Chris's Very First Tank Ever! 30 Gallon Reef Tank.

Hi, my name is Chris McKinney and I currently am a student at West Virginia University.

I got into this hobby by walking past the salt water fish stuff in Petco and I asked about some of the corals and the associate acted like I didn't have enough skill or wasn't capable of setting up and taking care of a salt water aquarium. Well needless to say I went home read all night about it and the next day bought my the Ecplise Hood setup and was on my way.

This is what my tank looked like about a week after setup.





Then I read up that you don't want to keep fake decorations in your tank because the paint could hurt the fish so I got rid of those. About a week later I decide I need to upgrade my lighting and so I buy the 30" Coralife Aqualight T5's. One is 10,000K 31 watt and one is an Actinic Bluelight 31 watt, but soon found out with my Eclipse hood that the lights would not stay on safely. So then I decided I was going to cut the hood in half, so the filter in the hood could stay but my new lights could attach to the actual side of my tank.

Here is the picture soon after doing so.




Now I am at about 3 weeks and the brown diatom bloom is attacking my poor tank. It's really all over the rock on the right and not attacking the the other rocks which is baffling me.




So now I have to decide on whether or not I want a protein skimmer and what one to buy. Also, I need to figure out, in more detail, what a sump is and how to make one.

I'll keep everyone update as the tank comes along!

 

Welcome, congrats on the new tank! Best advice is to take this real slow. If you want the sump, here is something for you to study to get you on your way; Aquarium Sump & Overflow Box Setups

Ask a lot of questions here, we are here to help. I would advise converting the tank to the overflow and sump now (or in the very near future) since it is cycling.

 

+ 1 for unclejed

Welcome and congratulations on your tank. this is what a sump looks like. mine has a fuge in it. there are many different designs that work well. keep looking. I am sure others will chime in before long and give some advice also.

 

A sump is not necessary, many people including myself run a canister filter with no issues. The benefit of the sump is more water volume (the bigger the sump the more the volume) which helps in water quality and parameters and you can also set up a refugium while your at it, but thats another story. What size is your tank? The diatom being on one side may be due to flow. Try puttin your koralia in a different position possibly. Either way, your gonna go through the diatom bloom being that its a new tank. Just keep up with water quality and it should subside. A protein skimmer IMO is a neccessity, although maybe not in such a new tank. People have different opinions on needing a skimmer but most have on. There are several skimmers out there and depending on if you want an in sump or hang on the back unit you have to choose according to what you can accomadate with the space you have to work with. I use a bakpak skimmer with no issues and a quarter cup of skimmate every other day or tea looking stuff.

By the way, Welcome to the Addiction, MuhAhaHAHA
The learning is just beginning and you chose the best forum to get your info.
Good Luck and Happy Reefing

 

Welcome to 3reef and the hobby. Yeah, your diatoms only being in one spot is due to your flow. I'm not sure where the output from your filter is, but that and your koralia with create spots where the diatoms just don't accumulate bc of the higher flow.

 

Here is a good diagram for a basic sump setup granted you don't need everything like a uv or a chiller but you get the idea.

Aquarium Supplies | Filtration Diagram | Vivid Aquariums

 

welcome to 3reef chris. youve got a nice start going th3ere. ask lots of questions here , you will get good advice.

 

Judging by the fact that you are being patient enough to cycle your first tank, I would say you are more than capable of setting up and maintaining a marine aquarium.

I agree with everyone. Add on an overflow and sump to keep your protein skimmer in. Aqua C seems to be one of the most recommended brands of skimmer on here, but I also like Coralife skimmers.

 

Welcome to 3reef Chris! Im from Wv originally and I knew a Mckinney in school. Nice tank.

 

welcome to three reef! wEE WILL HELP! If u need some thing ask! i wouldn't think u would need a sump on a tank that small(imo) but a good canister filter and regular weekly water changes are important. there are several types of protien skimmers mine is an air driven in tank lees skimmer. but i would recommend a hob for your setup.