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

[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.

[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.

[howdy20012002]

BTW, i also have about 500 extra lbs of LR that I have from other tanks in a holding tank.
so if Cam doesn't work out, It is 6.00 a lb for 50 lbs or less.
Just so you know.
I am not trying to discourage you from the hobby, but you need to do some research on the net for sure for the requirements of the different corals.

[IceTurf]

hmm, I suppose I could try those basic corals, uhh soft white corals *forgets name*, but I want to know how to best suit SpS corals in a nano tank. LoL Originally I was gonna buy live rock from a store but that is uncured and I noticed that you can get it from people such as yourselves for way cheaper plus its cured plus I don't need that much.

I've been spending a while on research....most places try to advertise their product or they don't contain enough information. Although I have gotten some good information. "fish" on this place on the web has interesting nano tanks so i'm gonna check with him how he does it.-tks for the link

Hmm, what kind of growth you got on your coral/how porous is it *going for the best live rock filter system possible here* Would live sand be any good?

[IceTurf]

hey tks man for the link!

[michika]

SPS requires 3 things in my opinion; good flow, exceptional water quality, and approrpriate lighting. I would strongly recommend that you start by figuring out a tank that would allow you to meet and maintain these three parameters before you add anything.

As for feeding SPS can, and do consume some food sources such as phytoplankton, or cyclopses. Most food or nutrients are produced via photosynthesis.

I recommend you visit the library and borrow Eric Borneman's Aquarium Corals book. I know its in the Edmonton system as I have borrowed it before. Its a great source for learning more about SPS, and their components. The more you read into SPS needs, the better you'll be able to ask questions about designing and impletmenting an appropriate system.

[andrewsk]

Can I PLEASE make a suggestion to you. Before you go any further, buy this book and read it from front to back:

Concientious Marine Aquarist
http://www.jlaquatics.com/phpstore/s...uct_ID=lit-cma

It is only $30.00 and will save you a ton of $ in the long run.

You really need to take a step back and do some reading. You are coming at Salt Water with an understanding of Freshwater and that can be dangerous

If you love that book and have a few more $ to spare, then read the following.

The Reef Aquarium Volume 3
http://www.jlaquatics.com/phpstore/s...ct_ID=lit-tra3