new saltwater reef

Johnny,
welcome to the world of reef keeping.
Here are 3 simple rules to remember on reef keeping.
Three rules of coral/fishkeeping.
1- Things die.
2- Cant change rule 1.
3- You always need another tank or a larger one.

Once you realize these keeping will be easier for you. I recommend getting a larger tank than a 29, If you can get a 40 gallon breeder and up you will have it much easier. Smaller tanks tend to be touchy with water parameters. I am finally planning after all these years being in reef keeping 7 plus years and saltwater (20 plus) keeping a 20 gallon for breeding some Bangaiis. But if your budget can not afford a larger tank, a 29 is suitable, but you will start to look at rule number 3 in do time.

Remember a few more rules,
4- things are expensive and there is no way going around it but you can cheat alittle.
5- You will always find your self upgrading your tank as time goes on.

Well lets talk lights, you will need to buy a good set of lights. If your pocket book can not handle metal halide, then you will need to go with Power compacts. With enough wattage you can build yourself a really nice tank, mainly soft corals. But you can build something really nice.

Another pointer to save money, since it is the most important factor, Find yourself a fish club that has reefers in your area. This will save you tons of money. You can meet people who are in the hobby and have extra items, or just getting out themselves and you can buy their old equipment. Or they can give you free frags of corals or atleast pieces at a low cost. Its passing along the addiction, its all good.
But if you go with your 29 gallon tank, you will need to get 60 pounds of live rock, give or take a pound.
Enough sand to cover atleast 3 inches of your tank. If you join a club, or find other reefers, you can get some sand from them, cup or 2, to seed your sand.

The tank bred fish is a bonus here, i respect that in a person. They will tend to cost a little bit more but saving the reef is a major plus.

I hope this has helped, another thing i suggest is reading plenty of books untill you can not read any more.

jim

Johnny
here is a great site that will help you in your search for knowledge in starting a reef besides forums like this.
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/index.htm
Another great info/forum site is
www.thereeftank.com
and
www.reefcentral.com

Read as much as you can.
jim

There is also a sight called http://www.nano-reef.com .

Some beautiful tanks , lot a 20 -29 gal. tanks.

remember

Originally posted by johnnyxxl
hello, I am brand new to the saltwater bug. I haven't even bought my tank yet. I am wondering what do I need. I know I am going to go with a larger tank than my 20 maybe a 29 gallon tank. I am not sure how long down the road it will be for me to get everything I need. I just need to know what all I need besides a tank and stand. What are all these lights out there for.

I am interested in liverock and sand, maybe a gobi, not sure yet about any fish other than clowns. some inverts and corals. I know I would like to go with all tank bred. I have to talk to my lfs if he can get tank bred fish or if they are wild captured.

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LIVE ROCK is a good natural filter which is called the BERLIN
SYSTEM all you have to remember is to get it as natural as
possible to simulate the sea structure also use a good lighting
system to maintain its living grouth

The book by John Tullock-Natural Reef Aquariums- would be a great help in designing a reef specific to an area. He covers most of the natural areas.

When you say reef do you mean fish only or with inverts? Because if you want inverts you need to make sure that you have enough lighting for what ever sized tank you get. Also I shop at my lfs store for a tank if you can't find one in the classified adds. It would be a lot cheaper to get one new than to pay shipping on a used tank.
hth
chris

If you haven't done so already, please look at the thread that is "stickied" to the top of this forum "Starting a SW tank, some good advice" by JasonA. Very long thread, but worth every bit of time you spend reading it.

Also, the book "The Conscientious Marine Aquarist" by Martin Fenner should be on your shopping list.