PATIENCE
The first thing all reefers should learn and understand is PATIENCE. Experienced reefers will tell you ' Nothing Good Happens Fast in a Reef Tank ' and this too you should learn and understand.
noun
1.
the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset.
There are many facets to a self contained ecosystem and you must approach this hobby with the appetite to learn these basics. You don't just mix saltwater, throw fish and corals in and magic happens. Alot of sites, forums and local fish stores will tell you anywhere from 4 to 6 weeks at minimum before you put anything into your tank - that's to let the tank cycle. (build up it's natural bacteria) More experienced and professional reef keepers will tell you more like 4 months and I tend to agree with them after all my trials and tribulations with my first tank. You might be able to get by with fish on the lower time scale but rarely will coral and certainly not anemones will you be successful in less than 6 months. Most of us have learned the hard way with disappointment and financially when we've tried to rush things. It's natural for any of us to try to push the boundaries after seeing hundreds of gorgeous tanks on the internet forums and videos but I can pretty much guarantee the tanks you see are very well established and it's not the first tank these folks have had. Yeah I know "4 MONTHS! am I suppose to stare at a bare tank for 4 months!" Not exactly, you can add your sand, rock and equipment - then spend the remainder of the time reading & learning about fish, invertebrates and additional equipment you're going to want and what works best with for your setup. In that time you'll also want to evaluate your budget because good gear comes at a premium, sure you can buy cheaper lighting, pumps, etc... but as many of us have found out we all tend to come around to re-buying better gear. I was guilty of this and I can only pass on the words of warning.
The first thing all reefers should learn and understand is PATIENCE. Experienced reefers will tell you ' Nothing Good Happens Fast in a Reef Tank ' and this too you should learn and understand.
pa·tience
ˈpāSHəns/Submitnoun
1.
the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset.
There are many facets to a self contained ecosystem and you must approach this hobby with the appetite to learn these basics. You don't just mix saltwater, throw fish and corals in and magic happens. Alot of sites, forums and local fish stores will tell you anywhere from 4 to 6 weeks at minimum before you put anything into your tank - that's to let the tank cycle. (build up it's natural bacteria) More experienced and professional reef keepers will tell you more like 4 months and I tend to agree with them after all my trials and tribulations with my first tank. You might be able to get by with fish on the lower time scale but rarely will coral and certainly not anemones will you be successful in less than 6 months. Most of us have learned the hard way with disappointment and financially when we've tried to rush things. It's natural for any of us to try to push the boundaries after seeing hundreds of gorgeous tanks on the internet forums and videos but I can pretty much guarantee the tanks you see are very well established and it's not the first tank these folks have had. Yeah I know "4 MONTHS! am I suppose to stare at a bare tank for 4 months!" Not exactly, you can add your sand, rock and equipment - then spend the remainder of the time reading & learning about fish, invertebrates and additional equipment you're going to want and what works best with for your setup. In that time you'll also want to evaluate your budget because good gear comes at a premium, sure you can buy cheaper lighting, pumps, etc... but as many of us have found out we all tend to come around to re-buying better gear. I was guilty of this and I can only pass on the words of warning.
The Bigger the Better
You'll hear the advise the bigger the better referring to tank size. This can be a double edge sword of sorts. The main reason reefers advise "buy the biggest tank you can afford" is because bad things happen slower in a large tank - like PH swings, temperature drops, etc... Why I say it's a double edge sword is because of cost, a larger tank requires bigger heaters, bigger lighting, bigger pumps, bigger electric bills and the list goes on. Smaller are more affordable initially but smaller tanks can go south in a heartbeat, plus you're limited to the amount of fish, corals etc. So research again is heavily warranted. One thing I have noticed and experienced the "want" for a bigger tank, I too fall into this scenario. I have a 60 gal and a 65gal and wish I had a 120gal but at the time the 60s were my most affordable option. One side note avoid tall thin tanks! Tall thin tanks are great for fish only but when it comes to reef tanks, you want surface area to help oxygenate the tank. My 60 for example is tall thin and I have to run an air line to my skimmer to boost oxygen to the tank, my 65 is wider and shallower and doesn't require the extra air line as a matter of fact it has a tiny skimmer that creates plenty of oxygen. Back on topic; do your research, troll the forums ask alot of questions and don't be lured into an impulse purchased due to a sale - they always have sales. If you're going to be successful, research and understanding are key points besides saving you hundred$ in bad choices.
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