Reefers! Micro-Reefers! Get in here!

[StereoInstaller1]

I wanna start a micro-reef aquarium. I am thinking about 20 gallons?

I have been reading quite a bit about it, but wanna know more. I guess basically a bunch of links to good articles or forums would be really nice. There has got to be more than GARF!

I thought there was someone on here who was in the biz, right?

My Qs are: Glass or plastic, normal "square" or "bow front" or other shapes? Clean floor, or rock? Sources for live rock? How soon after initial setup do I do corals? How about hermit crabs, shrimp, fish, all that kind of stuff?

I was into Oscars and Discus and other Cichlids 25 years ago, but that basically means nothing today. I never did anything with marine, ever.

Thanks!
Luke

[sector6]

This is BS! You're pretty tricky Luke.
Not what I was expecting. :p:p

[N2MYE30]

We started with a 5 gal normal glass just to see how hard this was gonna be with keeping with the salinity of the tank. It went very well with the simplest of light. But I wanted corral...BAD!

We up the tank size to a normal 10 gal. With that we had to get a protein skimmer, and upgraded light and filter, and more problems. Some things lived, some not so much. Im starting with small corral at first just to see what will live. As of right now, we killed 1 hermit (a year+), a starfish (my favorite but lived about a year), some butter cup corral, and some mushrooms.

Still living; A nemo fish, sand worms, some type of towering corrals, some green type of corrals, several snails, 3 mushrooms, and a crab. Oh, and a sea erchant.

Algae buildup is constant but Im hoping that the skimmer will help with that.

I know alot of people that stuff all types of stuff in there tank and it all lives with little upkeep. I just keep throwing stuff in just to see if it will work for my conditions.

BTW, isnt Lacey next Olympia. I went to elementary school there.

[rooster]

not cool!! awww damn i was totally expecting something else as well

[Turf1600]

Expect to spend some money.

[Davenandez]

lol im getting out of the hobby. breaking down a 180 reef. lmk if you need some stuff!

[Davenandez]

Id suggest going with a 40 breeder. its a nice proportionate tank and allows for a larger variety of fish. Cure your rock for a while, the longer the better. Metal halides are your friends. For an aesthetically pleasing but relatively care free look, i suggest a large grain shallow sandbed. You will need to vaccum the bed every once in a while when doing water changes. Skimmers are essential, the bigger the better (ive got an msx that i can sell you if you want it) corals will come when water parameters become stable. In the reef game, stability is key. Buy some kalkwasser and a 2 part calcium dosing system like the ones reefchilli has (http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/) RODI water from the start will make everything sooooo much easier in the long run (less algae to deal with, better water quality is a must etc.)

[Restoman]

Reef tank only. Soft corals are annoying after 3 years. Find a group to swap corals with, when yours grow large you will have to frag them, it's inevitable.

[europeanplates]

These cost big dollars. In my old loft (single life) I had a 70 and 120 gallon; it just got to $$$/

Good luck though they are awesome when set up and working right/

Ty

[Will_318i]

Expect to spend some money.

this is true.... i wanted to do one about a year ago but just the cost of starting the tank is the most expensive part of it...

[joshuaaa]

my buddy has some huge glass tanks he might be trying to sell if your serious about starting. i can find out gallong sizes and pics and dimensions and all that if your looking. probly do them for super cheap cuz they are taking up space in his garage and not being used

[StereoInstaller1]

Guys, there are several reasons I will not under any circumstance go over 20 gallons.

If I can find the right shape of tank, I would like to stay 15 gallons or so.

MICRO reef. I live small, and I like it. Tiny 2 bedroom duplex for now while I battle the child support demons in my life, but will never own a large house again. BTDT, no thanks.

You guys have any links of useful stuff? Know how to find "coral trading groups"?

This sounds more and more fun as I learn more. I know I gotta have an anemone or a hairy mushroom and goddamn Nemo in my tank, plus I want a gobi or two, maybe a couple of the flitty blue ones, and some crabs.

Right now, and likely forever, I want it small. I need to learn a bunch about protein skimmers, and if I should DIY one or buy one. I do pretty good at fabricating just about anything that doesn't require welding. I just don't wanna screw anything up. I saw a video showing a spray nozzle making the water foam, and basically making foam, but what happens to the foam?

I have so much to learn!

[Davenandez]

Nano-reef.com will be a good resource. Start posting away there. Looks to me like you've got a shitton of research to do though...

[almostM]

I've got an almost exclusive live rock and reef tank, 55 gal, took about 4 grand to get set up and I'm still running into issues

[Davenandez]

^ this. If you want corals, you'll be spending a pretty penny.