New tank - Lots of hope

Welcome.
Acronyms:
http://www.3reef.com/forums/reef-aquarium-articles-how-tos/common-acronyms-abbreviations-54351.html

Prefered filtration:
Biological- Live rock/sand. Sump with Refugium Macro Algae will help naturally offset nitrates, phosphates and PH swings at night.
Mechanical- Protein skimmer
Chemical- I run a bag of carbon in the water flow and a phosphate reactor with phosban...absorbs algaes favorite food: phosphate.

 

GL and welcome to 3reef!

 

welcome!

 

Welcome to 3reef!

 

Welcome.

 

Just a warning on Iodine.....I would not add it into your system unless you absolutely need it. You need to be really careful with this one. Newbs overdosing their system and killing the inhabitants is not unheard of. I do agree on adding Ca though. In addition, keeping your dKh in line (bicarbonate levels) and Mg in check is important too.

So this brings up the concept of not adding in anything you do not test for. Want to add Calcium? Great. Get a test kit. Mag? Excellent. Get a test kit. What test kits do you need? For a fish only tank, you really only need NH4, NO2, NO3 and pH. If you want to keep softies and LPS, you need Ca, Mg, dKh and PO4 also. If you want to keep SPS, I would also add to your growing collection K and Sr. Iodine test kits are available, and I do have one.....but have only used it a couple of times. When I do water changes, I use Instant Ocean Reef Crystals, which supplies the system with trace elements including Iodine. Also, I do suppliment with a very small amount every other week or so using Red Sea Calcium +3. It has so little iodine that overdosing using the recommended amounts is virtually unheard of.

So, while you are cycling your tank, get used to keeping watch on your parameters. Your Ca, Mg and dKh will not change much until you put corals in. They use these elements to build their skeleton. Acceptable levels? That varies. I like my Ca at 460, Mg at 1550 and dKh between 12 and 15.

So practice, practice, practice.

And start yourself a tank thread for us to post on and for you to keep track of things on. IMO, that is one of the best parts of the forum. Looking at people's tanks from start to present.

Ooooooo...I rambled again. I do that. Later gator.......John.;D

And put up some pics. Empty tank. That's OK. Take a pic and post it!!!!

 

I would go with an Aquaclear 120 I believe it is.. Turn it into a "fuge" with macroalgae, and get some Hydor Koralias'. Let your live rock take care of the rest.

 

I agree with Manbearpig.

 

Manbearpig does exist......In caves filled with fake treasure and a large, foul mouthed 4th grader with an appetite for gold.

 

Thanks. I am not one to just randomly start into something w/o researching it, so this will be my plan for my tank. I appreciate all the varying advice from all which I will certainly sift through and come to an educated consensus for myself. I certainly agree with not adding anything or experiementing without being sure it is needed. Also, I know I will not get a sump if I do go with a filter. They look like they take entirely too much space and work. Thanks again. I'll have to check out how to start a tank thread. That sounds helpful.