[NYreefNoob]

ok here goes from my experiance, do alot of reading and studing before just jumping into a tank. it's not just a tank water and items. the 2 most important items you will buy. protein skimmer and lighting. really think about what you want in a year. coral wise. get as much lighting as you can and get a good skimmer{ these items are not cheap, but money well spent. keeps you from buying then buying again lighting a compact is ok for fish only tanks or with softies{ mushrooms, zoo's and polyps} much else you need more lighting.t5 light's or metal halide. if you buy rock look at it before buying. look up what a aptasia is. get the picture and see if the rock you are buying has it. if so dont buy it. its not a free enenome. it will kill other corals. fish are really a 50\50 unless you buy damsels. which i dont suggest they grow fast and are mean. dont use them to cycle a tank. put a piece of shrimp in tank and let it cycle with tank. get alot of water flow. powerheads. tunze and seio make 2 of the better one's. remember this is not a cheap hobby. get a ro\di unit or worst case go to petsmart and buy the tapwater filter. dont use sink water without filtering it.< remember dont use tap water. be patient with this hobby, rushing leads to disaster. and money spent for nothing. there's more but this is a good basis. also get appropiate amount of live rock, this is the filter for a saltwater tank. feel free to ask any questions that i may be abe to help you with. had good and bad experiance's so maybe i can help you avoid them

[reefaddict]

Great Pointers NYreef!

[dmachog]

Excellent advice-and the best thing is PATIENCE. Something I did not have when I started and spent big bucks for my lack of patience. Six mos is the minimum for a decent running fish only tank. Reef-1 year with plenty of live rock-the key to early success.

[vaulter08]

I have a snowday for school so i am doing my research to try to start my tank

[RyanG]

I love snow days!

[vaulter08]

no doubt. just wonderful if you have a reef tank to work on not yet but soon

[queequeg60]

OK...What would you consider a good skimmer. What brand and type??? I see many out there, but I need to know what is best, and what is best on a budget

[crazygator]

stayaway from air-stone driven. they work but the air-stones clog. also stay away from in tank, they are cheap but changing the height with water level changes is a hassel

[chappy]

ive had a 75 reef for 10 years half the time with a skimmer half the time no skimmer