New to the aquarium hobby. Give me any and all advice for my first tank!

[CMMorgan]

Welcome to the fishy family!! Take your time, remember that nothing good happens fast in a reef tank. Enjoy the ride...

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

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[reefinatl]

Yeah, it definitely is. I took it right from my dad’s tank and put it into mine

A tank started with live rock in 2021, I knew I felt a disturbance in the force. No need for Dr Tim's. How long was the rock out of water between you dad's tank and yours? You probably are good to add fish right now if it wasn't out of water. Safe bet is to test for ammonia for a few days if it stays zero, add fish.

If that giant stag skeleton was grown by your dad then just ignore everything we say and do what he does, but add in a generator for power outages.

 

[arking_mark]

Advice:
1. Nothing good happens fast in a reef tank
2. Don't chase #s
3. Pick a SINGLE successful reef methodology to follow. Don't be a Frankenstein of techniques unless you're willing to fail several times while blazing a new path.

 

[reefinatl]

Advice:
1. Nothing good happens fast in a reef tank
2. Don't chase #s
3. Pick a SINGLE successful reef methodology to follow. Don't be a Frankenstein of techniques unless you're willing to fail several times while blazing a new path.

Perfect advice.

 

[arking_mark]

Perfect advice.

Just wished I would follow that last one....but I just can't help myself.

 

[reefinatl]

Just wished I would follow that last one....but I just can't help myself.

Tell me bout it, I'm fresh back into this mess. Had perfectly fine success with halides, no skimmer and refugium back in the day, heat was never an issue with central air. The amount of time I've spent looking at LEDs, roller mats, zeovit, dry rock, triton and UV since getting the old setup going again is unreal lol. I did add a couple t5 actinic so now I'm partying like it's 2005.

 

[Clownfish_Boy]

Either let the tank cycle or add Fritz Turbo Start 900 before adding any clownfish. You don't want to cycle the tank with fish in it, the ammonia spike will seriously stress them out and may very likely kill them.

 

[IlLupoDelMare]

A tank started with live rock in 2021, I knew I felt a disturbance in the force. No need for Dr Tim's. How long was the rock out of water between you dad's tank and yours? You probably are good to add fish right now if it wasn't out of water. Safe bet is to test for ammonia for a few days if it stays zero, add fish.

If that giant stag skeleton was grown by your dad then just ignore everything we say and do what he does, but add in a generator for power outages.

The rock never left water. I transferred it in a bucket of tank water and immediately put it in my tank after doing a basic cleaning (no more than 1 minute out of water just to get some tubes off of the rock). I’m planning on running the tank filter and stuff for 24 hours and testing ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate all tomorrow. Yes, my dad had a beautiful tank with lots of corals all sadly destroyed. We now have a separate generator from the fridge for just fish tanks in case it happens again.

 

[reefinatl]

The rock never left water. I transferred it in a bucket of tank water and immediately put it in my tank after doing a basic cleaning (no more than 1 minute out of water just to get some tubes off of the rock). I’m planning on running the tank filter and stuff for 24 hours and testing ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate all tomorrow. Yes, my dad had a beautiful tank with lots of corals all sadly destroyed. We now have a separate generator from the fridge for just fish tanks in case it happens again.

Sounds like you are on the right track. Go slow and have fun.

 

[Clownfish_Boy]

The rock never left water. I transferred it in a bucket of tank water and immediately put it in my tank after doing a basic cleaning (no more than 1 minute out of water just to get some tubes off of the rock). I’m planning on running the tank filter and stuff for 24 hours and testing ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate all tomorrow. Yes, my dad had a beautiful tank with lots of corals all sadly destroyed. We now have a separate generator from the fridge for just fish tanks in case it happens again.

Oh, then your setup is probably well established enough to add a couple of fish with the LR in it.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

like others have mentioned, please dont add fish until the cycle is over, thats just poor fishkeeping. Also like others have mentioned, cost is a major factor in this hobby, be aware.

 

[IlLupoDelMare]

Oh, then your setup is probably well established enough to add a couple of fish with the LR in it.

I'll do a few tests throughout today and if everything seems good (0 ammonia/nitrites) then maybe I'll get a clown tomorrow!

 

[Jekyl]

Add more rock and go taller

 

[Bandito Aquatics]

the best advise is to take it slow that in no time it will be a gorgeous tank