Brand new to the hobby

[vetteguy53081]

 

[Kristopher Conlin]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!!!

Is the 360 your first saltwater tank? You certainly are starting out right haha.

 

[ABQ_CHRIS]

Hello and welcome.

I would start by deciding what you HAVE to have and then plan around that.

Is there anything you gotta have?

 

[LandLockedJones]

Welcome aboard! Can’t wait to see some photos!

 

[ShepherdReefer]

Hello and welcome to the channel

 

[CoralB]

Welcome !!!

 

[SPR1968]

Hi and welcome to Reef2Reef!

 

[Jimbhoy13]

Welcome to R2R and the salty world. Wow, big tank. I guess your choices are much wider.

 

[tharbin]

Welcome to R2R!

 

[reaper93]

Welcome!

 

[Sean Clark]

Welcome to R2R.

 

[blaxsun]

 

[Jeffcb]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

 

[Blue Chromiis]

Welcome
Same boat I started about a week ago too.

 

[powers2001]

Hello and welcome to R2R, @quartercajun . Glad you joined us!! Good luck with you 360 gallon!!

 

[Fish Think Pink]

Hello, I am new to the hobby. I have a 360 gallon set up 3 months ago. So far I am just sand, live rock, 6 Clownfish of assorted patterns, an anemone and a red feather duster. I plan to go reef with it. I have started trying to establish a colony of copepods. I have a representative from the local store chain that comes to my house and helps with the tank and gives advice. Our planned next move is a Tailspot Blenny and in a few weeks on her next visit, a Midas Blenny and a Gorgonian. Her theory is the Tailspot will hang out with the Clownfish, I don't completely understand but has something to do with having an even number of clowns. After the Tailspot has been in a few weeks we will add the Midas to keep aggression in check. I was happy with that plan until I started doing research and saw the Starry Blenny. She says I have to decide...the Tailspot and Midas or just the Starry. And on the Tailspot...I was unsure on the colors, I found some threads on here (thanks guys), there is a Standard and an Orange. The Standard is readily available where as, at least right now, the Orange is hard to come by. I figure my next move after that is some Goby, Wrasse, Tang, Dragonet, Jawfish and corals, then maybe some bigger stuff. Advice on strategies, quantities and types of species are appreciated. If you had a brand new 360 gallon what would you do? I'd love to hear it. Thank you.

Welcome! Glad you joined. SO, I'd make sure I liked my aquascape (rocks) and adjust anything needed to accommodate the sleeping needs of my fish wishlist as well as the light needs for my future corals (and plan for GROWTH because they will - both fish and corals LOL).

Even if something is 'readily available' instead decide if that is what you want. It may be with you 5-35 years, so its not decision to be taken lightly. Enjoy doing your research.

I wish I had gone with photosynthetic gorgonian corals, because I think they would be doing better in my tank - the ones I have are only filter feeders, and while colors are gorgeous, they haven't grown over time like everything else.

Depending how your clownfish pair up, you may end up with 2 harems breeding... OR at least that is what happened with me... and the one pair got an anemone but the other pair banished to other end of 180g tried to live in (and killed) coral frags... until finally I caught and sold the extra breeding clownfish pair... Original pair plus juvenile they keep tiny (exact same age lol) continues to breed but I just let the babies become extra fish food every 10+ days or so

Even though I returned to hobby with jawfish on my must have wishlist, I don't have one and will wait until I can have a deep sandbed (old school undergravel filtration anyone LOL) away from main large tank...

Have you considered starting your build thread? I found its a great place to document my tank's evolution for myself. I started tank first then joined, so I'm still finding myself going back collecting pictures & updating historically as well as current state. Once you create your first post in your thread and link it to your account, they will give you build badge (look left, under my ID)

Since you mention pods and future dragonet, let me share this link of mine:

raising tig pods - tiny 2.5g tank experimental culture #2

2nd attempt at raising tig pods is officially underway. Original attempt was outdoor lazy banana leaf method I found online - that is still underway but seems to be failing. Suspect Texas temperature and full day direct sunshine is too much, but that pod culture experiment still underway. 2nd...

forum.dfwmas.org

This might help you find people local to you:

Local Reef Club Discussion

Looking for some locals to share frags and info with? This is the place! Find a local club that meets in your area! If you want to add your club just contact us.

www.reef2reef.com

This is a good reference book type online article I still review:

The Supreme Guide To Setting Up A Saltwater Reef Aquarium

This article was sponsored by @MarineDepot at www.marinedepot.com. Introduction The marine environment is one of the most complex systems on the planet. The aquarium you are about to set up is only a tiny sliver of the vast ocean, but it is no...

www.reef2reef.com