Interested beginner

[GraceCat]

I've had freshwater off and on for as long as I can remember. But we're
building a new house and I've been thinking in a few months when we move
in, I'd like to use the new and bigger space for a sal****er aquarium.
I'm leaning towards a 30 hexagon shaped (the tall cylindrical style)
aquarium with three or four fish, coral and plantlife.

1.) Can I easily maintain a 30 gallon, or is the water composition too
difficult to maintain a healthy environment?

2.) What's the honest work if I correctly start the aquarium? That is,
taking it slow, adding a single item every few weeks. How often should I
test the water and perform regular maintainence? The reason I ask that
is that I have two small children and I'm not always on the ball
sometimes. If I forget one night, can I come back the next morning and
it'll be ok?

It'll be a few months before I even begin to start a tank but I do want
to start investigating.

Thanks!!!

Grace

[Marc Levenson]

Hi Grace,

Take a look at this brief overview to give you some of the basics:
http://www.melevsreef.com/overview.htm

I would recommend you test your tank's water every week (Saturday seems to be a
great day to establish as a routine), until the tank has settled in and you've
become very comfortable with it.

Your tank should be okay if you don't remember to attend to it that day, but the
next day you do need to check on things/feed..... If you set it up correctly,
your daily 'chores' are less than 10 minutes a day. Giving your tank a full
hour of your attention once a week will help you stay on top of things.

Marc


GraceCat wrote:

> I've had freshwater off and on for as long as I can remember. But we're
> building a new house and I've been thinking in a few months when we move
> in, I'd like to use the new and bigger space for a sal****er aquarium.
> I'm leaning towards a 30 hexagon shaped (the tall cylindrical style)
> aquarium with three or four fish, coral and plantlife.
>
> 1.) Can I easily maintain a 30 gallon, or is the water composition too
> difficult to maintain a healthy environment?
>
> 2.) What's the honest work if I correctly start the aquarium? That is,
> taking it slow, adding a single item every few weeks. How often should I
> test the water and perform regular maintainence? The reason I ask that
> is that I have two small children and I'm not always on the ball
> sometimes. If I forget one night, can I come back the next morning and
> it'll be ok?
>
> It'll be a few months before I even begin to start a tank but I do want
> to start investigating.
>
> Thanks!!!
>
> Grace

--
Personal Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com

[GraceCat]

That's hardly any time at all! I was afraid it was much more than that
:)

Thanks!!
Grace

"Marc Levenson" > wrote in message
...
> Hi Grace,
>
> Take a look at this brief overview to give you some of the basics:
> http://www.melevsreef.com/overview.htm
>
> I would recommend you test your tank's water every week (Saturday
seems to be a
> great day to establish as a routine), until the tank has settled in
and you've
> become very comfortable with it.
>
> Your tank should be okay if you don't remember to attend to it that
day, but the
> next day you do need to check on things/feed..... If you set it up
correctly,
> your daily 'chores' are less than 10 minutes a day. Giving your tank
a full
> hour of your attention once a week will help you stay on top of
things.
>
> Marc
>
>
> GraceCat wrote:
>
> > I've had freshwater off and on for as long as I can remember. But
we're
> > building a new house and I've been thinking in a few months when we
move
> > in, I'd like to use the new and bigger space for a sal****er
aquarium.
> > I'm leaning towards a 30 hexagon shaped (the tall cylindrical style)
> > aquarium with three or four fish, coral and plantlife.
> >
> > 1.) Can I easily maintain a 30 gallon, or is the water composition
too
> > difficult to maintain a healthy environment?
> >
> > 2.) What's the honest work if I correctly start the aquarium? That
is,
> > taking it slow, adding a single item every few weeks. How often
should I
> > test the water and perform regular maintainence? The reason I ask
that
> > is that I have two small children and I'm not always on the ball
> > sometimes. If I forget one night, can I come back the next morning
and
> > it'll be ok?
> >
> > It'll be a few months before I even begin to start a tank but I do
want
> > to start investigating.
> >
> > Thanks!!!
> >
> > Grace
>
> --
> Personal Page:
http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
> Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
> Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com
>
>

[Marc Levenson]

Obviously in the first month, you'll spend a little more time than that, but I
can't imagine 15 minutes a day, besides studying the life that is scurrying
about in the tank when you feel like it.

Marc


GraceCat wrote:

> That's hardly any time at all! I was afraid it was much more than that
> :)
>
> Thanks!!
> Grace
>
> "Marc Levenson" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Hi Grace,
> >
> > Take a look at this brief overview to give you some of the basics:
> > http://www.melevsreef.com/overview.htm
> >
> > I would recommend you test your tank's water every week (Saturday
> seems to be a
> > great day to establish as a routine), until the tank has settled in
> and you've
> > become very comfortable with it.
> >
> > Your tank should be okay if you don't remember to attend to it that
> day, but the
> > next day you do need to check on things/feed..... If you set it up
> correctly,
> > your daily 'chores' are less than 10 minutes a day. Giving your tank
> a full
> > hour of your attention once a week will help you stay on top of
> things.
> >
> > Marc
> >
> >
>

--
Personal Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com