Newbie from South Florida

hey folks,
First I have to say this is a great forum and I've already learned alot from this community. I'd been keeping a smal freshwater tank and decided to try to take the just into Marine tanks with a 20g tank that my friend gifted to me. I know it's small too, and that I'd be better off starting with a bigger tank, but alas this small tank is how I'm starting.
So far, I think I have a decently cycle FOWLR tank, and really want to take the jump into the reef tank hobby, but want to succeed with a FOWLR first. I posted a question in the Algae section. Can anyone help me out? Please let me know if there's any crucial info needed that I've left out in the description of my problem.



http://www.3reef.com/forums/algae/newbie-20g-fowlr-52297.html#post485628

-Tim
Tamarac, FL

 

Welcom Tim and tanks for joining us! Reading your other post your calcium seems a bit low at this point. I don't know the answer to your seperate tub for LR but I do know go slow. If you are thinking of adding more LR it will send your tank into another possible cycle as will more fish. Make sure you are adding things and giving time in between adding more so your tank can adjust. I will be surprised if you can really hold off on not getting corals! I couldn't!

 

Welcome, it is a lot of fun and this website has an amazing amount of information plus the people are nice.

 

Thanks for the welcome guys! This is a great hobby, and I'm looking forward to building up my tank (and eventually starting a real reef tank).

 

Welcome to 3 reef.!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Hello and welcome aboard

 

Thanks again for the welcome everyone.
Johnny, I noticed you're from S FL too. Do you (or anyone else from South Florida) have a LFS to recommend? I go to Big Al's in Tamarac/Ft Lauderdale. I'm impressed by their stock and display tanks, but not overly impressed by their staff. Most of them are knowledgeable, but some don't really seem to know what they're talking about. Then again, I guess I'm biased because I'm coming armed with all the info from 3reef.

 

I am in Palmetto Bay in Miami. I drive all the way to Big Al's just for the hell of it sometimes (about 45 min. drive for me). That place is awesome and your right, some people there are very knowledgeable and some.......are not. They have a lot of stuff that you local LFS won't have and can't get for you. If you go to Big Al's, that's your best bet that I know of in that area. BTW.....their display tanks are just out of this world!

As far as I am from Big Al's, when I'm ready to stock my tank.......that's is where I'm headed!

 

Yeah, their display tanks are truly awesome. And they have some much stock to choose from that I don't even know where to start. But as you know, I'm a newbie, so it's the only LFS I've been to and I don't know what to expect. I guess I should consider myself lucky (which is good to know), it's literally a 2 min drive from me.