Hi everyone I am new here and i just started my 1st sw tank 2 days ago. I have an Oceanic Biocube 29 that currently has had no mods to it other than i added a heater. Any advice on changing the filtration system would be great as eventually i think i might do that. The tank currently has about 16 lbs of live rock and 25 lbs of live sand in it. It is going to be a reef tank and if i decide that i really like saltwater (which i am pretty sure is going to be a definite) then i have a 10 gal which i might kick the goldfish out of and make that a nano tank as well. So any advice would be greatly appreciated, i have been doing a ton of research but sometimes its a little hard to fish through the bad information to find the good (especially when you aren’t quite sure which is which).
We like to think we have simplified the figuring out good from bad information by only including good info on these boards ;D But no worries - every now and again if bad info gets through then someone will be quick to correct it YahoO
A 29g is a great tank to get started with, not too big not too small. my recommendation would just be to be patient, test often, and ask lots of questions.
Those cubes make a nice first tank. everything included and ready to run. Tanks always look a little empty when first you add rock. But you have to leave space for the corals and fish you plan to add later.
Looks good!
[quote=“ponies999, post:1, topic:1696”]
… i have been doing a ton of research but sometimes its a little hard to fish through the bad information to find the good (especially when you aren’t quite sure which is which)…[/quote]
I like the pun (hard to fish through…)!
Welcome! You’ve picked a nice good horribly addicting and (can be) very expensive hobby!
:Welcome) there is no turning back now. i seen a friends tank and said wow i like that. i told him i will do a fish only cause corals are hard and costly. 6 months later i was into a reef tank. now 3 yrs into the hobby, i am over grown with corals. so good luck, ask alot of questions, get help and enjoy. also if you are close to dover when your tank is ready for corals i will give you a small frag of my ever so popular sea cabbage lOl
[quote=“Porter, post:8, topic:1696”]
fish-welcome
Nice start…What kind of salt are you using? What test kits? Ro unit for make up water?
Give us the details please.[/quote]
I am using Instant Ocean salt, currently buying RO water from LFS while waiting for my dad to set up the RO unit we have(got it for free so who knows). I am using API test kits, but i need to pick up some others since right now i only have pH, ammonia, nitrite and nitrates. I am looking at getting a refractometer as soon as i get my paycheck since i have decided that the hydrometer i have sucks.
As far as good information try to look at multiple source you trust. If you are trying to really get a good understanding of a topic, in my opinion, one of the worst ways to start is by searching forums. Start with an article in one of the online magazines or a good book and then ask questions on the forum. Quick and specific questions can be asked on the forum or if you read conflicting advice and can’t make sense of it perhaps people in the forum can rephrase things. We’re here to help when needed and things can also be further discussed at meetings.
If you have the time or really care to learn more(which means you can find the time) a really good base read for the hobby is “The Reef Aquarium†by Sprung and Delbeck(Volume Three is the newest). I would highly recommend it.
I would also recommend switching off of the basic Instant Ocean salt which is designed for fish only systems if you plan on keeping any corals or other inverts(such as a clean up crew, clams, shrimp, and so on).
Hope to see some pictures soon.(the link above no longer works)
