Questions about reef tank

[kseitz13]

I am pretty new to this hobby and I currently have a 60 gallon tank with triggers, wrasses, and a couple of tangs... I have regular live rock in the tank with the fish...

My question is I would love to setup a tank that is coral only... I hear bigger is always better because it is harder for a newby to screw up the water quality... What would you guys recommend? 100 gallon or maybe a little larger?

Also what corals are easier than others to care for? I appreciate any feedback guys!

 

[mapleredta]

I HOPE you don't have trigger'S, wrasseS, and a COUPLE of tangs in a 60.

 

[bullshark13]

lol here come the fish cops....

 

[kseitz13]

Sorry should be singular... Anywho what size tank should I get for a nice coral setup... And what corals should I start with? I am currently looking at a really nice 120 gallon bow front that has a stainless steel finished canopy and stand... Bottom drilled with sump, t5 metal halides the works...

 

[kseitz13]

Are there any good books to guide me through the coral process? Love to do any reading I can on the subject...

 

[tgray3]

Books are good but you can get all the info you need for free by either searching this site or the web. Here's a good place to start.

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/">http://www.wetwebmedia.com/</a>

[IMG]http://www.melevsreef.com/">http://www.melevsreef.com/</a>

 

[codsack]

If it were me, I'd make the 60 gal into a reeftank and get a bigger tank for your fish.

 

[kseitz13]

I am thinking of giving the fish back to my father and just making both of the tanks reef... I love the fish, but I also love the vibrant colors of the reef tanks...

 

[kseitz13]

Thanks for the information guys!!!!!!

 

[bullshark13]

what type are they ie the wrasse and the tang

 

[sailfish]

A 120 is a very nice size reef tank but I would get a normal 120 so you have the 24" width they offer. I would avoid anything over 24" deep if possible as they are harder to light.

Joe

 

[kseitz13]

Regal Tang and a yellow wrasse... They have been in my dads tank for over 4 years together and never has there been any problems...

 

[kseitz13]

Thanks for the info sailfish. Lighting tips are always great! I am probably going to buy a membership for this site this weekend...

 

[bullshark13]

what kind of trigger do you have you might can post them here and sale or trade them for stuff

 

[kseitz13]

I had to ask my father about the trigger.. He said it is a cross hatch trigger... He said it was quite expensive so I am not sure... My father is an orthopedic surgeon in Atlanta and has a massive tank in his office... The trigger was there but it was aggressive toward some of his other fish... He has since made the tank all coral and its gorgeous... He said he would take them back if I wanted to convert my tank over... How much could I get for them anyway?

 

[weaglereefer]

I believe the crosshatch is generally considered reef safe. They are expensive, small ones go for $400 no problem.

 

[oil_fan]

There are no reason why you can't have fish in a reef tank. IMO it makes it even more interesting. You just have to do research and only add fish that are reef safe. And in some cases you have to add certain things like nori to keep the fish away from the corals. Tangs are an example of this.

 

[kseitz13]

Well like I said I am looking at a 120 gallon tank, maybe up to 150... Money really isnt an issue and I want to automate everything that I can... I have timers for the lighting, even including cycles for moonlighting... Wave makers that move water around constantly and in various directions... Its an awesome process... My father has even found a chemical to add to the water that makes water changes obsolete... He has had the same water in his 300 gallon in his office for over a year! Thats pretty awesome just seeing the advances in aquariums in the past 10 years...

 

[cr500_af]

This thread is about to get interesting.

 

[lilrobb]

kseitz13;374564 wrote: My father has even found a chemical to add to the water that makes water changes obsolete... He has had the same water in his 300 gallon in his office for over a year!

BTW, I found the formula to make lead into gold...

And on a serious note - that chemical doesn't exist!
As a chemistry minor I can tell you that no chemical on this planet can add the needed elements and remove the waste deposits like a proper waterchange.
You might extend the time between changes with some - but if the effort here is worth the outcome?
I'll let others chime in.