Morning all!
I am very new to the 'reef scene' but am chuffed to have found a site like this. I have generally been very interested in wildlife all my life, I kept lizards, slow worms, newts etc as a kid. I could sit and watch my reptiles for hours.
Now the time has come to do something proper. A fair few years ago now, a friend of mine bought some 'marine stuff'. I had no idea what he meant, thinking it was a tropical tank with 500,000 tiny, tiny fish. That never intersted me. But he had a cowfish, a shrimp and a few other things I forget now. That did interest me. Strange, bizarre creatures. Also, in a very strange S&M manner, I liked the fact that it requires time and effort and careful preparation of all the equipment! Hmmmm. Should've kept that one quiet....
Anyway, I now come to the point where the wife says, one or the other, an iguana or a tank. My feeling are that the tank can go in nicely to pave the way for the iguana but thats another story. So tank first. I have spent plenty of time over the past few months reading bits and bobs on the net and picking up information. There is certainly plenty to learn! Anyway, I want a good sized tank, I dont want to start and then realise its not what I wanted and spending money twice. Same with equipment, if the best whassit for this or that is £xxxx.xx then so be it. I hate doing things by halves. I am keen to learn, able to spend (wont say keen...) and prepared to spend the time required to keep it well. I have found what seems like a good local outlet, SAS (Sheffield Aquatics) who have good stock and are keen to talk and educate etc.
So step one, I want a right rippin great tank. I have been told and read that a large tank is easier to keep and when pondered, it's obvious why. What do I need to consider for the actual tank itself? Material? Whats better and why? And what is all this talk of holes? Is it for using equipment over and above what may be considered the bare minimum, sumps etc?
All help greatly appreciated
I am very new to the 'reef scene' but am chuffed to have found a site like this. I have generally been very interested in wildlife all my life, I kept lizards, slow worms, newts etc as a kid. I could sit and watch my reptiles for hours.
Now the time has come to do something proper. A fair few years ago now, a friend of mine bought some 'marine stuff'. I had no idea what he meant, thinking it was a tropical tank with 500,000 tiny, tiny fish. That never intersted me. But he had a cowfish, a shrimp and a few other things I forget now. That did interest me. Strange, bizarre creatures. Also, in a very strange S&M manner, I liked the fact that it requires time and effort and careful preparation of all the equipment! Hmmmm. Should've kept that one quiet....
Anyway, I now come to the point where the wife says, one or the other, an iguana or a tank. My feeling are that the tank can go in nicely to pave the way for the iguana but thats another story. So tank first. I have spent plenty of time over the past few months reading bits and bobs on the net and picking up information. There is certainly plenty to learn! Anyway, I want a good sized tank, I dont want to start and then realise its not what I wanted and spending money twice. Same with equipment, if the best whassit for this or that is £xxxx.xx then so be it. I hate doing things by halves. I am keen to learn, able to spend (wont say keen...) and prepared to spend the time required to keep it well. I have found what seems like a good local outlet, SAS (Sheffield Aquatics) who have good stock and are keen to talk and educate etc.
So step one, I want a right rippin great tank. I have been told and read that a large tank is easier to keep and when pondered, it's obvious why. What do I need to consider for the actual tank itself? Material? Whats better and why? And what is all this talk of holes? Is it for using equipment over and above what may be considered the bare minimum, sumps etc?
All help greatly appreciated
