I was CON into this hobby as a newbie. Need a practical guidance &

[PELAUS]

Gd evening to all.

Firstly this is my very first post in here after i finally register myself.

I have done a quick read for the past few days but still clueless on certain stuff.

FYI, im new to marine aquarium world. Started for like 4 months already.

A brief timeline how i started back then when im still staying in JB before moving back to Sgp due to the former house on a full renovation process.

1) My fiancee wanted to keep "Nemo". So we end up at a LFS in Permas area that sell both freshwater & marine.

We got a small tank (~14.13 Litres) from them together with a small hang on filter.

Together with 1 inch deep of crush corals, 1/2 inch "big" grain sand, 1/2" "small" grain sand all layered starting from the crush coral.

Both of us were told to purchase a bacteria in small bottle and saltwater from them.

The best part is.. They never told us to buy LR, instead offer us to buy an anemone since my fiancee wanted a pair of nemo in the first place.

(Blame me because we jump into this hobby w/o getting any info from the net beforehand)

2) Once back home, i help her to set up everything, after few hours running the filter, eventually all the dust & "crap" settle down on the "seabed".

3) Here come the best part: After we look at the water already "crystal clear", we throw both nemo and the anemone str8 in. (Genocide?)

4) We thought we successfully became a "marine hobbyist" that particular night since we saw both fishes swimming around "happily" near/on the anemone. Furthermore our room is air-conditioned 20 hours a day..

5) Finale: After like almost 10 days, the 3 creatures wipe-out starting from the anemone.

Moral of the story: Got back to the shop and ask why, all they said is they "forget" to offer me LR in the first place(but never explain in full details). Never mentioned about tank cycling, Nitrite & nitrate, Ph, Kh & etc. U know.. the basic fundamental/knowledge a reefer should know/possess.

After like almost a month we start(1 more dead nemo/lps along the way), overstocking with LS(i totally forget the number and species) we move back to SG(read above).

P.S: Im not always around since my work need me to go outstation.)

Once back in SG, i surf the net to search for marine shop to purchase saltwater since i managed to bring the tank and LS together.

The best part... i came across J.M @ CCK! I know i know.. i just read an old thread bout them in 2010-11 period earlier in the evening.

So i decided to drive there to check it out.

The first thing i was impress with their seahorse since i find them very mystical.

So i thought they must be very professional in giving me advices.

End up when i wanted to pay for a new small "gayish" hang on skimmer, the lady boss told me about their QSS.

She knew i was a newbie with lil' info. (I got no time to do research since always away for work, remember i support financially my fiancee for this hobby, end up im the one who got hook into it till today) She told me the hang on skimmer is not for keeping marine system.

So to sum it up... she recommend me to buy the smallest QSS in their range which is around 65litres.

She told me to grab 2 kg of live sand, 2 jerry can of saltwater.

I add up few stuff like turbo snail, harlequin shrimp and small red starfish & their "reefmax" bacteria.

The phucking best part!! -> i never ask for a receipt.. the final cost was nearly $500!!!

I was surprised since she told me the QSS was around ~$200.

I know it is my fault since i never ask the list of price for the items which should be in the receipt.

So as a newbie, i brought it back and proudly present it to my fiancee thinking that finally we have the best system around to finally keep her nemo alive..

I know it sound like a big joke.

But after we get it, since we are damn newbie, the stuff really impress us. (u know lah, clear water, no more dead fish within 7 days.)

After getting that QSS, i got myself some time to read a few info online(surprisingly not from here! ) regarding marine hobby.

I was somewhat "enlightened" abit.

So i scout around for some stuff like PH, Ammonia, Nitrate tester.

That is when i bought myself a LPS, Zoas, seafan, acantha to share with the same tank with fiancee! Hahahaha.

Here come the best part: After more reading & searching online, i think the QSS feel so small compared to those system with all the "piping work", refugium, "real" skimmer, & all those "zhim" equipment.

I fell in LOVE with the "real system".. but i have ZERO knowledge about those stuff.

END OF STORY:

Im interested to know where & who should i seek to teach me how to do those kind of stuff?

Can i still use the tank i bought from J.M w/o their QSS but instead use all those "proper" gadget with a sump/refugium(remember my 1st smaller tank) and chiller?

Since i'll be moving back to JB in few months time so i dont need a bigger tank for now. Maybe once i obtained all the necessary infos and knowledge, i will decided to order a bigger tank in JB & upgrade all the necessary equipment.

Im so sorry for this long winded "composition" but i rather be a slow learner compared to being a stuckup arrogant fellow for not asking question.

Thanks for reading and i hope all the seasoned player help me out.

I really want this marine hobby to last till the end.

[spkentchai]

Welcome to the reefing forum here...I always found visiting other reefers tank the best way to learnt...look at their tank and most importantly their sump...very magical...from plain simple biological filtration to sophisticated full computerized system. I also learnt a lot over the last 6 months...cheers and have fun...

[cool guy]

Go to irwana... Thers alot of reefer there tat can help u bro...

[clownfish_forever]

Yup, dont be dishearted. There are many brothers here who can give valuable advice too but you will need to be patient...this hobby is really a journey.

[Solo77]

U can always drop by a few trustworthy lfses to learn. Certain lfses will hard sell, so just resist and evaluate after hearing their advices and come to forum to verify. From there, u will know which lfses to trust. Just my 2 cents worth advice.

[desideria]

Hey don't be disheartened.. I was one of those that started out with JM and you know what... I wasted more money than you. LOL But I too came here and other websites and learnt my way around. I survived using their tank for 2 years before going all the way with a 4 footer after much reading up. After 6 months of using the JM tank or so,I threw out the internal QSS and bought an external hang on REd SEA prizm skimmer with media basket ( there are other hang on skimmers around like from Tunze or BM.. so read up!!) to put in some chemical media ( limited though it is). It set free far more open space in that tiny tank. I feel that their tank is too small to incorporate a sump or refuge, I have heard of others using Canister filters to do the job of mechanical and chemical filtration on top of a hang on skimmer.

Learnt about Water Change and realised the filters I got from them was crap as well....because of my much bigger system now, I got myself a 5 stage RO/DI unit instead to make pure water for my fish.

I also threw out the lights and at the time got myself better T5 lights form Gisseman. But now with the option of LED, I would suggest you go for LED instead. Less heat. Especially in spore weather. Get yourself at least 1 wavemaker too ( to me Tunze is most reliable as other brands I tried .. the "power" tends to die as time goes by). Again, MANY Brands out there to choose from for Wavemakers and LED. Choose one which fits your budget and needs.

Thing is.. about this hobby you need to read up ALLOT.... and go look at reefers Tank threads ( there is a member tank thread forum here).. not just from this website but also in Reef Central ( a US one).. because there are times when things will work in another reefers tank but won't work in yours. Don't be ashamed to ask or PM people but do your homework first to have some idea of the issue at hand as well.

This is a hobby that really requires allot of patience, some luck and sometimes you need to throw some money as well... LOL

[PELAUS]

Thank you guys. Much appreciated. For now i just invested in a chiller. The claim which the QSS have for 'cooling' the water temp down doesnt make sense.

Next step should be investing in a wavemaker?

But isn'it my current tank is too small for a wavemaker?

Someone plz clarify this please. Thanks once again.

[spkentchai]

Thank you guys. Much appreciated. For now i just invested in a chiller. The claim which the QSS have for 'cooling' the water temp down doesnt make sense.

Next step should be investing in a wavemaker?

But isn'it my current tank is too small for a wavemaker?

Someone plz clarify this please. Thanks once again.

there is nano version for the wavemaker...

[RockyBoy]

Start from basics first.

Cycle your tank with LR for a few weeks before putting any livestock. Check the water parameters.

Invest in good skimmer.

The list goes on....