All the input you can give me I am a human sponge for info..

[Poet2dagger27689]

I need all the knowledge you guys can give me in a nutshell on good corals and what you did with your tank. Everything helps. thanks. Pics are awesome.

[::pete::]

The boards are there with plenty of information. With such a vague question its hard to pinpoint .. pictures and information can be viewed in the gallery as well as TOTM for setup.

Welcome to Maast and please add some more information as to specifics that you are looking for.

[jaded]

pete's right... theres way to much info to share everything in one post. I'll bet that most of the pro's here could fill a page just telling you about alkalinity

Be more specific and you will get a ton of info.

I'll start... what kind of tank do you have/want? reef, fish only, preditor only...

[Thunderkat]

In a nutshell you need enough flow, light, and food to meet the needs of the coral you have/want. Your water has to be high quality with the trace elements your corals need too.

Go ahead and spank me for being a smart a**.

Here is a little coral info (http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/categ.cfm?pcatid=597) to get you started though.

[Poet2dagger27689]

There are so many ways of trying to keep water clean and clear....what do you guys usually do?
How thick should a sand bed be if you want corals and some fish?
What do you suggest for getting live rock to show its true colors off?
Does anybody recommend cycle for there tank?

[::pete::]

There are so many ways of trying to keep water clean and clear....what do you guys usually do?

Use RO/DI - regular water changes - and some carbon.

How thick should a sand bed be if you want corals and some fish?

That is a preference as some people go bare bottom.

What do you suggest for getting live rock to show its true colors off?

Keep your water quality up there and stable as well as keeping phosphates as close to 0 as possible.

Does anybody recommend cycle for there tank?

Cycle? All new tanks will cycle

[GaryP]

I'll start working on my book right here. J/K.

Get a copy of one of Eric Bornemann's book and that should help you get started on a good resource library.

[Tim Marvin]

Here is what I do:
two 250w DE halides 10k, four T-5 actinics, 80 gallon tank, 150lbs of mixed LR (premium Fiji, Tonga, and rubble) 80lbs of sand. A large assortment of corals and fish. Sequence Dart pump for Pete's monster skimmer and return flow to tank and refugium frag tank. 75 gallon breeder used to hold frags with 400w DE 20k halide and divided with large refugium. 55 gallon tank for sump, again divided with more refugium and rubble spaces. Large pre-filter sponges on return lines. For water quality I use the refugiums, water changes, large clams, small leather frags and xenia in the sumps.

[Tim Marvin]

I forgot to add I use kalk on a constant Tunze top off system.

[Andrew]

"cycle" is a similar product to bio spira, but much older, and doesn't work very well. You shouldn't need cycle, (or bio spira if you allow the tank to mature properly).

[Andrew]

When i setup a tank, i begin with live rock (about 1 lb/gallon) and a shallow sand bed of 1-3 inches (never have had problems with this). It's best to test the water every few weeks (test kits needed) for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. Once these all test zero every day for a week, you can consider adding fish slowly ;) . One every few weeks is best. For new marine aquarists, I ususally recommend fewer fish load (easier to maintain).

*Big fish don't do well in small tanks. I wouldn't recommend any tang species unless you have a minimum of 75 gallons. examples of other fish that need space, usually at least 75 gallons or more as adults, are most puffers, angels, triggers, many wrasse, groupers, butterflys, and a few others. See Scott Michaels' book Marine Fishes for fish info and selection.

If this is your first tank and you plan on trying corals, try soft corals like leathers, xenia, zoanthids, button polyps etc. You'll need high intensity lighting to keep corals.

hth
andrew

[MikeDeL]

Talk about trying to take it all in one bite. Start reading. There is a ton of info. Come to the meeting this month. You will need lots of flow and lots of lighting. When you think you have enough, double it. Check out as many tank setups as you can before you do yours. Once you feel you have learned enough to setup your tank, do it. While it cycles research somemore. As you get going you will run into more specific questions so dont be affraid to ask them here.


I'll start working on my book right here. J/K.

Get a copy of one of Eric Bornemann's book and that should help you get started on a good resource library.

I talked to the people at the bookstore and they said they ordered a few copies of Borneman's book a few weeks back, but they never showed up. :o >_< LOL J/K

[Poet2dagger27689]

Well right now I have 3 powerheads one pushing 275gph one doing 135 and one doing 200gph. For my filters I have a skilter 400 and a penguin bio wheel setup 180. The skilter isn't my only protien skimmer the other one give about 257 gph and the filters together are about 650 so all together I have about 1300 gph going at one time in a 55 gal. I went with a non carbon media so that it wouldn't be affected by byproducts of the carbon. It is a phosban and works well. the filter cartridges do have carbon though. I supplement with a all in one for the corals giving it a lot of calcium strontium iodine and trace elements. currently I have 5 turbos 1 large hermit and 5 little red hermits 4 emeralds a feather duster 1000s of copepods a med fox coral a decorater crab a small polyp and a very tiny anemone. I also have a large amount of nusince red slime algae. I have about 59lbs of live rock and another 3 pounds of aquifer rock. I have 2 ins for a sand bed. I have 220 watts running on the tank and a small florecent. the sand was live. I think that is it...Any tips add ons subtractions...overall suggestions?