Taking the Plunge Again.

[JonnyMiata]

I am going to try getting back into saltwater again. I had a saltwater tank for about 15 years. One was a 20 gal and then I moved to a 55 gal. I had my good moments and my bad. Probably my best moment was being able to have a very tame Lionfish that would rollover and allow me to pet his belly and feed him by hand. The bad moment was at the end, 3 years ago, when I just lost interest and my fish were suffering because of it. I think I was not really interested in keeping fish because I really wanted a reef tank but they were lots of money and were huge and confusing. I recently visited the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago and went to their new exhibit called Wild Reef. Well, now I am hooked again. I went to my local fish shop and saw that you can get tiny reef tanks with minimal hassle and expense. I told the guy to order me all I need and let's get working on this. I really want a 7 gal minibow but I ordered a 2.5 gal minibow just to get started. Here is what they are putting together for me:

 

2.5 gal All-glass Minibow Tank

Light conversion

Powerhead

Salt

Balance Blocks

3 lbs of sand (some live)

5 lbs of Marshall Island live rock

 

I have a hydrometer from my old tanks. If there is anything that you think I need other than this, please let me know. I am very excited about getting back into this. The guys at the fish shop are going to put the whole thing together for me. I will put the 7gal together on my own once I have mastered this little guy. I really want a tank to house a true clown. I love those little guys.

 

I will be lurking on this board for a while sucking in all the knowledge I can.

 

Thanks for your help in advance.

 

Jonny

[yellowtang]

What about a heater?

i have a 29gal. thats 6months old its goin pretty nice

... take it slow... just wanted to say good luck,Eric:happy:

[JonnyMiata]

Thanks, Eric!

 

The shop told me that I didn't need a heater with that small amount of water. He said the light should be enough heat. I will be monitoring the temp just in case.

 

Jonny

[Gilman]

JonnyMiata,

 

There is no light to heat the water at nighttime, and a heater will help with reducing temp fluctuation.

 

What lights are you putting over the 2.5 Minibow? What color tank did you get?

 

Gil

[JonnyMiata]

Good point, Gil. I will ask about this more at the shop. Do you recommend a tiny heater for such a small tank?

 

I got the purple one. I really wanted black but they don't make it. Not sure why they went with the iMac colors.

 

Gil, I love your website. It made my decision easy to go ahead and take on this project. Thanks for all the good info you supplied me with at your site.

 

Jonny

[yellowtang]

Jonny......I've been thinking about setting up a 2.5gal.(wont be untill i finish the 29gal...which is coming allong nicely:) )anyways this is the heater I will probably use.

 

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod...d=6&pCatId=3925

 

If you find somthing better let me know.

 

What kind of corals do you plan on keeping?

 

Eric

[JonnyMiata]

Thanks, Eric. That mini heater looks like a winner. I was beginning to think I was the only one setting up a 2.5 gal anymore. I think I will start buying all the parts to a great 7 gal minibow piece by piece.

 

I am not very familiar with corals yet. I need to do some research on what goes well with what. What needs a lot of light, which doesn't and what my preference is. I think those 3 years of latin in highschool maybe useful in pronouncing some of these coral names.

 

I really like the look for Gils tank. Do you have any suggestions on what to start with. What are your plans?

 

Jonny

[yellowtang]

Well I wont be doing it for a month or 2 but i plan on keeping a snail or two, a starfish, and maybe a shrimp ...for corals I'll probably put frags from my 29gal. in it.....in my 29gal.im going to get finger leather ...toadstool leather ....colt coral ... mushroom corals and GSP .... a green open brain or 2 and a candy cane coral