Alright, NR vets and otherwise smart members, let's make an informative topic for new people to read. Hopefully this will reduce the "why is there so much brown algae all over everything?" and "why did my damsel die when he bit the lit firecracker that I tossed into the tank?" Just post your pointers and discuss whatever ones that have already been posted. Please don't hyjack this thread. It doesn't need to be 8 pages of crap. Just 1 or 2 pages of good, useful information.


I'll go first. N00bs, here are some common problems that you shouldn't worry about.

• The imfamous "brown algae bloom." It happens to everyone who sets up a tank. So don't panic.
• The nytrogen cycle. Learn it before setting a tank up. It goes Decaying matter = Ammonia = Nitrite = Nitrate = Nitrogen gas. Wait it out. Don't add anything until Ammonia, nitrite, and most of nitrates are gone.
• Feeding. Don't feed your fish every day. Nano tanks build up waste easily, so feed every other day or every three days.

• Go very slow in the begining. In this hobby, only bad things happen fast!

• Find a mentor in this hobby and duplicate what's working for them. Thanks Fish and Jemram.

Take your time, plan out every aspect of your system, and research everything thoroughly.

set aside a special "my aquaria" fund when you first start studying and planning. It doesnt have to be national debt expensive, but if you don't start saving a little here and there when you start, you'll end up getting the 'cheapest' first then wanting to upgrade and upgrade and upgrade when you get money. Why not start out with a couple of good items you really want like lights, filter, etc in the beginning instead of having a closet full of stuff you cant use and nobody wants in the end.

there is a search button here on NR. try typing in the topic you are looking for there first. not only has it probably been covered, but you will find all your answers instantly instead of having to wait for replies.

and when you do post a question regarding unusual activity in your tank or your cycle, make sure you post all your water parameters, as most people won't be able to accurately help you without them.

The search button is good, but in addition, I also use google search for more info. Also read as much as you can. I'm not very technical oriented and I like to keep things as simple as possible. One book that I enjoyed reading was The Nano-Reef Handbook by Chris Brightwell. Lots of great pics, (alright I admit I liked the pictures), and has a lot of info.

One more thing, be very Patient and take your time. For example, don't decide to put in a BTA for your clownfish after the tank has been up a few weeks.

Be Nice...

And dont Troll...or yu will catch a feeler hurter or 2
0.02



Izzue

Let your tank mature for at least two months after the cycle if you want it to be more stable. I have done this with 7 of my tanks and I haven't had a crash yet.

When you're adding livestock, add your peaceful fish first, wait a week or so (to allow him to get his territory together) before adding semi-aggresive fish. This will increase your chances of harmonious co-existence.

Before buying a coral that you aren't familiar with, google it's name like this "*coral's name* care" that will give you better chances of survival.




DON'T USE CRUSHED CORAL FOR SUBSTRATE!!! For best results, use Arag-alive wet-bagged sand. It's awesome. Just be sure to check the expiration date on the bag before buying.

before asking what fish to get,read up on differant species and see which one might fit your personality

Always ask questions!!!!

In most cases, don't believe anything that a person at the LFS tells you. They will (in most cases) BS you, just to get you to buy more.

[EDIT]Thanks, mods for the sticky! We just need more of the experienced people to shed osme light in here.[/edit]

THE MOST IMPORTAN RULE TO NANO REEF KEEPING:
Dont get a Royal Gramma!

Clown fish doesn't need a anemone to survive in reef tank.

Wait for two months or so after you decide you reeeeeeaaaalllly want a tank and see if you still do. While you are waiting, read and read forums like this and if the bug is still there it will be that much sweeter to set up your tank and you will have a lot fewer 'noob' questions or surprises .

watch your salinity every day. an ato is invaluable.

watch your temperatures in the spring/summer.

don't eat yellow snow in the winter.

the most important reefing technique is patience.

the most important aspect in reefing is lighting.

the most useful device is a turkey baster.

have a stable income

Make sure you read up on the Pom Pom before taking the plunge. They can be tricky.

Automation is a double-edged sword. While you'll enjoy all the extra free-time that you could've spent topping off your tank, turning your lights on and off, etc etc, it just adds that many more things to go wrong once you go on vacation.

When you go on vacation, prepare for the worst. If something is about to malfunction, it WILL wait until you've left for vacation before it actually breaks.


Patience is a virtue in this hobby. Rushing anything will lead to problems down the road.


You pay for what you get. If you cut corners early on, you'll have to deal with the repercussions of your decisions later once your tank has matured.

that is one of the best pieces of advice in this hobby. don't cheap out on stuff or cut corners in the beginning, because it will end up costing you in the long run.

ooo ooo, i have a list:

1. Stability is key
2. Bigger = easier to keep stable
3. Ammonia -> Nitrites then Nitrates
4. Ammonia and nitrites need to be zero before anything
5. When in doubt wait 2 weeks
6. When stocking only add critters once a month
7. At least 1lb. of rock per gallon
8. Live sand is not needed, it will be seeded from live rock
9. Put as much sand in as is pleasing to the eye
10. No crushed coral. Anywhere.
11. Tonga, Fiji, Marshal etc. Whichever looks best to you
12. Less fish = room for error when the unexpected happens
13. The unexpected will happen
14. Yes you are probably overstocked
15. No anemones under 25 gallons.
16. No tangs unless you have a bigger tank to move them to later.
17. Good stuff doesn’t come cheap
18. You get what you pay for
19. Refugiums aren’t required
20. Refugium > no refugium
21. Chaeto is a nice macro algae to use in a refugium
22. Skimmers aren’t required.
23. Skimmers are nice
24. Good nano skimmers are(in no particular order):
a. Cora-Life Super Skimmer
b. Remora
c. ASM
25. Skimmer and a refugium are both good additions
26. Yes a Remora will fit on a 10gal.
27. Water-changes weekly are a very good idea
28. Change 10%-20% water a week for good results
29. IO is a good salt
30. So are pretty much all salt brands
31. Light 8-12 hours a day is a good idea
32. No your Ph doesn’t have to be 8.2
33. Ph of 7.8 is fine
34. Ph of 8.4 is fine
35. Don’t add any supplements without testing
36. This includes Ph buffer
37. Rule of thumb: 1 clean up crew critter per gallon
38. Stability is key
39. Get a refractometer already
40. MH or T5’s for clams and acropora
41. 250W of MH is probably a little overkill
42. PC’s can probably be used for everything else
43. 6500k yellow light
44. 10000k white light
45. 20000k blue light
46. Use RO water
47. RODI > Distilled > RO > whatever else
48. Don’t use bottled drinking water
49. Don’t use spring water
50. Don’t use tap water
51. Cyano problems (red slimy algae, grows everywhere)
a. Less feeding
b. 8 hour lighting period
c. More flow
d. More water changes
e. Vacuum your sand already
52. Don’t let the snail rot in your tank
53. Don’t feed primarily brine shrimp (good for treats once in a while)
54. DT’s only if you want more pods or have clams
55. Flakes are fine, frozen is probably better
56. Variety is best for fish food
57. 10x-20x you tank volume water turnover rate is a good number to aim for with your powerheads
58. Turbulent flow > direct flow
59. Have at least two sources of water flow for best turbulence
60. When in doubt refer to rule #1.

DO NOT impulse buy anything, especially livestock. Walk out, go home, research needs as far as environment, compatability, feeding habits, etc. In my experience, local fish stores will tell you what they think you want to hear, research for yourself.

My key piece of advise:

heh heh heh....

one thing I always realized after setting up tanks is regreting about the design or how something works about the tank. It could be how your closed loop is setup, or design of sump or etc.... after u filling the tank with freshwater, make sure everything works exactly way u want and make sure it has more flow then what u want before u add salt, cause later as tank matures, some of adjustment is virtualy impossble.

By the way...Very good list

Things I have found.

~Don’t buy salt just because it dissolves instantly. Your best bet is to mix it and keep it agitated over night before doing a water change anyway.

~Know your coral/fish before you buy it. This will keep you from being harassed when you ask for an ID on something that doesn’t belong in a nano.

~Yes anemones can thrive in a nano with proper lighting. I listened to the lfs that said my sebae would stay small. I didn’t do the above suggestion and now it sits in front of my tank against the glass. (When I look at my fish tank I get a good view of a sebae’s a$$)

~If your anemone is white it’s beautiful but not typically healthy. It’s bleached and needs some TLC. Also never put an anemone in a tank you wouldn’t consider matured and stable.

~When buying lights for your tank spend the cash and do it right the first time.

~Buy a tank that’s a little bigger that you think you want. I never hear anyone saying “I wish I bought the smaller tank"

1) Make Absolutely sure you like your rockscaping before adding
anything

2) When cycling, don't do water changes, keep a normal lighting cycle, Find another hobby for a month or two

3) Water changes are important, and one of the first things to do when something goes wrong

4) Nassarius snails are teh suxor....Go with Cerith...

If things don't last too long in your tank, stop buying replacements and find what you're doing wrong...

If you hear a clicking sound coming from your tank, don't put your fingers in the holes in the Live Rock....

If you have an open cut on your hand, don't put that hand in the water...

If you find something really ugly in your tank that you didn't put in there don't try to pull it out with your bare hands...

What??? Mantis Shrimp need attention too!!!!! Give 'em a scratch on the head once in a while!!! Well...10 times anyway......

Common thing stated on here by new people, "OMFG!!! Where did all these tiny bugs in my aquarium come from?!!"

Universal response to such a question, "They're pods. The tiny, hard to see ones are copepods and the larger (as large as a grain of rice) are amphepods. They're good for your tank and should be left alone. Feel free to watch them, as their behavior can be quite fascinating."

Three vital things that keep reefs alive, without them u DIE!
1.Stability (Ocean is the most stable ecosystem on the big blue)
2.Flow (Stuff must move to non moving things in order for non moving things to eat and survive)
3.Light (No-Brainer, no light, no life, then the above doesn't even apply)

I'm done the rest u work out with experience. Whatever fits your fancies and uses, power to ya!

Best of luck for those about to rock (<--good song, just replace with reef for it the phrase to work)

lol seriously good luck in whoever is brave enough to venture into the unknown and extremely expensive territory that is....reef.

O and none of this bs with omg omg bigger bigger! Screw it, as long as its stable, Ive seen people keep cd spindle reefs that look godly.

Jeff

I'm a nooby so you got me. Whats a BTA?

bubble tip anemone = BTA.

great thread!

one thing to remember: Keep It Simple Stupid (KISS)

Tim

Acclimation, some do it some dont. IMO its EXTREMELY important. Heres a good link for a good acclimation procedure, that I think is pretty good. Without the netting, I never net SW fish.

http://www.bluezooaquatics.com/livestock/acc_guide.php

Yeah, I always use a plastic cup. I just scoop them into it, lower the cup into the tank, and release.



Just incase someone doesn't know:

IMO = In My Opinion
IMHO = In My Honest Opinion
JMO = Just My Opinion

Support your local fish stores.

It's nice to save a little money by buying online but if you don't give your local retailers business (fish stores operate on a very low profit margin), they'll either disappear or won't run a quality operation.

It's much like people that complain about the disappearance of Mom & Pop stores yet do their business at Walmart.

Keep a log of your tank, it will help you when your having a problem, revert back to old parameters. Plus its fun to see how your tank matures. Here is a free one.

http://www.download.com/ReefCon-2000/3000-...tml?tag=lst-0-2

and their home page...
http://www.infinitysoft.net/ReefCon/

But no one answered why my damsel died when i tossed the lit firecracker in the tank....

I'd say support your GOOD local fish stores. My lfs is 1.5 hours away because the one in my town is worthless.

It's probably because the firecracker broke the glass, all the water drained out, and the fish dried up on your carpet.

that explains the mysterious stain on the carpet!!! thanks for clearing that up!!!

Sure thing.



Now, back to the topic.

Don't put a friggin tang in a tank smaller than a 40g. Not only will the anti-tang police flame your butt, but you will be harming your tang in the long run.

*cough* that's your opinion.

and it's Tang Police, not the anti-Tang Police. that's the more radical and militant arm of the Tang gangs.

What? I cant keep a Dory in a 2.5g Pico

• the more often your hand is in the tank, the worse off your tank will be.
• add live rock first, then sand.

That's right. My bad.



That reminds me.


Don't use "Finding Nemo" names for fish. You'll get flamed.

Hi guys! Thanks for all the help so far! I'm starting my 3rd week of cycling a 14G BioCube. I have diatom bloom going on and I want to rinse the filter cartridge. Can I rinse with tap water and stick it back in the tank, as long as I drain the tap water off good???????? I'm such a NOOB!!!!!!!!!!

Why not?

http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?...c=72671&hl=