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AmethystStarling

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AmethystStarling

Hi Everyone!

 

I am brand new to the forum, so let me say hi! So I am looking to start my first nano reef system. I am just in the beginning planning stages as I have not purchased anything yet until I have a firm idea on what I would like to do.

 

Here are some of my questions (of which I am sure there will be many more!):

  • How small is too small and how big is too big for someone new to reef keeping? My experiences with aquariums in the past have just been regular cold fresh water tanks.
  • Is it a bad idea to put the tank in a room with tons of natural light? It would be in a six by ten foot room, the six foot walls have about five feet of windows each, the one ten foot wall has about seven feet of windows, the ten foot wall has no windows. It has strong fluctuations in temperature, and it gets very warm during the day in the summer months due to the amount of light (faces east), and can get very cold, especially at night in the winter months due to all of the windows.
  • Are all-in-one tanks any good?

 

Thank you for any advice!!

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Hi Everyone!

 

I am brand new to the forum, so let me say hi! So I am looking to start my first nano reef system. I am just in the beginning planning stages as I have not purchased anything yet until I have a firm idea on what I would like to do.

 

Here are some of my questions (of which I am sure there will be many more!):

  • How small is too small and how big is too big for someone new to reef keeping? My experiences with aquariums in the past have just been regular cold fresh water tanks.
  • Is it a bad idea to put the tank in a room with tons of natural light? It would be in a six by ten foot room, the six foot walls have about five feet of windows each, the one ten foot wall has about seven feet of windows, the ten foot wall has no windows. It has strong fluctuations in temperature, and it gets very warm during the day in the summer months due to the amount of light (faces east), and can get very cold, especially at night in the winter months due to all of the windows.
  • Are all-in-one tanks any good?

 

Thank you for any advice!!

 

Welcome to Nano Reef!!!

 

Here are my thoughts to your questions:

- I think small (10 and under) can be more difficult as any problem you might encounter (pest algae, critters, etc.) is more intensified in smaller spaces. So maybe look at something around 20 gallons or so as a starting tank.

- Where do you live? If in a warmer climate or in a place without central air, it might be hard to keep the tank cooler in the summer months in a room with natural light.

- I started with an AIO tank. It has its plusses and minuses, but if you can do a sumped tank, I'd say go that route. AIOs make it hard to upgrade things like equipment and such down the line (skimmers, reactors, etc.).

 

Just my two cents :) Good luck, and again, Welcome!!!

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Hi Everyone!

 

I am brand new to the forum, so let me say hi! So I am looking to start my first nano reef system. I am just in the beginning planning stages as I have not purchased anything yet until I have a firm idea on what I would like to do.

 

Here are some of my questions (of which I am sure there will be many more!):

  • How small is too small and how big is too big for someone new to reef keeping? My experiences with aquariums in the past have just been regular cold fresh water tanks.
  • Is it a bad idea to put the tank in a room with tons of natural light? It would be in a six by ten foot room, the six foot walls have about five feet of windows each, the one ten foot wall has about seven feet of windows, the ten foot wall has no windows.
  • It has strong fluctuations in temperature, and it gets very warm during the day in the summer months due to the amount of light (faces east), and can get very cold, especially at night in the winter months due to all of the windows.
  • Are all-in-one tanks any good?

 

Thank you for any advice!!

 

For a beginner I would recommend something from 28 to 40 gallons. Easy to maintain yet much more stable than smaller tanks.

 

Lots of natural light can sometimes lead to algae issues, I would try to put it in an area that gets the least

 

Temperature fluctuation is no good in a reef tank. How much fluctuation? You can buy a cheap heater if the temp fluctuates below 78 but a chiller is more expensive if it gets above 80*.

 

AIOs are great, especially for a beginner. Perhaps a Nuvo 30? If your budget is higher than mine you could perhaps get a Red Sea Reefer- a fully ready to go beautiful tank with a sump.

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AmethystStarling

Thank you both for quick replies! I live in Pennsylvania. It can have big temperature-wise changes in that room due to it faces east with full sun, so it can get pretty toasty in the summer months, but because of the windows it can lose heat and cold quickly (there are more windows than wall space). And it is bright, like plants grow like crazy in that room if I put any in there. So, yeah I may need to put it in another room lol.

 

Another question, are cubes better or are rectangular tanks better, or it is more of a personal aesthetic thing?

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Simulated Fish

Thank you both for quick replies! I live in Pennsylvania. It can have big temperature-wise changes in that room due to it faces east with full sun, so it can get pretty toasty in the summer months, but because of the windows it can lose heat and cold quickly (there are more windows than wall space). And it is bright, like plants grow like crazy in that room if I put any in there. So, yeah I may need to put it in another room lol.

 

Another question, are cubes better or are rectangular tanks better, or it is more of a personal aesthetic thing?

Another room sounds like the best option. Cubes vs rectangular is mostly personal preference, that said there are a few key differences. 1) if your cubr has rounded edges it take a bit more effort to clean the edges. 2) aquascaping can be a bit more tricky, but you can still get amazing scapes. 3) lighting a cube can be easier OR harder depending on your budget/lighting wants.

 

Also what is your budget? Reefing is a expansive hobby to get started. I skemped and saved where I could and setting up a small Biocube 8g tank cost me about 400 dollars 100 for the tank, 100 for the rock, 40 for the sand, then the test kits the water and so on and so on.

 

I don't mean to harp and we totally support you! These are living creatures and you have to keep that in mind.

 

Also AIO cubes are great IMO! And there are tons of special equipment made just for AIO! Happy to have you :welcome:

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AmethystStarling

I was thinking that I would need to spend at least $800 for the supplies, not including any livestock, is that amount okay?

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I was thinking that I would need to spend at least $800 for the supplies, not including any livestock, is that amount okay?

Depends on the size of the tank! For a Fusion 20/30 for example its 200/300 for the tank, $430 for a NanoBox duo. $40 heater, $50 rock, $40 sand, etc. Add in test kits and a refractometer and thats pretty much it. If you want the Fusion stand thats another couple hundred...

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I started with a 5 - went to a 10 added a 1.5 gallon and now back to a 10

 

Smaller tanks will see more rapid changes in salinity a larger tank can handle it a bit better. so with small tanks ATO is definitely necessary.

 

Depending on what you want to keep can depend on how much things like lights, flow, heaters, chemistry test kits... I am buying stuff over time. But I can attest to losing a tank due to a crash that happened over night simply because I didn't check it before bed.

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Simulated Fish

I was thinking that I would need to spend at least $800 for the supplies, not including any livestock, is that amount okay?

 

I got my new tank, JBJ RL 45, for $400 built custom stand for about $125, another $250 for lights, and $150 in sand and rock.

So I'm just under $1000 on my new setup not includeding saltwater and livestock.

 

$800 is a good budget, I'd highly recommend a biocube 14g.

It's a good tank to start with. AIO and with a bunch of upgrades made specifically for it.

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charnelhouse

Lots of good advice here. The BC14 could be a good option, but I would recommend finding a local fish store (LFS) and looking at a few options. See what appeals to you. And know that the smaller the tank the more limited you are in what you can keep. Search these forums for the word "upgrade" if you want to see what I mean...

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AmethystStarling

Thank you all for the great advice! There is still so much to learn about, I am just nervous that when I start setting up, I will miss something.

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I was the same way. I was gifted a 12 cube, was doing research for a couple years, had a 55 gallon that was supposed to be salt, but ended up being a planted fresh...

 

Don't skimp on lighting, trust me. I did, and then a few months done the line had issues, and the money i saved after knowing better and not having red flags show up, just spent more than what I would have, if I went with a good one in the first place. I have had my issues with the 12 gallon, had some close calls, a bad water source nothing major, that I didn't panic over, and go from one extreme to the next.

 

I am from PA as well, and like others, if you can place it in a room that has a bit less natural light, would be the best, also will help with the temp variances.. In my 12, "well where it is" I get indirect light, and just have a 50w heater in there, and I'm stable at 79 degrees..

 

the tanks choices that have been said are fantastic choices and would get any of the ones that were mentioned if I had to do it all over again.

 

Good luck and welcome aboard!

 

p.s.

 

what part of PA are you from. there's a few good LFS around my area, and one that I would highly recommend. They have been a great help to me, as well as all the great members here!

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AmethystStarling

I live in Philly, I haven't really hit up any local stores yet. If there are any that you recommend I would greatly appreciate it!

 

And thank you for the welcome!

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Down towards Philly, I don't know of any. There are some up in the pocono's that are good if you are near the outskirts, like 1 hour drive. I'm from the Scranton area. If you are ever up here Scranton Aquarium is a great one to check out. They are my goto

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  • 4 weeks later...

Welcome.......

 

There is a lot of great advice on the forms if you look for it. The biggest key I can give you is to have patience. Reefs are not built over night and most rookie mistakes are made by rushing it. As far as tank size I would say go as large as you can afford for your first one. The smaller the tank the more you have to stay on top of the water changes and the over all health of the tank. I made the mistake years ago of stating my first nano of as a 5 gallon. I learned the hard way as the equipment was pretty non existent for nano tanks back then and information was not widely shared as it is now. Take your time and plan it all out, do your research on the live stock you are going to add, and never take advice with out fact checking it first.Good luck with your build.

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I live in Philly, I haven't really hit up any local stores yet. If there are any that you recommend I would greatly appreciate it!

 

And thank you for the welcome!

There is a great one outside of Philly but not sure of the name, will ask my friend who lives in Pottstown

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Hi Everyone!

 

I am brand new to the forum, so let me say hi! So I am looking to start my first nano reef system. I am just in the beginning planning stages as I have not purchased anything yet until I have a firm idea on what I would like to do.

 

Here are some of my questions (of which I am sure there will be many more!):

  • How small is too small and how big is too big for someone new to reef keeping? My experiences with aquariums in the past have just been regular cold fresh water tanks.
  • Is it a bad idea to put the tank in a room with tons of natural light? It would be in a six by ten foot room, the six foot walls have about five feet of windows each, the one ten foot wall has about seven feet of windows, the ten foot wall has no windows. It has strong fluctuations in temperature, and it gets very warm during the day in the summer months due to the amount of light (faces east), and can get very cold, especially at night in the winter months due to all of the windows.
  • Are all-in-one tanks any good?

 

Thank you for any advice!!

 

 

Welcome!

 

- I say get as big a tank as you can handle, cost-wise. At least 20 gallons or so; the Fusion 20 or 25 Lagoon might make for some really interesting scapes. Water changes will still be reasonable (a five gallon bucket will comfortably hold 4gal, making it a 20% water change), and fluctuations won't be so bad. I like my Nuvo 16, but I don't like the rounded corners whatsoever when it comes to cleaning coralline algae. You can also check out the 'guide to nano fish' in the beginner forums, where you can get an idea of the livestock you can keep.

- I'd call this a bad plan unless it's done correctly. The sunlight is light you can't control, and might not be able to account for too well. Plus, the temperature shouldn't be varying too much. If the room doesn't get hotter than 75, you may be okay with just keeping a heater in there. But like someone mentioned, chillers aren't a fun expense and will need maintenance.

- AIOs are great for a start, unless you're already comfortable with the idea of plumbing, adjusting valves, etc. You can research AIO tanks that have had upgrades created for them (inTank is a sponsor here and makes amazing 'media baskets' that force water to flow through your filtration media, not around it). There are also tanks like the Red Sea Reefer that come sumped (less of a hassle to get started), but they'll have an added cost.

 

Does your budget have an auto top-off considered? I got tired of manually topping off my tank really, really quickly..

Do you know where you'll be getting your source water? You should avoid tap water, and aim for 0 TDS (total dissolved solids).

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