New to hobby and board

I would say if you keep all of the same fish, you could maybe do 1-3 more depending on size (1 larger, or 3 smaller). But wait a few weeks after the upgrade before buying anything new to make sure everything is adjusted.

As far as paying $400 for the upgrade, if it was just going to be you doing it, I can tell you the $400 will be worth it. It is definitely a lot of work to move a tank into the same spot and transfer all livestock in one day.

Finally, to sell, list them on Craigslist as already mentioned. In all honesty you may get more there than on here, especially since this is mainly a SW forum.

 

I want to stress one thing 2manycars. Take everything that the LFS owners tell you with a grain of salt. You can get cheaper fish tanks on craigslist than from them. Also you anything suggestions they tell you come here and get confirmation. We are in it for the hobby not the money. Some of our bad experiences will be your gains.

Oh and another thing, do not, I repeat, do not, skimp on your skimmer, and lights, these are two things that every reef aquarium needs to be sufficient.

 

exactamundo!

 

Congratulations on learning your first lesson in reef keeping... buying a lot of things you do not understand equals lost money. I mean that kindly.

Next lesson will be... being in a hurry in reef keeping equals lost money and animals....

We have all "been there done that" so I'm only speaking from experience.

Your nitrates should be zero. Even with a tank full of algae, your nitrates will be zero... no free nitrates, taken up by algae. So you will need to get that undercontrol. A canister filter does not do that... a skimmer will do it better by removing waste before it is broke down. Live rock does it too. that is your biological filter. Other export processes like macro algae and bio pellets will help.

Keep reading, and asking questions. We all started with our first tank. I bought a used setup from my co-worker because it was all done and I did not have to do anything... by the time I was done, I replaced everything but the tank and stand. Here some reading for you.

http://www.3reef.com/forums/reef-aquarium-articles-how-tos/all-about-sumps-filters-fuges-79852.html

http://www.3reef.com/forums/protein-skimmers/all-about-skimmers-skimmers-skimmer-85389.html

 

Bud... in all seriousness.... you are going to loose a lot of money. There is no need to pay somebody to swap a tank. If you do not know how to do it, or want to do it, then keeping a reef will probably not be a lot of fun.

First... you have plenty of fish for a 90g. Leave that alone for now. All it does is add more waste to a system that tells you right now can not handle it. Adding more will not help that.

Second, you need to understand the basics of what you are doing. You probably know more than you let on in this thread already, but just remember this....

NOTHING good in this hobby happens fast.

It takes time for tanks and keepers to mature. I really really don't mean to stop... we all learn as we go, just take it easy. And just so you know... you are in probably the 80% of new reefers... we all did the same.

You are on the right track... it's a very simple recipe for a reef.... Good skimmer, lots of live rock, and some sort of export to mop up the rest such as a macro algae or bio pellets. You should see a drop in your nitrates just by getting rid of the canister. Just a guess.

Last... if you want to save money... you really REALLY need to get hooked up with local reefers. Look for local salt water forums in your area. You can buy and sell a lot of stuff locally. Even Craigs List has a lot... but then you do not know who you are dealing with like say a user forum. They usually do meet and greets and it is a great way to meet others doing the same and learn stuff.

And yes... this place is a great place for help. spend a lot of time here.

 

This all started when I was introduced to a guy with a 150 gallon established tank. He helped me get started then every time I tried to get in touch with him he had a reason not to meet. I feel like I am on my own now. It is difficult to know who to trust where to shop etc. I have wasted a lot of time and money and considered simply giving up. It is my hope by starting fresh- new tank and equipment that I can finally try to do this the right way. Hopefully my current fish will move without any issues. The rock is cured and ill have the sand moved as well as the water. I think the sand bed I have or lack of it is part of the problem. There are a few areas of my current tank that only have a dusting.

Obviously I need to slow down read more and then continue. It is difficult when the manager of the shop I bought my new items from shows me a 4 month old tank that looks like it has been up and running for years- maybe it had been but I don't know enough to question him.

 

Goodness. It sounds like you're spending a lot of money. I just constructed a 55 gallon setup with a tank, stand, sump, lighting, overflow, skimmer, phosphate reactor etc. for about $450. I have about $200 in coral frags I'll be adding from my previous setup and an additional $100 in and and rock.

I think that's where your frustration is coming from.

 

Sounds like you're throwing down money not researching. The guy never wanted to meet quite frankly because it's a lot of work taking care of a saltwater aquarium and generally the advice given is substituted with your own personal unexperienced opinion and then comes the variables that get blamed on the person who helped you.

 

Well just stop doing things you do not know about. Sure you have spent a lot of money, but obviously you must have it. So it does not matter to anyone but you.

When this is all said and done, and you have a nice tank, then you too will have a long list of "lessons learned" like every other reefer does. And one of the worst to learn is how much money you over paid and wasted along the way. But you have to learn what's up to be able to know that.

The money part is your problem... it may not even be one. But like I said, you are headed in the right direction. A 90g is a reasonable tank to play with. Swap over, and leave it alone for a while. Learn how to take care of chemistry. Let it mature and keep your hands out of it. Read up on where you want to go with what types of corals. You'll get there.

And yes.... people can set up tanks and have them thrive in 4 months... "IF"... they have cured rock and other systems to draw from. Or they move a system to a new tank, or they have done this for a long time and know what they are doing. But it gives newbies unrealistic expexctations starting form scratch from first cycle and hopes of a beautiful tank in a couple of months. And every life long reefer has plenty of problems and crashes along the way.

Read the articles I posted. Read the threads stickied here for new comers, and slow down for a while. And keep asking questions.

 

Oh... sand bed is not really a make or break kind of thing. You can go bare bottom. Is it sand, or is it crushed coral? You definitely do not want crushed coral.