n00b from (very) rural Nebr

[B&CinB.C.]

Hello . Welcome to Reef 2 Reef

 

[mcarroll]

I don't have an aquarium yet, but I'm registering here to get a bend in my learning curve BEFORE I buy a setup.

Excellent!

Make sure to pick up at least one or two good books....online leaves out tons of basics that will bite you in the *** later on.

(Online, everyone is always 100% confident in what they tell you....makes it hard on the newb. Books have always been antidote.)

For ideas:

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/how-long-is-your-aquarium-book-collection.180547/
(Not sure when/why that thread got moved to the Lounge since that's where nothing reefy happens at all.....don't pay that any mind!!)

 

[Mrcote1]

Welcome!

If you are trying to take your time but know youll get a setup eventually, I would recommend going and grabbing a storage container, a heater, cheap powerhead, instant ocean salt, refractometer and 20lbs of dry rock. Mix up some saltwater to the right salinity and throw in the dry rock and a small piece of live rock from you local fish store. Then occassionaly throw a pinch of fish food in the container.

This will start cycling your rock so when you do get a setup going, your rock is all cycled and good to go!

 

[mcarroll]

Please do yourself a favor and consider using live rock.

Not dead, dry or even cycled rock.

 

[Mrcote1]

Please do yourself a favor and consider using live rock.

Not dead, dry or even cycled rock.

Definitely the better way if you can spend the money or have access. Seeding with live rock works too, just dont start with all dry rock! I tried the all dry rock approach and sterile system in the past and it took an immense amount of time to cycle. Not to mention I never felt the tank did great so I ended up breaking it down after a few years.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

 

[NautiTang]

Near Bridgeport

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Welcome!
I’m not too terribly far from there. Near Cheyenne, Wy.

 

[NautiTang]

Definitely the better way if you can spend the money or have access. Seeding with live rock works too, just dont start with all dry rock! I tried the all dry rock approach and sterile system in the past and it took an immense amount of time to cycle. Not to mention I never felt the tank did great so I ended up breaking it down after a few years.

Agreed, I cycled my rock in a stock tank for about 5 months before putting it in the main display, I feel like this helped but wish I seeded with LR sooner.

The rock in my observation/holding tank for incoming fish seemed to do better than the display. I believe this is due to having fish in there for a while without lights, difficult to prove but its my best guess. With some patience though even dry rock will mature, it seems to me the best way to get through “the ugliest” is just regular maintenance and manual removal (I used to scrub my rocks for ~10 minutes about once a week until the bulk stopped coming back in a 75g). Keep in mind a little algae isn’t going to kill the tank and typically will resolve itself with time as long as you keep up with water quality. In fact IMO algae is really good for certain things like pod population and nutrient export, many including myself grow algae in a refugium (fuge) with a few other benefits. Just be careful not to bottom out your nutrients with it.

 

[MC Blowfish]

Welcome to R2R!!

 

[Aquarist76]

I don't have an aquarium yet, but I'm registering here to get a bend in my learning curve BEFORE I buy a setup. I hope to start out with a smaller saltwater reef tank - 20 gallons or maybe less. I hope to stock it with anemones, 2 clown fish, a coral or 2 and hopefully a clam - possibly electric.

Since I know essentially nothing, I doubt I'll post much by an occasional question. What I've learned so far from YT vids is to not get in a hurry - thus my presence here to learn. Thanks! Steve

Good luck!! I pretty much learned everything I needed to know about reefing to get me started from BRS videos on YT back in 2016. Their 52 weeks of reefing series is a great starting place.