Made the leap _/\_

TheReefAbides

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Apr 15, 2026
Messages
110
Reaction score
144
Location
USA
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Hello all,

Located in the Midwest and in my 30s, I have been dreaming of starting a SW aquarium for years. The intimidation factor with the endless amounts of information and initial cost have kept the hobby at bay. I have had a 35gal aquarium sitting empty in my office for almost 10 years and still look at daily. Well finally I decided, Its time to start living and stop dreaming. My wife suggested I start off slow and small and see how it goes. I stumbled across The HelloReef 15g kits and was immediately convinced that starting was an achievable goal. So, here we go, time to jump in and start swimming!


20260415_210712_E7CBB869-1A57-4FBD-813E-0D8DB45925A0.png
 
Last edited:

revhtree

Owner Administrator
View Badges
Joined
May 8, 2006
Messages
53,908
Reaction score
118,903
Rating - 100%
1   0   0
Welcome to your new home for saltwater reef aquarium resources and fun! Welcome to the family! :D
welcome-home-logo-greeting-png.1484246
 

Fish Fan

Master of Disaster
View Badges
Joined
Dec 8, 2017
Messages
12,905
Reaction score
33,603
Location
461 Ocean Boulevard
Rating - 100%
6   0   0
Welcome to Reef2Reef!

That 15 gallon Hello Reef is a nice tank to start with! It's an Innovative Marine 15 gallon AIO, so you can search the forums here for that tank to see what others have done with it.

Good luck!
 

Peace River

Thrive Master
View Badges
Joined
Apr 29, 2014
Messages
24,733
Reaction score
172,767
Location
USA
Rating - 100%
1   0   0
Welcome to Reef2Reef!!!

Clownfish.gif
 

vetteguy53081

Well known Member and monster tank lover
View Badges
Joined
Aug 11, 2013
Messages
108,086
Reaction score
242,646
Location
Wisconsin -
Rating - 100%
17   0   0
OP
OP
TheReefAbides

TheReefAbides

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Apr 15, 2026
Messages
110
Reaction score
144
Location
USA
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Welcome to Reef2Reef! Congrats on taking the leap and getting started :)

What are some goals you have for your first foray into saltwater/what do you want to keep in your tank?
The goal is soft and flowy movement. I have seen a few different nems and torches I really like. The idea is to start with the nem and hope it finds its home before adding a torch. Possibly a zoa garden for extra color in the sand bed or mounted on the side glass. As for fish, mocha storms have caught my attention. Possibly 1 more fish once tank has matured some depending on whose friendly. I have enjoyed watching CJs aquarium which has given some inspiration.
 

Gumbies R Us

God, Bouldering, and Reefing
View Badges
Joined
Nov 10, 2022
Messages
28,944
Reaction score
51,297
Location
North Georgia
Rating - 0%
0   0   0

ChaddyJ_7

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Apr 26, 2025
Messages
225
Reaction score
283
Location
Pennsylvania
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Welcome to Reef2Reef! Congrats on taking the leap and getting started :)

What are some goals you have for your first foray into saltwater/what do you want to keep in your tank?
The goal is soft and flowy movement. I have seen a few different nems and torches I really like. The idea is to start with the nem and hope it finds its home before adding a torch. Possibly a zoa garden for extra color in the sand bed or mounted on the side glass. As for fish, mocha storms have caught my attention. Possibly 1 more fish once tank has matured some depending on whose friendly. I have enjoyed watching CJs aquarium which has given some inspiration.
Very cool! I love nems & torches, as well as clowns in all their awesome varieties. Those were what got me into the hobby as well. Zoas will never do you wrong and are as close to bulletproof of a coral as you’ll find IMO. Endless colors too 🤩
Definitely a good call to let the men settle before adding a torch, wish I would’ve had that foresight as a newbie 😂 looking forward to seeing why you put together!

giphy-downsized.gif
 

TOP 10 Trending Threads

WHAT AMOUNT OF LIVE ROCK AND SAND SHOULD BE PRIORITIZED FOR OPTIMAL BIODIVERSITY/FILTRATION?

  • 100% live rock + bagged sand

    Votes: 34 28.3%
  • 100% dry rock + 100% live sand

    Votes: 41 34.2%
  • 50/50 live/dry rock, 50/50 live/bagged sand

    Votes: 27 22.5%
  • 75% live rock, 25% live sand

    Votes: 10 8.3%
  • 25% live rock, 75% live sand

    Votes: 8 6.7%
Back
Top