I was thinking a shallow tank with very entry-level, hardy corals, and no fish. Still, seems like a lot of maintenance. Any reefbros here who wants to share their experience?

I know you've heard it before, but there is no "entry-level" reef tank. If you've kept fresh water aquariums for a while and know someone who keeps a successful saltwater tank then there's low risk, but keep in mind it will be more difficult than you expect pretty much no matter what.

>>5002847 (OP)
Trial and error my guy. Also if you like to travel dont get one. But yeah it will be expensive and time consuming i have been told. Absolutly get so fieeesh but be prepared that your first run is gona fail. Best of luck ill probably join in ln the reefing ones i have finnished my degree

>>5002847 (OP)
Just do your research. It's not as hard as people say. It's like a mind virus. Start with wet liverock from a fish store you trust. It takes some time and space to set up the salinity for water changes. You can spend a few hundred on things like an ato and calcium reactor if you want. grow algae and micro fauna before adding soft coral. Consider adding a fish and figuring out how to dose calcium before adding sps. Dip your corals.

Check your tap water. Switch to rodi if you can. Ammonia is more readily absorbed and less toxic. Check lighting par. Get a good heater and wave maker.

i got a saltwater tank as my first aquarium few years ago

not that hard
just watch the salinity
bigger the aquarium, the better.
pulsing xenia are fascinating corals that wont die.

i cycled my tank with hermit crabs and a good sandbed
dont forget to do lots of research, its the fun part of the hobby (;
welcome to the hobby and have fun (:

pic is my fish, starry blenny

>>5002847 (OP)
Go for it! Starting small can be harder but it’s an easy way to get your feet wet and start learning about the hobby. Start simple, nothing fancy. A cheap $20 10-gallon Petco tank, Chinese black box light from Amazon for $60, and HOB filter should have you good to go for under $150. I’d recommend live sand and live rock if you can hash out the cash. Personally I do 1-1.5 lbs. of rock per gallon of water. Once you’ve got it all setup, add some hardy soft corals such as leathers, zoas, GSP, or Kenya trees. Wait till it’s cycled to add fish but if you go all live rock from the start you shouldn’t have issue keeping hardy corals from day 1. As for water, buy a 5-gallon jug and just get RO or salt premixed from your LFS. I have three low-maintenance tanks, pretty much just feed and top off.

>>5002847 (OP)
Quarantine and observe the liverock, I got a bobbit worm on my first one.

>>5002847 (OP)
It doesn't have to be a lot of maintenance. A soft coral tank is pretty low maintenance. It will be more expensive though.

>>5002847 (OP)
Answer your question by answering these questions:
Can you afford one?
Do you have space for one?
Do you have the time to take care of one?
Do you want one?

>>5002847 (OP)

I'm a saltwater wizard and have been keeping tanks since 2003.

>Only use Deionized water for top off and mixing salt. There are units available and you can bypass the DI resin to make the crispiest tasting drinking water you've ever had. Fish stores sell it too. If thats too much, don't even bother starting.

> Use good quality liverock. No dry bullshit. No purple painted bullshit. Google tampa bay saltwater or look for tank breakdowns on faceberg. Rock is your biodiversity source, filter, decoration and refuge for animals. Rock, some light and waterflow is technically all you need to have a functional reef tank. Everything else is just a luxury.

> Don't be autistic about parameters. Get a feel for salinity and keep the tank topped off so the salinity is stable. Invest in a good refractometer. If you do soft corals they are insanely hardy and couldn't care less about water chemistry as long as its not toxic. You shouldn't have to test much else unless you keep the stony stuff. General rule if its soft and squishy its easy, if it looks stony its a little trickier.

> Lots of water flow. Blast the tank with flow, keeps detritus in the water column for fauna to consume and make it to the filter. Helps with gas exchange as well. Flowly, well aerated tanks are happy tanks. Low flow tanks are swampy and get gross.

I'll keep this tab open so feel free to ask more questions. Always happy to help a reefbro.

Pic is my 20 gallon no water change tank. Just flow and a deep mud bed to create a denitrifying environment. Just add some CaCO3 and calcium on top off for the coraline algae and lots of coral food.

>>5005314
It looks like a planted FW tank with a runaway algae infestation.

>>5005963


stay mad retard you don't have a no maintenance saltwater tank. Also not my only tank

>>5005972
>no maintenance saltwater tank
Isn't that basically a tidepool? Maybe if you made your other tank look like one with some rockwork it could be kind of cool. Not really digging the Wonder World toy aesthetic in the one you posted here but if you enjoy it that's all that matters, right?

>>5006074

It wouldn't be a tidepool, its just a tank full of hardy coral that don't care about water quality. Other tank was Zeovit which is creating a reactor full of bacteria to export nutrients and feed the coral. It was autism for sure and required daily messing with.

I've had idk how many setups over the years. Try different things, keep different animals. I used to move a lot for work so I'll keep some liverock to start something new and basic equipment but get new tanks. Tanks suck to move but a bucket full of liverock is easy.

Too much maths. Get a Betta fish and a bowl and call it a day.

>>5005287
Retard