Help with expanations on what does what

[mpatton]

Does anyone a place on the internet that they use as a resource explaining what certain equipments purpose is and why you would need it.

Here's the deal, I am just now starting out and have only been at it for a week. I have been reading these and other forums for about 5 days now and have seen recommendations or people talking about there tanks and what other equipment they use and I am lost as to what 95% of the stuff is used for or what its purpose is even for.

I am simply looking for a place/s on the web that will help be understand what a (for example) Protein Skimmer is and why we need one, A Sump (???), a Refugium (????????) and basically everything else other than the lights, tank and filter (which I have gather I don't need with my amount of LR/LS)

I want to do this right the first time and buy the proper (quality) stuff the first time around. Right now all I have is a 29 Gallon Aquarium Kit from Wal-Mart (came with a han-on the back filter, 20watt AquaClear flouresant bulb and canopy and of course the tank and a hydrometer), 20lbs of Fiji LR, 30 lbs of LS. I think I screwed up though because I used tap water and a de-chlorinator chemical to clean the water up (is that ok). I also used Instant Ocean to mix with. Right now I am cycling and as of last night I have started to see a lot of hitch hikers roaming around. Sorry for rambling on about my tank.

Mainly I just need to know if anyone here knows of any online resources that would help clear the fog on what all this equipment does and why I might need it.

Thanks,

 

[Anonymous]

hehe. www.reefs.org has all that info right at this URL:
http://www.reefs.org/library/index.html

protein skimmer is a filter. it removes wastes in your water by sucking water into the apparratus and causing it to foam ... the foam is the waste. it collects in a little cup that you empty every so often - mine is like every other day.

a sump simply means "a tank, bin or other type of tank of water stored below your aquarium but joined by water pipes. this does a few things.
a. increases your water volume
b. hide equipment such as the heater and fitlers from being in the display tank.

c. can also house a refugium.


refugium is similar to a sump. it's another tank or volume of water hooked up to your main display tank. people use refugiums for growing macroalgae (this reduces your algae problem because the macro algaes are eating up the nutrients that otehr algea eats. then you just trim the macroalgae every so often). a refugium can also be used to farm creatures such as isopods or copepods. or it can be used to keep some critters safe from aggressors.

 

[Anonymous]

One of the few people who actually starts reading and learnign BEFORE they go out and stock their 29 gallon with panther groupers, powder blue tangs, and mandarins. :wink:

Happy reading and be careful, this crap gets addictive! :twisted:

 

[mpatton]

Thanks a lot Hwarang, Sounds like I should go get me 5-10gal tank to set below mine and put my heater and whatever else I can hide.

Does the Sump have to have light and all that jazz or can I just put a couple junk of LR and LS and leave it at that? I will read up on it as well.

Right after I posted I found that link you referred to and printed off what I felt would help me out the best right now.

Oh yeah, Manny, I don't mind waiting until figure this out because I hate crewing up due to ignorance and having to start over (have made that mistake before and it sucks (homebrewing )).

 

[Anonymous]

You don't need a light on your sump. However if you want it to double as a fuge you do.

Jim

 

[hdtran]

In addition to the web resources, I highly recommend getting some books. John Tullock's "Your First Saltwater Aquarium" is a very simple guide, fine for total beginners; his "Natural Reef" is more detailed. Bob Fenner's "Conscientious Marine Aquarist" is also excellent, but not aimed at the total beginner. Depends on whether you're aiming for fish only, or whether you also want to keep invertebrates.

Good luck!

 

[jdieck]

Another good book I would recommend is "Book of Coral Propagation: by Anthony Calfo. Although some sections are directed to coral farmers most of it details setting up, and describe piece by piece all the equipment and it's purpose as well as lot's of tips and tricks and good description of parameters, supplements, pests, illnesses and description / needs for the major coral families.

 

[ChrisRD]

I agree with the recommendations for any/all of the books by Fenner, Calfo and Tullock - all very good starting points IMO.