Lured to the Darkside....

[M_Phobos]

Hi all,

Well..all the talk in #reefs has finally done it...I've been lured over to the darkside of reefkeeping from the coziness of my brackish water tanks. So, I'm here to learn as much as I can in the hopes of setting up and maintaining a skimmerless marine system. I'd like to have a few corals and probably one marine puffer (species not yet determined), nothing overly fancy..but I figure in a skimmerless system I'd have to keep the bioload down anyway. Any and all advice would be greatly appreciated. As would some links to some introductory articles that any of you may have found to be helpful.

Thanks in advance,
Fred

 

[newkie]

Here is my advice: buy books!

http://www.reefaquariumguide.com/bookst ... ed%20Books

There are also great online magazines like www.reefkeepers.com and www.advancedaquarist.com and excellent archives from http://www.animalnetwork.com/fish2/aqfm/default.asp

 

[Len]

Since RAG's link didn't work, might as well direct you to Reefs.org's recommended media list. It's probably the most complete listing on the net and is a good place to start:
http://www.reefs.org/library/reading/

All other specific questions can be posted here. I guarentee no question will go unanswered 8O

 

[M_Phobos]

Thanks guys,

Keep 'em coming....want to do all the research I can..always found that to work the best. Well....its at least preferable to filling the tank up with the garden hose and dumping in fish IME. LOL.

Thanks,
Fred

 

[jeddy]

Hi M_phobos,

I think puffers are cool fish too, but I've never gotten one because I've heard that they aren't reef safe. Take a look in some of these resources your getting to make sure your puffer won't eat the corals you opt for.

When I started out it was tough to accept that I couldn't have many of my favorite fish in a reef aquarium, I really wanted a queen angel but thats a no go for a reef. I had heard that some regal angels do ok in reefs so I eventually got one of those. He has an appetite for elegance and bubble corals but leaves everything else alone (so far).

Jim

 

[M_Phobos]

Jeddy,

Yeah...I'll keep all of that in mind. Have a long way to go before I think about livestock though. Have to get everything set up and cycled first. By then I'm sure I'll finally decide what I want in the tank. Not even going to begin setting the tank up until sometime in January. Purely research right now..and just in browsing it appears that it will take that long to get myself comfortable with all of the chemistry and biology involved in reefs.

Keep it coming,
Fred

 

[Mouse]

Woa, puffer in a skimmerless reef. I think ill have better luck finding rocking horse poo. Way to messy for a skimmerless system, a small bioload to suit would be like 3 clowns in 50G Skimmerless situation IMO. If you want a puffer in a reef you going to need some sereous skimming power.

 

[Anonymous]

Here's one of the best online sources of information I've found:

http://www.wetwebmedia.com

 

[danmhippo]

It's possible to have the puffer in a skimmerless system. Depends on the puffer type. Spiny puffer obviously shouldn't be included, but the smaller mouthed such as valentine certainly is on the possible to keep list.

The key is nutrient export. Lots of it. You will need lots of macro algae. But Macro algae will release toxins that stony corals dislikes, so you will have to work out the balance. Keeping the macro's in a separate tank and run the water from the macro algae chamber (refugium) to a carbon chamber is one way to make it work.

You may need to let the macro algae took off and get a head start before you introduce fishes.

 

[Anonymous]

The Reef Aquarium; Volume 1. Julian Sprung and J. Charles Delbeek. This should be the on the top of the to read list.