I want to start a 29 gal tank.

[zip_case]

I'm a newbie, obviously, and I was wondering what you all would recommand one to buy when trying to start up a new 29 reef tank?

 

[mridgep]

Good Stocks.

 

[fishfarmer]

I'm guessing this is a 29 gal tall.

1. A good hang on skimmer.

2. Lighting will be dependant on what you want to keep. I'd recommend a single 175 watt MH or several PC's, or a combination of both.

3. If you're planning on a sump, get the main tank drilled.

4. A couple medium sized maxijet powerheads for circulation, a heater, thermometer, and a titanium gounding probe for safety's sake.

5. 4" deep sand bed and 30 to 40 lbs of live rock.

6. A good book or two. John Tullock's "Natural Reef Aquariums" is a decent book to start with.

I'm sure I left a few things out, like hours and hours of internet reading and such

.

[ November 22, 2001: Message edited by: fishfarmer ]</p>

 

[Fish Guy]

Since your new to this I would suggest you start with a larger tank if you have room. Maybe a 55 or a 70. This size will let you keep more organisms in the long run and is much more stable as far as salinity is concerned. Bigger=less work/risk.

 

[Rich-n-poor]

heres what I have on my 37 gallon...

a Bakpak II skimmer (but any good skimmer will do)

2 hagan 301 powerheads

a Tronic brand submersible heater

110 watt power compact retro lighting kit

40ish lbs of live rock

agranite sandbed seeded with live sand from two different reefs

HTH

_________________
Mercedes TN

 

[Anonymous]

If you have the option I'd go with a 30 gallon (36") over a 29 (30"). the length adds more surface area to the water which translates into more stability. There's not too big of a difference in price and the equipment remains the same.

Glenn

 

[JohnD]

Zip -

If you already have the 29, then okay. If not, do yourself a favor and get a bigger tank.

I would add that you should get your hands on Robert Fenner's The Consciencious Marine Aquarist. I found it to be a good beginner's book. I also reread it to refresh my memory.

Keep checking out this board. It is filled with great folks that care about the hobby. I learn something new damn near every day.

 

[Anonymous]

My first reef tank was a 20 gallon. It had a hang on skimmer,( I won't mention the name

,It was kind of crappy for the cost) a good bit of live rock, and two regular flourescent bulbs. It did very well, and I credit that 20 with getting me into the hobby.

Of course I was so hooked I upgraded to a 55 with PC lighting within six months.

 

[braincoral39]

Get a bigger tank. You will be glad you did. Get a minimum of 50 gallons. I started with a 29 and wanted to upgrade in less than two months. Mine has been running for 4 months now and is packed full. I am still wanting an upgrade but have not determined whether a 58 or 75 gal. Same applies to lighting, get at least a metal halide 175 watt. You will be glad you did.

 

[reefaquariumsecrets]

OK Listen if you had an option to do so I would suggest a 50 or a 75 gallon tank. The lighting and other off the shelf stuff you can get fairly inexpensively. You can do very well with standard flourescent lighting. One of my favorite bulbs is the Marine Glo from Hagen. They call it an actinic but I have done alot of work keeping and propogating many corals for years on these bulbs alone. It will totally change the way you look at an actinic bulb again! For more of the higher end of the light spectrum simply get a good full spectrum bulb and combine with a Marine Glo 1 to 1. But no matter what bulbs you use the key is to keep it simple. If you have the tank already and a filter device to circulate water go for it. Just remember to keep it simple and start slow. I would get some good cultured live sand from Carib Sea. I would not go much more than two inches myself. If you do not have a filter to pump water you could use a Marineland 30/30 available online and in the mags. It is inexpensive and the thing moves some water! I have used them for years even in my bigger tanks. You don't have to spend alot to have a killer tank you just have to be patient and keep it simple

 

[esmithiii]

Bigger is better in this hobby. You will want a bigger tank in a matter of days after setting the 29G up.

E

 

[Rorschach]

I started with a 37, and now realize a lot of my problems was due to stability. The smaller tank is harder to control, but it is possible. Go with a deeper vs longer tank, they look better in my opinion, especially with the MH ripple effect.

 

[Bubafat]

Here's what I have on my 37 gallon tank...true, it is a little excessive:

37gallon tank: drilled 6 1" holes with bulkheads, 2 for return/drain to sump, 4 for a closed loop system powered by a Gen-X/Mak4

20L sump: with baffles

Lighting: 400w HQI ballast, radium 20K bulb and a 250w Iwasaki 6500K bulb

Temperature control: 1/3hp chiller and a 200w Ebo Jagar heater, both on digital temperature controllers.

Skimmer: Aqua-C EV90

Auto-top off switch

Geo calcium reactor

Maybe some other stuff I forgot.

This is pretty excessive, and yes, it can be a lot simpler.

A good startout system would be the following.

29 gallon tank
175w 10K hanging pennant
DRILLED (i highly recomend this as it reduces bubbles in your tank which i found can harm corals, and it gets your heater, skimmer, etc, into the sump and out of your tank, i think its really ugly to see a heater personally) with a 20L sump.
Lots of water flow, i would recommend 3 or 4 of the biggest maxijets out there, its really hard to have too much, but very easy to have to little. You can hook these up to a few simple timers, so that you have some change in flow.

Good quality liverock. I'm personally fond of www.paragonsales.com they have some of the best liverock around, and even with shipping its still cheaper then most local fish stores.

Fine sandbed. Either "southdown" sand if you can find it, or carib sea's oolite sand (like beach sand consistancy).

A GOOD BOOK!

A good quality heater like ebo jager. I have had 3 crappy heaters fail on me, 2 of which shocked the living crap out of me, the other filled my house up with smoke, not cool.

Don't waste your money on additives, most are gimmics that can be easily solved by a few water changes. The only one that I would reccomend dosing would be Kalkwasser, and make sure you get more info before you start, cause if you do it wrong you can wipe out your whole tank.

Not many fish. Maybe a clown and a dottyback. Keep the fish population very low.

Pacience!!!!!!

This list is assuming that you are going reef. Going fish only would be kinda suicide with this small of a tank.

LAY OFF OF THE ANEMONE's!!!! Don't try one until you have at least a year of keeping corals under your belt.

Buba

[ November 24, 2001: Message edited by: Bubafat ]</p>