(This is my first time posting, I hope I put this in the right spot, SO SORRY if I didn't!)
So I have a million questions, but everyday I have been reading or watching YouTube videos from so many different people. To say I am excited is really an understatement. Now watching videos and reading has lead to a bit of information overload and I am trying to get my bearings, there seems to be so much different information out there and every time I look something up it brings me to R2R and I figure lets just start getting into the community! It is so important to me to try to have the right equipment so my corals and fish can live happy. I am work from home and an introvert so for me I will be home a lot and plan to have this in the room I spend almost all day in
Now I plan to be saving and learning more, my plan is to get my live dry rock and live sand by 1/13 or 1/27, so that is when we would start the cycle. This build is a bit out but I have started saving, so basically I have OCD and I am trying to figure out how much to save and what all I truly need. I do not plan to run a SUMP on this first 40 gallon build. I love the water, I want to treat my tank with the respect it deserves as well so I of course want to make sure that my fish get along, not too many etc.
I am trying to go for a budget build but at the same time I am 100% willing to buy something a bit more pricey if it really makes that big of a difference (like the lights do!). I do plan (right now) on doing a 40 gallon breeder tank and I know I will need to get things to turn it into saltwater ready etc... So my plan is to post what I am thinking about and get feedback about what my options are so I can make my buying and saving plans. Then once I hit that rock and all my items I will post so much everywhere because I am so thrilled to be getting into this hobby. Okay so here are all my plans, I am new and very open to changing everything if I have too, I will leave comments about things I REALLY want, but I need tons of help and I hear that this community is amazing. One day after many years I will be the one offering help
So to start the tank:
Aqueon Standard Glass Tank 40 Gallon Breeder
Aqueon Versa Top, Glass Aquarium Top
Now this is where I am very confused and unsure so I think I have 3 options in total with this tank Drill and make a sump (I am not doing a sump on my first build), 2 would be hanging on the back and 3 I found this Fiji AIO option which I think is really cool, but I can't find great information on it so unsure if I should. I am fine with things hanging on the back of the aquarium if that is better, but what all do I need exactly so here is my break down:
Option 1 SUMP
Nope
Option 2 Hanging on the back
Filter
Heater
Protein Skimmer
Light
Wavemaker
Ammonia Alert
Auto-top off - I plan to go with this $11 one, I am aware it fits a certain type of glass but I have a plan for since the straw is adjustable length, I may get an auto one eventually but to start I plan cheap and then I will manually do more if needed of course!
What else? (I am sure I am missing things)
Option 3
Fiji AIO Aqueon DIY Kit, 40-gallon (Picture below if you are unfamiliar)
Heater
Protein Skimmer
Light
Wavemaker
Ammonia Alert
Auto-top off - See picture above
I will eventually have a million questions about what I actually put in these filters or media baskets but for now can anyone speak for the Fiji AIO or is it better to just have hanging items? Also if people have recommendations on what to buy for each thing awesome I have some saved from the videos and guides but I am not committed yet, still in the planning phase (OCD). I keep thinking why not just save for a complete AIO, answer is: still WAY CHEAPER than buying a 40 gallon AIO unless I am missing something (Totally possible), but with the stand, tank and either option 1 or 2 still way cheaper than buying a complete AIO and stand.
I do plan on getting an RODI for my top offs, plenty of test kits for the water levels and my saltwater to start I will go to a local fish store to pick up. Now for inside the tank plan:
Rock and Sand
Real Reef Rock (20lb, I am aware I need double this)
I was also thinking about mixing the Real reef rock with this Nano series, so 22lbs in total of the Nano and 20lb Real reef rock, now would this be smart or wasteful? Is it beneficial to start with the mix or will I get the same results if I start with only dry rock? Should I stick to all Real reef or all Dry rock? Also what do you guys think of this Nano series?
Live sand CaribSea Arag-Alive Fiji Pink Aquarium sand (This is what I read is really good for clownfish)
Fish
2x Ocellaris Clownfish - I will be buying them together, these guys I HAVE TO HAVE. I want clownfish no matter what, I just love them so make sure any recommendations are good for clown fish! I do want just a pair, not a single clown that sounds lonely
1x Firefish - I have seen videos and read nothing but rave reviews about their personality
1x Captive-Bred Blue Mandarin - I am aware these are hard to care for and to not put them in until my aquarium is mature. I 100% plan to wait to add this guy until myself and the tank are ready, even if its years. I am going captive-bred since they grow up on live and frozen diet and can acclimate a bit better (so I have read, any information that you want to share about these guy please let me know!)
These are all the fish I plan to have in my 40 gallon, no its not a lot. I would rather my fish have plenty of space and feel more at home then crowd them for my enjoyment. If you think I should add a few more for the sake of the ecosystem, awesome totally down, but I am also okay with just 4. From my research all these fish should be good together and I think with my inverts I picked?
Invertebrates
2x Scarlet Skunk Cleaner Shrimp (Read they are good in pair if put in together? Or can I do more or just 1?)
1x Tuxedo Urchin - This one may be a must on my list but if they would be bad for clowns then unfortunate, I think they are really cool to watch at night.
Nassarius Snail - How many of these should I get?
Watermelon Bubble Tip Anemone - I am unsure on this one, I really want an Anemone for my clownfish (I know they may not pair but I am hopeful) so do you think I can get this one in my build? Also should you add them before or after corals, or really when do you introduce them? If not this one is there any other I could get?
I am sure I need more here but I don't know what goes with the tank, really listed the ones I want and from there I am open to things I need!
Coral
I love the way most LPS look, so probably thinking a LPS/Softy Tank. I don't have specific coral picked out mainly because I plan to stick to WYSIWYG and LPS/Softies when I look through. In a 40 gallon aquarium can I so a mix of all corals or for lights and flow should I stick to like medium to low?
Sorry for all of the questions and the novel I wrote, but I just have so much in my head, HELP ! This is all I will post for now about this but help is appreciated so I can do all my research and OCD lists and reading!
So I have a million questions, but everyday I have been reading or watching YouTube videos from so many different people. To say I am excited is really an understatement. Now watching videos and reading has lead to a bit of information overload and I am trying to get my bearings, there seems to be so much different information out there and every time I look something up it brings me to R2R and I figure lets just start getting into the community! It is so important to me to try to have the right equipment so my corals and fish can live happy. I am work from home and an introvert so for me I will be home a lot and plan to have this in the room I spend almost all day in
Now I plan to be saving and learning more, my plan is to get my live dry rock and live sand by 1/13 or 1/27, so that is when we would start the cycle. This build is a bit out but I have started saving, so basically I have OCD and I am trying to figure out how much to save and what all I truly need. I do not plan to run a SUMP on this first 40 gallon build. I love the water, I want to treat my tank with the respect it deserves as well so I of course want to make sure that my fish get along, not too many etc.
I am trying to go for a budget build but at the same time I am 100% willing to buy something a bit more pricey if it really makes that big of a difference (like the lights do!). I do plan (right now) on doing a 40 gallon breeder tank and I know I will need to get things to turn it into saltwater ready etc... So my plan is to post what I am thinking about and get feedback about what my options are so I can make my buying and saving plans. Then once I hit that rock and all my items I will post so much everywhere because I am so thrilled to be getting into this hobby. Okay so here are all my plans, I am new and very open to changing everything if I have too, I will leave comments about things I REALLY want, but I need tons of help and I hear that this community is amazing. One day after many years I will be the one offering help
So to start the tank:
Aqueon Standard Glass Tank 40 Gallon Breeder
Aqueon Versa Top, Glass Aquarium Top
Now this is where I am very confused and unsure so I think I have 3 options in total with this tank Drill and make a sump (I am not doing a sump on my first build), 2 would be hanging on the back and 3 I found this Fiji AIO option which I think is really cool, but I can't find great information on it so unsure if I should. I am fine with things hanging on the back of the aquarium if that is better, but what all do I need exactly so here is my break down:
Option 1 SUMP
Nope
Option 2 Hanging on the back
Filter
Heater
Protein Skimmer
Light
Wavemaker
Ammonia Alert
Auto-top off - I plan to go with this $11 one, I am aware it fits a certain type of glass but I have a plan for since the straw is adjustable length, I may get an auto one eventually but to start I plan cheap and then I will manually do more if needed of course!
What else? (I am sure I am missing things)
Option 3
Fiji AIO Aqueon DIY Kit, 40-gallon (Picture below if you are unfamiliar)
Heater
Protein Skimmer
Light
Wavemaker
Ammonia Alert
Auto-top off - See picture above
I will eventually have a million questions about what I actually put in these filters or media baskets but for now can anyone speak for the Fiji AIO or is it better to just have hanging items? Also if people have recommendations on what to buy for each thing awesome I have some saved from the videos and guides but I am not committed yet, still in the planning phase (OCD). I keep thinking why not just save for a complete AIO, answer is: still WAY CHEAPER than buying a 40 gallon AIO unless I am missing something (Totally possible), but with the stand, tank and either option 1 or 2 still way cheaper than buying a complete AIO and stand.
I do plan on getting an RODI for my top offs, plenty of test kits for the water levels and my saltwater to start I will go to a local fish store to pick up. Now for inside the tank plan:
Rock and Sand
Real Reef Rock (20lb, I am aware I need double this)
I was also thinking about mixing the Real reef rock with this Nano series, so 22lbs in total of the Nano and 20lb Real reef rock, now would this be smart or wasteful? Is it beneficial to start with the mix or will I get the same results if I start with only dry rock? Should I stick to all Real reef or all Dry rock? Also what do you guys think of this Nano series?
Live sand CaribSea Arag-Alive Fiji Pink Aquarium sand (This is what I read is really good for clownfish)
Fish
2x Ocellaris Clownfish - I will be buying them together, these guys I HAVE TO HAVE. I want clownfish no matter what, I just love them so make sure any recommendations are good for clown fish! I do want just a pair, not a single clown that sounds lonely
1x Firefish - I have seen videos and read nothing but rave reviews about their personality
1x Captive-Bred Blue Mandarin - I am aware these are hard to care for and to not put them in until my aquarium is mature. I 100% plan to wait to add this guy until myself and the tank are ready, even if its years. I am going captive-bred since they grow up on live and frozen diet and can acclimate a bit better (so I have read, any information that you want to share about these guy please let me know!)
These are all the fish I plan to have in my 40 gallon, no its not a lot. I would rather my fish have plenty of space and feel more at home then crowd them for my enjoyment. If you think I should add a few more for the sake of the ecosystem, awesome totally down, but I am also okay with just 4. From my research all these fish should be good together and I think with my inverts I picked?
Invertebrates
2x Scarlet Skunk Cleaner Shrimp (Read they are good in pair if put in together? Or can I do more or just 1?)
1x Tuxedo Urchin - This one may be a must on my list but if they would be bad for clowns then unfortunate, I think they are really cool to watch at night.
Nassarius Snail - How many of these should I get?
Watermelon Bubble Tip Anemone - I am unsure on this one, I really want an Anemone for my clownfish (I know they may not pair but I am hopeful) so do you think I can get this one in my build? Also should you add them before or after corals, or really when do you introduce them? If not this one is there any other I could get?
I am sure I need more here but I don't know what goes with the tank, really listed the ones I want and from there I am open to things I need!
Coral
I love the way most LPS look, so probably thinking a LPS/Softy Tank. I don't have specific coral picked out mainly because I plan to stick to WYSIWYG and LPS/Softies when I look through. In a 40 gallon aquarium can I so a mix of all corals or for lights and flow should I stick to like medium to low?
Sorry for all of the questions and the novel I wrote, but I just have so much in my head, HELP ! This is all I will post for now about this but help is appreciated so I can do all my research and OCD lists and reading!