Want to know what my biggest problem has been trying to set up my tank ? Finding a dam solid stand for it ! Its nearly impossible! I am getting frustrated
I agree with all the items, I think they are good basics except the cost of small tank. I remember I started the hobby in my apartment which I shared with 2 other guys and so really just my bedroom. Got a 75 gallon with a 20 gallon sump. That is the biggest mistake, imagine trying to make RO water(there was no such thing as DI at that time) enough to change and mixing salt. Yes if you have a house with a utility sink preferably in the garage or basement, then go for it. The cost was also really sky high getting T5s then Halides later to fit the 75 gallon. If you have a small space or really a newbie, get a 20-25 gallon from petco and it will require just one pendant light(recommend AI 16 HD) and minimal water and salt and live rock. I don't think stability is a problem too much anymore because the ATOs are great to a point mine put in like 1/5 of a cup every time. Over feeding is a problem with small and large tanks and you shouldn't need to dose unless you are overcrowding your tank. What I do recommend is getting a light and an ATO and a powerhead that you can use if you want to move higher. I did such and now I have 2 AI 16 HD and 2 wavemakers and the same ATO and the same return pump all I added was a larger tank and stand(cheapest thing in the hobby as most can attest to) and some more media. Forgot but my filtration is just an HOB which I use now for my QT tank.
Thanks for taking the time to write all of this. You are making some great points for all beginners to hear. A larger tank, definitely means more money all around! And yeah, you can definitely do a petco tank with an HOB filter that is so much less expensive and works just fine! Thanks again for sharing!
No such thing as a budget build if u start from ground zero nothing less than at least several hundred bucks, im in about 700 with a 10 nano. And still don't have a light yet lol I also bought the nice Hannah checkers which are 50 plus each. Etc.
I started with fresh water fish tank and will switch to salt water fish tank soon. Question: can I use the gravel/pebbles at the bottom and cover it with sand?
I appreciate all your help and watching a lot of your videos I’m getting ready to cycle my 28 gallon tank been getting everything I need for last couple months. Trying to go out it slow and easy thanks
Even first saltwater ever should I set up a quarantine tank ??? Or wait until tank is up and running with a fish in it then quarantine...... I know the need to quarantine I breed ball pythons and quarantine
Hi Michael. It's definitely best practice to setup a quarantine tank right from the get go. But, you could treat your display tank as the qt, but only for the first fish you add. And if they get sick in the display tank, you will have to let it lie fallow for around 70 days to make sure the ich/velvet is gone. So I will often add the first three fish, all at the same time mind you, to the display tank and cross my fingers. One time I introduced ich, so then I had to wait over two months before adding the next fish, which was frustrating. And if you qt, then if a fish has ich, you only have to wait another three weeks, so much quicker overall.
I think a bare bottom tank is actually a good thing for a beginner as they usually overfeed and it's easier to see with a bare bottom. Also, I don't think using soap to wash your hands is a good idea. I just use water but vinegar would be fine too.
Unless they have a sump with a ton of biological media, even an intermediate hobbyist will struggle with a bare bottom. Sure its easier to see debris, but you just can't beat the stability and room for micro fauna that sand provides.
Yeah, I get your point for sure. I think the stability factor of a shallow sandbed is slightly better than the detritus build up, but I get what you are saying for sure. And yeah, water can definitely work, but I live here in SoCal and am putting on sunscreen all the time, which is terrible for corals, so its super important that I get it all off.
Thank you for the videos. I’m not a beginner but coming back to the reef hobby after a 9 Year gap. Useful catchup on new things and to see settling to seenot much has changed. Looking forward to more of your videos 😊
I'd love to do a quarantine tank. However I'm stuck in between a rock and a hard spot. I live in a 16×20 dry cabin in Alaska. I have no room for additional equipment no matter how important it is, even a rodi I have no running water so nothing to attach it to, but im looking into a pump and garbage can system if I can to make a rodi system
Oooh, I think so... Let me check. Try this one. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-U2tvWSU4O6A.html. Basically, I use razor for a couple weeks to loosen the algae, and during that time I keep manually removing it daily, then I make sure my no3 and po4 are low, and just repeat
So I have questions on topic 21 using tap water ......I have found zero success only issues when I first started the hobby and had crazy algae blooms becuase of using the tap water .but I ask my fellow reefers around me and I know SO MANY people who use tap water in ther reef tanks and have amazing success no algae no issues what so ever . And since I can’t find the solution maybe you can touch a little more on that
You know, it's really going to depend on a lot of factors. There are a lot of water sources in the USA that would likely be just fine. I mean, some areas have low to no TDS with few phosphates, while others are off the charts. Some homes have decent filtration, and others none. Really, the things you want to watch out for are chlorines, chloramines, heavy metals, and phosphates. The PO4 is going to cause the algae issues, and the chlorines/chloramines aren't great for fish and inverts. And of course, metals are the enemy of inverts. I know people who also have success with tap water. I think you are more likely to have success with a fish only system, and the more filtered the water the better. You can minimize algae issues by feeding frozen food and not pellet. But in the end, some people do have success using tap water.
@@MyFirstFishTank oh no no no I only have reef tanks but I have learned I guess my home can’t do it so ever since I’ve only used rodi water for my tanks but makes me mad when I see other reefers use tap and have auccess
Not to worry, that's because it's coming out today at 900 am pst! I've got a lot of videos left to make, so stay tuned each Friday! Thanks for watching Rebecca!
Use a top! Good advice. I have a top on mine, but had a couple of gaps near the lights. I had plans to seal the gaps with plastic sheeting, but one of my clowns jump through the gap before I sealed it. Very sad.
hmm, not sure I 100% agree with you. Maybe add a very small number of snails, but in my experience adding too much too early can lead to starvation. I always wait, but if it works for you, go with it!
@@MyFirstFishTank Perfect i already ordered an 800 GPH hang on over flow. I really want rock that has the purple color already but with out unwanted pest what rock brand would be best?
It was pretty funny. She also sent the video to a few friends who are interested in saltwater saying ' here is a video explaining all the mistakes my husband made so you can avoid them' lol
