buminbeer2
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
Hi all, first post and looking for more information on starting a SW reef tank, if possible. My name is Scott and I have NO experiance ever with a tank, other then a scuba diver and know what a large tank looks like from the inside out 
I'm 41, so I have a little sense.
I have bought nothing yet, not even a net and been reseaching for 3 months and reading posts, threads, magazines, and so on. Here is what I think I want. I want to get the 29 gallon Oceanic Biocube and hoping some of you are familar with that. I was wanting that to cut down on a lot of frustration as it appears to have most things included. I don't really need advice on basics like "the right heater", but I don't know anything about power heads, skimmers, and so on and not sure what else is needed with that tank.
I plan on having "live" sand and rock. Beginer easy to grow corals. Not sure of fish, other then I really want a clown and a few damsels to start, I think for a community tank? Of course a cleaner package to boot. Now on to the questions I don't fully understand and any help/suggestions from the above questions to make sure I am ready to start buying the equipment.
Things I do not understand:
"Live" rock and sand. I know these are alive when you buy them, things living on them, but does not the cycling process kill everything off? I can't seem to find that answer and how does things grow back on them? Please explain in tanking 101 terms for dummies. I seem to gather that I need to cycle at least two months, but don't fully undertand it.
Last (for now):
I understand doing a water change weekly. I see a lot of people (on youtube) do nothing more then add salt and water to the correct gravity in a trash can and just dump it in. Does it not have to be the right PH, temp and so on. Also, are there no Nitrates/Nitrites or anything harmful in a fresh batch. If you make one batch a month for weekly changes and sit it in a corner, will not dust, possible small bugs and other things get in it?
Sorry for all these questions, but I'll not spend a dime until mentally I understand as much as I can before I bring new life into this house and risk losing it. Thanks all and your patience, Scott!
I'm 41, so I have a little sense.I have bought nothing yet, not even a net and been reseaching for 3 months and reading posts, threads, magazines, and so on. Here is what I think I want. I want to get the 29 gallon Oceanic Biocube and hoping some of you are familar with that. I was wanting that to cut down on a lot of frustration as it appears to have most things included. I don't really need advice on basics like "the right heater", but I don't know anything about power heads, skimmers, and so on and not sure what else is needed with that tank.
I plan on having "live" sand and rock. Beginer easy to grow corals. Not sure of fish, other then I really want a clown and a few damsels to start, I think for a community tank? Of course a cleaner package to boot. Now on to the questions I don't fully understand and any help/suggestions from the above questions to make sure I am ready to start buying the equipment.
Things I do not understand:
"Live" rock and sand. I know these are alive when you buy them, things living on them, but does not the cycling process kill everything off? I can't seem to find that answer and how does things grow back on them? Please explain in tanking 101 terms for dummies. I seem to gather that I need to cycle at least two months, but don't fully undertand it.
Last (for now):
I understand doing a water change weekly. I see a lot of people (on youtube) do nothing more then add salt and water to the correct gravity in a trash can and just dump it in. Does it not have to be the right PH, temp and so on. Also, are there no Nitrates/Nitrites or anything harmful in a fresh batch. If you make one batch a month for weekly changes and sit it in a corner, will not dust, possible small bugs and other things get in it?
Sorry for all these questions, but I'll not spend a dime until mentally I understand as much as I can before I bring new life into this house and risk losing it. Thanks all and your patience, Scott!
