Total Newbie...

mattie279 · 01-04-2005, 06:14 PM

Hi all...I have never had an aquarium before, and the only fish I've ever had was that one from the fair that diied the next day. :'( I have land hermit crabs and found this really cool crab I wanted to buy, but it needs salt water. Four or five hours of net surfing later, HERE I AM.

I don't plan on having an actual tank set up for about a year. But I want to make sure I don't blow a bunch of money on crap, and I want to have as much of a natural eco-system as possible. I've found so much cool stuff on the site here I am already in your debt. But there's still ALOT of stuff I don't know....

Such as...
What is a sump?
What is LP?
What are the differences in the different types of corals?
Many more questions to come I'm sure...TIA

Mattie

Birdlady · 01-04-2005, 06:23 PM

Hello! *Welcome to 3 reef!

Sump is a tank (or container) under your main tank, that water drains into and is pumped back up into the main tank. *
It helps to add water volume, and most people who have one put all the unsightly stuff in there, heater, probes, skimmer, carbon bags, etc.

I think an LP used to be for record albums! *LOL! *
I think you mean LPS? *Large Polyp Stony corals. Here is a link to common abbreviations in our world

http://www.3reef.com/cgi-bin/yabb/Ya...ction=acronyms

Birdlady · 01-04-2005, 06:30 PM

Differences in the different types of corals....hmm that is a pretty deep question....Let me get you started by telling the different types there are...

GENERALLY

The Easiest is probably soft corals. EG... Mushrooms (Coralimorpharians), Xenia, they don't need high intensity light and are a bit more tolerant of water conditions.

Next, LPS, eg. Lobophyllia, Euphyllia, they need better light and better current, need to be fed....

Then SPS,(Small Polyp Stony coral)eg. Acoropora, Montipora....they need excellent lighting, excellent water quality, high calcium levels, need feeding as well, etc.

Hopefully that is enough to get you surfing or looking at some books to get some more specific questions!

JohnO · 01-04-2005, 07:14 PM

Hi ya Mattie and welcome.

One of the best pieces of advice I can give is to invest in a good book on marine aquariums.

Have a look at the Books and Magazines section of 3Reef
http://www.3reef.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?board=Books and I am sure you will find something that suits you :-)

Once you get the 'book' then you will have a good basic knowledge of what is required to set up and run a successful tank.

Cheers

John

mattie279 · 01-04-2005, 07:34 PM

Thanks for the help....LP, LS, it's all the same right LOL. The definitions page is great!!! Thanks alot, now...off to find a book....

JohnO · 01-04-2005, 07:40 PM

Well Mattie,

You are lucky in some ways to find such a good internet site like 3reef so early. Make sure, when you are reading the book, or just gathering information, that you ask as many questions as you need to :-)

John

mattie279 · 01-05-2005, 04:51 AM

Thanks....From what I've been reading, it seems that buying livestock that is breed in captivity is best. Am I right on this, or does it depend on preference? What are the drawback to this plan?

OoNickoC · 01-05-2005, 01:45 PM

CB are usually much hardier and adapt to aqaurium life quicker. There are lots of dottybacks, clowns, inverts, and corals that are either CB or captive raised. I perfer them over wild caught. The more time you take researchin and probing the better off youll be in the long run....welcome to 3reef

Bruce · 01-05-2005, 05:27 PM

well...what i want to do is turn my house into a giant aquarium...*twitch* it will be the best aquariam ever!!!!! *twitch*...i think the *twitch* open brain is getting to me....lol...the only idea i have is take it slow...its a virtue...i mean cmon...w00t...ok