so....new plan

with all of the reading that i have been doing about things that can go wrong and me not wanting to waste money by doing things incorrectly because i have absolutely no experience, i think that i am going to try a nano first, i was thinking a 12 gal nano, live rock, a fish or two so i can see what i am going to be up against, what are the main differences with a nano?

 

nanos are actually much harder than larger aquariums because you have less of a buffer if something goes wrong, being new you should start with as large a tank as is possible

 

Well, you are going to find out what you are up against very quickly. :-/

Actually, now that I think about it, a starting a Nano for a first SW tank may not be a bad thing to learn on.

Need to be prepared for a long series of fish losses, frustration and great deal of lost $$$.

Might even be enough to have gotten a larger tank in first place. :

Honestly, if that is all you can afford or have space for...do some serious study on successful reef keeping tricks, read past posts here and get good advice when you need it (again at 3Reef) .... you should be able to set up and maintain a great Nano.

Good Luck,

Keep us posted.


Scott

 

If you go with a nano, then be prepared to go a little slower than with a larger tank. Larger tanks are more forgiving because, well I always use this example; how much easier is it to freeze a cube of water versus an entire bathtub?

Bad things happen faster in a nano than in a big tank. I admit life has gotten easier for me the more water volume I have added. I went from a 29 gal to a 46 gal to a 72 gal. It wasn't till the 72 that I added a sump and a refugium for added water volume. Way WAY easier now than it was in the 29.

Something to think about......

 

honestly a big part of it is i do not have the room, right now i live in a house and i want it in my room and its just not big enough to hold a bigger tank, i live with roommates and i do not trust putting it out in the open

 

Go with the biggest nano you can fit/afford then, I have the JBJ 24g tank and like it alot, there is a few things to consider with nano's too, #1 as stated above bad things can happen alot easier in a nano since it's less water to contaminate. Good things is the maintenance and upstart costs is lower

Think when i got my nano it was $350 for the tank and stand, both new in the box. The red sea max is the best nano on the market according to most people but last time I checked their around $700

same rules apply, you'll want a 2" sandbed and atleast 1# liverock per gallon water

 

Untrustworthy roommates + temporary housing = disaster :-[

Would strongly recommend putting off starting new system until in a more stable and safer environment.

Can spend waiting time studying up on reef keep techniques, and planning exactly what you want that will fit your needs.

Remember, a successful SW tank needs almost daily attention until quite mature.

Good Luck.

Let us know what you plan on...


Rgds,

Scott

 

its not a temporary place, it is decently long term i.e atleast 2 years, i am 21 and my roommates are just into more partying than i am, they do not go into my room so i just want it in there because i spend most of my free time in my room, i have my tv xbox dvds music, pretty much my entire life is my room when im not at work or school. the way that i want to do this is get a nano with 2 clowns, an anemone if possible, not sure if since it is smaller if i can put one in, and a small clean up crew, with a small sea cucumber if i am told that i should get one.

 

KARMA to everybody in here, thanks sooo much for all of the advice so far