New and all that comes with being new

[Dry Snorker]

We decided in April that we were going to start a salt water tank in October. We read & watched videos till our heads spun.

When October arrived, we had decided on a 90 gallon system with a sump so we have room to grow. A local shop owner recommended the Eheim 330. It is a beautiful tank, so we made the first really big investment in our new hobby!

Now that it's November, we have sand, rocks, water, clown fish, and a small clean up crew in our tank, and we're quietly wondering if we should have started with a small AIO. We know we're going to love the hobby, but right now, it's all very overwhelming.

We've decided that our next fish will be a purple firefish, but before we can do that, we need to solve the lid problem.

And, we're going circles around buying pre-quarantined fish, or if we need to figure out how and where to set up quarantine tank when we've already got as much as we can manage with the display tank.

I've done fresh water and planted tanks, but it seems like every decision we make with salt water leads down a road to another $1k and more equipment to clean, learn, and manage.

When I walk past my tank and linger for a while watching our little underwater community, I relax, and find peace, and fall in love with the dream again, but when the tank is in the other room, the details, chores, and decisions sure feel like a lot!

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Welcome to your new home for saltwater reef aquarium resources and fun! Welcome to the family! :D

 

[NyteRyder1]

 

[Fish Fan]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

 

[BryanM]

We decided in April that we were going to start a salt water tank in October. We read & watched videos till our heads spun.

When October arrived, we had decided on a 90 gallon system with a sump so we have room to grow. A local shop owner recommended the Eheim 330. It is a beautiful tank, so we made the first really big investment in our new hobby!

Now that it's November, we have sand, rocks, water, clown fish, and a small clean up crew in our tank, and we're quietly wondering if we should have started with a small AIO. We know we're going to love the hobby, but right now, it's all very overwhelming.

We've decided that our next fish will be a purple firefish, but before we can do that, we need to solve the lid problem.

And, we're going circles around buying pre-quarantined fish, or if we need to figure out how and where to set up quarantine tank when we've already got as much as we can manage with the display tank.

I've done fresh water and planted tanks, but it seems like every decision we make with salt water leads down a road to another $1k and more equipment to clean, learn, and manage.

When I walk past my tank and linger for a while watching our little underwater community, I relax, and find peace, and fall in love with the dream again, but when the tank is in the other room, the details, chores, and decisions sure feel like a lot!

Welcome to the forums!

 

[vetteguy53081]

 

[Sam7]

 

[vetteguy53081]

We decided in April that we were going to start a salt water tank in October. We read & watched videos till our heads spun.

When October arrived, we had decided on a 90 gallon system with a sump so we have room to grow. A local shop owner recommended the Eheim 330. It is a beautiful tank, so we made the first really big investment in our new hobby!

Now that it's November, we have sand, rocks, water, clown fish, and a small clean up crew in our tank, and we're quietly wondering if we should have started with a small AIO. We know we're going to love the hobby, but right now, it's all very overwhelming.

We've decided that our next fish will be a purple firefish, but before we can do that, we need to solve the lid problem.

And, we're going circles around buying pre-quarantined fish, or if we need to figure out how and where to set up quarantine tank when we've already got as much as we can manage with the display tank.

I've done fresh water and planted tanks, but it seems like every decision we make with salt water leads down a road to another $1k and more equipment to clean, learn, and manage.

When I walk past my tank and linger for a while watching our little underwater community, I relax, and find peace, and fall in love with the dream again, but when the tank is in the other room, the details, chores, and decisions sure feel like a lot!

https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/the-supreme-guide-to-setting-up-a-saltwater-reef-aquarium.84/

 

[Decamicron Labs Verified Sponsor]

Welcome! Theres a learning curve to saltwater, but I think you made the right choice getting a 90 gallon. They may be a little bit more work upfront with higher gallonage, but larger water volumes tend to be easier to care for in the long term.

Send some pictures of your tank! What are the lid solutions you are exploring right now?

 

[kevgib67]

Welcome, glad you are here!

 

[Baldyreef]

We decided in April that we were going to start a salt water tank in October. We read & watched videos till our heads spun.

When October arrived, we had decided on a 90 gallon system with a sump so we have room to grow. A local shop owner recommended the Eheim 330. It is a beautiful tank, so we made the first really big investment in our new hobby!

Now that it's November, we have sand, rocks, water, clown fish, and a small clean up crew in our tank, and we're quietly wondering if we should have started with a small AIO. We know we're going to love the hobby, but right now, it's all very overwhelming.

We've decided that our next fish will be a purple firefish, but before we can do that, we need to solve the lid problem.

And, we're going circles around buying pre-quarantined fish, or if we need to figure out how and where to set up quarantine tank when we've already got as much as we can manage with the display tank.

I've done fresh water and planted tanks, but it seems like every decision we make with salt water leads down a road to another $1k and more equipment to clean, learn, and manage.

When I walk past my tank and linger for a while watching our little underwater community, I relax, and find peace, and fall in love with the dream again, but when the tank is in the other room, the details, chores, and decisions sure feel like a lot!

welcome to reef2reef congrats on your first tank @Dry Snorker !!
out of curiosity what is your lid problem?

 

[FrugalReeferJon]

 

[Dry Snorker]

welcome to reef2reef congrats on your first tank @Dry Snorker !!
out of curiosity what is your lid problem?

We need a lid. I looked on Top Lids and it's over $400 and doesn't Ship until December. And in the end, I didn't know if it's what we'll like. There's a bunch of DIY options, but going around the light fixture and cord seems tricky, and we don't have the right kind of saw to cut metal framing. We could probably do it, but it won't be a pretty process, I'm sure.

Overall, we want a tight fitting lid to keep our fish safe that's low profile. We also like the shimmer of the water on the wall and ceiling and would like to preserve that.

 

[Dry Snorker]

Welcome! Theres a learning curve to saltwater, but I think you made the right choice getting a 90 gallon. They may be a little bit more work upfront with higher gallonage, but larger water volumes tend to be easier to care for in the long term.

Send some pictures of your tank! What are the lid solutions you are exploring right now?

 

[Baldyreef]

welcome to reef2reef congrats on your first tank @Dry Snorker !!
out of curiosity what is your lid problem?

We need a lid. I looked on Top Lids and it's over $400 and doesn't Ship until December. And in the end, I didn't know if it's what we'll like. There's a bunch of DIY options, but going around the light fixture and cord seems tricky, and we don't have the right kind of saw to cut metal framing. We could probably do it, but it won't be a pretty process, I'm sure.

Overall, we want a tight fitting lid to keep our fish safe that's low profile. We also like the shimmer of the water on the wall and ceiling and would like to preserve that.

You could get some acrylic sheets like plexiglass and make some ridges on the bottom to your tanks dimensions and add the thin layer of silicone for grip, shouldn’t need any special tools

 

[Dry Snorker]

welcome to reef2reef congrats on your first tank @Dry Snorker !!
out of curiosity what is your lid problem?

We need a lid. I looked on Top Lids and it's over $400 and doesn't Ship until December. And in the end, I didn't know if it's what we'll like. There's a bunch of DIY options, but going around the light fixture and cord seems tricky, and we don't have the right kind of saw to cut metal framing. We could probably do it, but it won't be a pretty process, I'm sure.

Overall, we want a tight fitting lid to keep our fish safe that's low profile. We also like the shimmer of the water on the wall and ceiling and would like to preserve that.

You could get some acrylic sheets like plexiglass and make some ridges on the bottom to your tanks dimensions and add the thin layer of silicone for grip, shouldn’t need any special tools

How thick does the acrylic need to be so it doesn't sag?

 

[mmorrison55]

Welcome

 

[Decamicron Labs Verified Sponsor]

Awesome setup

I'd suggest finding a local laser cutter and ask to get a sheet like Baldyreef suggested. I wouldn't go with acrylic though, use polycarbonate. Some thinner plexiglass will warp under humidity even without load.

 

[Dry Snorker]

We decided in April that we were going to start a salt water tank in October. We read & watched videos till our heads spun.

When October arrived, we had decided on a 90 gallon system with a sump so we have room to grow. A local shop owner recommended the Eheim 330. It is a beautiful tank, so we made the first really big investment in our new hobby!

Now that it's November, we have sand, rocks, water, clown fish, and a small clean up crew in our tank, and we're quietly wondering if we should have started with a small AIO. We know we're going to love the hobby, but right now, it's all very overwhelming.

We've decided that our next fish will be a purple firefish, but before we can do that, we need to solve the lid problem.

And, we're going circles around buying pre-quarantined fish, or if we need to figure out how and where to set up quarantine tank when we've already got as much as we can manage with the display tank.

I've done fresh water and planted tanks, but it seems like every decision we make with salt water leads down a road to another $1k and more equipment to clean, learn, and manage.

When I walk past my tank and linger for a while watching our little underwater community, I relax, and find peace, and fall in love with the dream again, but when the tank is in the other room, the details, chores, and decisions sure feel like a lot!

Here's our stocking list for the next 9 months or so depending on how things go along the way. Thoughts?