Nothing good happens quickly in a reef tank
As we move forward and begin drywalling the laundry room, it seems like a good time to mention the first small steps in the reef process. The Gimlet installed two 20-amp circuits and dedicated one switch on the Manabloc for the system. The water line will connect to a reverse osmosis/deionization unit (RO/DI); the resulting water will then be used to make saltwater and as freshwater topoff.
A 12′ x 3′ area with 8′ ceiling is available for the tank site, and as the family room is in the basement, the tank will rest on a concrete floor. The tank will share a wall with the laundry room. Originally the plan was to house the tank in the laundry room, creating a picture window effect in the family room while giving plenty of space to work and get wet, but unfortunately the wall is a weight-bearing wall and cannot be altered. With that in mind, I hope to house the sump, refugium, and other equipment in the laundry room, below and behind the display tank.
Not sure how this will all work out, which brings up the most important step in this whole process: research. This large space affords a wonderful opportunity in reefkeeping, and I want to be as successful as possible. I’ve been reading, checking out the myriad on-line resources and communities, and our previous nano experience taught us some valuable hands-on lessons. So for now, I’m deciding how large of a tank to get, pondering deep versus shallow (leaning towards shallow; I like being able to reach in and tinker around), learning about plumbing and lighting options, and of course livestock choices (which will affect the kind of light I choose).
Suggested reading:
- Fenner, Robert M. The Conscientious Marine Aquarist. Microcosm: Vermont, 1998. The first time I entered a local saltwater-specialty store, the clerk strongly suggested I read this before doing anything else. Not only does this book provide excellent, well-written (even funny at times), easy-to-understand advice, it also seeks to instill a sense of responsibility and stewardship for the world’s coral reefs. A must-have.
- Michael, Scott W. and Shimek, Ronald L. Pocket Expert Guides: Marine Fishes and Marine Invertebrates. Microcosm: Vermont, 1999 and 2004. I’m saving up to buy Scott Michael’s more detailed Reef Fishes series, but in the meantime, these two Pocket Expert guides are very useful for drawing up wish lists. Information for the fishes includes: maximum length, range (for those planning geographic-specific reefs), minimum aquarium size, foods and feeding, aquarium suitability and reef aquarium compatibility, and captive care. The invertebrates book includes a category for lighting.
These three books are a great place to start. I have read a few other excellent specialty books on aquarium design, corals, clownfishes, and (sigh) my Hanauma Bay souvenir booklet. Given my past battle with cyanobacteria, a guide to algae is also on my wish list. (Perhaps a little light reading at the community pool during the kids’ swimming lessons?)
At any rate, this post is likely to be the last on the reef tank for quite some time, as construction probably won’t get fully underway for another year or two.
