What would you buy?

[Wes]

You mean overstocked tanks with tangs and angels or other aggressive eating fish....
You mean they do nothing but top off in a 5 and 6 month period and still manage to be able to grow acros.....
Not necessarily large but 180 gallon tanks....

I have yet to see this....Not saying it's not going on, but I just never heard or saw this going on....

If you keep acros you should be doing frequent water changes regardless of nitrate levels to replenish trace elements.

I think you will be hard pressed to find anyone who successfully keeps colorful acropora and goes 6 months w/out a water change, nitrate reactor or not.

 

[thirty5]

WOW! My thread went out of wack big time! Maybe it was just the way that i worded it... :sigh::sigh:

What i am looking for is just some input on what people think that I should put into my tank. Don't worry about my water parameters and such. I have good lighting and good water.

So if you were to recommend something what would you tell me to put in there. Does not have to be rare or expensive, i just want a killer tank. Is there something that almost all people have in their tank? I have looked at tons of pics but i have no idea what half the stuff is called. With names i can then look the stuff up and it may be what i want.

I guess i am being a little lazy :lol2:. But I don't want to just buy stuff cause it looks cool and then i find out that it is very hard to maintain.

 

[cali_reef]

Buy a few books..

 

[thirty5]

Buy a few books..

HAHAHAH in those 14 or so characters you could have gave a name of a coral. I am looking for suggestions. Ya i guess i could buy a book, but the way that i look at it then research on a board like this is much more valuable.

 

[NYreefNoob]

coral

i would buy a controller also mysel { i did } as far as corals go, everyone has a different opinion of what they like. i myself am collection caps. and starting on birdsnest. easy to keep and grow like crazy

 

[thirty5]

Thanks.. that is exactly what i was asking for!!
:tongueani

 

[jhale]

HAHAHAH in those 14 or so characters you could have gave a name of a coral. I am looking for suggestions. Ya i guess i could buy a book, but the way that i look at it then research on a board like this is much more valuable.

actually I would trust a good book over most advice given on forums.
don't get me wrong the advice here is great, but your getting people opinions also and unless you know what your doing you might get into trouble.

I highly recommend this book!

The Reef Aquarium, Science, Art, and Technology
J.Charles Delbeek and Julian Sprung

 

[Timbo]

Tough question. Everyone is going to like something different. Fish: wrasses, tangs, and clowns. Coral: anything that looks good and your system/experience can handle.

 

[Bob 1000]

A good book is always better, but Like I say, " I hear everyone but I listen to seldom few".....lol

 

[marrone]

actually I would trust a good book over most advice given on forums.
don't get me wrong the advice here is great, but your getting people opinions also and unless you know what your doing you might get into trouble.

I highly recommend this book!

The Reef Aquarium, Science, Art, and Technology
J.Charles Delbeek and Julian Sprung

Actually I think just the opposite. Most books are old and need to be updated for new things like equipment, additives and new reefing methods. Also just because someone wrote a book doesn't mean they're the end all of everything. There are plenty of people, with a lot of experience and in some cases more, who have never written a book or an article. I think it's better to get a lot of opinions and use books, forums and other on-line material and then discuss what's best, or fits, your needs.

 

[thirty5]

I am thinking the same way. I do have a few books. But i also like to heard many opinions. Here i can get a large amount of opinions. A book is only ONE opinion!

 

[Awibrandy]

i like to buy the "in" corals and sell frags for less than i paid. If everyone did this the hobby would be alot cheaper.

Wes, I love your attitude!!!!!!! I wish there were more people like you!

The advice given here already is how I stocked my tank. I looked around, books, pics of people's tanks. Then went on a hunt on the net to find the corals & fish that I liked, in order to find out what their needs are. If I found that I could meet their needs, I then bought them as I found them. Not sure if that helps, hope it does.

I think you should definitely purchase a doser, and set up an ATO.
Best wishes for an awesome tank. How's about some progession pics......

 

[thirty5]

Wes, I love your attitude!!!!!!! I wish there were more people like you!

The advice given here already is how I stocked my tank. I looked around, books, pics of people's tanks. Then went on a hunt on the net to find the corals & fish that I liked, in order to find out what their needs are. If I found that I could meet their needs, I then bought them as I found them. Not sure if that helps, hope it does.

I think you should definitely purchase a doser, and set up an ATO.
Best wishes for an awesome tank. How's about some progession pics......

Thanks for the Advice. The ATO that is already done. I have like a 35 gallon holding tank in teh basement for the TO water.

I will def get some new pics up soon.

 

[jhale]

Actually I think just the opposite. Most books are old and need to be updated for new things like equipment, additives and new reefing methods. Also just because someone wrote a book doesn't mean they're the end all of everything. There are plenty of people, with a lot of experience and in some cases more, who have never written a book or an article. I think it's better to get a lot of opinions and use books, forums and other on-line material and then discuss what's best, or fits, your needs.

Would you use a book from the 80's to set up a tank, or course not!
Will people 20 years from now be digging through our tank threads to see the latest way to set up a reef tank probably not.

I will take information from Delbeek and Sprung, 2 of the preeminent reefing authorities of our time, ANY day over anonymous people on a forum. There is no reason not to read the book, you can only benefit from it. it would take way longer to sift through all the online material to come close to reading what's in the reef aquarium book.
There is a ton of useful info online, but a good book will give you an excellent base to start from.

:backtotop

 

[JHOV2324]

if you really want your tank to pop...this may not be a coral but a very nice anemone like a blue or green carpet always makes one go WOW>>>>>>

 

[bud]

I have to agree for someone who never had a reef tank, but a neon green or blue carpet. Is definely a WOW for me.

 

[nycmat]

well 35 here is my take on it. why people are giving you advice on your equipment is because they care for livestock like most people here on MR. whats the point of buying rare corals or animals if they will not thrive in the enviornment? nothing personal meant towards your set up or you for that matter. what marrone is suggesting about a denitrate reactor is good. just get an orp controller so that you can monitor it. see mr magazines reefer of the month for her advice about the hobby. its a good piece of advice to take. i also take johns advice regarding the book as well. use all advice and make your own decision based on that. my personal advice would be to ditch that skimmer that you have. i had the exact same one. not only was there soooo much play to it, you will need a high pressure rated pump to get max turbulance out of it to have the proper contact. hence saying---MAJOR MONEY THAT IS NOT NEEDED TO BE SPENT. that is my personal opinion on that. for that $780 that you spent on it you can get a BK mini that will fit right in your sump or a deltec. also have enough flow for all inhabitants fish and corals. thats a big beautiful oceanic. just my 2 cents. start slow use patience for this hobby. do that opposite and its a killer in the wallet. and you can harm the livestock otherwise.
like yoda said "hhhhmmmmmm use patience you will"

 

[thirty5]

Thanks!!!
I appreciate that input. I went with the larger skimmer cause i might add a frag tank eventually to the system. And i was given a mag18 to run the skimmer which is more than enough. And i didnt spend close to $780 on the MTC skimmer.

BTW i have a great hook for MTC Stuff if anyone is looking.

But i appreciate your post, this is all good stuff that makes the forum so good.

 

[nycmat]

mag 18 is a lot of water. i would try a genx pcx 55 high pressure rated pump for that though. its external but a better one. that is what i learned about that skimmer. enjoy playing with it

 

[thirty5]

Thanks man!