New set up- Please clear the confusion

[Bob D]

I have a 38 gal that I would like to start a reef/fish aquarium with.
I have read a lot of posts but find it very confusing as to what works
best. Can somone clear up some of the issues in the various methods
for starting this aquarium? My last attempt at this was a 10 gallon
marine set up with one percula clown and an anemone with undergravel
filtration many years ago. It was successful to an extent but I think
could have been better. I want something that is appealling in looks
but successful too. I prefer to go with clownfish again (my favorites-
love the maroons and the the black and white perculas) but the
anemone isn't necessary. I also like the invertabrates and
exoskeletons- shrimp, crabs, snails. Maybe even add a powder blue or
yellow tang. Please keep in mind that cost is an issue. I don't have
unlimited funds.

I prefer some of the simpler methods that would support coral growth
at the beginner level but also give the opportunity to advance to
keeping some of the more intermediate level corals as I gain knowledge
and experience.

The biggest confusion for me lies in the lighting area. Is it better
to purchase a fixture with the required lighting or to build a DIY? If
DIY is the way to go, please tell me what I need and where to find the
various components.

My next decision is what type of reef keeping method would be best
suited for this. At this point I am leaning towards a plenum type set
up with a protein skimmer. I would appreciate anyone with a low cost
yet functional skimmer to recommend one to work for this set up. If
this is not the right way to go, I'm open for suggestions as I have
not purchased anything but the tank, stand and glass top.

What about rock? Live or aquacultured or a combination of both? Some
of the threads explaining about the "bad" creatures that may come with
live rock concerns me.

[reefman MC]

Go with cured live rock maybe 60 pounds in a 38 gallon and do some
polyps. If I were going to keep a clown I would definitely have an
anemone. Maroon clowns are great, and a bubble tip anemone would be
great for them to host in. Personally I don't like protien skimming,
but a CPR bak pak skimmer would be great. The cheapest method of
lighting is power compact lighting. Do about 4 watts of light per
gallon of water, and it is always a mistake to get yellow tangs or
powder blues, but I think the coolest are probably the kole tang. You
can only go so cheap if you want the tank to look good. These are the
cheapest methods I could think of with the looks of the tank in mind.
Hope this helps.


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[Bob D]

reefman MC > wrote in message >...
> Go with cured live rock maybe 60 pounds in a 38 gallon and do some
> polyps.

The polyps seem great. Many colors to choose. Definitely will get
some. Any other choices?

> If I were going to keep a clown I would definitely have an
> anemone. Maroon clowns are great, and a bubble tip anemone would be
> great for them to host in. Personally I don't like protien skimming,
> but a CPR bak pak skimmer would be great.

I haven't yet looked into the CPR bak pak but will now. How about the
Aqua C Remora ($150)?

> The cheapest method oflighting is power compact lighting. Do about 4 watts
> of light per gallon of water,

Will the Coralife Aqualight 2-96 watts fixture be sufficient ($175)?

> and it is always a mistake to get yellow tangs or
> powder blues,

Could you explain?

> but I think the coolest are probably the kole tang. You
> can only go so cheap if you want the tank to look good. These are the
> cheapest methods I could think of with the looks of the tank in mind.
> Hope this helps.

Yes it sure helps!

Thanks,
Bob

[reefman MC]

There are so many corals I can't name them all. Go to marine depot.com
and look at some different ones. Don't get any gorgonians or hard
corals. The description will tell you everything you need to know about
any particular coral they have. I would only go with low to moderate
lighting though. The coralife will be great. That is actually what I
run except I run two hoods 260 watts each on my 75 gallon reef. That is
PC bulbs in the coralife. I don't know much about skimmers. So post a
new thread about the skimmer you mentioned, but definitely check on
those CPR's. They're small and durable. Also about those tangs. Powder
blues are very hard to keep alive for most people, because they won't
eat 90% of the time. Yellows, in my opinion, are bullys, but there are
mixed opinions on that. I wouldn't keep a tang in a 38 gallon. They
just get too big, but if you have to have one go with a scopas or kole
tang. Did I leave anything out? If you need help with anything else let
me know.


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[Raymond]

> eat 90% of the time. Yellows, in my opinion, are bullys, but there are
> mixed opinions on that. I wouldn't keep a tang in a 38 gallon. They

There are definitely mixed opinions on that. My yellow tang is the
most timid fish in my tank.