the support from one and two. Their lopsided recommendation for Volume 3 also illustrates why they aren't best used as a primary resource. I take them as intending to be more entertaining vs educational anyway....a bit like old school "infomercials".)

Great info, I'll try with freshwater tank first, to see if I'd really like to get into aquariums at all, and I really hope I'll do. I think I might buy Delbeek & Sprung in spring.

 

[mcarroll]

Great info, I'll try with freshwater tank first, to see if I'd really like to get into aquariums at all, and I really hope I'll do. I think I might buy Delbeek & Sprung in spring.

Many of those books are from the 1990's and before, and seem to be online as well these days...
Volume 2, for example:
https://archive.org/details/reefaquariumcomp0000juli
Volume 3 on eBook if you prefer:
https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-reef-aquarium-volume-three/id708459591
Moe's Marine Aquarium Handbook in eBook format:
https://books.apple.com/us/book/marine-aquarium-handbook/id555717036(You can get both his main books for $20 total.)

...and on archive.org:
https://archive.org/details/marineaquariumha0000moem
...be sure to check your library if they have any books or periodicals on the subject too!

 

[Cursemaker001]

My two cents; depends on how much money you're willing to blow. A freshwater tank may cost you a few hundred, maybe a thousand over the course of 3-5 years. Saltwater will cost that much in the first 6 months.