Hello everyone, im new to these forums and reef keeping and have been leerking around trying to figure out exactly what im going to put together....
But before i go ahead with anything i wanted to ask some questions, just so i can narrow down what exactly i need/don't need.
First off im planing eather a 20g or a 30g(or a 36g SeaClear Bowfront).I cant seem to find a 30g or less bowfront...I know the pros/cons of acrilic and ive decided on it.
main focus at first will be on getting my reef established and then soft corals.
I want to be able to grow sps/lps corals when im ready to delve into that.
No more then 2-4 fish (small 1-2") probly two clowns a gobie and something else ...im not really that concerned with getting fish right away..i mean im willing to wait 6+ months.i really want to get a routine down with my corals and learn there needs well and have a VERY healthy tank!!
ultimitly i want an anemone for my clowns so i know i need a very stable tank.
I look at it like this, as far as equipment goes money isn't an object. I want to create the best posible water i can.By no means am i saying i want all the bells an whistles but i want the most practical and whats best for my critters
>>Filteration:Now this seems to be an area of great disscusion, far as i can tell i can go with one of the three.. canister, back hanging(charcoal insert),protin scimer and/or refuge.
With a 30 gallon whats the best system that is both cost effective and low maintnence?
Refuge from my understanding is an extention of my LR/LS natural filtration?This seems to me to be both cost and maintence efective.with mabey a back hanging filter as a back up if things went wrong i.e floaties, debris and plain old fasion crap build up gets outa control for some reason, cloudy water or whatever i might need to filter out at a moments notice.
I also was also looking at this sump, seems like a good system also using Caulerpa to oxygenate seems more natural and healthier for the animals.
https://www82.safesecureweb.com/webaqua ... y_Code=MSR
is this a good system,do they make them smaller?and how much maintenence would we be talking monthly?
Protin scimmer:Ive seen a fair amount of ppl use these on the boards that have even 20g reefs and use protein scimmers, is that nessisary,why?
>>Lighting:now ive seen some nice lights very expensive also this is something that cought my eye https://www82.safesecureweb.com/webaqua ... ode=CAP1HL
Somewhere i read its 5 watts per gallon of water so i think that would work nicely ...but im not sure if thats over kill,or not enough ?!!?
well i hope i havent over steped my bounds on my first post, i just want to make the right disisions and not have to go thru to much trial and error(tho i know im in for plenty of it)at the expense of my new reef.
Thanx to everyone for any comments/sugestions
But before i go ahead with anything i wanted to ask some questions, just so i can narrow down what exactly i need/don't need.
First off im planing eather a 20g or a 30g(or a 36g SeaClear Bowfront).I cant seem to find a 30g or less bowfront...I know the pros/cons of acrilic and ive decided on it.
main focus at first will be on getting my reef established and then soft corals.
I want to be able to grow sps/lps corals when im ready to delve into that.
No more then 2-4 fish (small 1-2") probly two clowns a gobie and something else ...im not really that concerned with getting fish right away..i mean im willing to wait 6+ months.i really want to get a routine down with my corals and learn there needs well and have a VERY healthy tank!!
ultimitly i want an anemone for my clowns so i know i need a very stable tank.
I look at it like this, as far as equipment goes money isn't an object. I want to create the best posible water i can.By no means am i saying i want all the bells an whistles but i want the most practical and whats best for my critters
>>Filteration:Now this seems to be an area of great disscusion, far as i can tell i can go with one of the three.. canister, back hanging(charcoal insert),protin scimer and/or refuge.
With a 30 gallon whats the best system that is both cost effective and low maintnence?
Refuge from my understanding is an extention of my LR/LS natural filtration?This seems to me to be both cost and maintence efective.with mabey a back hanging filter as a back up if things went wrong i.e floaties, debris and plain old fasion crap build up gets outa control for some reason, cloudy water or whatever i might need to filter out at a moments notice.
I also was also looking at this sump, seems like a good system also using Caulerpa to oxygenate seems more natural and healthier for the animals.
https://www82.safesecureweb.com/webaqua ... y_Code=MSR
is this a good system,do they make them smaller?and how much maintenence would we be talking monthly?
Protin scimmer:Ive seen a fair amount of ppl use these on the boards that have even 20g reefs and use protein scimmers, is that nessisary,why?
>>Lighting:now ive seen some nice lights very expensive also this is something that cought my eye https://www82.safesecureweb.com/webaqua ... ode=CAP1HL
Somewhere i read its 5 watts per gallon of water so i think that would work nicely ...but im not sure if thats over kill,or not enough ?!!?
well i hope i havent over steped my bounds on my first post, i just want to make the right disisions and not have to go thru to much trial and error(tho i know im in for plenty of it)at the expense of my new reef.
Thanx to everyone for any comments/sugestions
