Noobie here

[Fish Think Pink]

Hello everyone from the SaladBowl of the world Monterey County.

I am new to saltwater and hope to learn a lot from the community.

I am in the process of gathering the necessary equipment to start a 40g reef. So far I have the tank and a Viparspectra 165w led. Any suggestions are very much appreciated. I look forward to interacting with everyone

Welcome! Glad you joined

This is a good reference book type online article I still review:
https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/the-supreme-guide-to-setting-up-a-saltwater-reef-aquarium.84/

 

[Adrift]

Welcome to R2R glad you joined.

 

[N00bieReefer]

Welcome n00bie,
Dry or live rock?
Many have success with either.
Dry is easier to get, cheaper.
Live provides more biodiversity, bacteria, more money.

I’m thinking live, a little bit at a time. I read somewhere that dry rock can absorb ammonia and phosphates until saturated then they will be realeased all at once causing havoc. What are your thoughts?

 

[N00bieReefer]

Welcome! Glad you joined

This is a good reference book type online article I still review:
https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/the-supreme-guide-to-setting-up-a-saltwater-reef-aquarium.84/

Thank you much

 

[N00bieReefer]

Welcome to R2R, Visparspectra 165watt is a powerful light, I run 3 on my 180g, when it’s time to light, go in low.

Thank you. Would you happen to have any recommendations on height placement? My tank is 22” Tall thanks again

 

[SPR1968]

Hi and welcome to Reef2Reef!

 

[Pistondog]

I’m thinking live, a little bit at a time. I read somewhere that dry rock can absorb ammonia and phosphates until saturated then they will be realeased all at once causing havoc. What are your thoughts?

Live rock preferred.
Rocks absorb and release phosphate as the water concentration varies. It's not released all at once.
Depending on the source, dry rock might leach phosphates for a few months. Some of us cure rocks in brute trash cans for months before putting in tank.

 

[Schraufabagel]

 

[Billldg]

Welcome to R2R!!!

 

[G Santana]

Welcome to R2R

 

[Kiwi reefer]

Welcome to R2R!

 

[attiland]

Hello everyone from the SaladBowl of the world Monterey County.

I am new to saltwater and hope to learn a lot from the community.

I am in the process of gathering the necessary equipment to start a 40g reef. So far I have the tank and a Viparspectra 165w led. Any suggestions are very much appreciated. I look forward to interacting with everyone

Welcome to R2R

 

[emmo]

Hello everyone from the SaladBowl of the world Monterey County.

I am new to saltwater and hope to learn a lot from the community.

I am in the process of gathering the necessary equipment to start a 40g reef. So far I have the tank and a Viparspectra 165w led. Any suggestions are very much appreciated. I look forward to interacting with everyone

Welcome!! Well the best advice I can give a noobie is don't rush it. All will look good and then boom a nightmare. Let things settle in as you go. Get a quality heater and controller ( thermostat). It may seem minor but a bad heater or controller can ruin a reef tank

 

[N00bieReefer]

Welcome!! Well the best advice I can give a noobie is don't rush it. All will look good and then boom a nightmare. Let things settle in as you go. Get a quality heater and controller ( thermostat). It may seem minor but a bad heater or controller can ruin a reef tank

Thank you for the advice

 

[Jimbhoy13]

Welcome to R2R and the salty world. Take things slowly. Lots of knowledgeable and helpful people here who will support and advise you when needed.

 

[N00bieReefer]

Welcome to R2R and the salty world. Take things slowly. Lots of knowledgeable and helpful people here who will support and advise you when needed.

Thank you. I look forward to picking everyone’s brain

 

[Uncle99]

Thank you. Would you happen to have any recommendations on height placement? My tank is 22” Tall thanks again

14-20” above surface for good spread.
I might come in at 30% blue, 5% white to start.
Then ramp up 5% every month or so.
Corals calcify better with lots of soft white (even though they look better to us in the near UV and blue) so say max, 40%, but whites, which contain some blue, green and red, is necessary IMO. I do only run high whites for 4 of the 9 hour photoperiod, 9 hours of near UV and the blues.
Once set, stability is everything, corals are amazing at adapting to different light intensities provided it’s done real slow.
In my case, I added two, 1 lense 80 watt lamps in between each Visparspectra.
In your case that would not be required.
I have been happy with this light, grown everything including Acro and Clams.
Maybe some of that will help…..good luck.

 

[N00bieReefer]

14-20” above surface for good spread.
I might come in at 30% blue, 5% white to start.
Then ramp up 5% every month or so.
Corals calcify better with lots of soft white (even though they look better to us in the near UV and blue) so say max, 40%, but whites, which contain some blue, green and red, is necessary IMO. I do only run high whites for 4 of the 9 hour photoperiod, 9 hours of near UV and the blues.
Once set, stability is everything, corals are amazing at adapting to different light intensities provided it’s done real slow.
In my case, I added two, 1 lense 80 watt lamps in between each Visparspectra.
In your case that would not be required.
I have been happy with this light, grown everything including Acro and Clams.
Maybe some of that will help…..good luck.

Thank you I appreciate the advice. Very nice tank

 

[Ancient Mariner]

Be skeptical of any advice as there are so many opinions out there. Check out build threads and length of time in the hobby to help judge the value of advice. Wait a few days for opinions on your questions to come in.

 

[Ancient Mariner]

And being OCD helps in this hobby in terms of cleaning and water changes and can be harmful in chasing insignificant numbers and additives for every issue.