New tank on a budget (1 Viewer)

[dale333]

I recently bought a 55 gal AIO. Tried to buy some coral rock off Marketplace but almost everyone I delt with either didn't respond or flaked out selling. I ended up getting some TX holey rock. While I like the look, I've found mixed reviews on using it in a saltwater tank. I'm in the process of cycling my tank now. Have I made a big mistake?

 

[Team Turtle]

Just monitor your parameters and go slow and you should be fine. Especially if you are using an arragonite sand. Limestone tends to dissolve fairly quickly when the water around it has a lower ph which is why freshwater folks use it for cichlids. We all want higher ph in a reef tank but there is a threshold. With that rock now you will also be getting calcium, mag, and alk.

 

[BigRick]

The rock is not porous enough to hold bacteria. That rock is for freshwater only.

 

[Subsea]

I use Texas holy rock for structure/base rock. I buy diver collected live rock for biodiversity on & in the rock. I use substrate for biofiltration.

 

[Subsea]

I recently bought a 55 gal AIO. Tried to buy some coral rock off Marketplace but almost everyone I delt with either didn't respond or flaked out selling. I ended up getting some TX holey rock. While I like the look, I've found mixed reviews on using it in a saltwater tank. I'm in the process of cycling my tank now. Have I made a big mistake?

I see this is your first post. Welcome to the club, And you did not make a mistake. Take pictures to show your rock scape and start a tank thread.

 

[Subsea]

I recently bought a 55 gal AIO. Tried to buy some coral rock off Marketplace but almost everyone I delt with either didn't respond or flaked out selling. I ended up getting some TX holey rock. While I like the look, I've found mixed reviews on using it in a saltwater tank. I'm in the process of cycling my tank now. Have I made a big mistake?

What live stock is going into the display?

 

[decimal]

Well looks like you landed in the right place Dale. Subsea seems to be an expert in natural biome tanks that do not require a super budget. I would read up a little though and make sure your expectation are in line with your budget and so on. It will be difficult to grow stunning SPS in a low budget system. That being said, who knows, you might be that one guy who grows mad SPS with no water changes, a $5 Home Depot light bulb and and a hand cranked powerhead.

 

[Subsea]

Well looks like you landed in the right place Dale. Subsea seems to be an expert in natural biome tanks that do not require a super budget. I would read up a little though and make sure your expectation are in line with your budget and so on. It will be difficult to grow stunning SPS in a low budget system. That being said, who knows, you might be that one guy who grows mad SPS with no water changes, a $5 Home Depot light bulb and and a hand cranked powerhead.

“Hanked cranked power head”

Too funny.

 

[dale333]

What live stock is going into the display?

Some simple/beginner SPS corals. I ordered some coralline algae. As for fish, community, blue regal tang, cardinalfish, wrasses, gobie, angelfish.

 

[dale333]

Well looks like you landed in the right place Dale. Subsea seems to be an expert in natural biome tanks that do not require a super budget. I would read up a little though and make sure your expectation are in line with your budget and so on. It will be difficult to grow stunning SPS in a low budget system. That being said, who knows, you might be that one guy who grows mad SPS with no water changes, a $5 Home Depot light bulb and and a hand cranked powerhead.

I ordered a 36" Current USA led light and powerhead.

 

[dale333]

I see this is your first post. Welcome to the club, And you did not make a mistake. Take pictures to show your rock scape and start a tank thread.

Thank you.

 

[dale333]

I see this is your first post. Welcome to the club, And you did not make a mistake. Take pictures to show your rock scape and start a tank thread.

Thank you

Just monitor your parameters and go slow and you should be fine. Especially if you are using an arragonite sand. Limestone tends to dissolve fairly quickly when the water around it has a lower ph which is why freshwater folks use it for cichlids. We all want higher ph in a reef tank but there is a threshold. With that rock now you will also be getting calcium, mag, and alk.

I used the fiji pink live sand.

 

[decimal]

All acceptable things. Not sure if the light and flow will be enough for SPS though. If you read some of the threads about lighting and flow, those are traditionally are pretty high budget items. That’s specific to SPS though. Fish don’t care about light. You should be able to grow zoanthids and LPS without too much difficulty.

Follow the well established process and don’t get discouraged if it takes longer than expected. You can check the marketplace too for deals on used items that will take the sting out of sticker shock reef items

And finally, if you are finding that this site is a good resource for you, consider becoming a member since we are a non profit that relies on memberships to host events and keep the club running.

 

[Subsea]

@dale333
Who recommended this: “Some simple/beginner SPS corals”

What experience do you have with marine systems & corals?

If your experience level is sufficient, SPS and budget COULD BE POSSIBLE, but not recommended.

A tang and an Angel fish in a 55G tank does not sound wise to me,

 

[dale333]

@dale333
Who recommended this: “Some simple/beginner SPS corals”

What experience do you have with marine systems & corals?

If your experience level is sufficient, SPS and budget COULD BE POSSIBLE, but not recommended.

A tang and an Angel fish in a 55G tank does not sound wise to me,

Google SPS corals for beginners, there are many. I read about half a dozen.

I had a 30 gal octagon tank in the 90's that did great until I got stationed in Korea and my ex-wife killed everything.

I had a blue regal and yellow tang, flame angel, dwarf lion, grouper, red snapper, clown, mandarin gobie. The only fish I couldn't keep were butterfly fish.

 

[Subsea]

Google SPS corals for beginners, there are many. I read about half a dozen.

I had a 30 gal octagon tank in the 90's that did great until I got stationed in Korea and my ex-wife killed everything.

I had a blue regal and yellow tang, flame angel, dwarf lion, grouper, red snapper, clown, mandarin gobie. The only fish I couldn't keep were butterfly fish.

What experience do you have with coral?

I have 52 years of experience with coral? How hard do you want to work to maintain your easy SPS?

 

[dale333]

What experience do you have with coral?

I have 52 years of experience with coral? How hard do you want to work to maintain your easy SPS?

Oh, I literally have 0% experience. That's why I would be going with "easier" corals and see how they do.

 

[Subsea]

Oh, I literally have 0% experience. That's why I would be going with "easier" corals and see how they do.

Easy & SPS do not belong in the same sentence.

“I had a blue regal and yellow tang, flame angel, dwarf lion, grouper, red snapper, clown, mandarin gobie. The only fish I couldn't keep were butterfly fish.”

And you kept all of these fish in a 30G tank, for how long?

 

[Team Turtle]

Dale in a completely new system sps corals, even beginner friendly ones aren't recommended. Start with just fish and a small clean up crew. Youtubers make it seem like the insta tank idea is the way to go, and if you have the knowledge and funds to do so, go for it. Based off what you said, this is budget friendly..go slow. Don't waste money on all the additives, especially coraline. It will get into your tank via frag plugs and snail shells. Bacteria in a bottle is great to get started but again, slow and steady wins this race. We all want that perfect show tank now but you will get there and be more successful in the long run "tanking" your time ?

 

[dale333]

Easy & SPS do not belong in the same sentence.

“I had a blue regal and yellow tang, flame angel, dwarf lion, grouper, red snapper, clown, mandarin gobie. The only fish I couldn't keep were butterfly fish.”

And you kept all of these fish in a 30G tank, for how long?

It was about two years before I PCS'd to Korea. When I came back home, the percula clown was the only fish left. The tank was filled with green algae, it was sad.

Ok, maybe not SPS, The two different keep me confused. Main point is easy coral.