Looking for expert opinions

[Sarina]

So far I have:
Stand, Tank, -Light (not sure of the brand name, but it meets the requirement for corals), Salt (Instant Ocean), Thermometer, Heater, Protein Skimmer (but it was really cheap $60.00), Hydrometer (I think that is what it is called - to measure the salt in the water), test kits.

I was also planning on getting a power filter (the 110) and a power head. This should give me enough flow for the corals.

Am I missing anything?

Thanks for the tips re: sand, I think I have decided to use sand in the bottom. Is it necessary to use “live sand” or can I just use regular sand. Isn’t the live rock enough?

Thanks for all you help!

[danny zubot]

I would recommend reading and not taking all advice given from us amatures.

I know for a fact that:

If you go over 3.5 inches it will be a de-nitrifying sand bed and that can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on who you talk to.

This isn't true, 87% of all denitrfication takes place in the first 3/4 inch in live sand. So if you like sand, an inch might do the trick for you.

Go with 1.5lbs per gallon eventuall, so about 45lbs.

I'd like to know where people come up with these numbers? Since all live rock is different in its mass and relative density you might find that 15 lbs works as well as 30 lbs in your tank. I do agree that this item is expensive, and most people tend to collect LR over time to build their reefs.

[TheReefGeek]

-Light (not sure of the brand name, but it meets the requirement for corals)

Need more details on your light. This is crucial to success. Different corals have different requirements.

Need to know what type of bulb(s) it is, the watts, and the color termperature

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

I think it's on another thread, but get a good book like "The Conscientious Marine Aquarist" by Bob Fenner to learn some of the things to do & why you should do them. This would give you a good foundation of knowledge that you can then add to by asking specific questions to specific problems or areas of interest.

BTW, I think the denitrification the original poster was talking about is the one performed by anaerobic nitrate-consuming bacteria, as opposed to the ones that consume ammonia/nitrite. It's the premise behind deep sand-beds. Personally, I'm not a big fan of deep sand beds, but I still like the look of a shallow layer of sand on the bottom.

Anthony

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

Sarina,

Like mentioned above, take all these "expert" opinions with a grain of salt because you'll find if you go on tank tours that there are many different ways to set up & run a reef tank and many of the methods are polar opposites. When we did our first one here on the coast, we saw tanks that were KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) to full-blown high tech with auto-top-offs, plumbing behind false walls & huge skimmers & sumps. What we learned is that there is NO one way to do it. Personally, I have gone from total KISS to having overflow boxes plumbed to large sumps with powerful skimmers & UV sterilizers, and lit with MH & PC actinics & LED moonlights. A lot will depend on your budget & time & willingness to learn or do the work necessary to keep up with your reef tank.

Enjoy this time and be an info-sponge. Good luck.

Anthony

[TheReefGeek]

take all these "expert" opinions with a grain of salt

I must say, this is a bit insulting!
I would say take the opinions for what they are, OPINIONS. To me its all about sharing opinions and experiences.

Definition of opinion:

a personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty

I say take in as many opinions as you can, and give them the consideration they are due, because people are spending the time to write them, they must believe them and have some experience or knowledge that have lead them to believe it, so they must have something to offer. But remember that there are many ways to successfully setup a reef.

[Sarina]

Here's what my light says:

JEBO R24 (610mm) 55Wx2 AC120 V 60 HZ

Hopefully you can understand what that means. Is that a good light? I paid $100.00 for it.

What corals would you recommend for beginners?

[TheReefGeek]

Jebo is a cheap brand name light, not worth $100 IMO, but hey its what you have so its a start. FYI, it is 110watts total, so over a 28g that will keep soft corals.

Good starter corals would be:

Mushrooms
Zooanthids
Colt
Xenia
Star polyps
Kenya tree
Toadstools
Leathers

[Willow]

Originally Posted by TheReefGeek

Jebo is a cheap brand name light, not worth $100 IMO, but hey its what you have so its a start. FYI, it is 110watts total, so over a 28g that will keep soft corals.

Good starter corals would be:

Mushrooms
Zooanthids
Colt
Xenia
Star polyps
Kenya tree
Toadstools
Leathers

yeah actually it's really only 55 watts as half the light is actinic. your 10k part of the light is the only usable part of the light the corals are going to be using for growth. you should be ok with soft corals but that isn't much light.

[TheReefGeek]

Actinics will still help corals grow, maybe not as much as 10K lighting though.

I would stick with soft corals until you upgrade your lights. (if you want to keep LPS, SPS, clams, anemones, etc)