JeffW
Aquarium Advice Newbie
Hello. I used to keep a very successful 50 gallon marine tank about 15 years ago. Unfortunately, I was in college back then and moving all of the time, which made keeping a great tank too difficult, so I gave it up.
Now, I am older with a family... and I have considered a large, SERIOUS reef tank on many occasions. However, I'm not there yet financially. My 3 year old son recieved a small fish tank as a gift about 6 months ago. He loves it, but I hate it... I find freshwater fish boring, plus it is SO small (4 gallons) that it is difficult to keep clean and stuff can go bad literally overnight.
So I started thinking that maybe I should buy a bigger tank. Something, say - 25 to 30 gallons. Then I thought, why not do a small marine tank? I looked around this weekend in my local (small town) area for a nice tank with stand and hood, and did not find anything I liked. I did see some of these "Eclipse" systems, which looked like an easy and inexpensive way to start, but I was underwhelmed by the filtration system, and even less impressed with the lighting. While I don't indend on keeping ANY FORM of coral in such a small tank, I would like to have a small anemone or two, possibly a bivalve, and need to give them the appropriate amount of light.
So, I haven't bought anything but a few books - to catch me up on everything that I have missed in the past decade. Which I am sure is a lot. So, I also sought out this forum for advice.
So, here's what I am thinking thus far. 25-30 gallon square glass aquarium. Fluval cannister filter. Some kind of hood light source, with 2-3 bright bulbs, possibly a blue actinic (these still exist?) and ballast. Live rock, possibly some live sand.
Am I even on a good start yet?
I would like to get a nice stand and hood as well, seems like most of the All-Glass stuff my local dealers carry looks like total crap. I was really disappointed in what I found. I was hoping to start setting this up today, but instead I am posting here, then going to have a drink, then go clean that dirty little freshwater aquarium again...
I am going to read the recommended articles.
Also, I *know* that 25-30 gallons is not a big marine tank. But, it's something my young son will enjoy, it's a way I can get back into keeping a marine tank, and most importantly - it's what I can afford.
I would love a lot of input!
Thanks...
Now, I am older with a family... and I have considered a large, SERIOUS reef tank on many occasions. However, I'm not there yet financially. My 3 year old son recieved a small fish tank as a gift about 6 months ago. He loves it, but I hate it... I find freshwater fish boring, plus it is SO small (4 gallons) that it is difficult to keep clean and stuff can go bad literally overnight.
So I started thinking that maybe I should buy a bigger tank. Something, say - 25 to 30 gallons. Then I thought, why not do a small marine tank? I looked around this weekend in my local (small town) area for a nice tank with stand and hood, and did not find anything I liked. I did see some of these "Eclipse" systems, which looked like an easy and inexpensive way to start, but I was underwhelmed by the filtration system, and even less impressed with the lighting. While I don't indend on keeping ANY FORM of coral in such a small tank, I would like to have a small anemone or two, possibly a bivalve, and need to give them the appropriate amount of light.
So, I haven't bought anything but a few books - to catch me up on everything that I have missed in the past decade. Which I am sure is a lot. So, I also sought out this forum for advice.
So, here's what I am thinking thus far. 25-30 gallon square glass aquarium. Fluval cannister filter. Some kind of hood light source, with 2-3 bright bulbs, possibly a blue actinic (these still exist?) and ballast. Live rock, possibly some live sand.
Am I even on a good start yet?
I would like to get a nice stand and hood as well, seems like most of the All-Glass stuff my local dealers carry looks like total crap. I was really disappointed in what I found. I was hoping to start setting this up today, but instead I am posting here, then going to have a drink, then go clean that dirty little freshwater aquarium again...
I am going to read the recommended articles.
Also, I *know* that 25-30 gallons is not a big marine tank. But, it's something my young son will enjoy, it's a way I can get back into keeping a marine tank, and most importantly - it's what I can afford.
I would love a lot of input!
Thanks...