aquafreak,
It's very worth it! I started in this hobby about 7 or 8 years ago and knew nothing aside of what I learned from a few helpful people on the web. I bought the biggest tank I could afford, a 55g standard- not reef ready, standard single light strip, a wet/dry filter, an extra power head for the other end of the tank, a big hang on the back filter from walmart, I bought a few bags of sand, crushed coral and salt from the LSF. I filled my tank, added salt, stirred, added substrate, let my tank clear some, added about 25 pounded of figi
LR, waited a few days added cycling fish. (NEVER DO IT THIS WAY) but my tank cycled, I bought a new piece of
LR every week. I bought a clean up crew after the cycle completed, I had 4 out of 6 damsels left. Then I added another double lightstrip so I then had 3 long strips, 2 white, one blue and the only thing that changed after that was I removed the bio balls and added a seaclone 2nd hand skimmer to the wet/dry/sump. My tank never crashed, had any problems, I was not overly faithful about water changes, my fish thrived, my low light corals,
shrooms etc... spread and grew. I was picky about my foods, I spent extra and bought the newest best frozen foods, I'm southern and food means a lot
LOL, I even broke the rules with my fish at times (not knowingly)... I had a royal gramma, regal tang, yellow tang, a maroon clown, a scooter blenny, a pr of yellow pearly headed gobies, a cleaner shrimp, these lived happily for years with no illness, ever, my tank specs were always in line and fine. I tested frequently and added iodine, calcium and I can;t remember what else off the top of my head, but I only added that half of the reccomended dose. Now, years later, knowing more and being better educated I can say I think this hobby can be very forgiving, but I also have to add it's not worth the risks by not educating and testing. I think being as educated as you can and testing often when you arent sure makes all te diff. in the world. I followed the best advice I had for that time period I think and with all that has changed I might have been real lucky... but I am researching again before we set up the new tank. I want to know all the newest info, I want to have better lighting so I can keep a few new things, but I will bascially be having the same type set up,
LR,
LS, Sump with Skimmer,
HOB with carbon, and I will think I will have the same fish aside of the yelllow tang and I might try a smaller pair of clowns, not sure which are the hardiest, but I will go with those. The only real changes Iwill make are better lighting and little bigger tank.
Read read read.... and GO FOR IT!
Kimerly
