A problem I see with newbies

[RayWhisperer]

I needed a title that would garner attention. I think that one might ruffle a few feathers. Regardless, I wanted to address something I've been seeing a lot of.

 

The problem, or at least one problem I've been seeing a lot of. Equipment. Actually, the problem isn't the equipment, it's the new people who don't have a grasp of the basics using equipment that is meant for more advanced reefers. I'm not gonna harp on all of you about research, read, take it slow, and all the other advice given to new reefers. You've read it here dozens, if not hundreds of times. Yes, it's sound advice, and you should heed it. I'm just gonna rant about your new toys.

 

I get it. You want the best for your tank, or you might just want the best tank. Either way, it's human nature, and this thread will likely do nothing to change, or even curb that. The thing is, you aren't ready for it yet. Yes, I'm talking to YOU. I don't care if you've had fresh water for 30 years, or you had a great FOWLR set up 2 years ago, or you've been at this a year now. The fact of the matter is, if you are new, or relatively new to this hobby, all those flashy gizmos aren't gonna help you yet. You need to understand what is happening in that new tank of yours. You need to learn about the chemistry and the delicate balances(or in many of the cases, imbalances) taking place, unseen within that box of salt water. Until you do that, all the gadgets and additives in the world won't help you a bit.

 

Do they work? Sure, I suppose most of them do. Do they make certain chores easier, or maybe maintain something more precise? Probably. Do you need them? Most certainly not. I'm going to give you a bit of advice that will do more to help you enjoy that box of water. It's called KISS. Not the crappy disco rock band from the seventies!

 

KISS

Keep

It

Simple

Stupid

That's it. That little saying will give you more joy in this endeavor than any other thing I can think of. Now, don't get me wrong. There are aspects of this hobby, even at the basic level, that are anything but simple. As well as there being aspects of this hobby that are anything but simple that are also very enjoyable. I'm just trying to get you started on a path that will be rewarding for you, not a disappointing disaster.

 

So, let's get the pink elephant out of the room. Shall we? Yes, I called you all a bunch of newbies. Waah! There is no shame in being new. Everyone started at sometime. Everyone's been a newbie. So get over it and get to learning!

 

The first aspect of KISS, what you want.

This is the most important part, so pay attention! These are small systems, so plan accordingly and stick to your plan. Not to mention, plan simple, stupid! You are new. That means easy corals, easy fish, no clams, no anemones. You don't want to drop hundreds of dollars to watch everything die. You'll just get frustrated and never try again. Or worse, keep on making the same mistakes and watching things die over and over again.

 

This pertains to equipment as well. Remember, at the beginning of this post? I was ranting about all your equipment. I haven't forgotten, and I haven't quite gotten there, yet. But I gotta say it again.... KEEP IT SIMPLE, STUPID!

 

The second aspect of KISS, your tank.

Now, there are a whole crap load of systems out there, so I'm not going to sit here and list the pros and cons of everything. I do have a life outside of N-R, though that may not be apparent. Get something that fits your lifestyle. If you are on the go, maybe an all in one system is a better fit for you. If you like to build, maybe a nice tank and sump combo is a better fit. If you like something unique, maybe a cube, or peninsula style tank is a better fit. What you want is something that can keep you happy and interested.

 

All in one tanks, they have their flaws. But, don't discount them on that basis, alone. They have many advantages, as well. They offer the closest thing you can get to a "plug and play" in his hobby. They are often pretty visually appealing as far as systems go. The ones with hoods that hold the lights and fans are actually a "no brainer" perfect for the newb in all of us. Plus, those hoods cut down on evaporation. A great thing for those who are on the go. They are, for the most part, upgradable, to some degree. That way, as you progress, you won't need to get rid of it a year down the road. The final thing is, most of them are fairly cheap.

 

Standard tanks offer flexibility. You are free to set it up as you wish. Want it simple? Tank,light, heater and a hang on the back filter, and you are on your way. Want something with a bit more room to expand? Get one that's reef ready and add a sump. Standard tanks come in all kinds of sizes, and apart from the ones with funky shapes, are usually the cheapest when it comes to buying just the glass.

 

The more stylish tanks (or, funky shapes, if you will) are going to be your most expensive option. Since they are usually a more striking visual display, you'll be more likely to get them as reef ready and need to buy a sump. Thus, adding even more to the cost. I'm not going any further on these, as I don't recommend something like that for someone just getting started.

 

Yes, there are acrylic tanks. They come in all of what I've listed above. They are fine, too. Just be aware, acrylic scratches easily. Even some livestock are known to scratch acrylic.

 

This is Nano Reef, so, most important when choosing your tank, know that you are going to be limited in what you can keep in it. That "cool" looking volitan lion fish and moray eel you just saw at the lfs ain't gonna work in here.

 

Next on our KISS list, lights.

This is going to depend on what you want to keep. Now, believe me. I understand, perhaps better than anyone, what you want to keep is going to be continually evolving. However, I do have some sound advice for lighting, as it will also pertain to your whole setup. Again, rule #1, stick to your plan and keep it simple, stupid.

 

First, knowing what you want, find a light that will work for that. I'm not talking about fish, here. Fish don't need much light to do what they do. Corals are what I'm talking about. Now, we know you want SPS, clams, and all those kick ass corals you've seen. You aren't allowed to have them yet. Yeah, I said it. You aren't allowed. Who's your daddy, when it comes to N-R? I AM! Anyhow, back to the plan. Soft corals are generally easy corals, and generally, are lower light demanding corals. LPS corals, are generally mid light demanding, and generally fairly easy as well. These are what I would recommend basing your light choices on.

 

So, now we know, let's look for a light that'll work for those. Well, that covers a whole slew of lights. My advice here is figure out what kind of light you'll need for what you want, and get the best one your budget will allow.

 

Not so easy, I know. What with LED's, T-5's, metal halides, power compacts, and VHO's. The fact is, all of them work.

 

Without starting another "which light do you like better" thread here's a quick rundown.

LED, by far, the most popular. They can come programmable, they can have neat features, hell, in a few years, they'll probably be able to do your work and feed your dog. LED is a fine choice, just don't get caught up in the features just yet. Look at what's important. Will it provide enough light for what I want? Because, that Marineland single bright for $45, or whatever..... It may look appealing being only $45, but it won't get you what you need. The other side of that coin. That $750 radion that'll do just about everything, and wash your dishes, is way more than you need.

 

T-5's are another popular choice. I'm really getting sick of the whole lighting thing, and most of you probably want me to finish. So, cheaper , overall, than most mid range LED systems. Lots of bulb choices, more even lighting. Things to be aware of. Bulb replacement and cost, reflectors, heat transfer, higher electricity use.

 

#### the rest of them, you're not going to buy any of them anyways.

 

The next in the long line of KISS tidbits, the rest of your equipment.

 

THIS is what started it all, folks. If you're sick of reading all of this shit already, you have only yourselves to blame! I didn't tell you to go buy that stupid media reactor...

 

This is the easiest part of KISS, yet the one so many of you screw up.

A good heater, rated for the next size bigger than your tank. For example, if you have 20 gallons, get one rated for 30.

A good hob filter rated for slightly bigger than your tank.

A good return pump (if you're going the sump route) that pushes 5 to 10 times your tank volume in an hour.

A good power head or wave pump, or two, that'll give you random flow and eliminate dead spots. Also, if you went the hob filter, or slower return pump route, make sure they bump your flow up to at least 10 times your tank volume in an hour. So, for example, your hob runs 350 gph,in a 50 gallon tank. You'll want something to add another 150 gph in water movement. Keep in mind 10 x per hour is more a baseline. I would even suggest it's a minimum, but not all will agree there.

Some good carbon.

Filter floss, a filter sock, or some other means of trapping solids.

 

THATS ALL YOU REALLY NEED! The rest is just fluff. Save the money you'd spend on that stuff for your dream tank, when you'll want everything automated. Or, spend that money on hookers and blow. Whatever, just don't spend it on something you don't even understand the need for yet. That bio pellet reactor that someone said is the greatest thing ever.... I've never run one in my 25 years of reefing. That skimmer the lfs said you had to have.. I've only run a skimmer on 4 of the systems I've had.

 

Last, yes, last on my long, long, long ass KISS list. Maintinence.

Water changes. Yup, just water changes. 20 to 30% weekly, match your parameters as close as you can (assuming you have good parameters.) test your water regularly, and feed only as much as your fish will eat within a minute or two. You don't need to dose just yet, and you'll probably only screw things up if you do. Because WE know what to test and how to dose, WE can do it. Not you... Not yet...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh, you thought I was finished? Well, not quite. A few more words of wisdom..... Not KISS related.

 

As with skinning a cat, there is more than one way to reef. (That's actually the second time I've posted that today.) find what works best for you. The only way you'll find that is by trial and error. The KISS method is only meant to help you get started. If, when you learn more, you wanna get every gadget under the sun.... More power to ya. If you want continue to KISS, that works too. Find your own way, Grasshoppers.

 

Not done yet! I see a lot of newbs out on the forums "parroting" advice. Some good some bad. Take it easy. We know you're excited, and want to participate. That's what the forums are for. But take this time to learn before giving that advice. On a related note. When taking advice, look at what's being said. Check it out against other sources, not in the forums. You'll soon be able to figure out who's giving sound advice, and who isn't. There is information everywhere. Use it to your advantage.

 

Post count and join date, they mean nothing. I see members who joined this year, who've been reefing since I was suckling on my momma. I also see members with as many, or more posts than I have, who don't know jack shit. Likes. It's nothing but a popularity contest. I don't know how many likes I have. I don't want anyone to judge what I post on the amount of likes it gets. LEARN. we'll help you do it. That's why we're here.

 

I'm sick of typing now. Hopefully this will get to some people. Hopefully you can use some of this to have a thriving reef. I'm sick, so if something doesn't make much sense, forgive me. My brain is out of sorts right now, and it's hard to stay on track. So, if something looks goofy, just point it out to me, and maybe I can clear it up when I feel a bit better.

I forgot to add... There is a library section here on N-R. Read it, learn it, know it. It has a ton of sound, time tested advice!

[Water Dog]

Not done yet! I see a lot of newbs out on the forums "parroting" advice. Some good some bad. Take it easy. We know you're excited, and want to participate. That's what the forums are for. But take this time to learn before giving that advice.

 

Recently saw someone give advice to a newbie seeking help and claim that they had no problem adding livestock right after adding bacteria in a bottle. Rewind a month or so earlier to the advice giver's cycle thread and they had lost both clowns they added (due to disease they claimed) yet had an ammonia spike the next day after adding the fish.

 

When giving advice, please be honest with your own experiences.

[RayWhisperer]

Recently saw someone give advice to a newbie seeking help and claim that they had no problem adding livestock right after adding bacteria in a bottle. Rewind a month or so earlier to the advice giver's cycle thread and they had lost both clowns they added (due to disease they claimed) yet had an ammonia spike the next day after adding the fish.

 

When giving advice, please be honest with your own experiences.

yup. It's pretty annoying to everyone. The ones seeking advice from someone who knows end up getting shitty advice. The ones who know are drowned out by the chorus of morons saying to do it their way.

[Astinus]

WOW! I did read thru this entire writing.

I think it is great advice! TY for posting this.

As you all know I AM a NEWB.

I Use the "Search" Feature here, and if I can't quite find what I need I pose a question.

As for Equipment...I am happy with my JBJ Cube. I did add a JBJ Airstone Protein Skimmer (High Bio load and was cheap, works great)

I also got the AI Prime, not that I had to, but because I do plan on, in future, getting Corals that will need it.

I am not even thinking of SPS! To hell with that! Too expensive and does nothing for me. So, I do enjoy the "Easy"Corals

So, Again, TY Ray for posting

[vision]

honest

[Tamberav]

Great post!!!

 

I started my first tank and it was surely KISS, an aquapod, stock lighting, floss, bag of carbon, water changes, manual top offs, easy stuff like xenia, yellow polyps, mushrooms, green nepthea (I still have this coral 10 years later! Managed not to kill it yet), a clownfish and a goby! That tank thrived as long as I didn't miss too many water changes.

 

I slowly expanded my options getting more technical, eventually doing biopellets, carbon dosing and the works.

 

Y'know what? Got sick of that stuff, sure it worked but it was just extra maintenance, I don't even run a reactor anymore (and hope I never have to). 10 years later and I am back to KISS. KISS works great! (okay I still like fancy gadgets like apex).

[RayWhisperer]

WOW! I did read thru this entire writing.

I think it is great advice! TY for posting this.

As you all know I AM a NEWB.

I Use the "Search" Feature here, and if I can't quite find what I need I pose a question.

As for Equipment...I am happy with my JBJ Cube. I did add a JBJ Airstone Protein Skimmer (High Bio load and was cheap, works great)

I also got the AI Prime, not that I had to, but because I do plan on, in future, getting Corals that will need it.

I am not even thinking of SPS! To hell with that! Too expensive and does nothing for me. So, I do enjoy the "Easy"Corals

So, Again, TY Ray for posting

Your doing fine. I like it when someone uses the search function.

I don't know that your air driven skimmer is going to do much beyond help with ph. But, skimmers weren't so much what I was going after in my rant. I only brought them up to demonstrate you don't need one to have a healthy reef.

Nothing wrong with the prime light. It's a great light at its price point, and offers you the ability to keep more later on down the line.

Don't count out SPS just yet. They'll grow on you.

honest

Truth

Great post!!!

 

I started my first tank and it was surely KISS, an aquapod, stock lighting, floss, bag of carbon, water changes, manual top offs, easy stuff like xenia, yellow polyps, mushrooms, green nepthea (I still have this coral 10 years later! Managed not to kill it yet), a clownfish and a goby! That tank thrived as long as I didn't miss too many water changes.

 

I slowly expanded my options getting more technical, eventually doing biopellets, carbon dosing and the works.

 

Y'know what? Got sick of that stuff, sure it worked but it was just extra maintenance, I don't even run a reactor anymore (and hope I never have to). 10 years later and I am back to KISS. KISS works great! (okay I still like fancy gadgets like apex).

Lol! I'm halfway between KISS and complex, myself. I love me some gadgets, as I think we all do. But, like you, I find it more enjoyable when I have less to fiddle with.

[seabass]

Good post Ray.

 

A good power head or wave pump, or two, that'll give you random flow and eliminate dead spots. Also, if you went the hob filter, or slower return pump route, make sure they bump your flow up to at least 10 times your tank volume in an hour. So, for example, your hob runs 350 gph,in a ₁₀ 50 gallon tank. Get 2 power heads, that combined get you another 750 gph.

FTFY. 1100 gph is a little much for a 10 gallon tank (bare minimum for a 100 gallon tank, alright for a 50 gallon non-SPS tank).

[RayWhisperer]

Thanks. My brain is a bit wanky today. Glad you caught that. I proof read that post twice and didn't see it.

[seabass]

I blame it on your recent join date. Newb.

[RayWhisperer]

Lulz to be had!

[Nano sapiens]

I commend you for trying to get the message through.. If even a few people read and understand the message, it'll have been worth the attempt.

[yoshii]

I like this post. Straightforward and helpful. Fancy equipment is fun to play with but I've always stuck with the KISS method and nor only had it saved me buckets of money, I feel it's just makes things easier overall. Will my dream tank have an ATO, auto dosing, and easy water change plumbing? YES! Am I going to get any of that stuff anytime soon? Unless I win the lottery, no.

[Nano sapiens]

I blame it on your recent join date. Newb.

 

You have a smaller post count than Ray, so who's the 'Newb'

 

Oh wait, my count is even smaller

[BulkRate]

I had several small freshwater tanks growing up, and foray into larger tanks that ended up being filled with ice & beer rather than livestock. Then I got into saltwater about 4-5 years ago after realizing (in no small part courtesy of this site) that there was absolutely no reason why a reef wouldn't work in a simple, easy-to-maintain form factor.

 

I'm STILL a newb & explore a new aspect of my newbness each day!

 

Ray's got it right, though... especially if you're just getting started it's WAY better to master the basics using the basics before deciding on boutique powerheads/lighting subsystems/controllers/whatever. If only for being (hopefully) better able to make an informed decision on what said gadget gets you for the money.

[RayWhisperer]

Thanks errybuddy.

Nano, his join date is 2 years earlier. Everybody know join date trumps post count! ####ing news, I swear!

[Marc.The.Shark]

Good advise! I've been in the hobby for a few years (13 or 14) and JUST bought my first skimmer!! Lol. Gonna see what all the hype is about...or not! Seriously tho, can't go wrong with a basic setup/water changes. My first tank ran for 5 years on nothing but internal filter with floss/carbon, heater & powerhead, water changes & food and PC light. Did I get some hair algae? Yep. Nothing serious tho. Pulled some out & bought more crabs/snails. Tank was stable & beautiful till I moved & had to take it down. The equipment choices/additives available now a days is mind boggling & I still don't know what half that crap really does!! Hahaha

[Nano sapiens]

Thanks errybuddy.

Nano, his join date is 2 years earlier. Everybody know join date trumps post count! ####### news, I swear!

 

Didn't see that, so I guess Seabass wins as the 'oldf*art around here' contest

[RayWhisperer]

Thanks, Marc. You illustrated my point exactly. i don't even know what half of the crap they are talking about is, or what it does, either. It doesn't make it bad, or useless. People just need to learn about their tanks before throwing a bunch of crap in it.

Oh no. Old is my claim to fame! I wanna see his birthday before you go bestowing that honor on him!

[Nano sapiens]

The equipment choices/additives available now a days is mind boggling & I still don't know what half that crap really does!! Hahaha

 

Neither do half the people producing it

[RayWhisperer]

Neither do half the people producing it

truer words have never been spoken.

[Nano sapiens]

I like this post. Straightforward and helpful. Fancy equipment is fun to play with but I've always stuck with the KISS method and nor only had it saved me buckets of money, I feel it's just makes things easier overall. Will my dream tank have an ATO, auto dosing, and easy water change plumbing? YES! Am I going to get any of that stuff anytime soon? Unless I win the lottery, no.

 

I don't know, Yoshi, but if I had my system full automated I think I'd feel disconnected from the reefing experience...

[seabass]

Old is my claim to fame! I wanna see his birthday before you go bestowing that honor on him!

Since I'm 50, maybe I should change my avatar.

 

Nah.

[RayWhisperer]

Shit! You have stolen my claim to fame!

[Kellie in CA]

10 years into the hobby and I just got my first ATO and MP10. SO excited!

 

My first set up was a Biocube, and even though I was itching to upgrade quickly, I'm glad I started there. It gave me time to focus on learning the basics like maintaining salinity and water quality without having to worry about equipment choices.