I Think I'm Going To Start Up A Reef Tank...where To Begin?!

[constantine03]

I've always wanted a beautiful marine reef tank...but just looking at the tanks at my local shop has always made it seem like it would be far too daunting to attempt! I'm just now buying a 60 gallon tall tank (used) and really don't know what sort of equipment I need. I have the general idea...good lighting, skimmer, sump, filtration, TONS of patience, etc...but I don't know what kinds of these things I should look for, or how to begin. I know I will need a light, but would really like to add a canopy for the aesthetic appeal. I'd like to start gradually buying things so my bank account doesn't take such a huge plunge all at once...gradually seems much better!

Once I get the tank, I'd like to paint the borders and the stand black (it's woodgrain) first. Is there a specific way/type of paint I need for this? What is the best technique? I know that you obviously don't paint the silicone seals, but will the paint effect the GLASS in any way?

Then I don't know where to go from there. I suppose I have a lot of information, but I'm missing the lines to connect the dots.

Cycling the tank typically comes first. Do I do this with just the salt water and some sort of bacteria before adding the cured live rock?

Also, for the live rock...I (obviously, like anyone else does) want my tank to be the most amazing thing ever, so I want to have NICE rock in it. How do I know what's considered "nice." My local shop sells it, but compared to prices online, it seems a bit high. However, if I buy it online, do I need a separate tank to cure it in, or can I cure it in the main tank since it will just be cycling and not yet established? Please help me!

How do you stack the rock without killing it? I mean, the parts that are touching each other are almost surely going to die, right?

I just don't know how to set all of this stuff up. I read the sticky about thinking about setting up a marine tank, but it didn't really seem to include any sort of step-by-step, just provided useful information one should think about before setting up a tank.

Oh- also- I know I will be limited to the type of fish I can put in the tank b/c of the reef/coral/anemones/etc., but on average for a 60 gal tank, how many fish can be in there with all that rock? I know it's dependent on their size...but do you have an estimate?

I'm going to start by building my tank around the reef, as well as the reef fish I absolutely must have the most...so...I want to have an estimate of how many of my "favorite" fish I can hope for.

Thank you!!

(p.s.-- More questions will come as I think of them. I appreciate how helpful everyone is here!!)

 

[cuticom]

I don't believe paint will affect the glass, just don't paint INSIDE the tank.

To cycle the tank, the simplest way is to get UNcured LR and let the die off on it cycle the tank, if you don't trust it, do that and add some uncooked raw2 shrimp in a pantyhose to add a larger ammonia source. It costs more in LFS's because they have to pay shipping, when it's all evened out you pay around the same price from the store or online, but you can pick the pieces you want from a store.

Live rock is "live" because of the bacteria, as long as it has good flow, the prices that are touching won't be "dead" just make sure it's got good flow and the stacking is stable so nothing falls

I'd say probably 6-10 small-medium fish, as in below 4 inches for a 60g tank.

Don't forget to research research research. Don't skimp on the lights if you want corals, don't impulse buy ANYTHING, and make sure you have all the test kits you need before setting the tank up, basic test kits are ph, nitrite, nitrate and ammonia, plus for corals etc magnesium, phosphate, alkalinity and calcium. make sure you have them before you get corals.

Otherwise just ahve fun, I'm at the stocking stage in my marine tank, and I'm having such fun, learning about all these cool new critters is just fantastic.

Something else that I do alot, is hang out at my LFS looking at all the corals and fish, and making a "wishlist" of what i really wanted and then researching and deciding what I can and can't have and what care it needs.

 

[SkiFletch]

to the marine side of the hobby. As daunting as it might seem, you'll get the hang of it eventually

Cuticom gave some good advice there. Since you're in the US, I can give you a few pointers on LR and where/how to buy it . Best rock money can buy here in the States is from tampabaysaltwater.com. They aquaculture live rock behind reefs in florida, and are as such not bound by the CITES restrictions that any other rock is. Meaning, they can ship it with whatever critters happen to be on it (corals, sponges, snails, whatever). They also ship rock to you IN water, not just damp in a box. This means that you'll get the most live stuff out of it for sure. Having said all that, you better be prepared to pay TOP dollar for it (still have two kidneys right ).

Another very good option is the uncured rock from premiumaquatics.com. I've heard lots of good success stories about their rock coming with better-than-average life still on it. You'll just have to cure it inside your own tank which is not a problem as the rock is the first living thing to go in anyways . Failing that, you can pick some nice pieces from your LFS, but as you mentioned, that's not cheap either.

Above all, let me reccomend to go slow, research, and figure out your hardware needs first. Especially sumps and waterflow as these cannot be easily changed once water/rock/livestock is in the tank. Lighting, skimmers, hoods, filters, and reactors (to name a few) can all be added later, but setting up a sump would be my first hardware design step.

You asked about painting the tank and stand. Use a latex enamel for the tank, and try and use an oil-based stain if possible for the stand, will last significantly longer.

I'm also curious what the dimensions of a 60g are? I've got a 65g myself (36x18x24") but have never heard of a 60... As for fish, cuticom is right, 6-10 moderately sized reef-safe fish will likely be fine. I currently have the following in my 65 reef: 2xSkunk clownfish, green bar goby, purple firefish, pseudochromis springeri, solorensis wrasse, and a mystery wrasse. I'd like to get a couple more wrasses someday but that prolly won't happen for a while.

Keep the questions coming and keep the reading going

 

[constantine03]

Wow. I love how tampabaysaltwater.com shows you how to set up the reef tank with a "recipe," but my goodness! That seems like a LOT of stuff in the tank for a 60 gal:

120 lbs LR
60 lbs LS
60(!) Blue hermit crabs
30 Astrea Snails
2 Tiger tail cucumbers
2 Serpent or brittle stars
2 Peppermint shrimp
$ 742.00

120 crabs and snails?! Will I even have room in my tank for any fish after all that??


To answer your question on the dimensions...I honestly don't know. I've purchased it used on CL, and the seller stated he *thinks* it's a 59 gallon, but was selling it b/c it was his recently deceased cousins. I'm not able to go pick it up until next weekend...so I'll let you know the actual dimensions/size once I get it!

Thanks for the advice so far!

 

[andywg]

That is far too many hermits and snails, especially for an initial set up. Too many people listen to the 1CUC per gallon and then have a huge die off from starvation.

 

[steelhealr]

Agreed. Tampa Bay has some nice LR...but for a sixty..if you are limitated, 90lbs would work (1-1 1/2 lbs per gallon). Way too many hermits. I'm not a cucumber fan..read on them and see if you can figure out why.

I recommend you start in the pinned section above and start reading the pins. Go to amazon.com and look up Paletta's book..it is outdated but has a lot of good basics.

My constant and steady unchangeable recommendation is to READ..READ...READ.....before buying and to design your setup and equipment..then post here and let our marine experts get a gander.

SH

 

[gigmeyer]

Welcome....Ditto on Steele's READ, READ, READ comment. If the tank is really a 'tall' tank, you may have difficulty positioning 60-90 lb. of LR because of the footprint. I started with the thought of converting a 40g tall tank I already had and ended up buying a 24 nano because the tall tank seemed much more difficult to maintain and light penetration was likely to be a problem for corals.

 

[steelhealr]

Agree with gigmeyer. Longer tanks make aquascaping easier and the shallower depth allows better penetration of light to support light-demanding invertebrates. SH