super uber PRE-n00b from FL

Hello everyone, J here. I happen to be a planted tank enthusiast at the moment, just received a new, larger tank to switch a 30gl Amazon layout into, so we plan on making the 30 our fist reef aquarium!

If there's one thing I've learned with freshwater aquaria, learn your junk and do it right from the start so you don't have to keep ripping things down, taking things back and upsetting cycles. So, I figured it's a good time to join a new forum and start learning. I also have a few friends that will be gaining knowledge from me, as they're not the type to search for info, and I plan on helping them get their reef tanks right.

My goal for the 30gl is a shallow beachy look with a low island of coral running through the center, lots of swimming space for a small school of cardinals or whatever will fit. I still have alot to learn about biotopes, species and requirements before choosing stock, first I'm off to learn about starting a reef tank, parameters and lighting.

Also, any ideas and advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks! -J

 

Welcome to 3Reef!!!

Since you're a super uber pre-noob, I'll start you off slowly. Water is wet. ;D

Just kidding....you're already ahead of the game in the sense that you understand the problems in mixing biotopes. People are constantly throwing SPS corals in with leather corals and wondering why the SPS are dieing.

My suggestion to you is to determine what corals you like and then we can help you work backwards from there. Equipment that you will need will depend on that determination.

 

hello! and welcome 3reef.com! to bad you dont live down in miami i might be able to help you better than expected! as for the 30 gallon you might want to rethink the schooling idea. but you could easily do a small full reef! i have a 15 and im very limited with space. so i have 2 maybe 3 fish and that is pushing it. your idea is great but for a larger tank.

lighting for a 30 gallon i just made some recommendations, ill link the thread next post. and ill look for a good paramaters thread!

all in all, welcome to 3reef.com and take it slow!
jon

 

http://www.3reef.com/forums/reef-lighting/who-makes-one-39159.html

and this lighting, you might want to get a larger amount of lights for the 30. but on my 15 its uber amount of watts, even though the whole watts per gallon is defunked. my kelvins are crazy!

there you go!
jon

 

Thanks for the welcome

The first thing I'm trying to find out is if I need to scrap my strip light on that tank, it's 3.2wpg from a 96w single strip pc coralife from which I can change the 6700k lamp out to a 50/50. If that will suffice as a moderately high amount of light, then I need to know what can live together in it. I tend to like things small and not crowd so much.

EDIT: didn't catch your posts Monkey, I'll be following that lighting link now, thanks

 

its an ok amount of light imo, but i added the two t5-HO's and i was amazed. im running a total of 144 watts on my 15 gallon so i would go a little stronger for my tastes. check out the links on reefgeek.com

 

welcome to 3reef

 

welcome to the salt world!!!

 

Reefing is all about lights, water paramiters, and bio loads. If you can study up on them youll be fine, lol. Thats alot of reading, but that is what we are here for, just start posting questions and someone here will have an answer. Good luck, and welcome to 3Reef!!

Michael

 

Welcome to 3Reef!!! I have had a saltwater tank for a year and I am still a noob.