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

[IceTurf]

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.

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]

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]

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.

[IceTurf]

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?

[digital-audiophile]

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.

[Der_Iron_Chef]

For maintaining a reef aquarium--in particular an SPS-dominated reef aquarium--the water quality must be very high. Dissolved organic waste (aka-fish poop) will not be filtered out by the type of filter you are describing.

It's definitely possible to have a 5G "pico" like you're describing, but I think it would be difficult, especially for someone just beginning saltwater. The ability for something very small (a snail dying) to foul up a 5G aquarium is very strong. Things can go bad in a hurry and there is very little water to absorb whatever it is.

That said, if you still want to make the effort, it IS possible....but I would recommend asking a lot more questions and doing a lot more research first. After all, these are living creatures we are talking about! We don't want to kill anything, if we can help it.

[digital-audiophile]

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]

hmm tks guys, say do u happen to have any nano reef extra's left over? Anyways, I am hoping to buy some live rock and live sand off of Cam-uhh http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/sho...5&goto=newpost
is the link
Yea i've also hear the live rock works wonders for filtration (: so i plan on getting some for my ultra small tank.

I know what u mean when it comes to quality, I have a ferret which I bought in a small cage which looked nice but it turned out to be crap cuz the ferret could move the bars and get out when it wanted to. So I upgraded to a super cage which works perfectly. -ferret nation 142, not that it would concern you guys lol

Hmm I was wondering, what's a good food for SpS coral? Does growing food work at all?

[Joe Reefer]

Fish on this board has built a couple sweet nano tanks, dont see him post much anymore but his thread still has pics.

[howdy20012002]

u realize that with SPS, you should get Metal Halide lighting.
anything else, it will probably not be bright enough.
Especially in a deeper tank.
Again, if you want to try out the hobby without much expense, SPS is not the way to go.