ACk, SpS's with colour, I can't find any....

IceTurf · #1 09-18-2007, 03:37 PM

Corals you mean? I'm aiming *wishfully* for one or two nana frags that have not too bad colouring and one Acropora sp in a blue or purple.

Joe Reefer · #2 09-18-2007, 07:38 PM

Continuing on what Howdy said......some people don't try SPS for years after they are in the hobby.

If you are convinced that SPS are the only corals you want to keep.....maybe just try some brown acros to start off with and see what they turn into and how your husbandry skills are. Acros are amazing in the fact that within a few months a dirty brown coral can turn into an amazing speciman if cared for properly. It will be much more rewarding than bringing home the prized nana frag and having it turn into a drab brown cause you have no idea what your doing. JMO

BTW lets hear about your tank.

IceTurf · #3 09-18-2007, 07:56 PM

lol i suppose your right. I would hate having a perfect coral and then have it turn to some brown coral under my care.

IceTurf · #4 09-18-2007, 07:58 PM

hmm, just a particular, and random question, but whats the smallest tank size that you guys have had coral survive/grow in?

IceTurf · #5 09-18-2007, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Der_Iron_Chef

I think the general concensus would be to just purchase quality test kits separately. Salifert and Elos test kits generally seem to be preferred.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Reefer

Continuing on what Howdy said......some people don't try SPS for years after they are in the hobby.

If you are convinced that SPS are the only corals you want to keep.....maybe just try some brown acros to start off with and see what they turn into and how your husbandry skills are. Acros are amazing in the fact that within a few months a dirty brown coral can turn into an amazing speciman if cared for properly. It will be much more rewarding than bringing home the prized nana frag and having it turn into a drab brown cause you have no idea what your doing. JMO

BTW lets hear about your tank.

my tank, I should send a picture I suppose, but I'm still setting up so I could go with my 18/20 gallon one which currently has two freshwater fish in it*not expensive ones*, and two 20 gallon rated filters for it *keeps the water crystal clear* and the one I am currently planning on using for a reef tank is totally unlike the ones u guys seem to have. Its 5 gallons, although I need to double check that before I add salt, hex shaped nano tank. Its not quite like the ones you buy currently because its an older one, but it has almost no wear on it. It has a base which can cover up some smaller equipment and an upper lid which allows for perfect light placement so long as the cord goes through the slot. Its about 2-3x taller then it is wide making it nice for display and it has black trimming. *yea nothing like the awesome tanks u guys got but hey, its my first coral one!* For filtration I have the choice between either of the filters for my other freshwater tank rated for up to 20 gallons, and one specifically has a section where you can turn it from a basic run water through filter to a slightly less quality then most, trickle filter. Due to the fact its rated higher then the tank volume I plan on using it for on should be perfect...Right? I also have a water movement device which mixes air with water at controled rates allowing me to increase oxygen levels at a fairly controled rate. To top that off, sorta stupid to have this too along with an air/water movement device, and air pump!

lol so far the tank sits fairly empty of life...

digital-audiophile · #6 09-18-2007, 08:46 PM

I think you will find little success in reef keeping with air pumps/airstones, trickle filters.

IMHO HOB filters are only good to use as a "fuge" to grow a little macro if you are not runnign a fuge. Powerheads/wavemakers/closed loop are required for water movement.

Also be wary of a nano tank as your first adventure in Salt Water. I find it's hard enough and a big enough PITA with a 90 and water quality let alone with a small 5 gallon tank.

As "they" say go with as big as you can.. especially for your first reef

I think you will find most nano-reefers keep large tanks on the side or started with them before downsizing.

IceTurf · #7 09-18-2007, 09:03 PM

yea, allot people seem to say downsizing it bad, but I hear 90 gallon tanks arn't cheap. I'm basically trying out the hobby with what i've got, if i fail i've only used about 1 container of salt and 20-30$ on coral and about 20$ on other things.

digital-audiophile · #8 09-18-2007, 09:15 PM

Remember that salt water tanks are an ongoing financial commitment. I would encourage anyone to get into this hobby but it has it's serious ups and downs, nothing involved in SW is cheap, easy or recommended for the faint at heart. It's one thing to keep a beta fish in a vase, it's another to keep reef creatures alive.

People tend to go inexpensive at first (including myself) but then end up throwing all the "crap" away and upgrading. I really do suggest getting the best that you can afford at the time. Look for used equipment, sometimes you can find smoking deals from other reefers on this site, heck most of my current tank I got used and at a fraction of the price of new- tank,lights,sump etc.

digital-audiophile · #9 09-18-2007, 09:23 PM

Just food for thought when it comes to HOB filters and mechanical filtration in general ...

The current trend in reef keeping is filtration through the use of live rock (and live sand to some extent -but I wish I went BB but that is another discussion for another time)

Mechanical filtration tends to become somewhat of a nitrate trap which is a no-no in reef keeping.

Now everyone has their own opinions and mine is one of only thousands out there but I think you will find most people tend to just use live rock, filter socks, and macro algae along with periodic carbon use or a phosban reactor coupled with RO/DI water for top offs and water changes.

When I used to keep a nano tank I would use a HOB aquaclear filter but I filled it with chaeto macro algae and live rock rubble and added a small light to it.

My suggestion is just to read read read, research research research, and once you think you have it figured out, read some more.

There are a lot of really experienced reefers on this site with loads of knowledge, I've only been doing this hobby for 2-1/2 years but I have learned alot form my own mistakes and now try to learn from others mistakes first before I make them myself

@ Drew - you beat me to it

IceTurf · #10 09-18-2007, 09:07 PM

Just a pondering thought, but why is the filter system I got bad for a reef tank? It gives bacteria/small organisms space to thrive and do their job...It also takes out small particles and obviously large ones and it contains locations for ammo-carb. Its huge for the tank its going to be used on. Am I missing some important point here?