begining a reef setup

Hello i am new to this forum and i would just like some advice on reefkeeping. i have a 29g sw FO setup with life sand and life rock fpr filtration i have a casnister filter and planning to get a uv sterilizer today. I have kept fish for about a year now and i would like to start on reefkeeping. What type of corals should i get? what interesting reef safe critters would be great for begginers? I would be grateful with any advice anybody would be able to willingly give me

 

Well, first off welcome.

Second, you need lights capable of keeping corals. what kind of light do you have right now sir?

 

For a reef to get started you only truly need 5 things. Live Sand, Live Rock, Protein Skimmer, Lights, and a Powerhead. Everything else I would just say is an add on. A UV steerilizer is not that important. Atleast not as important as a good protein skimmer.

There are all kinds of equipment you "might" need. Most likely starting with a R/O system. Maybe a phosphate reactor, the list goes on and on. Im sure others will chime in.

Also you could replace that cannister filter with a hang on refugium. Check out ebay for the acrylic ones with a built in protein skimmer.

 

RODI is a absolute if doing Reef IMO.

 

+1 a UV sterilizer is pretty low on the priority list!

How much LR/live sand do you have?
What are your lights? power heads? etc
Make sure ya keep the canister filter maintained and cleaned.
first priorities are great lights, a good RODI unit, and a decent skimmer

 

I concur with an RO/DI unit.
It's a necessity when going to reef.
You're trying to mimic an ecosystem that only exists in less then .01% of the planet.
We are keeping water essentially. If you're starting off with crappy water from the get-go, you're at a huge disadvantage. That's like a 3 second penalty in the 50 yard dash!

 

gonna steal that analogy! well said!

 

i have about 29 lbs live sand and so far 20lbs live rock at this point and yes i am getting a protein skimmer and 2 t5 flouresant ligths

 

the reason i added a uv sterilizer is cuase i recently had an algea problem in the water but thank god thats taken care of

 

the problem with my protein skimmer is that really in my town there isnt really much 2 petcos and 1 petland and only two types of skimmers an up to 29 gallon biocube skimmer and the petco cyclone 100 skimmer which would be best thougth i havent heard positive things about it. i have 1 marineland maxi-jet 400 for a power head.